A Comparison of Postoperative Outcomes between Unilateral and Bilateral Palatoplasty: Analysis of 2015-2020 Pediatric NSQIP Data.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify differences in 30-day medical and surgical complications in unilateral versus bilateral palatoplasty. DESIGN: The NSQIP-P 2015-2020 database was queried to identify cleft palate repairs using CPT codes. Cases were stratified as unilateral (Veau III) and bilateral (Veau IV) using ICD-9 and -10 codes. SETTING: A nationally representative random sample. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3791 cases were identified with 2608 undergoing unilateral repair and 1183 undergoing bilateral repair. MAIN OUTCOMES/MEASURES: The postoperative outcomes of interest included surgical complications (surgical site infections, wound dehiscence), medical complications (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, seizure, cardiac arrest, bleeding/transfusions, systemic sepsis, unplanned intubation), readmission, and reoperation. RESULTS: The bilateral cohort was older (696 days versus 619 days, P < .001) and had longer operative times (157.3 min versus 144.5 min, P < .001). The unilateral cohort had more comorbidities including developmental delay, structural CNS abnormalities, need for nutritional support, and bleeding disorders. The bilateral cohort had statistically significant higher occurrences of wound dehiscence (2.1% versus. 1.2%, P = .03) and readmission (3.2% versus 1.7%, P = .01). On multivariate analysis, bilateral cleft repair (OR: 1.83, CI: 1.176-2.840, P = .007) and ASA class 4 (OR: 13.1, CI 2.288- 62.586, P = .002) were associated with greater odds of readmission. CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent bilateral cleft repair had a higher proportion of 30-day postoperative complications and a two-fold increased odds of readmission. While palatoplasty is generally regarded as a safe procedure in the pediatric population, identifying factors related to an increased risk of early postoperative complications can help surgical teams better manage high-risk individuals.

The Association Between Interview Day and Rank Order in Plastic Surgery Match: Is Recency Effect to Blame?

INTRODUCTION: Plastic and reconstructive surgery is among the most competitive specialties in the National Resident Matching Program match. Though efforts to institute unbiased and equitable measures of an applicant's success have been made, many barriers still hinder suitable applicants from successfully matching. We sought to identify whether interview day influenced applicants' likelihood of being ranked favorably in both independent and integrated plastic surgery residency programs at a single academic institution. METHODS: Data from 10 years of independent plastic surgery applicants and 8 years of integrated plastic surgery applicants were queried. Data regarding whether applicants were interviewed on day 1, day 2, or during subinternships (integrated cohort only) and what number they were on the programs rank list were included in the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 226 independent applicants 237 integrated applicants were identified. For integrated applicants, those who interviewed on day 1 were weighted toward worse rank scores. Applicants who interviewed during their subinternship had a bimodal distribution either ranking favorably or poorly. Integrated applicants who interviewed on the second day were more likely to be ranked in the first quartile. For those who interviewed on day 1, the odds of being ranked in the last quartile was 2.34 times higher than those who interviewed on day 2 (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrating that interview day may influence an applicant's final rank in the MATCH. Further study is needed to determine if this effect is can be observed in other academic plastic surgery programs.

A Custom Stabilizing Splint for the Management of BLCP with Protruding Premaxilla.

A severely protruding premaxilla in a patient with bilateral cleft lip and palate prevents functional closure of the orbicularis oris muscle and acceptable reconstruction of the nasolabial components during primary cheiloplasty. This is typically corrected with vomerine osteotomy and premaxillary setback, followed by cheiloplasty and rhinoplasty. Due to the risk of vascular compromise to the prolabium and premaxillary segment, the lip and nose repair is often staged after the vomerine osteotomy and premaxillary setback has healed. Stabilizing the premaxillary segment to allow adequate healing has been a topic of interest. Several methods have been described, but each is associated with varying degrees of compromise of the blood supply to the premaxilla. To combat this, the authors created a custom oral splint that effectively maintained the position of the premaxilla with minimal impingement of the blood supply. The authors present two cases in which a two-stage premaxillary setback with a custom-stabilizing oral splint was performed, followed by primary cheiloplasty and rhinoplasty in an age-appropriate and delayed presentation of bilateral cleft lip and palate and protruding premaxilla.

Sex-dependent role of Pannexin 1 in regulating skeletal muscle and satellite cell function.

The development and regeneration of skeletal muscle are mediated by satellite cells (SCs), which ensure the efficient formation of myofibers while repopulating the niche that allows muscle repair following injuries. Pannexin 1 (Panx1) channels are expressed in SCs and their levels increase during differentiation in vitro, as well as during skeletal muscle development and regeneration in vivo. Panx1 has recently been shown to regulate muscle regeneration by promoting bleb-based myoblast migration and fusion. While skeletal muscle is largely influenced in a sex-specific way, the sex-dependent roles of Panx1 in regulating skeletal muscle and SC function remain to be investigated. Here, using global Panx1 knockout (KO) mice, we demonstrate that Panx1 loss reduces muscle fiber size and strength, decreases SC number, and alters early SC differentiation and myoblast fusion in male, but not in female mice. Interestingly, while both male and female Panx1 KO mice display an increase in the number of regenerating fibers following acute injury, the newly formed fibers in male Panx1 KO mice are smaller. Overall, our results demonstrate that Panx1 plays a significant role in regulating muscle development, regeneration, and SC number and function in male mice and reveal distinct sex-dependent functions of Panx1 in skeletal muscle.

Reproductive health at conflict borders: a cross-sectional survey of human rights violations and perinatal outcomes at the Thai-Myanmar border.

BACKGROUND: Human rights violations (HRVs) are common in conflict and displacement contexts. Women are especially vulnerable to HRVs in these contexts, and perinatal health is acutely sensitive to related stressors and health care barriers. However, how HRVs affect immediate and long-term perinatal health in chronic displacement settings has not been closely investigated. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether and how HRVs in these contexts are tied directly to displacement circumstances or other marginalizing factors affecting local migrant and minority populations generally. METHODS: We investigated these questions using novel survey data from 577 women at the northern Thai-Myanmar border, where thousands of people have fled conflict in Shan State, Myanmar, for refuge in a range of precarious settings in Thailand, including unofficial refugee camps, villages, and worksites. We compared HRV exposures by ethnicity, country of birth, legal documentation, and residential setting. We then analyzed perinatal outcomes associated with HRV frequency, timing, and type. RESULTS: Birth in Myanmar, and ethnic minority and precarious legal status more broadly, predicted higher HRV prevalence. HRV frequency significantly predicted unmet antenatal care and lower birth weight, along with HRVs related to labor exploitation and violence or conflict. HRVs timed closer to pregnancies were more adversely associated with perinatal outcomes. Resource/property deprivation was the strongest predictor of pregnancy complications. CONCLUSIONS: Human rights must be urgently attended to, through expanded HRV screenings and responsive care, and policy changes to further protect migrant workers, displaced persons, and others in precarious legal status situations.

Resident Perspectives on Effective Surgical Training: Incivility, Confidence, and Mindset.

OBJECTIVE: Ample evidence exists that one's internal state (e.g., mindset, emotion) impacts one's performance. Both the military and sports organizations have focused on optimizing internal states of their service members and athletes, respectively, to improve performance and wellbeing. The internal states of surgical residents and the factors that influence their internal states have not yet been examined. Our goal is to better understand whether certain internal states are beneficial for resident operative performance, and how to optimize these during surgical training. DESIGN: A 17-question survey, containing both open-ended and multiple-choice questions, was distributed to all (n = 134) surgical residents at the University of Wisconsin. In open-ended questions, recurring themes were identified utilizing content analysis. Recurring themes stated by 25% or more of the respondents are reported. SETTING: Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. PARTICIPANTS: Surgical residents at the University of Wisconsin. RESULTS: The survey response rate varied between n = 47 (35%) and n = 32 (24%), as not all respondents answered all questions. (1) Effective surgical educators were identified to demonstrate humanism and focus on teaching. (2) Nearly all residents affirmed that certain mindsets help them excel in the OR, including positive and confident mindsets. (3) Nearly all residents affirmed that faculty and senior residents influence their mindsets. (4) Constructive resident mindsets were promoted by positive faculty behaviors and personal preparation, while negative faculty behaviors were identified to stifle constructive mindsets. (5) Factors contributing to favorable OR performance included personal preparation and positive OR environments. (6) Factors contributing to poor OR performance included inadequate preparation and negative interactions with faculty. CONCLUSIONS: Residents near unanimously believe that certain mindsets help them excel, and that faculty impact their mindsets. As teachers, we must strive to better understand how to foster constructive mindsets in residents to optimize learning, performance, and wellbeing.