Modelling lower-limb peripheral arterial disease using clinically available datasets: impact of inflow boundary conditions on hemodynamic indices for restenosis prediction.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The integration of hemodynamic markers as risk factors in restenosis prediction models for lower-limb peripheral arteries is hindered by fragmented clinical datasets. Computed tomography (CT) scans enable vessel geometry reconstruction and can be obtained at different times than the Doppler ultrasound (DUS) images, which provide information on blood flow velocity. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations allow the computation of near-wall hemodynamic indices, whose accuracy depends on the prescribed inlet boundary condition (BC), derived from the DUS images. This study aims to: (i) investigate the impact of different DUS-derived velocity waveforms on CFD results; (ii) test whether the same vessel areas, subjected to altered hemodynamics, can be detected independently of the applied inlet BC; (iii) suggest suitable DUS images to obtain reliable CFD results. METHODS: CFD simulations were conducted on three patients treated with bypass surgery, using patient-specific DUS-derived inlet BCs recorded at either the same or different time points than the CT scan. The impact of the chosen inflow condition on bypass hemodynamics was assessed in terms of wall shear stress (WSS)-derived quantities. Patient-specific critical thresholds for the hemodynamic indices were applied to identify critical luminal areas and compare the results with a reference obtained with a DUS image acquired in close temporal proximity to the CT scan. RESULTS: The main findings indicate that: (i) DUS-derived inlet velocity waveforms acquired at different time points than the CT scan led to statistically significantly different CFD results (p<0.001); (ii) the same luminal surface areas, exposed to low time-averaged WSS, could be identified independently of the applied inlet BCs; (iii) similar outcomes were observed for the other hemodynamic indices if the prescribed inlet velocity waveform had the same shape and comparable systolic acceleration time to the one recorded in close temporal proximity to the CT scan. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a lack of standardised data collection for diseased lower-limb peripheral arteries, an accurate estimation of luminal areas subjected to altered near-wall hemodynamics is possible independently of the applied inlet BC. This holds if the applied inlet waveform shares some characteristics - derivable from the DUS report - as one matching the acquisition time of the CT scan.

Comparative Outcomes of Peripheral Vascular Interventions in Patients on Chronic Anticoagulation with Factor Xa Inhibitors and Vitamin K Antagonists.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing revascularization for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), low-dose Factor Xa inhibitors (FXaI) taken with aspirin improved limb and cardiovascular outcomes compared to aspirin alone. Furthermore, in atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism, FXaI are recommended over vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for chronic anticoagulation. While studies have evaluated different perioperative anticoagulation regimens in patients treated for PAD, the optimal regimen for chronic anticoagulation in patients with PAD undergoing peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) has not been determined. This analysis compares outcomes of patients after PVI that require chronic anticoagulation with FXaI and VKA. METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative-PVI database was used. Patients consistently treated with FXaI or VKA before the procedure, at discharge, and on long-term follow-up were defined as those receiving chronic anticoagulation. Patient demographics, procedural details, and perioperative and long-term outcomes were compared between FXaI and VKA groups. RESULTS: A total of 109,268 patients were analyzed, and 6,885 were chronically anticoagulated with FXaI (N = 2,427) or VKA (N = 4,458). Patients anticoagulated with VKA were more frequently males (65.3% vs. 61.0%, P < 0.001) with end-stage renal disease (9.7% vs. 4.6%, P < 0.001) and more likely to be treated for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (58.1% vs. 52.7%, P < 0.001). Rates of hematoma following PVI were significantly higher in patients taking VKA compared to FXaI (3.5% vs. 1.9%, P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that VKA were associated with increased perioperative hematoma than FXaI (odds ratio = 1.89 [1.30-2.82]). Compared to patients taking VKA, those receiving FXaI had lower rates of major amputation (6.7% vs. 8.4%, P = 0.020) and mortality (7.6% vs. 15.2%, P ≤ 0.001). Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients consistently anticoagulated with FXaI had improved amputation-free survival after PVI. Adjusting for significant patient and procedural characteristics, Cox proportional hazard regression demonstrated that there is an increased risk for major amputation or mortality in patients using VKA compared to FXaI (hazard ratio 1.61, [1.36-1.90]). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic anticoagulation with FXaI as compared to VKA was associated with superior perioperative and long-term outcomes in patients with PAD undergoing PVI. FXaI should be the preferred agents over VKA for chronic anticoagulation in patients with PAD undergoing PVI.

Anatomic patterns in claudicants who fail supervised exercise therapy.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with intermittent claudication (IC) from peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have significant improvement with supervised exercise therapy (SET). However, many patients have progressive disease that will ultimately require revascularization. We sought to determine whether the anatomic patterns of PAD were associated with response to SET. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with IC at the West Haven, Connecticut Veterans Health Administration between June 2019 and June 2022. Patients were classified based on the level of their arterial disease with >50% obstruction. SET failure was defined as progressive symptoms or development of critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) requiring revascularization. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients with PAD were included. Thirteen patients (34.2%) had significant common femoral artery (CFA) disease, and 25 (65.8%) had non-CFA disease. Over a median follow-up of 1407 days, 11 patients (84.6%) with CFA disease failed SET as compared with three patients (12.0%) with non-CFA disease (P < .001). Patients with CFA disease were more likely to develop CLTI (46.2% vs 4.0%; P = .001) and have persistent symptoms (38.5% vs 8.0%; P = .02). Patients with CFA disease had significantly lower post-SET ankle-brachial index (0.58 ± 0.14 vs 0.77 ± 0.19; P = .03). In multivariate analysis, the only variable associated with SET failure was CFA disease location (odds ratio, 68.75; 95% confidence interval, 5.05-936.44; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IC from high-grade CFA atherosclerosis are overwhelmingly likely to fail SET, potentially identifying a subset of patients who benefit from upfront revascularization.

The Utilization of Protamine during Peripheral Vascular Interventions in the VQI.

BACKGROUND: Protamine administration was shown to reduce bleeding after carotid surgery but the role of protamine during peripheral vascular interventions (PVIs) remains unknown. This study evaluates the trend and outcomes of protamine use in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI). Our hypothesis is that the use of protamine is associated with decreased bleeding after PVI. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective PVI in the VQI (2016-2020) for peripheral arterial disease were reviewed and the utilization trend for protamine was described. The characteristics of patients undergoing PVI with and without protamine use were compared. After propensity score matching based on the patient's comorbidities, access site, and procedural characteristics, the perioperative outcomes of both groups were compared using multivariable Poisson regression to estimate adjusted rate ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: The total number of patients was 131,618 and patients who received protamine constituted 29.8% of the sample (N = 38,191). After propensity matching, the total number of patients was 94,582, and patients who received protamine constituted 28.8% of the sample (N = 27,275). Protamine use significantly increased during the study period from 5.2 to 22.9%. Before propensity score matching, patients who received protamine were more likely to be white (79% vs. 76.8, P ≤ 0.001), smokers (80.5% vs. 78.5%, P ≤ 0.001), with medical comorbidities including hypertension (88.9% vs. 88.5%, P = 0.074), congestive heart failure (20.5% vs. 19.8%, P = 0.006), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (28.2% vs. 26.5%). They were also more likely to be on perioperative medications such as P2Y12 inhibitors (44.3% vs. 45, P = 0.013%) and statin (77.4% vs. 76.5%, P = 0.001) compared to patients who did not receive protamine. After propensity matching, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups. There was a significant decrease in bleeding during procedures where protamine was administered compared to no protamine (2.0% vs. 2.2%) (aRR, 0.89 [95% CI 0.80, 0.98]). Protamine was more likely to be given in procedures complicated by perforation (0.8% vs. 0.5%) (aRR, 1.48 [95% CI 1.24, 1.76]) and less likely to be given during procedures with distal embolization (0.4% vs. 0.7%) (aRR, 0.59 [95% CI 0.49, 0.73]). However, patients receiving protamine had significantly higher cardiac complications (1.4% vs. 1.1%) (aRR, 1.27 [95% CI 1.12, 1.43]). There was no significant difference in mortality between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Protamine use is associated with decreased perioperative bleeding but increased cardiac complications. Protamine should be selectively administered to patients at high risk of bleeding during PVI.

Balloon rupture with eversion during innominate vein angioplasty requiring surgical retrieval.

Balloon rupture during angioplasty can with calcified or recalcitrant lesions. A 61-year-old woman presented with worsening arm and facial swelling. She had a history of left upper extremity thrombolysis and stenting of the innominate vein 6 years prior. Venography showed severe in-stent stenosis. After crossing the lesion, a 12-mm balloon was inflated, which ruptured at nominal pressure. The balloon became stuck and could not be moved over the wire even after retraction of the sheath. A limited surgical cutdown was performed, and the balloon and the wire were removed together. The ruptured balloon part was found to be everted and circumferentially wrapped around the wire, preventing the wire exchange. After cutting the everted portion of the balloon, the catheter was removed without losing wire access. A high-pressure balloon was subsequently used to treat the lesion successfully. Her symptoms had resolved on follow-up, and the stent remained patent after 6 months.

Virtual vascular surgery interest group during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Early exposure to vascular surgery at the medical student level positively influences one's decision to apply into an integrated vascular surgery residency program. Vascular surgery interest groups (VSIGs) are student-run and aim to facilitate such exposure, traditionally via in-person events. Social distancing during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic disrupted these interactions. This is a description of the virtual activities of a VSIG group during the 2020-2021 academic year and highlights their impact among medical students. METHODS: The virtual activities of the VSIG at the Yale School of Medicine were reviewed. Students received surveys prior and after activities to assess their impact. Preactivity and postactivity surveys using Likert scale (1 = completely disagree; 5 = completely agree) were administered and compared. Statistical significance was achieved with a P value of less than .05. RESULTS: A total of five virtual events were held: an Introductory Session (October 2020), a Simulation Session (November 2020), a Research Night (January 2021), a Journal Club (February 2021), and a National Match Panel (April 2021). The surveys of three events (Introductory Session, Simulation Session, and National Match Panel) were analyzed. Attendance at these events were 18, 55, and 103 respectively. The average presurvey response rate was 51.2% and the average postsurvey response rate was 27.46%. Students agreed that the Introductory Session increased their knowledge about vascular surgery as a subspecialty (4.22 ± 0.67) and that the session was valuable to their time (4.33 ± 1.00). The Simulation Session increased student's comfort with knot tying from 1.73 ± 0.89 to 3.21 ± 1.25 (P < .001). Students reported an increased understanding of residency program selection (2.39 ± 1.10 vs 3.21 ± 1.12; P = .018), the Electronic Residency Application Service application (2.16 ± 1.01 vs 3.00 ± 0.88; P = .007), and letters of recommendation (2.45 ± 1.07 vs 3.14 ± 1.17; P = .04). Students particularly had a significant increase in the understanding of the logistics of residency interviews, which were held virtually that year for the first time (1.84 ± 0.96 vs 3.29 ± 1.20; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Virtual VSIG activities were feasible and effective during the pandemic in promoting student engagement and interest in vascular surgery. Despite lifting social distancing measures, the virtual format could become a valuable tool to expand outreach efforts of the vascular surgery community to recruit talented medical students.

How much flow is enough: the use of fractional flow reserve in chronic limb-threatening ischemia in a series of patients with isolated occlusive tibial disease.

The role of the fractional flow reserve to guide lower extremity peripheral vascular intervention, specifically in chronic limb-threatening ischemia, has remained unclear. This series presents a novel use of the fractional flow reserve in four patients to guide lower extremity endovascular interventions in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

Residents' method for gaining operative autonomy.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of this study was to explore the resident construct for their perceived successful method of actions that lead to OR autonomy during residency and the strategies they employed. METHODS: We conducted focus group interviews with residents from the General Surgery (GS) and Obstetrics & Gynecology (OBGYN) departments at a single academic institution across all clinical postgraduate years (PGY) using convenience sampling. Audio recordings of each interview were transcribed, analyzed and emergent themes were identified using a framework method. RESULTS: A total of 38 residents participated. A 3-stage resident method to gain operative autonomy emerged. This progresses from building rapport, developing mutual entrustment, and finally to obtaining autonomy. We identified 4 common strategies used by residents to construct this method: smart communication, attention to attending preferences, helpful allies and visible attributes. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide insight into resident strategies to achieve progressive autonomy in the OR helping programs improve resident's learning efficiency.

The Construction of Case-Specific Resident Learning Goals.

OBJECTIVE: Developing resident autonomy in the operating room is a complex process and resident established case specific learning goals may increase resident operating room training efficiency. However, little is understood about residents' experience identifying learning goals for a given case. The aim of this study was to explore the essential components contributing to surgery residents' identification of specific learning goals for surgical cases. DESIGN: We conducted focus group interviews with general surgery residents across all post-graduate years (PGY) through convenience sampling. Audio recordings of each interview were transcribed and iteratively analyzed. Emerging themes were identified using a framework method. SETTING: The study was conducted within the Department of General Surgery at the Ohio State University Medical Center, a tertiary academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Eight junior (PGY 1-2) and 10 senior (PGY 3-5) residents participated, of whom 10 were female and 8 were male. RESULTS: On average, each focus group interview lasted 57.00 (SD ± 12.99) minutes. Three essential components of residents' creation of case-specific learning goals emerged from the focus group interviews: medical knowledge, surgical experience and entrustment. Residents require baseline knowledge and surgical experience with an operation to identify the learning goal they would aim to execute. They also require entrustment of themselves and support of the attending to accomplish the case specific learning goal. Differences in the possession of these three components would likely influence differences in the ability to create learning goals between junior and senior residents. CONCLUSIONS: Medical knowledge, surgical experience and entrustment are 3 factors that are imperative to the creation of a resident's case specific learning goal. The complex combination of these three components contributes to the building of the learning goal prior to the start of the operation. Elucidating these aspects provides additional information for targeted interventions in the future.

Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio and Transarterial Chemoembolization in Neuroendocrine Tumor Metastases.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to be predictive of outcomes in various cancers, including neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and cancer-related treatments, including transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). We hypothesized that NLR could be predictive of response to TACE in patients with metastatic NET. METHODS: We reviewed 262 patients who underwent TACE for metastatic NET at a single tertiary medical center from 2000 to 2016. NLR was calculated from blood work drawn 1 d before TACE, as well as 1 d, 1 wk, and 6 mo after treatment. RESULTS: The median post-TACE overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort was 30.1 mo. Median OS of patients with a pre-TACE NLR ≤ 4 was 33.3 mo versus 21.1 mo for patients with a pre-TACE NLR >4 (P = 0.005). At 6 mo, the median OS for patients with post-TACE NLR > pre-TACE NLR was 21.4 mo versus 25.8 mo for patients with post-TACE NLR ≤ pre-TACE NLR (P = 0.007). On multivariate analysis, both pre-TACE NLR and 6-mo post-TACE NLR were independent predictors of survival. NLR values from 1-d and 1-wk post-TACE did not correlate with outcome. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated NLR pre-TACE and an NLR that has not returned to its pre-TACE value several months after TACE correlate with outcomes in patients with NET and liver metastases. This value can easily be calculated from laboratory results routinely obtained as part of preprocedural and postprocedural care, potential treatment strategies.

Prognostic Impact of Serum Pancreastatin Following Chemoembolization for Neuroendocrine Tumors.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of the biomarker serum pancreastatin in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: Patients with metastatic NET treated with TACE at a single institution from 2000 to 2013 were analyzed. Patient demographics, response to therapy, and long-term survival were compared with baseline pancreastatin level and changes in pancreastatin levels after TACE. RESULTS: A total of 188 patients underwent TACE during the study period. An initial pancreastatin level greater than 5000 pg/mL correlated with worse overall survival (OS) from time of first TACE (median OS, 58.5 vs. 22.1 months, p < 0.001). A decrease in pancreastatin level by 50% or more after TACE treatment correlated with improved OS (median OS 53.8 vs. 29.9 months, p = 0.032). Patients with carcinoid syndrome were more likely to have a subsequent increase in pancreastatin after initial drop post-TACE (78.1 vs. 55.2%, p = 0.002). Patients with an increase in pancreastatin levels after initial drop post-TACE were more likely to have liver progression on imaging (70.7 vs. 40.7%, p = 0.005) and more likely to need repeat TACE (21.1 vs. 6.7%, p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with liver metastases from NET treated with TACE, pancreastatin measurement may be a useful prognostic indicator. Extreme high levels before TACE can predict poor outcomes, whereas significant drops in pancreastatin after TACE correlate with improved survival. An increase in levels after initial decrease may predict progressive liver disease requiring repeat TACE. As such, pancreastatin levels should be measured throughout the TACE treatment period.

A Case of Acute Iliocaval Thrombosis in the Setting of a Suprarenal Inferior Vena Cava Saccular Aneurysm.

Inferior vena cava (IVC) aneurysms are a rare finding, whose management and outcomes remain uncertain due to their low incidence and long-term follow-up. As IVC aneurysms remain a poorly understood clinical entity, it is important to expand upon our existing knowledge base as new cases arise. We present a patient with a suprarenal IVC saccular aneurysm and an overview of the current literature regarding IVC aneurysm classification, presentation, and management. Based on the expanding literature, we propose that IVC aneurysms may be simplified into a 2-type classification, which can further guide clinicians on management of the aneurysm.

Redefining the Surgical Council of Resident Education (SCORE) Curriculum: A Comparison with the Operative Experiences of Graduated General Surgical Residents.

Our objective was to investigate the number and classify surgical operations performed by general surgery residents and compare these with the updated Surgical Council on Resident Education (SCORE) curriculum. We performed a retrospective review of logged surgical cases from general surgical residents who completed training at a single center from 2011 to 2015. The logged cases were correlated with the operations extracted from the SCORE curriculum. Hundred and fifty-one procedures were examined; there were 98 "core" and 53 "advanced" cases as determined by the SCORE. Twenty-eight residents graduated with an average of 1017 major cases. Each resident completed 66 (67%) core cases and 17 (32%) advanced cases an average of one or more times with 39 (40%) core cases and 6 (11%) advanced cases completed five or more times. Core procedures that are infrequently or not performed by residents should be identified in each program to focus on resident education.

"In situ" endografting in the treatment of arterial and graft infections.

OBJECTIVE: Endografts (eg, aortic aneurysm device or covered stent) are increasingly being used to temporize or treat arterial and graft infections in inaccessible areas, in patients with compromised anatomy, or in the presence of active bleeding or rupture. This summary examines the evidence for "in situ" endografting in the treatment these conditions. METHODS: A two-level search strategy of the literature (MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, and The Cochrane Library) was performed for relevant articles listed between January 2000 and December 2015. The review was confined to patients with primary and secondary bacterial or viral arterial infections, with or without fistulization and infection of bypass grafts and arteriovenous accesses. For the purposes of this summary, endografts can be considered to be an aortic aneurysm device or a covered stent. RESULTS: There are no societal guidelines. Endografts have been successfully applied to mycotic arterial aneurysms, aortoenteric, aortobronchial, and arterioureteric fistulae, and to anastomotic bleeds secondary to infection. Multiple reports indicate success at the control of hemorrhage in all locations. Short-term outcomes are good, but fatal infection-related complications, especially if antibiotic therapy is halted, are well reported and necessitate a more definitive plan for the long term. CONCLUSIONS: Stent grafts remain an important and viable option for the treatment of mycotic aneurysms, aortoesophageal and aortobronchial fistulae, and infected pseudoaneurysms in anatomically or technically inaccessible locations. In patients with a short life span (<6 months), no further intervention is generally required. In patients with a predicted life span >6 months, careful consideration should be given to a more definitive procedure. Life-long appropriate antibiotic therapy is strongly recommended for any patient receiving an endograft in an infected field.

Common carotid artery end-diastolic velocity and acceleration time can predict degree of internal carotid artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: Whereas duplex ultrasound parameters for predicting internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis are well defined, the use of common carotid artery (CCA) Doppler characteristics to predict ICA stenosis when the ICA cannot be insonated directly or accurately because of anatomy, calcification, or tortuosity has not been studied. The objective of this study was to identify CCA Doppler parameters that may predict ICA stenosis. METHODS: We reviewed all patients at our institution who underwent carotid duplex ultrasound (CDU) from 2008 to 2015 and also had a comparison computed tomography, magnetic resonance, or catheter angiogram. We excluded patients whose CDU examination did not correlate with the comparison study, those whose arteries were not visualized on the comparison study, and those with complete occlusion of the CCA. We collected CCA peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and acceleration time (AT) in addition to CDU and comparison imaging interpretation of degree of stenosis. A multivariate model was used to identify predictors of ICA stenosis. RESULTS: There were 99 CDU examinations with corresponding comparison imaging included. For every increase of 10 cm/s in EDV in the CCA, the odds of a >50% ICA stenosis being present vs a ≤50% ICA stenosis decreased by 37% (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.97; P = .03). For every increase of 10 cm/s in EDV in the CCA, the odds of a 70% to 99% ICA stenosis being present vs a ≤50% ICA stenosis decreased by 48% (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.28-0.94; P = .03). A CCA EDV of 19 cm/s or below was associated with a 64% probability of a 70% to 99% ICA stenosis. For every 50-millisecond increase in AT in the CCA, the odds of a >50% stenosis being present vs a ≤50% ICA stenosis increased by 56% (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.03-2.35; P = .04). A CCA AT of 80 milliseconds or above was associated with a 69% probability of a >50% ICA stenosis. There was no correlation between CCA PSV and ICA stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: CCA EDV and AT are independent predictors of ICA stenosis and may be used in the setting of patients whose ICA cannot be directly insonated or when standard duplex ultrasound parameters of ICA PSV, EDV, or ICA/CCA ratio conflict.

The Role of Endovascular In Situ Revascularization in the Treatment of Arterial and Graft Infections.

Mycotic aneurysms and prosthetic graft infections are traditionally treated with excision of the infected tissue or graft, often requiring anatomical or extraanatomical bypass, carrying significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, the role of endovascular repair without excision in this setting has yet to be defined. We present 2 case scenarios, whereby mycotic pseudoaneurysms were successfully treated with endovascular stent-graft coverage and to present an in-depth review of endovascular in situ revascularization in the treatment of arterial and graft infections. There are data to support the use of stent grafting in mycotic aortic and iliac aneurysms, lower and upper extremity native arterial infections, lower extremity prosthetic bypass infections, and infections of carotid artery aneurysms. It is our belief that this technique may be utilized as primary therapy if there is no significant contamination and certainly serves an essential role in acute rupture or hemorrhage. In situations where there is significant tissue infection, stent grafting should be considered as a bridge if traditional excision is warranted.

Incidence of abdominal wall metastases following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement in patients with head and neck cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes are an effective modality for enteral nutrition in patients with head and neck cancer; however, there have been documented case reports of "seeding" of the abdominal wall by the theoretic risk of dragging the tube along the tumor during PEG placement. The objective of this study is to determine the incidence and contributing risk factors leading to metastasis to the abdominal wall following PEG placement in patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients diagnosed with head and neck malignancy who underwent PEG placement between 1/5/2009 and 12/22/2014. Variables collected included development of abdominal wall metastases, type of malignancy and tumor characteristics, smoking history, PEG placement technique, and survival following recurrence. Data were then analyzed for overall trends. RESULTS: Out of 777 patients analyzed, a total of five patients with head and neck malignancy were identified with abdominal wall metastasis following PEG tube placement with an overall incidence of 0.64% over an average follow-up of 27.55 months. All of these patients underwent PEG tube insertion via a Pull technique. One patient was found to have a clinically evident and symptomatic stomal metastasis, while the other four patients had radiologically detected metastases either on CT or PET scan. All of the identified patients were found to have stage IV oral cancer at time of initial diagnosis of their head and neck malignancy, followed by widespread distant metastatic disease at time of presentation with their PEG site stomal metastasis. CONCLUSION: Abdominal wall metastases following PEG placement are a rare but serious complication in patients with head and neck malignancy.

Umbilical hernias: the cost of waiting.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical hernias are well described in the literature, but its impact on health care is less understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of non-operative management of umbilical hernias on cost, work absenteeism, and resource utilization. METHODS: The Truven Health Database, consisting of 279 employers and over 3000 hospitals, was reviewed for all umbilical hernia patients, aged 18-64 who were enrolled in health plans for 12 months prior to surgery and 12 months after surgery. Patients were excluded if they had a recurrence or had been offered a "no surgery" approach within 1 year of the index date. The remaining patients were separated into surgery (open or laparoscopic repair) or no surgery (NS). Post-cost analysis at 90 and 365 days and estimated days off from work were reviewed for each group. RESULTS: The non-surgery cohort had a higher proportion of females and comorbidity index. Adjusted analysis showed significantly higher 90 and 365 costs for the surgery group (p < 0.0001), though the cost difference did decrease over time. NS group had significantly higher estimated days of health-care utilization at both the 90 (1.99 vs. 3.58 p < 0.0001) and 365 (8.69 vs. 11.04 p < 0.0001) day post-index mark. A subgroup analysis demonstrated laparoscopic repair had higher costs compared to open primarily due to higher index procedure costs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Though the financial costs were found to be higher in the surgery group, the majority of these were due to the surgery itself. Significantly higher days of health-care utilization and estimated days off work were experienced in the NS group. It is our belief that early operative intervention will lead to decreased costs and resource utilization.

Preventing anastomotic complications: early results of laparoscopic gastric devascularization two weeks prior to minimally invasive esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic gastric devascularization (LGD) is an innovative method to improve gastric conduit perfusion and improve anastomotic healing following esophagectomy. This study reports our early experience with LGD performed two weeks prior to minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) with intrathoracic anastomosis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent LGD prior to minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy between August 2014 and July 2015 at a large academic medical center. LGD included staging laparoscopy with division of the short gastric vessels, left gastric artery and coronary vein, and posterior gastric attachments. Patient demographics, comorbid conditions, clinical stage, use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation, perioperative events, length of hospital stay, 60-day readmission, and complications were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty patients underwent LGD prior to minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, and 21 (70 %) received neoadjuvant chemoradiation. LGD was performed a median of 14.5 (9-42) days prior to esophagectomy. Median operative time was 39 (18-56) minutes, and median length of stay was 0 (0-1) days. There were no complications or readmissions following LGD. MIE was completed laparoscopically in 93 % of patients; two patients required conversion to an open procedure due to mediastinal inflammation following neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Five patients (17 %) were readmitted within 60 days of surgery: one (3 %) patient with an anastomotic leak, two (7 %) with pneumonia, and two (7 %) with post-operative nausea and vomiting. One patient (3 %) expired following an anastomotic leak that required reoperation, and no patients developed an anastomotic stricture during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: LGD with delayed esophageal resection and reconstruction can be safely performed two weeks prior to MIE with minimal morbidity. The low rate of anastomotic leak (3 %) and absence of anastomotic strictures in this series suggest that this approach may successfully improve gastroesophageal anastomotic healing and reduce the rate of anastomotic complications reported with single-stage approaches.