Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Surgical Care and Outcomes for Hepatobiliary Malignancies.

BACKGROUND: As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, some states expanded Medicaid eligibility to adults with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty line. While this resulted in an increased proportion of insured residents, its impact on the diagnosis and treatment of hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) cancers has not been studied. STUDY DESIGN: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2010 to 2017 was used. Patients diagnosed with HPB malignancies in states which expanded in 2014 were compared to patients in non-expansion states. Subset analyses of patients who underwent surgery and those in high-risk socioeconomic groups were performed. Outcomes studied included initiation of treatment within 30 days of diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, care at high volume or academic center, perioperative outcomes, and overall survival. Adjusted difference-in-differences analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 345,684 patients were included, of whom 55% resided in non-expansion states and 54% were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Overall survival was higher in states with Medicaid expansion (HR .90, 95% CI [.88-.92], P < .01). There were also better postoperative outcomes including 30-day mortality (.67 [.57-.80], P < .01) and 30-day readmissions (.87 [.78-.97], P = .02) as well as increased likelihood of having surgery in a high-volume center (1.42 [1.32-1.53], P < .01). However, there were lower odds of initiating care within 30 days of diagnosis (.77 [.75-.80], P < .01) and higher likelihood of diagnosis with stage IV disease (1.09 [1.06-1.12], P < .01) in expansion states. CONCLUSION: While operative outcomes and overall survival from HPB cancers were better in states with Medicaid expansion, there was no improvement in timeliness of initiating care or stage at diagnosis.

Transfusion-free Strategies in Liver and Pancreatic Surgery: A Predictive Model of Blood Conservation for Transfusion Avoidance in Mainstream Populations.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to (1) describe the techniques and prove the feasibility of performing complex hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery on a Jehovah Witness (JW) population.  (2) Describe a strategy that offsets surgical blood loss by the manipulation of circulating blood volume to create reserve whole blood upon anesthesia induction. BACKGROUND: Major liver and pancreatic resections often require operative transfusions. This limits surgical options for patients who do not accept major blood component transfusions. There is also growing recognition of the negative impact of allogenic blood transfusions. METHODS: A 23-year, single-center, retrospective review of JW patients undergoing liver and pancreatic resections was performed. We describe perioperative management and patient outcomes. Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is proposed as an important strategy for offsetting blood losses and preventing the need for blood transfusion. A quantitative mathematical formula is developed to provide guidance for its use. RESULTS: One hundred one major resections were analyzed (liver n=57, pancreas n=44). ANH was utilized in 72 patients (liver n=38, pancreas n=34) with median removal of 2 units that were returned for hemorrhage as needed or at the completion of operation. There were no perioperative mortalities. Morbidity classified as Clavien grade 3 or higher occurred in 7.0% of liver resection and 15.9% of pancreatic resection patients. CONCLUSIONS: Deliberate perioperative management makes transfusion-free liver and pancreatic resections feasible. Intraoperative whole blood removal with ANH specifically preserves red cell mass, platelets, and coagulation factors for timely reinfusion. Application of the described JW transfusion-free strategy to a broader general population could lessen blood utilization costs and morbidities.

Population Level Analysis of Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: Sustained Advantage of a Laparoscopic Approach.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of open versus laparoscopic surgery on the development of adhesive small bowel obstruction (aSBO). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: aSBO is a significant contributor to short and long-term postoperative morbidity. Laparoscopy has demonstrated a protective effect in colorectal surgery, but these effects have not been generalized to other abdominal procedures. METHODS: Population level California state data (1995-2010) was analyzed. We identified patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), cholecystectomy, partial colectomy, appendectomy, and hysterectomy. The primary outcome was aSBO. Clinical, patient, and hospital characteristics were assessed using Kaplan-Meir methodology and Cox regression analysis adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and operative approach. RESULTS: We included 1,612,629 patients with a median follow-up of 6.3 years. The 5-year incidence rate of aSBO was higher after open surgery compared with laparoscopic surgery for each procedure (RYGB 2.1% vs. 1.5%, P < 0.001; cholecystectomy 2.2% vs. 0.65%, P < 0.001; partial colectomy 5.5% vs. 2.8%, P < 0.001; appendectomy 0.58% vs. 0.35%, P < 0.001; and hysterectomy 0.89% vs. 0.54%, P < 0.001). The period of greatest risk for aSBO formation was within the first 2-years. In multivariate analysis, an open approach was associated with an increased risk of aSBO for each procedure [RYGB hazard ratio (HR) 1.24, P < 0.001; cholecystectomy HR 1.89, P < 0.001; partial colectomy HR 1.49, P < 0.001; appendectomy HR 1.45, P < 0.001; and hysterectomy HR 1.16, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy is associated with a significant and sustained reduction in the rate of aSBO. The period of greatest risk for aSBO is within the first 2 years after surgery.

Assessing the domino effect: Female physician industry payments fall short, parallel gender inequalities in medicine.

BACKGROUND: Physician-industry relationships have been complex in modern medicine. Since large proportions of research, education and consulting are industry-backed, this is an important area to consider when examining gender inequality in medicine. METHODS: The Open Payments Program (OPP) database from August 2013 to December 2016 was analyzed. In order to identify physicians' genders, the OPP was matched with the National Provider Index dataset. Descriptive statistics of payments to female compared to male surgeons were obtained and stratified by payment type, subspecialty, geographic location and year. RESULTS: 3,925,707 transactions to 136,845 physicians were analyzed. Of them, 31,297 physicians were surgeons with an average payment per provider of $131,252 to male surgeons compared to $62,101 to female surgeons. Significantly fewer women received consultant, royalty/licensure, ownership and speaker payments. However, women received a higher average amount per surgeon compared to their male counterparts within research payments. Overall payments to women trended upwards over time. CONCLUSION: Gender inequality still exists in medicine, and in industry-physician payments. Industry should increasingly consider engaging women in consultancies, speaking engagements, and research.

Ultrasound and the Evaluation of Pediatric Thyroid Malignancy: Current Recommendations for Diagnosis and Follow-up.

Ultrasound (US) plays a critical role in the evaluation, treatment, screening, and surveillance of thyroid malignancy in pediatric patients. This review aims to summarize recent advances in this topic. Improvements in imaging technology have amplified the advantage of US and US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy for thyroid nodule evaluation, cancer diagnosis, and surgical planning. Ultrasound has a definitive screening role for early cancer detection in high-risk patients, including those with a history of radiation exposure from childhood treatments, environmental radiation disasters, or hereditary/familial cancer syndromes. Finally, US is a key component of lifelong surveillance for recurrence among pediatric thyroid cancer survivors.

Quality and safety in obesity surgery-15 years of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass outcomes from a longitudinal database.

BACKGROUND: Most population-based studies lack long-term data, making the reporting of true mortality and outcome rates difficult. An accurate estimate of these rates in a high-risk population is critical for obtaining informed consent, especially for an elective procedure such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). OBJECTIVES: To examine the longitudinal outcomes of RYGB. SETTING: The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) longitudinal database. METHODS: The OSHPD longitudinal database was queried for patients who underwent RYGB between 1995 and 2009. The primary outcome was mortality rates at 1, 5, and 10 years. Secondary outcomes were marginal ulcer and reoperation. The Cox hazard proportional analysis was used to determine adjusted survival and long-term outcomes for laparoscopic RYGB compared with open RYGB. RESULTS: The study included 129,432 RYGB patients. Rates of laparoscopy increased from 3% to 35% from 1995 to 2004 and then steeply increased to 80% in 2005 and to 93% in 2009. Overall mortality rate at 1, 5, and 10 years was 2.2%, 4.4%, and 8.1%, respectively; the rates of marginal ulcer were .3%, .7%, and 1%, respectively; and the reoperation rates were .3%, .8%, and 1.2%, respectively. Predictors of poor outcomes were male gender, age, smoking, alcohol, Medicare, Medi-Cal insurance, and Asian or Native American race. The laparoscopic approach was protective against death (hazard ratio [HR] 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: .63[.58-.69]) and long-term complications (HR .78[.72-.85]). CONCLUSIONS: This longitudinal population study showed high rates of mortality following RYGB, with improved long-term outcomes when the laparoscopic approach was used.

Outcomes of thyroidectomy from a large California state database.

BACKGROUND: Thyroidectomy is an operation with infrequent but potentially significant complications. This study aimed to determine risk factors for complication after thyroidectomy in California. METHODS: The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database was retrospectively analyzed from 1995 to 2010. Main outcome measures were complications including death. Logistic regression identified risk factors for complications. RESULTS: There were 106,773 patients; 61% were women and 44% Caucasian; 16,287 (15%) thyroidectomies were performed at high-volume centers. Complication rates included voice change (.5%), vocal cord dysfunction (1.1%), hypocalcemia (4.5%), tracheostomy (1.62%), hematoma (1.75%), and death (.3%). There was significantly increased risk of complications for patients older than 65 compared with those younger than 40 years (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.8 to 2.3; P < .01). High-volume hospitals were protective against complication (odds ratio, .8; 95% confidence interval, .6 to .97; P = .026). CONCLUSIONS: Older age was a significant risk factor for complication after thyroidectomy. High-volume hospitals had lower risk. This information is useful in counseling patients about the risks of thyroid surgery.

Living Donor Hepatectomy: Is it Safe?

Living donor hepatectomy (LDH) is high risk to a healthy donor and remains controversial. Living donor nephrectomy (LDN), conversely, is a common practice. The objective is to examine the outcomes of LDH and compare this risk profile to LDN. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for hepatectomies and nephrectomies from 1998 to 2011. LDH or LDN were identified by donor ICD-9 codes. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality and complications. Bivariate analysis compared nondonor hepatectomy or nondonor nephrectomy (NDN). Multivariate analyses adjusted for baseline organ disease, malignancy, or benign lesions. There were 430 LDH and 9211 nondonor hepatectomy. In-hospital mortality was 0 and 6 per cent, respectively (P < 0.001); complications 4 and 33 per cent (P < 0.001). LDH had fewer complications [odds ratio (OR) 0.15 (0.08-0.26)]. There were 15,631 LDN and 117,966 NDN. Mortality rates were 0.8 per cent LDN and 1.8 per cent NDN (P < 0.001). Complications were 1 and 21 per cent (P < 0.001). LDN had fewer complications [OR 0.06 (0.05-0.08)] and better survival [OR 0.32 (0.18-0.58)]. Complication rates were higher in LDH than LDN (4% vs 1%, P < 0.001), but survival was similar (0% vs 0.8% mortality, P = 0.06). In conclusion, morbidity and mortality rates of LDH are significantly lower than hepatectomy for other disease. This study suggests that the risk profile of LDH is comparable with the widely accepted LDN.

Survival After Endovascular vs Open Aortic Aneurysm Repairs.

IMPORTANCE: To our knowledge, long-term outcomes of open and endovascular (EVAR) repairs of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) have not been studied on a population level outside a controlled trial setting. OBJECTIVE: To determine long-term outcomes of EVAR vs open repair on a population level. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Analysis of the longitudinally linked California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development inpatient database from 2001 to 2009. Median follow-up was 3.3 years. EXPOSURES: Endovascular vs open repairs. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Mortality and complications at 30 days, as well as long-term mortality and complications up to 9 years. RESULTS: In this observational study, a total of 23 670 patients were studied, with 52% receiving EVAR. Endovascular repair was associated with improved 30-day outcomes (all-cause mortality, readmission, surgical site infection, pneumonia, and sepsis), as well as significantly improved survival until 3 years postoperatively. After 3 years, mortality was higher for patients who underwent an EVAR repair. No significant difference in long-term mortality was observed for the entire cohort on adjusted analysis (hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.94-1.04; P = .64). Endovascular repair was found to be associated with a significantly higher rate of reinterventions and AAA late ruptures. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The survival advantage for EVAR repair in a statewide population is maintained for 3 years. After 3 years, EVAR repair was associated with higher mortality; however, these mortality differences did not reach statistical significance over the entire study period. Reintervention and late AAA rupture rates are higher after EVAR repair.

Long-term Outcomes After Initial Presentation of Diverticulitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the long-term outcomes of diverticulitis and to apply the findings to current practice patterns. BACKGROUND: The long-term morbidity and mortality of diverticulitis are not well defined. Current practice guidelines for diverticulitis are based on limited evidence. METHODS: The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database was queried for longitudinal observations across all hospitals from 1995 to 2009. Recurrence up to 15 years, medical versus surgical treatment, and mortality after recurrence were analyzed for patients after emergent admission for diverticulitis. RESULTS: Among the 210,268 patients admitted emergently with diverticulitis, 179,649 (85%) were managed medically at their index admission. Of these medically managed patients, 27,450 (16.3%) suffered a second diverticulitis episode. On multivariable analysis, predictors of mortality with recurrence included the following [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval)]: age more than 50 years [5.19, (3.05-8.29)]; previous tobacco use [1.40 (1.18-1.66)]; and complicated initial presentation with obstruction [1.33 (1.06-1.65)], abscess [2.18 (1.60-2.97)], peritonitis [3.14 (1.99-4.97)], sepsis [1.88 (1.29-2.73)], and fistula [3.50 (2.17-5.66)]. The mortality of delayed elective surgical intervention after the first episode of emergent diverticulitis was 0.3% compared to 4.6% for emergent resection during a second episode. CONCLUSIONS: Eighty-five percent of emergent diverticulitis patients do not recur after initial medical treatment. However, in view of significantly worse outcomes associated with diverticulitis recurrence, resection should be strongly considered for diverticulitis patients older than 50 years or those who present with a complicated clinical picture.

Quality and safety outcomes of ambulatory plastic surgery facilities in California.

BACKGROUND: Although most cosmetic surgery procedures are performed at outpatient surgery facilities, there is little published literature on the quality and safety of such facilities. Furthermore, regulation of such facilities varies widely and may leave room for poor outcomes. The authors sought to determine whether all outpatient surgery facilities that are licensed by the California Department of Public Health have similar rates of postoperative complications. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all data collected from 2005 to 2010 by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. All outpatient surgery facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health must report encounter-level data to that office. Patients' subsequent inpatient admissions and emergency department visits were identified. Several cosmetic procedures were studied. Outcomes analyzed were the 30-day venous thromboembolism, hospital admission, and emergency department visit rates. RESULTS: A total of 160,847 patients and 635 facilities were included. By facility, the range for 30-day venous thromboembolism rates was 0 to 3.4 percent, the range for 30-day admission rates was 0 to 7.7 percent, and the range for 30-day emergency department visits was 0 to 22.8 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis showed a significant variability in the rate of 30-day venous thromboembolism incidents, admissions, and emergency department visits. Some facilities had complication rates that were a significant deviation from the mean, whereas others had no complications. To ensure optimal quality and patient safety, it is necessary to analyze why outliers exist and identify ways to improve on the current system of licensure and outcomes reporting.

Concomitant cholecystectomy should be routinely performed with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

INTRODUCTION: As the popularity of a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surpassed that of an open approach, practice of concomitant cholecystectomy declined. Low rates of gallbladder disease following RYGB and high complication rates of concomitant cholecystectomy have been published, but these population-based studies have lacked long-term outcomes and survival data. STUDY DESIGN: The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development longitudinal database was queried for patients who underwent RYGB with or without cholecystectomy between 1995 and 2009. Additionally, patients who underwent cholecystectomy after RYGB were compared to all cholecystectomy patients. Primary outcome was survival; secondary long-term outcomes included cholangitis, common duct stones, dumping syndrome, metabolic derangements, ventral hernia, any hernia, marginal ulcers, and reoperation. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to determine adjusted survival and outcomes. RESULTS: Of 134,584 RYGB patients, 21,022 underwent concomitant cholecystectomy. Concomitant cholecystectomy improved both survival (HR[95 % CI] 0.51[.48-.54]) and long-term outcomes (HR 0.84[.77-.91]). Incidence of gallbladder disease following RYGB was 6.8 and 15.2 % at 1 and 5 years. In subsequent analysis of 829,333 cholecystectomy patients, 7,099 underwent prior RYGB with higher risk of conversion to open (HR 1.58[1.41-1.78]), post-operative complication (HR 1.47[1.36-1.6]) and death (HR 1.32[1.17-1.5]). CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant cholecystectomy is safe for RYGB patients. Given high rates of gallbladder disease and increased risk when cholecystectomy is performed following RYGB, cholecystectomy should be considered at the time of RYGB.

Is a low readmission rate indicative of a good hospital?

BACKGROUND: Hospital readmissions are an increasing focus of health care policy. This study explores the association between 30-day readmissions and 30-day mortality for surgical procedures. STUDY DESIGN: California longitudinal statewide data from 1995 to 2009 were analyzed for 7 complex procedures: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve replacement, bariatric surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, esophagectomy, pancreatectomy, and percutaneous coronary intervention. Hospitals were categorized based on observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios for 30-day mortality and 30-day readmissions. Hospitals were considered "high" or "low" outliers if the 95% confidence intervals of their O/E ratios excluded 1 and "expected" if they included 1. Hospitals that were outliers in at least 1 metric were classified as "discordant" if their readmission and mortality rates were not both "high" or both "low," and "poorly discordant" in the particular scenario of high mortality with "expected" or "low" readmission rates. RESULTS: A total of 1,090,071 patients and 299 hospitals were analyzed for 7 procedures, representing a total of 1,150 clinical encounters. The overall 30-day mortality was 3.79% and the 30-day readmission was 12.69%. Of the total, 729 (63.3%) had "expected" O/E ratios for both outcomes. Among outliers, 358 (85.0%) were "discordant" and 100 (23.8%) were "poorly discordant." CONCLUSIONS: Hospital readmission rate alone is a limited measure of quality given the poor correlation between hospital readmission and mortality rates. In this study, 85% of hospital outliers were "discordant" for readmission and mortality. Furthermore, almost a quarter of these discordant hospitals had "expected" or "low" readmission but "high" mortality rates. Quality metrics that focus exclusively on readmission rates overlook these discrepancies.

Risk of adverse outcomes when plastic surgery procedures are combined.

BACKGROUND: The ability to study population-level outcomes of outpatient cosmetic procedures has been limited by a lack of longitudinal data. This study aimed to describe the rates of adverse events in patients who underwent an isolated cosmetic surgery procedure compared with those who had a combination of two procedures. METHODS: Retrospective longitudinal analysis was performed of the 2005 to 2010 California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Ambulatory Surgery Database. Patients were included if they had undergone an abdominoplasty or any other procedure that was identified as frequently performed concurrently with abdominoplasty. Patients' subsequent in-patient admissions and emergency department visits were identified. Outcomes analyzed were the 30-day and 1-year venous thromboembolism rates, 30-day hospital admission rate, 30-day emergency department visit rate, and 30-day mortality rate. RESULTS: A total of 477,741 patients were analyzed, of whom 16,893 had undergone two concurrent procedures. The 12-month venous thromboembolism rate was 0.57 percent for patients undergoing abdominoplasty, 0.20 percent for liposuction, 0.12 percent for breast procedures, 0.32 percent for hernia repair, 0.28 percent for face procedures, and 0.28 percent for thigh lift/brachioplasty. Greater than additive 30-day and 1-year venous thromboembolism rates were observed among patients who underwent an abdominoplasty and liposuction (0.68 percent and 0.81 percent, respectively) and those who underwent an abdominoplasty and hernia repair (0.93 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Some combinations of elective outpatient procedures conferred an additive, and sometimes more than additive, venous thromboembolism risk. This is an important consideration when informing patients of potential postoperative complications and for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis.

Statewide multicenter analysis of the incidence of secondary surgeries after isolated cleft palate repair.

INTRODUCTION: Previous smaller studies have reported a wide range, 15% to 45%, of secondary palate surgery. The goal of this study was to report the true incidence of secondary surgery derived from a large statewide database as well as study the timing and risk factors for secondary surgery. METHODS: Retrospective longitudinal analysis was performed of the 1995 to 2010 California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development patient discharge database, which allows patients to be followed up over time. Patients were included in the study if they had an isolated palate diagnosis in addition to a primary repair code and excluded if they ever carried a cleft lip diagnosis or repair code. RESULTS: A total of 2616 isolated cleft palate patients were identified with a median follow-up of 8.0 years. At 16 years, the overall rate of second surgery was 13.6% with complete cleft palate patients having a higher rate of second surgery (15.92%) than the incomplete cleft palate patients (12.36%). The risk of second surgery over time showed a bimodal distribution; the first peak was seen in the first postoperative year and the second peak was seen 3 to 5 years postoperative. On multivariate regression, the only independent risk factor of a secondary surgery was uninsured status (HR, 4.55 [1.64-12.64]), whereas incomplete cleft palate (HR, 0.68 [0.46-0.98]) and Hispanic ethnicity (HR, 0.68 [0.50-0.94]) were found to be protective for secondary surgery with the rest of the covariates not showing significant association. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate of secondary surgery (13.6%) at 16 years was less than reported in the literature. Patients who had a complete cleft palate repaired showed a higher incidence rate compared with those who had an incomplete cleft repaired, likely correlating with the complexity and invasiveness of the primary surgery. The first risk peak at which secondary surgeries were performed reflects the short-term complications that needed to be addressed within the first postoperative year. The second peak reflects the longer-term complications diagnosed at the age at which children reach speech milestones.

Incidence of oral clefts among different ethnicities in the state of California.

INTRODUCTION: Several population-based epidemiologic studies have been conducted to evaluate the incidence of oral clefts in different ethnicities in the United States and other countries. The largest studies were performed in white (non-Hispanic) subjects. The highest incidence rates have been reported in Asians and Native Americans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective longitudinal analysis of the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development patient discharge database from 1995 to 2010. We identified the yearly number of live births and the number of patients diagnosed with cleft palate or cleft lip with or without palate. We also stratified the number of live births and the incidence of clefts based on ethnic backgrounds. We studied the trend in the incidence rates among different ethnicities in the period between 1995 and 2010. We identified and analyzed data from 3 main groups of patients: those with any cleft disease (AC), isolated cleft palate (CP), and cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP). RESULTS: Our database shows a total number of 8,043,393 live births included in the study. The calculated incidence rates for the white (Non-Hispanic) population are 16.2 with AC, 7.6 with CP, and 8.67 with CLP. Rates for the Hispanic population are 12.26 with AC, 4.79 with CP, and 7.5 with CLP. Rates for Asian/Pacific Islanders are 11.57 with AC, 4.9 with CP, and 6.68 with CLP. Rates for the African American population are 8.9 with AC, 4.1 with CP, and 6.7 with CLP. Rates for the Native American population are 8.15 with AC, 2.1 with CP, and 6 with CLP. We also noticed a declining trend in the incidence rates of AC, CP, and CLP over the period of the study between 1995 and 2010. DISCUSSION: Our results suggest different incidence rates among different ethnicities. We found the highest rates for any oral cleft, isolated cleft palate, and cleft lip with and without palate in the white (non-Hispanic) population. The declining incidence rates during the period of the study (15 years) could be attributed to environmental, demographic, or gene pool factors. However, further studies are needed to investigate this finding.

Incidence and predictors of 30-day readmission for patients discharged home after craniotomy for malignant supratentorial tumors in California (1995-2010).

OBJECT: Hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge is a major contributor to the high cost of health care in the US and is also a major indicator of patient care quality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, causes, and predictors of 30-day readmission following craniotomy for malignant supratentorial tumor resection. METHODS: The longitudinal California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development inpatient-discharge administrative database is a data set that consists of 100% of all inpatient hospitalizations within the state of California and allows each patient to be followed throughout multiple inpatient hospital stays, across multiple institutions, and over multiple years (from 1995 to 2010). This database was used to identify patients who underwent a craniotomy for resection of primary malignant brain tumors. Causes for unplanned 30-day readmission were identified by principle ICD-9 diagnosis code and multivariate analysis was used to determine the independent effect of various patient factors on 30-day readmissions. RESULTS: A total of 18,506 patients received a craniotomy for the treatment of primary malignant brain tumors within the state of California between 1995 and 2010. Four hundred ten patients (2.2%) died during the index surgical admission, 13,586 patients (73.4%) were discharged home, and 4510 patients (24.4%) were transferred to another facility. Among patients discharged home, 1790 patients (13.2%) were readmitted at least once within 30 days of discharge, with 27% of readmissions occurring at a different hospital than the initial surgical institution. The most common reasons for readmission were new onset seizure and convulsive disorder (20.9%), surgical infection of the CNS (14.5%), and new onset of a motor deficit (12.8%). Medi-Cal beneficiaries were at increased odds for readmission relative to privately insured patients (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.20-1.93). Patients with a history of prior myocardial infarction were at an increased risk of readmission (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.06-2.54) as were patients who developed hydrocephalus (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.20-2.07) or venous complications during index surgical admission (OR 3.88, 95% CI 1.84-8.18). CONCLUSIONS: Using administrative data, this study demonstrates a baseline glioma surgery 30-day readmission rate of 13.2% in California for patients who are initially discharged home. This paper highlights the medical histories, perioperative complications, and patient demographic groups that are at an increased risk for readmission within 30 days of home discharge. An analysis of conditions present on readmission that were not present at the index surgical admission, such as infection and seizures, suggests that some readmissions may be preventable. Discharge planning strategies aimed at reducing readmission rates in neurosurgical practice should focus on patient groups at high risk for readmission and comprehensive discharge planning protocols should be implemented to specifically target the mitigation of potentially preventable conditions that are highly associated with readmission.

Long-term outcomes of patients with nonsurgically managed uncomplicated appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Emerging literature has supported the safety of nonoperative management of uncomplicated appendicitis. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with emergent, uncomplicated appendicitis were identified by appropriate ICD-9 diagnosis codes in the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database from 1997 to 2008. Rates of treatment failure, recurrence, and perforation after nonsurgical management were calculated. Factors associated with treatment failure, recurrence, and perforation were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Mortality, length of stay, and total charges were compared between treatment cohorts using matched propensity score analysis. RESULTS: Of 231,678 patients with uncomplicated appendicitis, the majority (98.5%) were managed operatively. Of the 3,236 nonsurgically managed patients who survived to discharge without an interval appendectomy, 5.9% and 4.4% experienced treatment failure or recurrence, respectively, during a median follow-up of more than 7 years. There were no mortalities associated with treatment failure or recurrence. The risk of perforation after discharge was approximately 3%. Using multivariable analysis, race and age were significantly associated with the odds of treatment failure. Sex, age, and hospital teaching status were significantly associated with the odds of recurrence. Age and hospital teaching status were significantly associated with the odds of perforation. Matched propensity score analysis indicated that after risk adjustment, mortality rates (0.1% vs 0.3%; p = 0.65) and total charges ($23,243 vs $24,793; p = 0.70) were not statistically different between operative and nonoperative patients; however, length of stay was significantly longer in the nonoperative treatment group (2.1 days vs 3.2 days; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that nonoperative management of uncomplicated appendicitis can be safe and prompts additional investigations. Comparative effectiveness research using prospective randomized studies can be particularly useful.

Mortality after ground-level fall in the elderly patient taking oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation/flutter: a long-term analysis of risk versus benefit.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter who experience ground-level falls are at risk for lethal head injuries. Patients on oral anticoagulation (OAC) for thromboprophylaxis may be at higher risk for these head injuries. Trauma surgeons treating these patients face a difficult choice: (1) continue OAC to minimize stroke risk while increasing the risk of a lethal head injury or (2) discontinue OAC to avoid intracranial hemorrhage while increasing the risk of stroke. To inform this choice, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess long-term outcomes and risk factors for mortality after presentation with a ground-level fall among patients with and without OAC. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the longitudinal version of the California Office of Statewide Planning and Development database was performed for years 1995 to 2009. Elderly anticoagulated patients (age > 65 years) with known atrial fibrillation or flutter who fell were stratified by CHA2DS2-VASc score and compared with a nonanticoagulated control cohort. Multivariable logistic regression including patient demographics, stroke risk, injury severity, and hospital type identified risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: A total of 377,873 patient records met the inclusion criteria, 42,913 on OAC and 334,960 controls. The mean age was 82.4 and 80.6 years, respectively. Most were female, with CHA2DS2-VASc scores between 3 and 5. Mortality among OAC patients after a first fall was 6%, compared with 3.1% among non-OAC patients. Patients dying with a head injury constituted 31.6% of deaths within OAC patients compared with 23.8% among controls. Risk of eventual death with head injury exceeded annualized stroke risk for patients with CHA2DS2-VASc scores of 0 to 2. Predictors for mortality with head injury on the first admission included male sex, Asian ethnicity, a history of stroke, and trauma center admission. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients on OAC for atrial fibrillation and/or flutter who fall have a greater risk for mortality compared with controls. Patients with low CHA2DS2-VASc scores (0-3) at high risk for falls with identified risk factors should speak to their prescribing physicians regarding the risk/benefits of continued use of OAC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.