Cost-Effectiveness of Parathyroid Cryopreservation and Autotransplantation.

Importance: Delayed autotransplantation of cryopreserved parathyroid tissue (DACP) is the only surgical treatment for permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Studies suggest that only a small minority of cryopreserved samples are ultimately autotransplanted with highly variable outcomes. For these reasons, many have questioned the economic utility of the process, although, to the authors' knowledge, this has never been formally studied. Objective: To report the clinical outcomes of parathyroid cryopreservation and DACP at a large academic institution and to determine the cost-effectiveness of this treatment. Design, Setting, and Participants: An institutional review board-approved, retrospective review of patients at a single institution who underwent DACP over a 17-year period was conducted with a median follow-up of 48.2 months. A forward-looking cost-utility analysis was then performed to determine the economic utility of cryopreservation/DACP vs usual care (monitoring and supplementation). Patients who had parathyroid tissue in cryopreserved storage between August 2005 to September 2022 at a single-center, academic, quaternary care center were identified. Exposure: Parathyroid cryopreservation and DACP. Main Outcomes and Measures: Graft functionality, clinical outcomes, and cost utility using a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Results: A total of 591 patients underwent cryopreservation. Of these, 10 patients (1.7%; mean [SD] age, 45.6 [17.9] years; 6 male [60%]) underwent DACP. A minority of autografts (2 [20%]) were subsequently fully functional, one-half (5 [50%]) were partially functional, and 3 (30%) were not functional. The cost-utility model estimated that at a large academic center over 10 years, the additional cost of 591 patients undergoing cryopreservation and 10 patients undergoing autotransplantation would be $618 791.64 (2022 dollars) and would add 8.75 QALYs, resulting in a cost per marginal QALY of $70 719.04, which is less than the common willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000/QALY. Conclusions and Relevance: The reimplantation rate of cryopreserved tissue was low (<2%), but when implanted, autografts were at least partially functional 70% of the time. In the first-ever, to the authors' knowledge, formal cost analysis for this treatment, results of the current model suggest that cryopreservation and autotransplantation were cost-effective compared with the usual care for hypoparathyroidism at a large, academic institution. It is recommended that each surgical center consider whether the economic and logistical commitments necessary for cryopreservation are worthwhile for their individual needs.

Magnitude of parathyroid hormone elevation in primary hyperparathyroidism: Does time of day matter?

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid hormone demonstrates a circadian rhythm in nondiseased patients, but it is unclear if this diurnal variation persists in the context of primary hyperparathyroidism. We anecdotally noticed that parathyroid hormone levels drawn early on the morning of parathyroid surgery (preincision parathyroid hormone), were of lower magnitude than values obtained at later times in the day. If present, a time-of-day based variation in parathyroid hormone could have important clinical implications on intraoperative surgical decision making. METHODS: We performed an Institutional Review Board-approved, retrospective chart review of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism between October 2019 and February 2022 at a quaternary care referral center. Demographic, laboratory, imaging, and operative parameters were extracted. Analysis was performed using mixed models for repeated measures with a first order autoregression correlation structure. Parathyroid hormone values were compared before and after hourly intervals between 6:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. RESULTS: Of 418 patients, the mean age was 61 years old, 80% of patients were female, and two-thirds had single-gland disease. A total of 933 parathyroid hormone levels were included in the analysis and median parathyroid hormone was 97.3 pg/mL. Parathyroid hormone levels were noted to be significantly lower if they were drawn before 7:00 A.M. This diurnal variation persisted in patients with single-gland and advanced hyperparathyroidism but was abrogated in multi-gland and low-baseline-parathyroid hormone disease. CONCLUSION: In patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid hormone levels were significantly lower in the early morning hours, especially in patients with single-gland and high-baseline-parathyroid hormone hyperparathyroidism. This may have implications for intraoperative decision making when utilizing an early morning, preincision parathyroid hormone value.

Analysis of Preoperative Predictors of Single and Multigland Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative differentiation of single-gland (SG) versus multigland (MG) primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) can assist with surgical planning, treatment prognostication, and patient counseling. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative predictors of SG-PHPT. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 408 patients with PHPT who underwent parathyroidectomy at a tertiary referral center. Comprehensive preoperative parameters, including demographic, laboratory, clinical, and imaging results were analyzed. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression identified preoperative predictors of SG-PHPT. Receiver operator curves were used to analyze the predictive values of existing and novel preoperative predictive models. RESULTS: Elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) (99.1 pg/mL in SG versus 93.0 pg/mL in MG), elevated calcium (10.8 mg/dL in SG versus 10.6 mg/dL in MG), lower phosphate levels (2.80 mg/dL in SG versus 2.95 mg/dL in MG), and positive imaging (ultrasound 75.6% in SG versus 56.5% in MG; sestamibi 70.8% in SG versus 45.5% in MG) were significantly associated with SG-PHPT. The Washington University Score (a predictive scoring system made from calcium, PTH, phosphate, ultrasound, and sestamibi) and the Washington University Index ([calcium × PTH]/phosphate) were comparable to previous scoring systems used to predict SG versus MG-PHPT. CONCLUSIONS: The association of lower phosphate with SG-PHPT is a novel finding. Previously identified predictors of SG-PHPT, including elevated PTH and positive imaging were confirmed. The Washington University Score and Index are comparable to previously described models and can be used to help surgeons predict if a patient may have SG versus MG-PHPT.

Predictors and Consequences of Intraoperative Anastomotic Failure in DIEP Flaps.

BACKGROUND: Successful intraoperative microvascular anastomoses are essential for deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap survival. This study identifies factors associated with anastomotic failure during DIEP flap reconstruction and analyzes the impact of these anastomotic failures on postoperative patient outcomes and surgical costs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients undergoing DIEP flap reconstruction at two high-volume tertiary care centers from January 2017 to December 2020. Patient demographics, intraoperative management, anastomotic technique, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Data were analyzed using Student's t-tests, Chi-square analysis, and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 270 patients included in our study (mean age 52, majority Caucasian [74.5%]), intraoperative anastomotic failure occurred in 26 (9.6%) patients. Increased number of circulating nurses increased risk of anastomotic failure (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence Interval [CI] 1.00-1.03, p <0.05). Presence of a junior resident also increased risk of anastomotic failure (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.01-6.34, p <0.05). Increased surgeon years in practice was associated with decreased failures (OR 0.12, CI 0.02-0.60, p <0.05). Intraoperative anastomotic failure increased the odds of postoperative hematoma (OR 8.85, CI 1.35-59.1, p <0.05) and was associated with longer operating room times (bilateral DIEP: 2.25 hours longer, p <0.05), longer hospital stays (2.2 days longer, p <0.05), and higher total operating room cost ($28,529.50 vs. $37,272.80, p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative anastomotic failures during DIEP flap reconstruction are associated with longer, more expensive cases and increased rates of postoperative complications. Presence of increased numbers of circulators and junior residents was associated with increased risk of anastomotic failure. Future research is necessary to develop practice guidelines for optimizing patient and surgical factors for intraoperative anastomotic success.

Syndromic Hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalus, the abnormal accumulation and impaired circulation/clearance of cerebrospinal fluid, occurs as a common phenotypic feature of a diverse group of genetic syndromes. In this review, we outline the genetic mutations, pathogenesis, and accompanying symptoms underlying syndromic hydrocephalus in the context of: L1 syndrome, syndromic craniosynostoses, achondroplasia, NF 1/2, Down's syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Walker-Warburg syndrome, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and osteogenesis imperfecta. Further, we discuss emerging genetic variants associated with syndromic hydrocephalus.