Reducing Unplanned Intubations in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit After Children's Surgery: A Quality Improvement Project.

BACKGROUND: Unplanned intubation following children's surgery is associated with increased postoperative mortality. In response to being a National Surgical Quality Improvement Program - Pediatric (NSQIP-P) high outlier for postoperative unplanned intubation, we aimed to reduce postoperative unplanned intubation events by 25% in one year. METHODS/INTERVENTION: A multidisciplinary team of stakeholders was assembled in 2018. Most unplanned intubation events occurred in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Based on apparent causes of unplanned intubations identified in case reviews, an extubation readiness checklist and a postoperative pain management guideline emphasizing non-opioid analgesics were implemented for NICU patients in September 2019. Postoperative unplanned intubation events were tracked prospectively and evaluated using quality improvement statistical process control methods. RESULTS: Unplanned intubations in the NICU decreased from 0.27 to 0.07 events per patient in the post-intervention group (September 2019-June 2022, n = 145) compared to the pre-intervention group (January 2016-August 2019, n = 200), representing a 76% reduction. Postoperative opioid administration decreased significantly, while acetaminophen usage increased significantly over time. Balancing measures of postoperative pneumonia rate (1.5% vs 0.0%, p = 0.267) and median hospital length of stay [40 (IQR 51) days vs 27 (IQR 60), p = 0.124] were not different between cohorts. The 30-day mortality rate for postoperative patients in the NICU significantly declined [6.5% (n = 13) vs 0.7% (n = 1), p < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative unplanned intubation rates for NICU patients decreased following a quality improvement effort focused on opioid stewardship and extubation readiness. TYPE OF STUDY: Prospective Quality Improvement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Implementation of a new definition for acute kidney injury in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project: What is the impact?

BACKGROUND: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project is the preeminent surgical quality database, but it undercaptures acute kidney injury. Recently, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project lowered the thresholds for acute kidney injury for the first time, so we assessed the impact of implementing the definition change on the rate of acute kidney injuries. METHODS: For this interrupted time series analysis, we assembled 2 institutional National Surgical Quality Improvement Project files to identify adults undergoing inpatient noncardiac nonvascular surgery. The acute kidney injury definition changed on July 1, 2021, so patients were stratified by their operative date into 12-month pre and post groups. Weighted covariate propensity score matching and logistic regression were used to balance the periods and compare outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 4,784 adults were eligible (55% pre and 45% post change). The overall rate of postoperative outcomes was similar, aside for acute kidney injury (pre 0.3%, post 5.6%, P < .0001). Regardless of the period, patients with acute kidney injuries had significantly longer lengths of stay and morbidity and mortality rates compared to those without an acute kidney injury. After the definition change, 81% of acute kidney injuries were stage I, and none were identified by urine output alone. After matching, surgery after the definition change was associated with an increased weighted odds of an acute kidney injury compared to surgery before the change (odds ratio 26.2; 95% confidence interval, 12.1-56.8). CONCLUSION: In the year after the definition change, there was a 1,700% relative increase in the rate of reported acute kidney injuries. Newly identified acute kidney injuries are associated with high complication rates, and this definition change has implications for patient counseling, research, and quality reporting.

Value Added from Same-day Discharge after Appendectomy for Children with Simple Appendicitis.

Same-day discharge of children after appendectomy for simple appendicitis is safe and associated with enhanced parent satisfaction. Our general pediatric surgeons aimed to improve the rate of same-day discharge after appendectomy for simple appendicitis. Methods: We implemented a clinical practice guideline in September 2019. A surgeon-of-the-week service model and the urgent operating room started in November 2019 and January 2020, respectively. Data for children with simple appendicitis from our academic medical center were gathered prospectively using National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric. Patient outcomes before intervention implementation (n = 278) were compared with patients following implementation (n = 264). Results: The average monthly percentage of patients discharged on the day of surgery increased in the postimplementation group (32% versus 75%). Median postoperative length of stay decreased [16.5 hours (interquartile range, 15.9) versus 4.4 hours (interquartile range, 11.7), P < 0.001], and the proportion of patients discharged directly from the postoperative anesthesia care unit increased (22.8% versus 43.6%; P < 0.001). There were no differences in balancing measures, including the return to the emergency department and readmission. Fewer children were discharged home on oral antibiotics after implementation (6.8% versus 1.5%, P = 0.002), and opioid prescribing at discharge remained low (2.5% versus 1.1%, P = 0.385). Conclusions: Using quality improvement methodology and care standardization, we significantly improved the rate of same-day discharge after appendectomy for simple appendicitis without impacting emergency department visits or readmissions. As a result, our health care system saved 140 hospital days over the first 21 months.

Reduction of surgical site infections in pediatric patients with complicated appendicitis: Utilization of antibiotic stewardship principles and quality improvement methodology.

BACKGROUND: The rate of surgical site infection (SSI) after appendectomy for complicated appendicitis (CA) was high at our children's hospital. We hypothesized that practice standardization, including obtaining intra-operative cultures of abdominal fluid in patients with CA, would improve outcomes and reduce healthcare utilization after appendectomy. METHODS: A quality improvement team designed and implemented a clinical practice guideline for CA that included obtaining intra-operative culture of purulent fluid, administering piperacillin/tazobactam for at least 72 h post-operatively, and transitioning to oral antibiotics based on intraoperative culture data. We compared outcomes before and after guideline implementation. RESULTS: From July 2018-October 2019, 63 children underwent appendectomy for CA compared to 41 children from January-December 2020. Compliance with our process measures are as follows: Intra-operative culture was obtained in 98% of patients post-implementation; 95% received at least 72 h of piperacillin-tazobactam; and culture results were checked on all patients. Culture results altered the choice of discharge antibiotics in 12 (29%) of patients. All-cause morbidity (SSI, emergency department visit, readmission to hospital, percutaneous drain, unplanned return to operating room) decreased significantly from 35% to 15% (p=0.02). Surgical site infections became less frequent, occurring on average every 27 days pre-implementation and every 60 days after care pathway implementation (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of a clinical practice guideline was associated with reduced morbidity after appendectomy for CA. Intra-operative fluid culture during appendectomy for CA appears to facilitate the selection of appropriate post-operative antibiotics and, thus, minimize SSIs and overall morbidity.

Emergency department utilization following pediatric gastrostomy tube placement is driven by a small cohort of patients.

PURPOSE: Pediatric gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) are associated with frequent postoperative problems and consumption of healthcare resources. We hypothesized that a small cohort of patients disproportionately drives healthcare resource utilization after G-tube insertion. This study aimed to characterize this population in order to implement evidence-based pathways to reduce healthcare utilization after G-tube insertion. METHODS: All surgically placed pediatric G-tubes at a quaternary care center between March 2011 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Healthcare utilization including radiographic studies, emergency department (ED) visits, hospital admissions, procedures, and diagnoses was abstracted. Encounter specific charges based on CPT codes were collected. Statistical analyses were performed with Mann Whitney U, Fisher's Exact Test, and multivariate nominal logistic regression. Institutional review board approval was obtained. RESULTS: During the study period, 189 patients underwent G-tube insertion; 24% of patients presented to the ED two or more times and accounted for 82% of ED visits. This cohort of high ED utilizers was more likely to present with G-tube dislodgement [both within the first three months (early) and after three months (late)], required more radiographic studies, and accrued significantly more charges compared to low ED utilizers. Multivariate analyses demonstrated high ED utilization was significantly associated with non-Caucasian race and the surgeon performing the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: At our institution, a significant proportion of healthcare utilization following G-tube placement is consumed by a relatively small cohort of children. Future efforts will target patients with two or more G-tube related ED visits or an early G-tube dislodgement for additional education and integration with outpatient resources. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Implementation of a gastrostomy care bundle reduces dislodgements and length of stay.

PURPOSE: Pediatric gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) are associated with considerable utilization of healthcare resources. G-tube dislodgement can result in tract disruption and abdominal sepsis. We aimed to reduce early G-tube dislodgement by 25%. METHODS: An interdisciplinary team convened to identify key drivers of G-tube dislodgement and implement initiatives to reduce this complication. A G-tube care bundle was implemented in 2018. Rates of early G-tube dislodgement (within 90 days of insertion) were tracked. 15 months of cases after bundle implementation were compared to 20 months of cases before implementation. Length of stay (LOS, balancing measure) and bundle compliance (process measure) were tracked. RESULTS: G-tube dislodgements decreased 47% after bundle implementation. Overall, dislodgements after G-tube insertion decreased from 43% to 19% dislodgements per tube inserted, p = 0.004. Reductions were observed for dislodgements occurring in both the inpatient (14% vs. 1.5%) and outpatient (29% vs. 18%) settings. Median LOS was reduced from 15.3 to 7.1 days following implementation, p = 0.004. Process measures demonstrated 75% or greater compliance one year after implementation. CONCLUSION: An interdisciplinary team using quality improvement science methodology can significantly reduce G-tube dislodgement and improve value after pediatric gastrostomy tube insertion. TYPE OF STUDY: Longitudinal cohort study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.