Preliminary data demonstrate the Geriatric Surgery Verification program reduces postoperative length of stay.

OBJECTIVES/BACKGROUND: The Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) Program promotes clinical standards aimed to optimize the quality of surgical care delivered to older adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if preliminary implementation of the GSV Program standards improves surgical outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective study with cohort matching. SETTING: Data from a single institution compared with a national data set cohort. PARTICIPANTS: All patients aged ≥75 years undergoing inpatient operations between January 2018 and December 2019 were included. Cohort matching by age and procedure code was performed using a national data set. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline pre- and intraoperative characteristics prospectively recorded using Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) variable definitions. Postoperative outcomes were recorded including complications as defined by VASQIP, 30-day mortality, and length of stay. RESULTS: A total of 162 patients participated in the GSV program, and 308 patients comprised the matched comparison group. There was no difference in postoperative occurrence of one or more complications (p = 0.81) or 30-day mortality (p = 0.61). Patients cared for by the GSV Program had a reduced postoperative length of stay (median 4 days [range 1,31] vs. 5 days [range 1,86]; p < 0.01; and mean 5.4 ± 4.8 vs. 8.8 ± 11.8 days; p < 0.01) compared with the matched cohort. In a multivariable regression model, the GSV Program's reduced length of stay was independent of other associated covariates including age, operative time, and comorbidities (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Preliminary implementation of the GSV Program standards reduces length of stay in older adults undergoing inpatient operations. This finding demonstrates both the clinical and financial value of the GSV Program.

Resumen ejecutivo del documento de consenso SEORL CCC-SEEN sobre hipoparatiroidismo postiroidectomía / Executive summary of the SEORL CCC-SEEN consensus statement on post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism

El hipoparatiroidismo es la complicación más frecuente tras la tiroidectomía total. Se define por la presencia de hipocalcemia con unos niveles de hormona paratiroidea (PTH) bajos o inadecuadamente normales. La hipocalcemia aguda es una complicación potencialmente grave. Su tratamiento se basa, según la gravedad del cuadro, en la administración de calcio por vía oral o intravenosa, pudiendo requerir asimismo calcitriol oral. El riesgo de hipocalcemia sintomática tras una tiroidectomía es muy bajo si la PTH postoperatoria desciende menos del 80% respecto de la preoperatoria. Estos pacientes podrían ser dados de alta sin tratamiento, aunque los umbrales son variables entre laboratorios y recomendamos extremar la vigilancia en los casos de riesgo aumentado (enfermedad de Graves, grandes bocios, reintervenciones o constancia de la extirpación de alguna paratiroides). El tratamiento a largo plazo busca controlar los síntomas manteniendo la calcemia en el límite bajo de la normalidad, vigilando el producto calcio-fósforo y la aparición de hipercalciuria

Hypoparathyroidism is the most common complication after total or completion thyroidectomy. It is defined as the presence of hypocalcemia accompanied by low or inappropriately normal parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Acute hypocalcemia is a potential lethal complication. Hypocalcemia treatment is based on endovenous or oral calcium supplements as well as oral calcitriol, depending on the severity of the symptoms. The risk of clinical hypocalcemia after bilateral thyroidectomy is considered very low if postoperative intact PTH decrease less than 80% with respect to preoperative levels. These patients could be discharged home without treatment, although this threshold may vary between institutions, and we recommend close surveillance in cases with increased risk (Graves disease, large goiters, reinterventions or evidence of parathyroid gland removal). Long-term treatment objectives are to control the symptoms and to keep serum calcium levels at the lower limit of the normal range, while preserving the calcium phosphate product and avoiding hypercalciuria

Emergency Department Medical Clearance of Patients with Psychiatric or Behavioral Emergencies, Part 1.

Patients presenting to the emergency department with mental illness or behavioral complaints merit workup for underlying physical conditions that can trigger, mimic, or worsen psychiatric symptoms. However, interdisciplinary consensus on medical clearance is lacking, leading to wide variations in quality of care and, quite often, poor medical care. Psychiatry and emergency medicine specialty guidelines support a tailored, customized approach. This article summarizes best-practice approaches to the medical clearance of patients with psychiatric illness, tips on history taking, system reviews, clinical or physical examination, and common pitfalls in the medical clearance process.

Emergency Department Medical Clearance of Patients with Psychiatric or Behavioral Emergencies, Part 2: Special Psychiatric Populations and Considerations.

Patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with mental illness or behavioral complaints merit workup for underlying physical conditions that can trigger, mimic, or worsen psychiatric symptoms. However, there are wide variations in quality of care for these individuals. Psychiatry and emergency medicine specialty guidelines support a tailored, customized approach to patients. Our group has long advocated a dynamic comanagement approach for medical clearance in the ED, and this article summarizes best-practice approaches to the medical clearance of patients with psychiatric illness, tips on history taking, system reviews, clinical/physical examination, and common pitfalls in the medical clearance process.

Adherence to Preoperative Cardiac Clearance Guidelines in Hip Fracture Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To identify if preoperative cardiac consultations are made in accordance with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Foundation and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines and the delays in care after unnecessary consults. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective review of 315 patients with hip fractures admitted over a 2-year period was conducted. After excluding patients younger than 65 years and those admitted by the general surgery trauma service, 266 patients were included. INTERVENTION: Criteria meeting the ACC/AHA guidelines for preoperative cardiac consultations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Time to surgical intervention and total hospital length of stay. RESULTS: Of the 266 patients reviewed, 55 patients (21%) received preoperative cardiac consultations, whereas 211 patients did not. Only 16 of the 55 patients (29%) with cardiac consults met the ACC/AHA guidelines, whereas 39 patients received unnecessary cardiac consults. Of the 247 patients (39 with consults and 208 without consults) who did not meet the guidelines, those who received a preoperative cardiac consult had a significantly longer average time to surgery (43.9 vs. 23.1 hours) (P = 0.005) and hospital length of stay (7.9 vs. 5.3 days) (P = 0.010). There were no significant differences in postoperative complications or disposition. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative cardiac consults are frequently overused and lead to delays to surgical intervention and longer hospital length of stay while not revealing any further need for cardiac intervention or changing the rate of adverse events. Stricter adherence to the ACC/AHA guidelines will help decrease surgical delay and hospital length of stay.