Uncommon Sociodemographic Factors Are Associated With Racial Disparities in Length of Stay Following Oncologic Elective Colectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Although outcome disparities by race have been identified in colorectal cancer, these patterns are challenging to explain using variables that are commonly available in databases. In a single institution serving a diverse community, length of stay (LOS) varies by race following elective oncologic colectomy. We investigated previously unexplored variables that may explain the relationship between race and LOS following elective resection of colorectal neoplasms. METHODS: Retrospective, single institution cohort study from January 2015 to December 2020 for adult patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer resections. Baseline demographic variables and intraoperative factors were analyzed for changes in LOS following elective colorectal resection. Additional retrospective chart review was carried out to determine household member composition and distance from home to hospital. Bivariate analysis was conducted to determine which variables should be included in multivariable analyses. All analyses were conducted using SAS Academic. RESULTS: Most patients (n = 383) were Asian (40%), Black (12%), or Hispanic (26%). Race and LOS were associated with age (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001 for race and LOS, respectively), American Society of Anesthesiologists class (P = 0.004 and P < 0.001), enhanced recovery after surgery protocols (P = 0.006 and P < 0.001), household members (P = 0.009 and P = 0.002), and discharge disposition (P = 0.049 and P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, household members (P = 0.021) independently remained associated with LOS after controlling for race (P = 0.008) and discharge disposition (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Household member composition varies with LOS, suggesting that level of support at home may influence decisions regarding discharge disposition, which lead to differences in LOS.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols mitigate the weekend effect on length of stay following elective colectomy.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the effect of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols on the weekend effect after elective colectomies. METHODS: This was a retrospective study on all elective colorectal surgeries at a single institution in New York City between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020. The length of stay (LOS) by day of the week of surgery and the effect of ERAS using univariable and multivariable analyses were compared. RESULTS: A total of 605 patients were included in the study. Of note, 41 cases were performed on Mondays, 197 cases were performed on Tuesdays, 45 cases were performed on Wednesdays, 187 cases were performed on Thursdays, and 135 cases were performed on Fridays. Univariate analysis showed that, for patients who did not undergo ERAS, Monday and Tuesday were significantly associated with decreased LOS (P < .001). For patients who underwent ERAS, there was no statistically significant difference in LOS (P = .06) when operated on early in the week vs later. After controlling for age, race/ethnicity, comorbidities, complications, functional health status, operation type, duration of surgery, presence of ostomy, and albumin level, adhering to the ERAS protocol was significantly associated with a shorter LOS (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that ERAS can mitigate the weekend effect on LOS. ERAS protocols may provide more structure to the expected hospital course and allow patients to reach recovery milestones earlier, facilitating discharge even by covering teams.

Outcomes of a Colorectal Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol Modified for a Diverse and Urban Community.

INTRODUCTION: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) colorectal programs have been shown to improve the length of stay (LOS) without increasing hospital resource utilization at academic centers worldwide. A multidisciplinary ERAS protocol that includes preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management guidelines was recently implemented at our urban, racially diverse, and academically affiliated community hospital. A delivery option was provided to reduce barriers to care. Given our unique patient population, the objective of our study was to determine if improvements in outcomes were reproducible in our hospital. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of patients undergoing elective colectomy at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020. Patient outcomes were compared between surgeries performed under standard practice (all colectomies prior to April 2017) and those performed after the implementation of the ERAS protocol. Demographic and perioperative data were abstracted from a prospectively derived database used to submit data to the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Additional data were obtained from chart review. RESULTS: Six hundred five elective colectomies were performed by 12 surgeons (range 1-228 cases) during the study period. Of these, 22 were performed open (41% followed ERAS), 467 were performed laparoscopically (57% followed ERAS), and 116 were performed robotically (74% followed ERAS). The average patient age was 64 y. Of which, 55% were male; 34% were Asian, 27% were non-Hispanic Caucasian, 27% were Hispanic, and 11% were Black or African American (all P-values > 0.05 for ERAS versus non-ERAS). Average duration of procedure was longer in the ERAS group (262 min versus 243 min, P = 0.04), although when stratified by procedure type, this relationship held true only for laparoscopic procedures. Hospital LOS was significantly shorter in the ERAS group (4.3 versus 5.4 d, P < 0.001) and this relationship held true for procedures performed both laparoscopically (4.2 versus 5.3 d, P = 0.01) and robotically (4.1 versus 5.1 d, P = 0.04). Of the ERAS group, patients who opted for delivery of ERAS components (n = 205) had the shortest LOS when compared to patients who picked up components (n = 91) or opted out of ERAS (n = 309) (4.1 versus 4.4 versus 5.2 d, P = 0.003). No significant differences were found for 30-d mortality, 30-d readmission, wound infection, or other postoperative complications (all P-values > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an ERAS protocol in an urban, diverse, academically affiliated community hospital is associated with reductions in LOS for colectomies performed both laparoscopically and robotically. Facilitating ERAS compliance with a delivery option was also associated with improvements in hospital LOS. Preoperative nutrition supplementation was not associated with outcomes. No differences in mortality, readmission rates, or rates of postoperative complications were found.

Bicyclists injured by automobiles: helmet use and the burden of injury.

Background: Given the widespread use of bicycles on public roadways, bicyclists injured in automobile collisions present a familiar problem to trauma centers worldwide. The aims of this study are to characterize the current injury patterns and to quantify independent risk factors for preventable injury and death, with a focus on helmet utilization and traumatic brain injuries. Methods: This is a retrospective study using the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program database for the period 2010 to 2016. Data were abstracted for bicyclists ≥16 years of age injured by an automobile. The primary outcome of interest was mortality. The secondary outcomes included intracranial, facial, and cervical spine injuries, as well as polytrauma. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify risk factors associated with outcomes. Results: Of the 980 955 cases in the database, 7159 (0.73%) were bicyclists involved in a collision with an automobile. The median age was 45 years and 85% of patients were male. Polytraumatic occurrences accounted for 58% of injuries. Helmet use was reported in 25.4% of cases, a rate that did not change significantly during the study period. Helmet utilization was higher in those aged >65 years and in patients located in the West and Northeast regions of the USA. Helmet use was associated with an overall lower incidence of all reported forms of intracranial injuries. Overall mortality was 7.4%. Independent risk factors associated with mortality included age >65, lack of helmet use, head injury, and abdominal injury. Discussion: Bicyclists injured in collisions with an automobile are at high risk of severe injury and mortality. Preventive strategies should target older bicyclists, helmet utilization, and increasing helmet accessibility for all bicyclists using roadways. Level of evidence: Level IV.

Emotional Regulation in Surgery: Fostering Well-Being, Performance, and Leadership.

Emotional regulation is increasingly gaining acceptance as a means to improve well-being, performance, and leadership across high-stakes professions, representing innovation in thinking within the field of surgical education. As one part of a broader cognitive skill set that can be trained and honed, emotional regulation has a strong evidence base in high-stress, high-performance fields. Nevertheless, even as Program Directors and surgical educators have become increasingly aware of this data, with emerging evidence in the surgical education literature supporting efficacy, hurdles to sustainable implementation exist. In this white paper, we present evidence supporting the value of emotional regulation training in surgery and share case studies in order to illustrate practical steps for the development, adaptation, and implementation of emotional regulation curricula in three key developmental contexts: basic cognitive skills training, technical skills acquisition and performance, and preparation for independence. We focus on the practical aspects of each case to elucidate the challenges and opportunities of introducing and adopting a curricular innovation into surgical education. We propose an integrated curriculum consisting of all three applied contexts for emotional regulation skills and advocate for the dissemination of such a longitudinal curriculum on a national level.

A Rare Case of Histiocytic Sarcoma Secondary to Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in the Stomach: Transdifferentiation or Synchronicity?

Histiocytic sarcoma is a rare malignant histiocytic neoplasm composed of cells with morphologic and immunophenotypic features of mature tissue histiocytes. It occurs anywhere in the body and behaves aggressively. However, its etiology is unknown. Here, we report a 68-year-old female who developed histiocytic sarcoma following chemotherapy with imatinib (Gleevec) for gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Possible mechanisms of transdifferentiation from gastrointestinal stromal tumor to histiocytic sarcoma are discussed based on the features of our case and other two similar cases in the literature.

A Collaborative To Evaluate And Improve The Quality Of Surgical Care Delivered By The Military Health System.

In an effort to improve surgical quality and reduce clinical variability, the Military Health System (MHS) expanded its participation in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to all military hospitals beginning in 2015. This expansion and a partnership with the American College of Surgeons laid the foundation for a surgical quality collaborative in the MHS. We review the history of the program in the MHS and the activities that have contributed to developing the collaborative. We also report promising trends in surgical outcomes at hospitals that were already participating in the program in 2014, when a critical MHS review identified areas for improvement in surgical care. We conclude with a discussion of possible lessons for other health systems and challenges ahead for the MHS, now that full enrollment in the program has been completed.

Successful Implementation of an Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Program.

Devastating effects of alcohol are well established in trauma. To address this, thve American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) requires ACS-verified Level 1 trauma centers to have an active screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) program. In 2015, NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens successfully implemented an SBIRT program. Previous studies indicate difficulty in achieving a high level of SBIRT compliance. We explored the effects of a multidisciplinary approach in implementing a standardized screening protocol for every trauma-activated patient 15 years or older. A multidisciplinary team developed a standardized approach to identifying trauma patients for our SBIRT program. Social workers were trained in performing brief interventions and referral to treatment at a New York State-level training course prior to starting our SBIRT program. Blood alcohol levels were obtained in every trauma activation. Trauma patients who had a blood alcohol level greater than 0.02% were identified and tracked by the trauma service. These patients were referred to social workers, underwent brief intervention, and evaluated for referral to treatment if determined to be a high-risk alcohol user. Over the 8-month implementation period, we evaluated 693 trauma patients. A blood alcohol level was obtained on most trauma patients (n = 601, 86.6%). Patients with a blood alcohol level greater than 0.02% were referred to a social worker (n = 157, 22.6%). Social workers performed a brief intervention and evaluation for referral/treatment services for 129 of the trauma patients with elevated blood alcohol levels. Overall, 82% of intoxicated trauma patients underwent brief intervention, which identified 22 patients who were referred for treatment programs. An inclusive multidisciplinary approach to the implementation of an SBIRT program achieves a high level of compliance.

Sustained culture and surgical outcome improvement.

BACKGROUND: A focus on the culture of safety and patient outcomes continues to grow in importance. Several initiatives targeted at individual deficits have been described but few institutions have shown the effect of a global change in culture on patient outcomes. METHODS: Patient care perception was assessed using Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) by Pascal Metrics®. A change in culture was initiated, followed by implementation of initiatives targeting communication and patient safety. ACS-NSQIP data was analyzed to assess outcomes during the period of improved culture. RESULTS: Our institution had poor outcomes as measured by ACS-NSQIP data and several deficiencies in our culture score. Both statistically improved after initiative implementation. A difference in mean culture score across time (p < 0.001 = .031) was seen from 2013 to 2015, while NSQIP odds ratios falling in the 'exemplary' category increased. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate an improvement in both culture and outcomes from 2013 to 2015, suggesting a correlation between culture and surgical outcomes.

Predictors of Dependency in Geriatric Trauma Patients with Rib Fractures: A Population Study.

The geriatric trauma population is unique. These patients are at risk of being discharged to rehabilitation or a skilled nursing facility, instead of being returned to their homes, placing a significant burden on both the patient families and society. This study evaluated which patient characteristics increase the likelihood of a previously independent geriatric blunt trauma becoming functionally dependent and being discharged to a location other than home. Data were extracted from the National Trauma Data Bank from 2012 to 2014 for blunt trauma patients ≥65 years old, admitted from home, with one or more rib fractures. Primary outcomes were discharge home versus a facility. Subgroup analysis evaluated disposition to acute short-term rehabilitation or subacute rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility. Multivariable analysis was used to calculate probabilities of disposition based on the above variables, controlling for comorbidities. Sixteen thousand six hundred thirty-two patients were included. Only 58 per cent were discharged home. Increased age, ≥4 rib fractures, white race, and female gender were found to increase the risk of discharge to a facility. In addition, patients with chronic renal failure, history of diabetes, obesity, or heart failure were less likely to be discharged home. This study shows that age, gender, race, and the number of rib fractures are statistically significant in predicting which patients are less likely to be discharged home. This reinforces the need for the development of triage and treatment protocols in this higher risk population, to decrease the social and financial burden of these injuries.

Trauma Team Activation: Not Just for Trauma Patients.

Specialized trauma teams have been shown to improve outcomes in critically injured patients. At our institution, an the American College of Surgeons Committee on trauma level I Trauma center, the trauma team activation (TTA) criteria includes both physiologic and anatomic criteria, but any attending physician can activate the trauma team at their discretion outside criteria. As a result, the trauma team has been activated for noninjured patients meeting physiologic criteria secondary to nontraumatic hemorrhage. We present two cases in which the trauma team was activated for noninjured patients in hemorrhagic shock. The utilization of the TTA protocol and subsequent management by the trauma team are reviewed as we believe these were critical factors in the successful recovery of both patients. Beyond the primary improved survival outcomes of severely injured patients, trauma center designation has a "halo effect" that encompasses patients with nontraumatic hemorrhage.

Giant type III well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the stomach: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: We describe a case of a large type III neuroendocrine tumor of the stomach. Management and current literature are reviewed. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 37year old female presented with upper gastrointestinal bleed and epigastric pain. Further workup demonstrated a large ulcerated gastric mass near the GE junction. Computer tomography scan and endoscopic ultrasound showed a 10cm mass with no evidence of distant disease. Fine needle aspiration pathology was consistent with a well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor (Ki67 index<2%), with elevated levels of chromogranin A and serotonin levels but normal gastrin. The patient underwent an uneventful total gastrectomy. Final pathology analysis reported a higher KI67 index (7.54%) and a final pathology of grade 2 type III, T3 N3, neuroendocrine tumor of the stomach. The chromogranin levels normalized and no recurrent disease has been detected in one year follow up. DISCUSSION: Gastric neuroendocrine tumors are extremely rare, accounting for 4% of all neuroendocrine tumors of the body and 1% of all neoplasms of the stomach. Based on histomorphologic characteristics and pathogenesis, gastric neuroendocrine tumors are classified into four types with differing prognosis and behavior. Current literature describes type 3 gastric neuroendocrine tumors as larger than 2cm. However, there is no precedent in the literature for a tumor of this size. CONCLUSION: The incidence of gastric neuroendocrine tumors has been increasing during the last decade, underscoring the need to improve our understanding of their biology and behavior. When identified histologically, patient outcomes depend on appropriate determination of tumor biology and subsequent choice of treatment.

Isolated gastric amyloidoma in the setting of marginal zone MALT lymphoma: case report and review of the literature.

A 52-year-old female presented with hematochezia. A computed topography (CT) scan revealed diffuse proximal gastric thickening with enlarged perigastric lymph nodes. The esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed a diffusely thickened gastric wall with hemorrhagic, friable mucosa, and multiple areas of ulceration. The biopsies showed diffuse amyloid deposition along with transmural proliferation of small- to medium-sized lymphocytes and plasma cells. The gastric mucosa showed lymphoepithelial lesions and chronic inactive gastritis. Immunohistochemical staining of the neoplastic lymphocytes revealed expression of CD20, bcl-2, bcl-10, Ki-67 proliferative index of 5%, and lambda light chain restriction. There was no expression of CD5, CD43, CD10, CD3, cyclin D1, and bcl-6. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry revealed an abnormal B lymphocyte population with expression of CD45, CD19, CD20, and FMC7. The histomorphological, immunohistochemical and flow cytometric features were consistent with primary gastric amyloidosis associated with extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma).

Minimizing shear and compressive stress during pancreaticojejunostomy: rationale of a new technical modification.

The failure of the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis remains an important and potentially lethal postoperative complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy. During the pancreaticojejunostomy, creation of compressive and shear forces during suture placement and knot tying may cause deformation of and cutting through the fragile pancreatic parenchyma. We sought to understand the mechanics of needle-pancreas interaction and make adjustments to our pancreaticojejunostomy technique so that the creation of shear and compressive stress could be minimized. We provide a detailed description, a mathematical model, and analysis of the outcomes of our new technical modifications.

Performance improvement: getting an early start.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and the Surgical Care Improvement Program (SCIP) can be utilized to develop quality initiatives to improve surgical care. Understanding the fundamentals of quality measures provides insight to the six Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies. Resident education needs a robust exposure to quality measures, such as NSQIP and SCIP to prepare surgeons for tomorrow's healthcare system. METHODS: The resident champion (RC) position is a dedicated research year between the PGY-2 and PGY-3 as a way to introduce residents to NSQIP and the importance of quality improvement. The resident partners with the NSQIP clinical reviewer to analyze data, develop quality improvement projects, implement these initiatives, and re-examine quality performance. RESULTS: Over the last 24 months, there have been numerous performance improvement initiatives and projects implemented at our facility as a direct result of the RC's efforts and their participation within the performance improvement committees. In addition, the projects led to multiple presentations at national conferences. CONCLUSIONS: A dedicated year in performance improvement has benefited our residents with a working knowledge of quality measures and our institution with multiple projects that have yielded significant improvements in the quality of patient care.

Surgical management of the succinate dehydrogenase-associated familial paraganglioma syndromes.

Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors arising from the neural crest cells in the extra-adrenal location. Paragangliomas can be sporadic or associated with a range of endocrine and genetic syndromes in 25% to 30% of all cases. Specifically, succinate dehydrogenase gene mutations are involved in the development of paraganglioma syndromes type 1 through type 4. In this article, we will describe 2 cases of succinate dehydrogenase-associated familial paraganglioma syndrome and provide a review of the existing literature on the condition's etiologic factors, diagnosis, and management.

Raising the thinker: new concept for dissecting the cystic pedicle during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Imprecise dissection due to poor visualization of anatomic structures is among the major causes of biliary injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Developing new illustrational and rendering techniques represents an important part in decreasing visual deception and subsequent bile duct injuries. We use the model of one of the most well-known pieces of art, Rodin's The Thinker, to visualize the gallbladder and cystic pedicle structures. This minimizes visual deception before dissection, especially in cases with obscured structures. Our method, raising The Thinker, is based on the remarkable similarity between the sculpture and the topographic anatomy of the gallbladder. The method can be used not only for better orientation and visualization during laparoscopic cholecystectomy but also as a tool to complement the teaching of laparoscopic biliary anatomy to surgical residents and medical students.

The role of endoscopic ultrasound and cyst fluid analysis in the initial evaluation and follow-up of incidental pancreatic cystic lesions.

PURPOSE: To assess the role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the initial evaluation and follow-up of incidental pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients with incidental PCL on imaging who were evaluated by EUS and had a minimal follow-up of 1 year. RESULTS: There were 62 patients (40 females and 22 males). The mean patient age was 67.7 years (range, 30-89). The Median follow-up was 24 months (range, 12-72). The mean PCL size was 21.6 mm. In all, 13 patients underwent surgery (20.9%). Diagnosis included a mucinous cystic tumour (7), mucinous adenocarcinoma (2), intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (1) and a cystic neuroendocrine tumour (1). The overall malignancy rate among patients who underwent surgery was 15.3% (two patients). The mean carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level from PCL fluid analysis was also significantly higher in surgically treated group (7760) vs. the stable group (184.7) vs. the enlarging PCL group (361.1). A CEA level above 192 ng/ml predicted mucinous PCL with a sensitivity of 90%. CONCLUSIONS: EUS with cystic fluid analysis can be successfully used to rule out pancreatic neoplasms and to follow-up incidentally discovered PCL.

Micro-laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an alternative to single-port surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Recent advances in minimally invasive surgery aimed at diminishing incision size have led to the development of single-port surgery (SPS). SPS has an increased level of complexity and requires a higher level of surgical skill compared to traditional laparoscopy. We explored micro-laparoscopy as an alternative to routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: The study is a retrospective review of consecutive elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed by a single surgeon at a community teaching hospital over 24 months. All surgeries were performed using a 5-mm trocar for the umbilical port and 3-mm trocars for other ports in standard configuration. RESULTS: Seventy-nine cholecystectomies were performed by micro-laparoscopy during the 24-month period. Three cases required upgrade in trocar size for technical reasons, resulting in a completion rate of 96%. Intraoperative cholangiography was performed in 70 cases (89%). There were no conversions to open surgery. There were no intra- or postoperative complications, and all patients were discharged on the day of surgery. CONCLUSION: Micro-laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe, feasible, and represents an alternative to other minimally invasive techniques. Future developments in surgical technology will allow the use of even smaller instruments, diminishing the surgical "footprint" even further and contributing to better cosmesis and decreased postoperative pain in cholecystectomy patients.