Cribari, does it apply in real time? An analysis of a community level 1 trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Major Trauma Code 1 (TC1) activations require significant resources to provide immediate treatment to potentially unstable, critically ill, patients. The Cribari Matrix Method (CMM) and Need For Trauma Intervention (NFTI) are two ways to determine over and undertriage in trauma. We studied the overtriage rate at a community level 1 trauma center using these two methods to determine the efficacy of the triage criteria in TC1 activations. METHOD: A retrospective review of all patients in the trauma registry of a level 1 American College of Surgeons trauma program from May to October 2021 was performed. Overtriage rates were determined using CMM and NFTI criteria. RESULTS: The overtriage rate of 552 activations using CMM alone was 73%. CMM combined with NFTI resulted in a 56% overtriage rate. CONCLUSION: The Cribari method can be used to determine the effectiveness of a system's trauma code 1 criteria but cannot delineate which criteria should be reviewed.

Racial Differences in Head Pain and Other Pain-Related Outcomes After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Recent research suggests that mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) may exert deleterious effects on endogenous pain modulatory function, potentially underlying the elevated risk for persistent headaches following injury. Accumulating research also shows race differences in clinical and experimental pain, with African Americans (AA) generally reporting more severe pain, worse pain modulation, and greater pain sensitivity compared with Caucasians. However, race differences in pain-related outcomes following mild TBI have rarely been studied. The purpose of this study was to explore race differences in endogenous pain modulation, pain sensitivity, headache pain, and psychological factors among AA and Caucasian individuals with mild TBI in the first month following injury compared with healthy controls and across time. Patients with mild TBI were recruited from local emergency department trauma centers. Sixty-three participants with mild TBI (AAs: n = 23, Caucasians: n = 40) enrolled in this study and completed study sessions at 1-2 weeks and 1-month post-injury. Forty-one mild-TBI-free control participants (AAs: n = 11, Caucasians: n = 30), matched on age and sex, completed one study session. Assessments included a Headache Survey, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), and quantitative sensory testing (QST) to measure endogenous pain modulatory function. QST included conditioned pain modulation (CPM) to measure endogenous pain inhibitory function and temporal summation (TS) of pain and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of the head to measure pain sensitization and sensitivity. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether the outcome measures differed as a function of race, mild TBI, and time. Mediation analysis was used to explore potential mediators for the race differences in headache pain intensity. The results showed that AA participants with mild TBI reported significantly greater headache pain and pain catastrophizing and exhibited higher pain sensitivity and worse pain modulation on QST compared with Caucasian participants with mild TBI. These same race differences were not observed among the healthy TBI-free control sample. The mediation analyses showed complete mediation for the relation between race and headache pain intensity by pain catastrophizing at 1-2 weeks and 1-month post-injury. Overall, the results of this study suggest that AAs compared with Caucasians are characterized by psychological and pain modulatory profiles following mild TBI that could increase the risk for the development of intense and persistent headaches following injury.

Colonic stenting for malignant obstructions-A review of current indications and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Colonic stenting has emerged as preferred palliative treatment for left sided malignant obstructions. It shortens hospital stays, decreases healthcare cost, reduces permanent stoma rates, and expedites the start of chemotherapy. The role of stenting as a bridge-to-surgery remains unsettled. DATA SOURCE: For this paper the recommendations of the American and European society of gastroenterology and colorectal surgery were reviewed. We will discuss the benefits and risks of stenting in palliative setting and as bridge-to-surgery. Quality of life, hospital stay, and health care cost will also be considered. CONCLUSION: Non-traversable colon masses during endoscopy are considered a risk factor of development of intestinal obstruction but preventive stent placement in patients without obstructive symptoms is not recommended. The risk of technical or clinical failure is significant at 25%. If stent placement allows neoadjuvant chemotherapy, it may increase the rate of R0 resections. Perforations may raise local recurrence and mortality rates.

Emergency department disposition: Do surgical residents contribute to inefficiency?

BACKGROUND: Residents are often viewed as contributors to Emergency Department (ED) prolongation of length of stay (LOS). To understand this proposition, we performed a study to identify ED patient care intervals and how each contributed to LOS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively gathered data on 145 ED surgery consults. Residents prospectively documented patient names, page times, and time of plan. Key ED patient care intervals were then retrospectively extracted from the patient's chart. A time analysis was then performed. RESULTS: Average arrival to disposition time was 305 min, and residents averaged 47 min to see and staff consults. The longest intervals were arrival to imaging (75 min) and imaging time (73 min). Average disposition to discharge time was 170 min (36% of LOS). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery residents see and staff consults within the norms for care established by the hospital. Imaging time is a bottleneck hindering disposition. Access block also significantly increases ED LOS.

National adherence to the ASGE-SAGES guidelines for managing suspected choledocholithiasis: An EAST multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons provide guidelines for managing suspected common bile duct (CBD) stones. We sought to evaluate adherence to the guidelines among patients with choledocholithiasis and/or acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) and to evaluate the ability of these guidelines to predict choledocholithiasis. METHODS: We prospectively identified patients undergoing same-admission cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis and/or ABP from 2016 to 2019 at 12 United States medical centers. Predictors of suspected CBD stones were very strong (CBD stone on ultrasound; bilirubin >4 mg/dL), strong (CBD > 6 mm; bilirubin ≥1.8 to ≤4 mg/dL), or moderate (abnormal liver function tests other than bilirubin; age >55 years; ABP). Patients were grouped by probability of CBD stones: high (any very strong or both strong predictors), low (no predictors), or intermediate (any other predictor combination). The management of each probability group was compared with the recommended management in the guidelines. RESULTS: The cohort was comprised of 844 patients. High-probability patients had 64.3% (n = 238/370) deviation from guidelines, intermediate-probability patients had 29% (n = 132/455) deviation, and low-probability patients had 78.9% (n = 15/19) deviation. Acute biliary pancreatitis increased the odds of deviation for the high- (odds ratio [OR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-2.8; p = 0.03) and intermediate-probability groups (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.07-2.42; p = 0.02). Age older than 55 years (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.4-3.43; p < 0.001) also increased the odds of deviation for the intermediate group. A CBD greater than 6 mm predicted choledocholithiasis in the high (adjusted OR (aOR), 2.16; 95% CI, 1.17-3.97; p = 0.01) and intermediate group (aOR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.59-4.86; p < 0.001). Any very strong predictor (aOR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.76-3.37; p < 0.0001) and both strong predictors predicted choledocholithiasis (aOR, 2; 95% CI, 1.35-2.96; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Almost 45% of patients with suspected CBD stones were managed discordantly from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons guidelines. We believe these guidelines warrant revision to better reflect the ability of the clinical variables at predicting choledocholithiasis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Physical activity behavior in the first month after mild traumatic brain injury is associated with physiological and psychological risk factors for chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-reported physical activity (PA) in the first month after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) predicts endogenous pain modulatory function and pain catastrophizing at 1 to 2 weeks and 1 month after injury in patients with mTBI. METHODS: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury completed study sessions at 1 to 2 weeks and 1 month after injury. Assessments included a headache survey, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, and several quantitative sensory tests to measure endogenous pain modulatory function including conditioned pain modulation (CPM), temporal summation, and pressure pain thresholds of the head. Hierarchical linear regressions determined the relationship between the PA variables (predictors) and pain catastrophizing and pain modulation variables (dependent variables) cross-sectionally and longitudinally, while controlling for potential covariates. RESULTS: In separate hierarchical regression models, moderate PA, walking, and total PA at 1 to 2 weeks after injury predicted pain inhibition on the CPM test at 1 month, after controlling for significant covariates. In addition, a separate regression revealed that minutes sitting at 1 month predicted CPM at 1 month. Regarding predicting pain catastrophizing, the regression results showed that sitting at 1 to 2 weeks after injury significantly predicted pain catastrophizing at 1 month after injury. CONCLUSION: Greater self-reported PA, especially moderate PA, 1 to 2 weeks after injury longitudinally predicted greater pain inhibitory capacity on the CPM test at 1 month after injury in patients with mTBI. In addition, greater sedentary behavior was associated with worse pain inhibition on the CPM test and greater pain catastrophizing at 1 month after injury.

The effect of prolonged antibiotics on postoperative complications for common bile duct stones: A post hoc analysis of an EAST multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial guidance for common bile duct (CBD) stones is limited. We sought to examine the effect of antibiotic duration on infectious complications in patients with choledocholithiasis and/or gallstone pancreatitis. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of a prospective, observational, multicenter study of patients undergoing same admission cholecystectomy for choledocholithiasis and gallstone pancreatitis between 2016 and 2019. We excluded patients with cholangitis and/or cholecystitis. Patients were divided into groups based on duration of antibiotics: prophylactic (<24 hours) or prolonged (≥24 hours). We analyzed these two groups in the preoperative and postoperative periods. Outcomes included infectious complications, acute kidney injury (AKI), and hospital length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: There were 755 patients in the cohort. Increasing age, CBD diameter, and a preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-2.73; p < 0.001) significantly predicted prolonged preoperative antibiotic use. Increasing age, operative duration, and a postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-13.65; p < 0.001) significantly predicted prolonged postoperative antibiotic use. Rates of infectious complications were similar between groups, but LOS was 2 days longer for patients receiving overall prolonged antibiotics (p < 0.0001). Patients with AKI received two more days of overall antibiotic therapy (p = 0.02) compared with those without AKI. CONCLUSION: Rates of postoperative infectious complications were similar among patients treated with a prolonged or prophylactic course of antibiotics. Prolonged antibiotic use was associated with a longer LOS and AKI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level IV.

Biliary hyperkinesia: an indication for cholecystectomy?

BACKGROUND: The main indications for laparoscopic cholecystectomy are stone-related diseases in adults. With a normal abdominal ultrasound (US), a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan with ejection fraction (EF) is recommended to evaluate gallbladder function. Biliary dyskinesia or low gallbladder EF (EF < 35%) is a recognized indication for cholecystectomy. Recent articles report long-term resolution of symptoms in children with high EFs on the HIDA scan. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the response of patients with biliary colic and hyperkinetic gallbladder to cholecystectomy. We suggest that laparoscopic cholecystectomy might be a considerable surgical option in a subset of the adult population whose workup for food-related biliary abdominal pain is negative except for the high-value EF on HIDA scan. METHODS: Data were consecutively collected from all patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between June 2012 and June 2019 at a single institution. Cases were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Patients older than 17 years of age with the negative US (no stone, no sludge, no gallbladder wall thickening) and EF greater than 80% on cholecystokinin (CCK)-HIDA scan were included in this study. All patients were seen at 2 weeks and 10-16 months after surgeries. RESULTS: Over 7 years from June 2012 until June 2019, of 2116 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 59 patients (2.78%) met study criteria. Postprandial abdominal pain was the most common symptom (43, 72.90%) followed by nausea/vomiting. Forty-seven patients (74.6%) had a reproduction of symptoms with CCK infusion. The average EF was 88.51%. Final pathology showed chronic cholecystitis in 41 (69.5%) patients, cholesterolosis in 13 (22%), polyp in 2 (3.4%). Thirty-six (61%) patients had complete resolution of symptoms, 9 (15%) patients had partial resolution, and 14 (24%) patients had no change. There was a complete resolution rate of 61% and an improvement rate of 76%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with biliary symptoms, negative ultrasound, and elevated EF on HIDA scan (EF > 80%), laparoscopic cholecystectomy led to a significant rate of symptomatic relief. Interestingly, 94% also had unexpected pathologic findings. This disease process requires further analysis, but this could represent a new indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the adult population.

The role of deficient pain modulatory systems in the development of persistent post-traumatic headaches following mild traumatic brain injury: an exploratory longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic headache (PTH) is one of the most common and long-lasting symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the pathological mechanisms underlying the development of persistent PTH remain poorly understood. The primary purpose of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate whether early pain modulatory profiles (sensitization and endogenous pain inhibitory capacity) and psychological factors after mild TBI predict the development of persistent PTH in mild TBI patients. METHODS: Adult mild TBI patients recruited from Level I Emergency Department Trauma Centers completed study sessions at 1-2 weeks, 1-month, and 4-months post mild TBI. Participants completed the following outcome measures during each session: conditioned pain modulation to measure endogenous pain inhibitory capacity, temporal summation of pain and pressure pain thresholds of the head to measure sensitization of the head, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale, and a standardized headache survey. Participants were classified into persistent PTH (PPTH) and no-PPTH groups based on the 4-month data. RESULTS: The results revealed that mild TBI patients developing persistent PTH exhibited significantly diminished pain inhibitory capacity, and greater depression and pain catastrophizing following injury compared to those who do not develop persistent PTH. Furthermore, logistic regression indicated that headache pain intensity at 1-2 weeks and pain inhibitory capacity on the conditioned pain modulation test at 1-2 weeks predicted persistent PTH classification at 4 months post injury. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results suggested that persistent PTH is characterized by dysfunctional alterations in endogenous pain modulatory function and psychological processes in the early stages following mild TBI, which likely exacerbate risk for the maintenance of PTH.

Cross-sectional imaging of the torso reveals occult injuries in asymptomatic blunt trauma patients.

Background: High morbidity and mortality rates of trauma injuries make early detection and correct diagnosis crucial for increasing patient's survival and quality of life after an injury. Improvements in technology have facilitated the rapid detection of injuries, especially with the use of computed tomography (CT). However, the increased use of CT imaging is not universally advocated for. Some advocate for the use of selective CT imaging, especially in cases where the severity of the injury is low. The purpose of this study is to review the CT indications, findings, and complications in patients with low Injury Severity Scores (ISS) to determine the utility of torso CT in this patient cohort. Methods: A retrospective review of non-intubated, adult blunt trauma patients with an initial GCS of 14 or 15 evaluated in an ACS verified level 1 trauma center from July 2012 to June 2015 was performed. Data was obtained from the hospital's trauma registry and chart review, with the following data included: age, sex, injury type, ISS, physical exam findings, all injuries recorded, injuries detected by torso CT, missed injuries, and complications. The statistical tests conducted in the analysis of the collected data were chi-squared, Fischer exact test, and ANOVA analysis. Results: There were 2306 patients included in this study, with a mean ISS of 8. For patients with a normal chest exam that had a chest CT, 15% were found to have an occult chest injury. In patients with a negative chest exam and negative chest X-ray, 35% had occult injuries detected on chest CT. For patients with a negative abdominal exam and CT abdomen and pelvis, 16% were found to have an occult injury on CT. Lastly, 25% of patients with normal chest, abdomen, and pelvis exams with chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT scans demonstrated occult injuries. Asymptomatic patients with a negative CT had a length of stay 1 day less than patients without a corresponding CT. No incidents of contrast-induced complications were recorded. Conclusions: A negative physical exam combined with a normal chest X-ray does not rule out the presence of occult injuries and the need for torso imaging. In blunt trauma patients with normal sensorium, physical exam and chest X-ray, the practice of obtaining cross-sectional imaging appears beneficial by increasing the accuracy of total injury burden and decreasing the length of stay.

Feasibility and safety of a novel electromagnetic device for small-bore feeding tube placement.

BACKGROUND: Misplacement of enteral feeding tubes (EFT) in the lungs is a serious and potentially fatal event. A recent Food and Drug Administration Patient Safety Alert emphasized the need for improved technology for the safe and effective delivery of EFTs. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the feasibility and safety of ENvue, a novel electromagnetic tracking system (EMTS) to aid qualified operators in the placement of EFT. METHODS: This is a prospective, single-arm study of patients in intensive care units at two US hospitals who required EFTs. The primary outcome was appropriate placement of EFTs without occurrence of guidance-related adverse events (AEs), as confirmed by both EMTS and radiography. Secondary outcomes were reconfirmation of the EFT tip location at a follow-up visit using the EMTS compared with radiography, tube retrograde migration from initial location and AEs. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. EFTs were successfully placed in 57 patients. In eight patients, placement was unsuccessful due to anatomic abnormalities. According to both the EMTS and radiography, no lung placements occurred. No pneumothoraces were reported, nor any guidance-related AEs. Precise agreement of tube tip location was achieved between the EMTS evaluations and radiographs for 56 of the 58 (96.5%) successful placements (one patient had two placements). Tube tip location was re-confirmed 12-49 hours after EFT insertion by the EMTS and radiographs in 48 patients (84%). For 43/48 patients (89.5%), full agreement between the EMTS and radiography evaluations was observed. For the five remaining patients, the misalignment between the evaluations was within the gastrointestinal tract. Retrograde migration from the initial location was observed in 4/49 patients (8%). CONCLUSION: A novel electromagnetic system demonstrated feasibility and safety of real-time and follow-up tracking of EFT placement into the stomach and small intestine, as confirmed by radiographs. No inadvertent placements into the lungs were documented. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V (large case series).

Impact of Residents on Safety Outcomes in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

INTRODUCTION: New training programs face quality concern by faculty who believe resident involvement in operative management may lead to poorer outcomes. This study aims to understand the impact of resident surgeons on outcomes in a specific common surgical procedure. METHODS: We obtained a retrospective review of 1216 laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases between June 2012 and June 2017 at a community teaching hospital. Data reviewed included patient demographics, operative time, length of stay, 30-day outcomes. An initial analysis comparing outcomes with/without resident participation was undertaken. A subset analysis comparing junior (PGY 1-2) and senior (PGY 3-5) groups was also performed. RESULTS: We found the resident group participated in higher-risk patient (ASA > 3, 47.5% vs 39.8%, p = 0.04 more acute disease (59.8% vs 37.5%, p < 0.0001) and emergent surgery (59.7% vs 37.5%, p < 0.0001). Resident involvement in severe cases was not a significant factor in the odds of morbidity, mortality, conversion rate or length of stay. Resident participation did increase the odds of having longer OR time (OR 12.54, 95% CI 7.74-17.34, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Resident participation is associated with increased operative times but not complications. This study confirms resident participation in the operating room in difficult and challenging cases is safe.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine microadenomatosis presenting as a functional VIPoma.

Pancreatic microadenomas are benign tumors of neuroendocrine origin less than 5 mm in size. Whereas most microadenomas are non-functional; a few rare functional pancreatic microadenomas have been described in the setting of multiple endocrine neoplasia type one (MEN-1). In this report, we describe a unique case of multiple functional microadenomas of the pancreatic head in a patient who presented with persistent secretory diarrhea, refractory hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis and elevated plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels. Following extensive serologic, radiographic and endoscopic work up, our patient underwent open pancreaticoduodenectomy with subsequent resolution of diarrheal symptoms and electrolyte abnormalities on postoperative follow up.

Opening the Black Box of Peer Review.

In this Backstory, Cell Stem Cell Senior Scientific Editor Jonathan Saxe presents a case study of two Cell Stem Cell papers published in 2018. Using the correspondences between authors, editors, and reviewers as tools, he provides broader insights and tips into navigating the journal's editorial consideration process.

An Exploratory Study of Endogenous Pain Modulatory Function in Patients Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Recent animal research suggests that mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) facilitates abnormal endogenous modulation of pain, potentially underlying the increased risk for persistent headaches following injury. However, no human studies have directly assessed the functioning of endogenous facilitory and inhibitory systems in the early stages after an mTBI. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine trigeminal sensitization and endogenous pain inhibitory capacity in mTBI patients in the acute stage of injury compared with matched controls. We also examined whether post-traumatic headache pain intensity within the mTBI sample was related to sensitization and pain inhibitory capacity. METHODS: Twenty-four mTBI patients recruited from emergency departments and 21 age-, race-, and sex-matched controls completed one experimental session. During this session, participants completed quantitative sensory tests measuring trigeminal sensitization (pressure pain thresholds and temporal summation of pain in the head) and endogenous pain inhibition (conditioned pain modulation). Participants also completed validated questionnaires measuring headache pain, depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing. RESULTS: The results revealed that the mTBI group exhibited significantly decreased pressure pain thresholds of the head and decreased pain inhibition on the conditioned pain modulation test compared with the control group. Furthermore, correlational analysis showed that the measures of trigeminal sensitization and depression were significantly associated with headache pain intensity within the mTBI group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, mTBI patients may be at risk for maladaptive changes to the functioning of endogenous pain modulatory systems following head injury that could increase risk for post-traumatic headaches.

Do contradictions in TQIP measures affect perceptions of quality. An analysis of TQIP definitions on quality outcomes for placement of ICP monitoring at a single level one trauma center.

BACKGROUND: TQIP quality measures as currently defined on occasion provide discordant conclusions. A recent TQIP report of an urban level one-trauma center suggested a low employment of ICP monitoring while also demonstrating aggressive implementation of ICP monitoring (ave. within 90 min of arrival). This apparent contradiction leads to the question; Does TQIP define correctly the patient cohort who would most benefit from ICP monitoring? METHODS: A retrospective IRB approved review of all patients reported to TQIP with severe TBI was performed at an ACS verified level one trauma center. All patients admitted to the TS during the TQIP study period were reviewed. Demographic data as well as AIS, ISS, GCS, injury type and outcomes were reviewed. Data were reported as aggregate. RESULTS: Trauma registry review determined 108 patients met the TQIP definition for severe TBI. Analysis of these patients revealed only 58%(63) met clinical criteria for severe TBI. In this group 45.4%(49) suffered non-survivable TBI. ICP monitoring was not initiated in this subgroup of patients. 42%(45) of the patients were determined to have mild to moderate TBI. In this cohort the initial GCS reported in the trauma registry overestimated the severity of the TBI in 19.4%(21) of the patients. ICP monitoring was initiated 29%(30) patients. The analysis would indicate 13%(14) would have benefited from ICP monitoring indicating an 15%(16) over utilization. The majority of these patients sustained meaningful neurologic recovery indicating a better-defined criterion may be necessary to determine when ICP monitoring is a quality indicator. CONCLUSION: This study indicates the current TQIP definition used to justify ICP monitoring appears to overestimate the number of patients who would benefit from ICP monitoring. The corrected quality analysis indicates an overutilization rather than an underutilization of ICP monitoring. Further study of the effect of definitions on quality measures should be considered.

HCAHPS scores as a surrogate for quality does not correlate with TQIP quality measures at a level 1 trauma center.

BACKGROUND: The Trauma Quality Improvement Program was designed by the American College of Surgeons to measure quality benchmarks across American College of Surgeons-certified trauma centers. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey was developed to report patient satisfaction with inpatient care and has been used as a surrogate for quality of care by the Affordable Care Act. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of hospitals' Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data to the Trauma Quality Improvement Program quality analysis. METHODS: A retrospective review of available Trauma Quality Improvement Program and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems results from an American College of Surgeons level 1 trauma center 2016-2017 was performed. Trauma Quality Improvement Program and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data were represented as either above, at, or below the mean of national data and were analyzed using the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores from wards participating in care of trauma patients were summarized by perceived level of quality. Trauma Quality Improvement Program data for risk-adjusted mortality were included in analysis for all trauma admissions. The Fisher exact test was used to analyze contingency tables of data and was found to support the null hypothesis (P = .1109). CONCLUSION: Overall Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems rating is most significant for hospitals because it is a global view of patient satisfaction and is used to determine a portion of hospital reimbursement. It is believed that higher patient satisfaction is correlated with lower readmission rates and improved outcomes, thus resulting in cost savings for hospitals. However, it appears that overall Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems rating does not correlate with measured outcomes in terms of risk-adjusted mortality for trauma admissions. It is suggested from these data that trauma patients be considered independently from other hospitalizations and that Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems may not be an appropriate tool to determine reimbursement for trauma admission.

Acute Paraesophageal Hernia: Laparoscopic Repair With Adjunct T-Fastener Gastropexy for the High Operative Risk Patient.

BACKGROUND: In the emergent setting, most paraesophageal hernia (PEH) repairs are done by laparotomy with adjunct gastropexy or gastrostomy tube (GT) placement. This adjunct to the repair can be performed expeditiously by a laparoscopic approach by utilizing T-fasteners. We present our case series of patients with PEHs and acute gastric volvulus that were managed with laparoscopy and how patient characteristics can influence the repair technique. METHODS: Patients with high operative risk who underwent laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with adjunct T-fastener gastropexy in the emergent setting between July 2014 and July 2016 were included in this study. RESULTS: Thirteen patients underwent successful PEH repair and all were classified as urgent/emergent upon admission. In total, 30.7% were performed laparoscopically. The median patient age was 84 years. A laparoscopic GT or gastropexy was performed for fixation of the stomach. Crural closure by an anterior cruroplasty was performed in all patients. There were no mortalities. One patient required conversion of gastropexy into a GT given symptoms of dysphagia. Prolonged length of stay was related to postdischarge institutionalization. All patients remained free of obstructive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic PEH repair with adjunct gastropexy or GT placement should be considered in emergent cases for elderly patients with predominately obstructive symptoms. Laparoscopy for PEH repair is challenging and requires technical skills. T-fastener gastropexy or GT placement is safe, simple, and obviates the need for intracorporeal suturing. It also may be used to improve physician comfort with laparoscopy and to expedite the repair in this high-risk population.