Optimizing Transitions of Care and Enhancing Surgical Education on Acute Care Surgery: A Multi-Institutional Survey Study.

OBJECTIVE: Critically ill and injured patients are routinely managed on the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (ACS) service and receive care from numerous residents during hospital admission. The Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) program established by the ACGME identified variability in resident transitions of care (TC) while observing quality care and patient safety concerns. The aim of our multi-institutional study was to review surgical trainees' impressions of a specialty-specific handoff format in order to optimize patient care and enhance surgical education on the ACS service. DESIGN: A survey study was conducted with a voluntary electronic 20-item questionnaire that utilized a 5 point Likert scale regarding TC among resident peers, supervised handoffs by trauma attendings, and surgical education. It also allowed for open-ended responses regarding perceived advantages and disadvantages of handoffs. SETTING: Ten American College of Surgeons-verified Level 1 adult trauma centers. PARTICIPANTS: All general surgery residents and trauma/acute/surgical critical care fellows were surveyed. RESULTS: The study task was completed by 147 postgraduate trainees (125 residents, 14 ACS fellows, and 8 surgical critical care fellows) with a response rate of 61%. Institutional responses included: university hospital (67%), community hospital-university affiliate (16%), and private hospital-university affiliate (17%). A majority of respondents were satisfied with morning TC (62.6%) while approximately half were satisfied with evening TC (52.4%). Respondees believe supervised handoffs improved TC and prevented patient care delays (80.9% and 74.8%, respectively). A total of 35% of trainees utilized the open-ended response field to highlight specific best practices of their home institutions. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical trainees view ACS morning handoff as an effective standard to provide the highest level of clinical care and an opportunity to enhance surgical knowledge. As TC continue to be a focus of certifying bodies, identifying best practices and opportunities for improvement are critical to optimizing quality patient care and surgical education.

Perforated Sigmoid Diverticulitis Within a Strangulated Inguinal Hernia.

We present a rare case of perforated diverticulitis within an inguinal hernia sac adjacent to a synthetic mesh from a prior incisional hernia. An 80-year-old-female presented to the ED with abdominal pain. Cross-sectional imaging was significant for a small bowel obstruction with a transition point in the right lower quadrant (RLQ). On physical exam, the patient had palpable bilateral inguinal hernias that were reducible; however, after 48 hours of nonoperative management she failed to progress. Repeat imaging was concerning for incarcerated bowel within the inguinal hernia sac. She was taken to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy where the right inguinal hernia sac was found to contain sigmoid colon with diverticular perforation. A small bowel resection, right hemicolectomy and Hartmann's procedure were performed. The previously placed synthetic mesh was not contaminated during this operation and was not removed. Her hospital course was otherwise unremarkable but prolonged by the patient's deconditioned state.

Superior Mesenteric Artery and Vein Injuries: Operative Strategies and Outcomes.

Traumatic injuries to the mesenteric vessels are rare and often lethal. Visceral vessels, such as the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and vein (SMV), supply blood to the small and large bowel by a rich system of collaterals. Because fewer than 100 such injuries have been described in the literature, they pose challenges in both diagnosis and management and can unfortunately result in high mortality rates. Prompt diagnosis, surgical intervention, and resuscitation can lead to improved outcomes. Here, we review the literature surrounding traumatic injuries of the SMA/SMV and discuss management strategies.

T-tube Duodenostomy for the Difficult Duodenum.

Tube duodenostomy has been described as a useful technique in the management of difficult duodenum arising from a variety of pathologies. In addition, the use of a t-tube for the duodenostomy presents a resourceful option in the event of Malecot or other such catheter unavailability. The aim of our study is to describe the technique and outcomes associated with this approach. During a six-month period in 2020, t-tube duodenostomies were performed in three patients for duodenal stump perforation: the first case involved a patient with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy anatomy; the second involved duodenal stump closure security following Billroth II gastrectomy for peptic ulcer disease; and the third involved decompression following primary closure of duodenal perforation. All duodenostomies were performed with a t-tube that was trimmed with the back wall divided and then secured via the Witzel approach. The t-tube duodenostomies were performed during the index operations of all patients. No patient required additional operations. There was no mortality. All patients were closely monitored postoperatively with duodenostomies kept in place for six weeks. One patient developed a small leak after a trial of tube clamping, which was managed with continued tube drainage and antibiotics prior to definitive removal. The mean length of stay was 20.3 days with two patients being discharged to rehab. T-tube duodenostomy is a simple technique that helps avoid the blowout of the vulnerable duodenal stump in situations of biliopancreatic limb pathology, ulcerative disease, or injury.

Horseshoe Kidney Isthmus Infarction After Percutaneous Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Horseshoe kidneys and their wide-ranging anatomy present a unique test to the open surgical approach for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Endovascular options are currently the desired strategy for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms and offer multiple advantages when horseshoe kidneys are present. Even so, the challenging nature of these patients demands a high degree of caution and planning. This case details a patient with horseshoe kidney who underwent percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair for an abdominal aortic aneurysm and developed isthmus infarction early in the postoperative period with an uneventful subsequent recovery. Here we report what we believe is the first successfully described percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair to treat a patient with horseshoe kidney.

Stats and ladders: Injury risk and outcomes following falls from ladders.

Fatal lower level falls commonly result from ladder fall injuries (LFIs), an often-avoidable injury. We hypothesized that older patients' injury severity differs from younger patients falling from the same mechanism with fall height determining overall morbidity. A retrospective review was completed of all traumatic LFIs during a 6-year period resulting in 178 patients. The mean LFI height was 10.9 ± 6.0 feet, the majority being male (87%), with a mean age of 50.7 ± 16.6 years. The mean ISS was 7.7 ± 7.0 (range, 1-38), 23.6% sustaining > 1 injury. Age inversely correlated with the mean LFI height with patients ≥66 years falling from significantly lower heights (12.3 ft For age group 18-45 y; 10.4 ft vs 9.0 ft (p = 0.003) and having longer LOS (7.3 vs 3.8 days, P = 0.011). No difference in ventilator requirement/days, blood product requirements, or mortality among age groups was observed. Geriatric patients sustain similar injury patterns at lower height levels compared to all ages. Injury prevention programs are necessary to reduce the incidence of a commonly preventable injury.

Impact of Laparoscopy on Training: Are Open Appendectomy and Cholecystectomy on the Brink of Extinction?

The operative experience of present-day surgical residency training has evolved as a result of the contributions of laparoscopic surgery. Some traditional open procedures are now more descriptive and less of a familiarity to many general surgery residents (GSRs). The aim of this study was to investigate how open operative experience compares with laparoscopy for GSRs. A retrospective, multicenter, consecutive cohort study of all patients undergoing surgical intervention involving the appendix and gallbladder identified from the ACS-NSQIP database over a 2.5-year period. All GSR postgraduate year-level operative experience was recorded. Of 777 procedures, 13 laparoscopic appendectomy conversions to open (4.3%) by Rocky-Davis (15%) or lower midline (84.6%) incisions were performed versus 285 that remained laparoscopic (95.6%). Fifty (10.4%) open cholecystectomies (38 open + 10 conversions + 2 common bile duct (CBD) exploration), 27 (5.6%) laparoscopic cholecystectomies with cholangiogram, and 402 (83.9%) laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. Twenty-nine different GSRs participated in procedures. Eighty-five (10.9%) operations were performed with multi-postgraduate year levels. Surgical residents have an unequal operative experience for case-specific open procedures. A competency-based system to demonstrate a resident's hands-on surgical skills is fundamental to residency training and should be considered for specific types of low-volume open surgical cases.

Challenges and Solutions for Functional Neurosurgery in Developing Countries.

Functional neurosurgery techniques remain integral to the neurosurgical treatment armamentarium but data on global implementation remains scarce. In comparison to high-income countries (HIC), low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) suffer from an increased prevalence of diseases like epilepsy, which may be amenable to functional techniques, and therefore, LMIC may benefit from an increased utilization of these treatment modalities. However, functional techniques tend to be expensive and thus difficult to implement in the LMIC setting. A review was performed to assess the current status of functional neurosurgical techniques in LMIC as a starting point for future initiatives. For methodology, a review of the current body of literature on functional neurosurgery in LMIC was conducted through the United States National Library of Medicine Pubmed search engine. Search terms included "functional neurosurgery," "developing countries," "low and middle income," and other related terms. It was found that though five billion people lack access to safe surgical care, the burden of disease amenable to treatment with functional neurosurgical procedures remains unknown. Increasingly, reports of successful, long-term, international neurosurgical collaborations are being reported, but reports in the sub-field of functional neurosurgery are lacking. In conclusion, awareness of global surgical disparities has increased dramatically while global guidelines for functional techniques are currently lacking. A concerted effort can harness these techniques for wider practice. Partnerships between centers in LMIC and HIC are making progress to better understand the burden of disease in LMIC and to create context-specific solutions for practice in the LMIC setting, but more collaborations are warranted.

Gastroduodenal Surgery: A Persistent and Continuing Challenge.

The number of patients being treated surgically for gastroduodenal disease has decreased over the past five decades as a result of focus on medical treatment. However, perforated and bleeding peptic ulcer disease (PUD) continues to represent a significant percentage of patients who require emergency surgery. The aim of this study was to characterize these critically ill surgical patients treated for gastroduodenal disease in our hospital. A retrospective, single-center, consecutive cohort study of all patients identified from the hospital National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database who were admitted to our institution requiring emergent surgical intervention over the past two years was conducted. Of 423 patients, 33 (7.8%) had operative procedures for complications of PUD, of which 19 patients (57.6%) had perforation; nine patients (27.3%) had hemorrhage; one patient (3.0%) had both perforation and hemorrhage; two patients (6.1%) had distal gastrectomies for ulcers refractory to medical management alone, and two patients (6.1%) had gastrectomies for malignant gastric neoplasms. There is a significant population of patients who present with life-threatening complications of PUD, despite the decline in PUD worldwide. These patients are critically ill and require careful and diligent management for good outcomes.

Methylene Blue for Vasoplegic Syndrome.

Vasoplegic syndrome is a form of vasodilatory shock that occurs frequently in patients who undergo cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP). Treatment often demands high doses of vasopressors over sustained periods for hypotension that can be refractory to standard vasoactive medications. Furthermore, the development of vasoplegia greatly contributes to morbidity and mortality following cardiac surgery. Methylene blue (MB) has become a popular therapy for cardiac vasoplegia despite a paucity of prospective data to direct its use. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review available data regarding mechanisms, dosing strategies, and side effects of MB, with a focus on its applications for vasoplegia in cardiac surgery.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the biliary tree: A rare cause of obstructive jaundice in children which can mimic choledochal cysts.

Jaundice in children is more often due to hepatic disease than obstruction. Differential considerations for obstructive jaundice in children include choledocholithiasis, choledochal cysts and rare neoplasms. Rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma in pediatric patients, typically involves the head and neck, genitourinary system and extremities. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the biliary tree is a rare entity. We present a 3-year-old boy with abrupt onset obstructive jaundice. Although initial imaging suggested a dilated biliary system with fusiform common bile duct, sludge, and possible cholelithiasis, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP) diagnosed a common bile duct embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and further imaging showed involvement of the cystic duct. This case illustrates the importance of considering malignant etiologies in cases of obstructive jaundice, particularly when imaging is not classic for common causes.

Localization of the Sentinel Lymph Node in Melanoma Without Blue Dye.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess regional recurrence rates of patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) using radiocolloid guidance alone. BACKGROUND: Isosulfan blue dye is commonly used along with Tc99-labeled radiocolloid localization in SLNB for melanoma. Blue dye has, however, been associated with allergic reactions, long-term staining of skin, and increased cost. We hypothesized that the rate of regional recurrence when SLNB is performed with radiocolloid alone would be comparable to established reports using both radiocolloid and blue dye. METHODS: A prospectively collected database was retrospectively queried for patients who underwent SLNB for melanoma during the years 2005 through 2008. Data collected included patient demographics, primary lesion characteristics, operative details, and recurrence. The primary outcome was the rate of recurrence within the biopsied basin after negative SLNB's performed without isosulfan blue dye. RESULTS: In 215 patients, 279 nodal basins were identified. All patients underwent successful radiocolloid localization, and positive sentinel nodes were found in 40 patients (18.6%). Six of 175 patients with a negative SLNB developed a regional node recurrence as the first site of metastasis (3.4%). Among all 215 patients, 44 experienced recurrence of any kind (20.5%). Higher mitotic rate and Breslow depth were significantly associated with likelihood of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Success rates, node positivity rates, and rates of regional recurrence after SLNB for melanoma using radiocolloid alone are acceptable and similar to those of prior reports using blue dye plus radiocolloid.

Edema following Gamma Knife radiosurgery for parasagittal and parafalcine meningiomas.

OBJECT: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been shown to offer a high probability of tumor control for Grade I meningiomas. However, SRS can sometimes incite edema or exacerbate preexisting edema around the targeted meningioma. The current study evaluates the incidence, timing, and degree of edema around parasagittal or parafalcine meningiomas following SRS. METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of a prospectively maintained database of patients treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery at the University of Virginia Health System. All patients with WHO Grade I parafalcine or parasagittal meningiomas with at least 6 months of clinical follow-up were identified, resulting in 61 patients included in the study. The median radiographic follow-up was 28 months (range 6-158 months). Rates of new or worsening edema were quantitatively assessed using volumetric analysis; edema indices were computed as a function of time following radiosurgery. Statistical methods were used to identify favorable and unfavorable prognostic factors for new or worsening edema. RESULTS: Progression-free survival at 2 and 5 years was 98% and 90%, respectively, according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. After SRS, new peritumoral edema occurred or preexisting edema worsened in 40% of treated meningiomas. The median time to onset of peak edema was 36 months post-SRS. Persistent and progressive edema was associated with 11 tumors, and resection was undertaken for these lesions. However, 20 patients showed initial edema progression followed by regression at a median of 18 months after radiosurgery (range 6-24 months). Initial tumor volume greater than 10 cm3, absence of prior resection, and higher margin dose were significantly (p<0.05) associated with increased risk of new or progressive edema after SRS. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic radiosurgery offers a high rate of tumor control in patients with parasagittal or parafalcine meningiomas. However, it can lead to worsening peritumoral edema in a minority of patients. Following radiosurgery, transient edema occurs earlier than persistent and progressive edema. Longitudinal follow-up of meningioma patients after SRS is required to detect and appropriately treat transient as well as progressive edema.