Imaging prediction of islet yield and post-operative insulin requirement in children undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation.

BACKGROUND: Predicting post-operative glycemic control in children undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) remains difficult. The purpose of our study was to explore preoperative imaging as a marker for islet yield and insulin need in pediatric patients undergoing TPIAT. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of children (≤18 years) who had undergone TPIAT between April 2015 and December 2018 and had 6 or more months of post-TPIAT follow-up. Patient specific factors (height, weight, body mass index [BMI], body surface area [BSA]) and pancreas volume segmented from the most recent pre-operative cross-sectional imaging were explored as predictors of islet yield (total islet counts [TIC], total islet equivalents [TIE], islet equivalents per kilogram body weight [IEQ/kg]) and glycemic control (total daily dose of insulin per kilogram body weight [TDD/kg], insulin independence) using Pearson correlation and univariate and multiple regression. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients, median age 13 years (IQR: 10-15 years), 64% female (21/33) met inclusion criteria. Nine patients (27%) achieved insulin independence at six months. Median TIE isolated was 310,000 (IQR: 200,000-460,000). Segmented pancreas volume was moderately associated with TIE (coefficient estimate = 0.34, p = 0.034). On multiple regression analysis, there was no significant predictor of insulin independence but number of attacks of pancreatitis (estimate = 0.024; p = 0.018) and segmented pancreas volume by body weight (estimate = -0.71; p < 0.001) were significant predictors of insulin TDD/kg. CONCLUSION: Pancreas volume segmented from pre-TPIAT imaging has predictive performance for post-TPIAT insulin need in children.

Outcomes in the giant omphalocele population: A single center comprehensive experience.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Morbidity and mortality in the giant omphalocele population is complicated by large abdominal wall defects, physiologic aberrancies, and congenital anomalies. We hypothesized different anomalies and treatment types would affect outcomes. METHODS: A 2009-2018 retrospective chart review of giant omphaloceles was performed. Exclusions included cloacal exstrophy, transfer after 3 weeks, surgery prior to transfer, conjoined twins, or not yet achieving fascial closure. Thirty-five patients met criteria and mortality and operative morbidity categorized them into favorable (n = 20) or unfavorable (n = 15) outcomes. Odds ratios analyzed potential predictors. Survivors were stratified into staged (n = 11), delayed (n = 8), and primary closure (n = 6) for subgroup analysis. RESULTS: Unfavorable outcomes were associated with other major congenital anomalies, sac rupture, and major cardiac anomalies, but had significantly lower odds with increasing gestational age (p = 0.03) and birth weight (p < 0.001). In survivors, the primary group was younger at repair (p < 0.001) and had shorter length of stay (hospital p = 0.02, neonatal intensive care unit p = 0.005). There was no significant difference for sepsis, ventilator days, return to the operating room, or ventral hernia. CONCLUSIONS: Predictions of overall outcomes in the giant omphalocele population require analysis of multiple variables. Our findings demonstrated increased odds of unfavorable outcomes in major cardiac anomalies, pulmonary hypertension, genetic diagnosis, other major anomalies, polyhydramnios, postnatal sac rupture, increasing omphalocele sac diameter, lower O/E TLV, lower gestational age at birth, lower birth weight, and repair other than primary. In those surviving to repair, surgical outcomes analyses demonstrated an earlier age of repair and a shorter length of stay for those patients able to be closed primarily; however further research is necessary to determine overall superiority between operative treatment types. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

A Technical Look at Fetoscopic Laser Ablation for Fetal Laryngeal Surgical Recanalization in Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome.

Background: Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) is a rare condition characterized by complete obstruction of the upper fetal airways. Left untreated, it is uniformly fatal. Ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) has been used to establish a surgical airway in affected fetuses during delivery. While this procedure benefits those fetuses that survive to delivery, high mortality in the prenatal period necessitates earlier innovative strategies. Herein, we report a novel technique for in utero intervention. Methods: A fetoscopic intervention was performed at 28 weeks on a 35-year-old G1P0 woman with fetal CHAOS from a laryngeal obstruction measuring 11 mm in length on prenatal imaging. Under ultrasound guidance, a 3.3-mm curved fetoscope was used to access the uterine cavity through a single subcentimeter maternal skin incision. The scope was driven through the fetal oral cavity and manipulated to attain a view of the vocal cords. A subglottic obstruction was observed. A 600-micron laser fiber was passed through the working channel of the scope and used to ablate the obstructed airway. Using the laser fiber and a guidewire, the ablated opening was traversed with the fetoscope to the level of the carina. Results: Postoperatively, the lungs became less hyperinflated. There was improvement in ascites and diaphragmatic eversion. At 31 1/7 weeks' gestation, the mother experienced preterm premature rupture of membranes with active labor and the fetus was delivered through EXIT to tracheostomy. The infant was managed on mechanical ventilation and is currently thriving at home with a tracheostomy at 2 years of age. Conclusion: Fetoscopy with laser ablation of the airway obstruction is an effective prenatal management strategy that offers the potential to alter the devastating natural course of CHAOS.

Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS): Natural history, prenatal management strategies, and outcomes at a single comprehensive fetal center.

PURPOSE: Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) is a devastating fetal condition of complete airway discontinuity resulting in significant hydrops and extreme lung hyperplasia. It is universally fatal with survival reported only in the rare spontaneous fistulization or EXIT intervention (Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment). Even in these cases, mortality remains high, and current investigations are targeting prenatal interventions. This report describes our experience with management and fetal interventions for CHAOS, including laser laryngotomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients diagnosed with CHAOS at a single academic institution between 2006 and 2017. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were identified. Eight had obstruction at the trachea and seven at the larynx. In the laryngeal obstructions, three expired shortly after birth, and one survived after spontaneous fistulization and subsequent EXIT to tracheostomy. The remaining three underwent in-utero treatment with laser laryngotomy. One had preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), delivered 3 days post-operatively, and died. Two underwent EXIT to tracheostomy with one surviving to discharge and is currently 2 years old. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the outcomes of a large series of patients diagnosed with CHAOS. While mortality remains high, options for fetal intervention are being explored to allow alterations in the prenatal natural history and improve postnatal outcomes. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective Treatment Study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Operative time and length of stay is similar between robotic assisted and laparoscopic colon and rectal resections.

Robotic-assisted surgery is increasingly being utilized for colorectal surgery. Data are scarce and contradictory when outcomes are compared between robotic and laparoscopic surgery. All patients undergoing minimally invasive colorectal surgery were compared from 2011 to 2016. Outcomes between the two groups were statistically analyzed. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. 185 patients underwent laparoscopic resection and 70 underwent robotic resection. Demographics, ASA score, and BMI were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in median length of stay between laparoscopic and robotic colon (both 4 days; p = 0.5) and rectal (6 vs 4.5 days; p = 0.2) resections. Median operative times were also similar between the two approaches for colon (150.5 vs 169.5 min, p = 0.2) and rectal (197.0 vs 231.5 min, p = 0.9) resections. There was also no difference in operative time between the two approaches for right (median = 137 vs 130.5 min; p = 0.9) and left (median = 162.0 vs 170.5 min; p = 0.6) colectomies. Robotic surgery results in similar operative times and length of stay as laparoscopic surgery for patients undergoing colon and rectal resections.

Increasing incidence of All-Terrain Vehicle trauma admissions in the pediatric and adult populations: An evaluation of injury types and severity.

OBJECTIVES: All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are increasing in popularity and becoming larger and faster at a production level. As a Level I Trauma Center, we perceived a disproportionately high volume of ATV-related admissions. Our goal was to study injury patterns and severity in adult and pediatric populations. METHODS: All ATV-related trauma admissions at a single Level I trauma center were retrospectively analyzed over a seven-year period. RESULTS: On-road incidents were more likely to result in a higher average Injury Severity Score (ISS) (p < 0.05). Higher ISS also occurred in children, un-helmeted, and impaired rider groups (p < 0.05). The pediatric population was more likely to have a major head injury (62.5% of children versus 31.8% of adults, p < 0.05) while thoracic injury was more common in adults (43.4% of adults versus 16.7% of children, p < 0.05). Death rates were similar in both adult and pediatric populations. CONCLUSION: ATV-related injuries vary depending on incident characteristics and patient populations. On-road use incurs a significant increase in injury severity. The pediatric population is significantly more likely to incur a severe injury and the presenting injury pattern differs from the adult population. Knowledge of population and presentation trends can help direct trauma care providers in the care and management of injured ATV riders.

Access through altruism: A community-based free outpatient surgery program for the working poor in the United States.

Despite healthcare reform, a large population in the United States is without healthcare coverage. The Surgery for People in Need (SPIN) program offers free outpatient surgical procedures to working, uninsured adults. Taking nearly one year to construct, the program has been operational for three years and has performed 22 procedures. Free surgery programs can improve healthcare access by providing interventions to patients who otherwise have no outlet for surgical care.

The Trauma Time-Out: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Protocol-Based Information Dissemination in the Traumatically Injured Patient.

Procedural time-outs are widely accepted safety standards that are protocolized in nearly all hospital systems. The trauma time-out, however, has been largely unstudied in the existing literature and does not have a standard protocol outlined by any of the major trauma surgery organizations. The goal of this study was to evaluate our institution's use of the trauma time-out and assess how trauma team members viewed its effectiveness. A multiple-answer survey was sent to trauma team members at a Level I trauma center. Questions included items directed at background, experience, opinions, and write-in responses. Most responders were experienced trauma team members who regularly participated in trauma codes. All respondents noted the total time required to complete the time-out was less than 5 min, with the majority saying it took less than 1 min. Seventy-five percent agreed that trauma time-outs should continue, with 92% noting that it improved understanding of patient presentation and prehospital evaluation. Seventy-seven percent said it improved understanding of other team member's roles, and 75% stated it improved patient care. Subgroups of physicians and nurses were statistically similar; yet, physicians did note that it improved their understanding of the team member's function more frequently than nurses. The trauma time-out can be an excellent tool to improve patient care and team understanding of the incoming trauma patient. Although used widely at multiple levels of trauma institutions, development of a documented protocol can be the next step in creating a unified safety standard.

BMI Is an Independent Preoperative Predictor of Intraoperative Transfusion and Postoperative Chest-Tube Output.

Background An increasing obese population in the United States focuses attention on perioperative management of obese and overweight patients. Objective We sought to determine if obesity, determined by body mass index (BMI), was a preoperative indicator of bleeding in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery as measured by intraoperative packed red blood cell transfusion frequency and 24-hour chest-tube output amount. Methods A retrospective chart review examined 290 consecutive patients undergoing single-surgeon off-pump or on-pump CABG surgery between November 2003 and April 2009. Preoperative variables of age, gender, hematocrit, platelet count, and BMI, chest tube output during the immediate 24-hour postoperative period, and the type of procedure (on-pump vs. off-pump) were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the likelihood of intraoperative transfusion. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate 24-hour chest-tube output. Results Preoperative variables that significantly increased the likelihood of intraoperative transfusions were older age and low hematocrit; a significant decrease in likelihood was found with male gender, overweight BMI, and off-pump procedures. Preoperative variables that significantly increased 24-hour chest-tube output were low hematocrit, high hematocrit, and low platelets while a significant decrease in output was seen with overweight BMI and obese BMI. Conclusion Overweight and obese BMI are significant independent predictors of decreased intraoperative transfusion and decreased postoperative blood loss.

Effect of body mass index on postoperative transfusions and 24-hour chest-tube output.

An increasing obese population in the United States focuses attention on the effect of obesity on surgical outcomes. Our objective was to see if obesity, determined by body mass index (BMI), contributed to bleeding in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery as measured by intraoperative and postoperative packed red blood cell transfusion frequency and amount and 24-hour chest-tube output. A retrospective chart review examined 150 subjects undergoing single-surgeon off-pump or on-pump CABG surgery between September 2006 and April 2009. BMI groups included normal-weight (BMI <25), overweight (BMI 25 to 29), and obese (BMI ≥30). Analyses used a chi-square test to determine variances in number of transfusions, and ANOVA for transfusion amount and 24-hour chest-tube amount. The percentage of subjects receiving intraoperative transfusions varied significantly by BMI group (p = 0.022). The percentage of subjects receiving transfusions in the 72-hour postoperative period showed a decreasing linear trend based on BMI group (p = 0.054). The percentage of subjects receiving transfusions in the combined intraoperative or 72-hour postoperative period showed a decreasing linear trend based on BMI group (p = 0.054). The transfusion amount during the 72-hour postoperative period varied significantly between BMI groups (p = 0.021), and the test for a linear decrease across groups was significant (p = 0.020). Twenty-four hour chest-tube output showed variation across all three BMI categories (p = 0.018) with chest-tube output decreasing with increasing obesity in a linear fashion (p = 0.006). Transfusion rate and amount indicate total blood loss is decreased in the obese, and chest-tube output findings give a direct measurable indicator of blood loss from the surgical site indicating increasing BMI is linearly correlated with decreasing postoperative bleeding.