Adding Patient-Reported Outcomes to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program: Results of the First 33,842 Patients from 65 Hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the initial set of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in the ACS NSQIP and their associations with 30-day surgical outcomes. BACKGROUND: PROs provide important information that can be used to improve routine care and facilitate quality improvement. The ACS conducted a demonstration project to capture PROs into the NSQIP to complement clinical data. METHODS: From 2/2020-3/2023, 65 hospitals collected PROMIS measures assessing global health, pain interference, fatigue, and physical function from patients accrued into the NSQIP. Using multivariable mixed regression, we compared the scores of patients with and without 30-day complications and further analyzed scores exceeding one standard deviation (1-SD) worse than national benchmarks. RESULTS: Overall, 33842 patients completed the PROMIS measures a median 58 days (IQR 47-72) postoperatively. Among patients without complications (n=31210), 33.9% had PRO scores 1-SD worse than national benchmarks. Patients with complications were 1.7-times more likely to report worse PROs (95% CI 1.6-1.8). Patients with complications had lower scores for global physical health (adjusted mean difference [AMD] 2.6, 95% CI 2.2-3.0), lower for global mental health (AMD 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.2), higher for pain interference (AMD 2.4, 95% CI 2.0-2.8), higher fatigue (AMD 2.7, 95% CI 2.3-3.1), and lower physical function (AMD 3.2, 95% CI 2.8-3.5). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative complications negatively affect multiple key dimensions of patients' health-related quality of life. PROs were well below national benchmarks for many patients, even among those without complications. Identifying solutions to improve PROs after surgery thus remains a tremendous quality opportunity.

A psychoeducational intervention to improve sexual functioning in male rectal and anal cancer patients: A pilot randomized controlled trial study.

OBJECTIVES: Male rectal and anal cancer patients demonstrate high rates of sexual dysfunction. This pilot randomized controlled trial tested a psychoeducational intervention designed to improve psychosexual adjustment. METHODS: Rectal or anal cancer patients were randomized to a Sexual Health Intervention for Men (intervention) or to a referral and information control (control). The intervention included control activities plus 4 sexual health intervention sessions every 4-6 weeks and 3 brief telephone calls timed between these sessions. Assessments were completed pre-intervention (baseline) and 3 months (follow-up 1) and 8 months (follow-up 2) post-intervention. Differences were assessed with statistical significance and Cohen's d effect sizes (d = 0.2, small effect; d = 0.5, moderate effect; d = 0.8, large effect). RESULTS: Ninety subjects enrolled. Forty-three participants completed at least 1 follow-up assessment (intervention, n = 14; control n = 29). At follow-up 1, men in intervention, compared to control, improved on all domains of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) (p < 0.001 to p < 0.05) and demonstrated large effects (d = 0.8 to d = 1.5). Similarly, at follow-up 2, changes in all domains of the IIEF except the orgasm domain were either statistically significant or marginally statistically significant (p = 0.01 to p = 0.08) and demonstrated moderate to large treatment effects for intervention versus control (d = 0.5 to d = 0.8). Men in the intervention, compared to control, demonstrated decreased sexual bother at follow-up 1 (p = 0.009, d = 1.1), while Self-Esteem and Relationship (SEAR) total scores and the SEAR sexual relationship subscale demonstrated moderate increases for intervention versus control (d = 0.4 to d = 0.6). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: This study provides initial evidence for combining a psychoeducational intervention with medical interventions to address sexual dysfunction following rectal and anal cancer. Trials register number: NCT00712751 (date of registration: 7/10/2008).

The Crohn's Disease-Health Index: Development and Evaluation of a Novel Outcome Measure.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to develop and validate the Crohn's Disease-Health Index (CD-HI), a disease-specific, patient-reported outcome measure that serially measures Crohn's disease (CD) symptomatic burden in adults with CD. BACKGROUND: As therapeutic interventions are tested among patients with CD, responsive outcome measures are needed to track disease progression and therapeutic gain during clinical trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a national cross-sectional study of individuals with CD to identify the most prevalent and impactful symptoms of CD. The most relevant symptoms were included in the CD-HI. We used factor analysis, qualitative patient interviews, test-retest reliability evaluation, and known group validity testing to evaluate and optimize the CD-HI. RESULTS: The CD-HI contains 12 subscales that comprehensively measure CD burden using the patient's perspective. Fifteen adults with CD beta tested the CD-HI and found the instrument to be clear, easy to use, and relevant to them. Twenty-three adults with CD participated in an assessment of test-retest reliability, which indicated high reliability of individual questions, subscales, and the full instrument (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.84 for the full instrument). The CD-HI and its subscales demonstrated a high internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.98 for the full instrument). The CD-HI distinguished between groups of individuals with CD known to differ in disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: This research supports the use of the CD-HI as a valid, sensitive, reliable, and relevant patient-reported outcome to determine the multifactorial disease burden of those with CD, assess the relevance and merit of future CD therapies, and support drug labeling claims.

Long-Term Results of Organ Preservation in Patients With Rectal Adenocarcinoma Treated With Total Neoadjuvant Therapy: The Randomized Phase II OPRA Trial.

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.To assess long-term risk of local tumor regrowth, we report updated organ preservation rate and oncologic outcomes of the OPRA trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02008656). Patients with stage II/III rectal cancer were randomly assigned to receive induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation (INCT-CRT) or chemoradiation followed by consolidation chemotherapy (CRT-CNCT). Patients who achieved a complete or near-complete response after finishing treatment were offered watch-and-wait (WW). Total mesorectal excision (TME) was recommended for those who achieved an incomplete response. The primary end point was disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary end point was TME-free survival. In total, 324 patients were randomly assigned (INCT-CRT, n = 158; CRT-CNCT, n = 166). Median follow-up was 5.1 years. The 5-year DFS rates were 71% (95% CI, 64 to 79) and 69% (95% CI, 62 to 77) for INCT-CRT and CRT-CNCT, respectively (P = .68). TME-free survival was 39% (95% CI, 32 to 48) in the INCT-CRT group and 54% (95% CI, 46 to 62) in the CRT-CNCT group (P = .012). Of 81 patients with regrowth, 94% occurred within 2 years and 99% occurred within 3 years. DFS was similar for patients who underwent TME after restaging (64% [95% CI, 53 to 78]) and patients in WW who underwent TME after regrowth (64% [95% CI, 53 to 78]; P = .94). Updated analysis continues to show long-term organ preservation in half of the patients with rectal cancer treated with total neoadjuvant therapy. In patients who enter WW, most cases of tumor regrowth occur in the first 2 years.

Practice Patterns for Organ Preservation in US Patients With Rectal Cancer, 2006-2020.

Importance: In March 2023, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network endorsed watch and wait for those with complete clinical response to total neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant therapy is highly efficacious, so this recommendation may have broad implications, but the current trends in organ preservation in the US are unknown. Objective: To describe organ preservation trends among patients with rectal cancer in the US from 2006 to 2020. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective, observational case series included adults (aged ≥18 years) with rectal adenocarcinoma managed with curative intent from 2006 to 2020 in the National Cancer Database. Exposure: The year of treatment was the primary exposure. The type of therapy was chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery (proctectomy, transanal local excision, no tumor resection). The timing of therapy was classified as neoadjuvant or adjuvant. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the absolute annual proportion of organ preservation after radical treatment, defined as chemotherapy and/or radiation without tumor resection, proctectomy, or transanal local excision. A secondary analysis examined complete pathologic responses among eligible patients. Results: Of the 175 545 patients included, the mean (SD) age was 63 (13) years, 39.7% were female, 17.4% had clinical stage I disease, 24.7% had stage IIA to IIC disease, 32.1% had stage IIIA to IIIC disease, and 25.7% had unknown stage. The absolute annual proportion of organ preservation increased by 9.8 percentage points (from 18.4% in 2006 to 28.2% in 2020; P < .001). From 2006 to 2020, the absolute rate of organ preservation increased by 13.0 percentage points for patients with stage IIA to IIC disease (19.5% to 32.5%), 12.9 percentage points for patients with stage IIIA to IIC disease (16.2% to 29.1%), and 10.1 percentage points for unknown stages (16.5% to 26.6%; all P < .001). Conversely, patients with stage I disease experienced a 6.1-percentage point absolute decline in organ preservation (from 26.4% in 2006 to 20.3% in 2020; P < .001). The annual rate of transanal local excisions decreased for all stages. In the subgroup of 80 607 eligible patients, the proportion of complete pathologic responses increased from 6.5% in 2006 to 18.8% in 2020 (P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: This case series shows that rectal cancer is increasingly being managed medically, especially among patients whose treatment historically relied on proctectomy. Given the National Comprehensive Cancer Network endorsement of watch and wait, the increasing trends in organ preservation, and the nearly 3-fold increase in complete pathologic responses, international professional societies should urgently develop multidisciplinary core outcome sets and care quality indicators to ensure high-quality rectal cancer research and care delivery accounting for organ preservation.

New Onset Geriatric Syndromes and One-year Outcomes Following Elective Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether older adults who develop geriatric syndromes following elective gastrointestinal surgery have poorer 1-year outcomes. BACKGROUND: Within 10 years, 70% of all cancers will occur in older adults ≥65 years old. The rise in older adults requiring major surgery has brought attention to age-related complications termed geriatric syndromes. However, whether postoperative geriatric syndromes are associated with long-term outcomes is unclear. METHODS: A population-based retrospective cohort study using the New York State Cancer Registry and the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System was performed including patients >55 years with pathologic stage I-III esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, colon, or rectal cancer who underwent elective resection between 2004 and 2018. Those aged 55 to 64 served as the reference group. The exposure of interest was a geriatric syndrome [fracture, fall, delirium, pressure ulcer, depression, malnutrition, failure to thrive, dehydration, or incontinence (urinary/fecal)] during the surgical admission. Patients with any geriatric syndrome within 1 year of surgery were excluded. Outcomes included incident geriatric syndrome, 1-year days alive and out of the hospital, and 1-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: In this study, 37,998 patients with a median age of 71 years without a prior geriatric syndrome were included. Of those 65 years or more, 6.4% developed a geriatric syndrome. Factors associated with an incident geriatric syndrome were age, alcohol/tobacco use, comorbidities, neoadjuvant therapy, ostomies, open surgery, and upper gastrointestinal cancers. An incident geriatric syndrome was associated with a 43% higher risk of 1-year mortality (hazard ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-1.60). For those aged 65+ discharged alive and not to hospice, a geriatric syndrome was associated with significantly fewer days alive and out of hospital (322 vs 346 days, P < 0.0001). There was an indirect relationship between the number of geriatric syndromes and 1-year mortality and days alive and out of the hospital after adjusting for surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Given the increase in older adults requiring major surgical intervention, and the establishment of geriatric surgery accreditation programs, these data suggest that morbidity and mortality metrics should be adjusted to accommodate the independent relationship between geriatric syndromes and long-term outcomes.

Think Twice: De-implementation of Laboratory Testing After Colorectal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Clinically unindicated laboratory testing contributes to low-value care. Most postoperative day 1 laboratory tests after colorectal surgery are normal. However, no published interventions have shown that reducing overall postoperative laboratory testing is safe. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of reducing postoperative laboratory testing after colorectal surgery. DESIGN: This is a quality improvement study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at an academic center with an enhanced recovery after surgery program that included 5 daily laboratory tests until discharge. PATIENTS: All adults undergoing colorectal or small-bowel surgery formed intervention and nonintervention cohorts based on surgeons who chose to opt into the study. Preimplementation (November 2019-October 2021), there were 545 intervention and 577 nonintervention patients. Postimplementation (November 2021-March 2023), there were 448 intervention and 437 nonintervention patients. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention included 3 postoperative day 1 laboratory tests and subsequent clinically indicated laboratory tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included laboratory tests and days free of laboratory work. RESULTS: Postintervention, the intervention group had a 33% reduction in laboratory tests per hospital stay, a 26% reduction in laboratory tests per day, and a 49% increase in laboratory test-free days. There was no difference in length of stay (4 vs 4; p = 0.79) or readmissions (14.9% vs 12.9%; p = 0.39). The nonintervention group had no significant changes in laboratory work or laboratory test-free days, with no differences in length of stay (4 vs 4; p = 0.49) or readmissions (11.1% vs 11.0%; p = 0.96). LIMITATIONS: Demographics and complication rates were not reported. CONCLUSIONS: An intervention targeting reflexive laboratory testing after colorectal surgery resulted in safe, significant, sustained reductions in postoperative laboratory work, with substantial cost savings. These findings prompted a change in the laboratory order set to an opt-out system, and laboratory work reduction approaches have been implemented within other surgical divisions. Continuation and spread of these efforts are instrumental for prioritization of high-value surgical care. See Video Abstract . PINSELO DOS VECES ELIMINACIN DE LAS PRUEBAS DE LABORATORIO DESPUS DE LA CIRUGA COLORRECTAL: ANTECEDENTES:Las pruebas de laboratorio clínicamente no indicadas contribuyen a una atención de bajo valor. La mayoría de los análisis de laboratorio del primer día post operatorios de una cirugía colorrectal son normales. Sin embargo, ninguna intervención publicada ha demostrado que reducir las pruebas de laboratorio post operatorias generales sea seguro.OBJETIVO:El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el impacto de reducir las pruebas de laboratorio pos toperatorias después de la cirugía colorrectal.DISEÑO:Este es un estudio de mejora de la calidad.AJUSTES:El estudio se llevó a cabo en un centro académico con un programa mejorado de recuperación después de la cirugía que incluye 5 laboratorios diarios hasta el alta.PACIENTES:Todos los adultos sometidos a cirugía colorrectal o de intestino delgado formaron cohortes de intervención y no intervención basadas en los cirujanos que optaron por participar en el estudio. Antes de la implementación (noviembre de 2019 - octubre de 2021) había 545 pacientes con intervención y 577 sin intervención. Después de la implementación (noviembre de 2021 - marzo de 2023) hubo 448 pacientes con intervención y 437 sin intervención.INTERVENCIONES:La intervención incluyó 3 laboratorios post operatorios del primer día y laboratorios posteriores clínicamente indicados.PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADO:Las medidas de resultado incluyeron pruebas de laboratorio y días sin laboratorio.RESULTADOS:Después de la intervención, el grupo de intervención tuvo una reducción del 33 % en laboratorios por estancia hospitalaria, una reducción del 26 % en laboratorios por día y un aumento del 49 % en los días sin laboratorio. No hubo diferencias en la duración de la estancia hospitalaria (4 frente a 4; p = 0,79) ni en los reingresos (14,9% frente a 12,9%; p = 0,39). El grupo de no intervención no tuvo cambios significativos en el trabajo de laboratorio o en los días sin laboratorio, sin diferencias en la duración de la estadía (4 versus 4; p = 0,49) o reingresos (11,1% versus 11,0%; p = 0,96).LIMITACIONES:No se informaron datos demográficos ni tasa de complicaciones.CONCLUSIONES:Una intervención dirigida a pruebas de laboratorio reflexivas después de la cirugía colorrectal resultó en reducciones seguras, significativas y sostenidas en el trabajo de laboratorio post operatorio, con ahorros sustanciales de costos. Estos hallazgos provocaron un cambio en el orden del laboratorio establecido hacia un sistema de exclusión voluntaria, y se han implementado enfoques de reducción del trabajo de laboratorio en otras divisiones quirúrgicas. La continuación y difusión de estos esfuerzos son fundamentales para priorizar la atención quirúrgica de alto valor. (Traducción-Dr. Mauricio Santamaria ).

Is there an outcome benefit? Patient engagement technology in addition to the electronic medical record patient portal following elective colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patient engagement technologies (PET) are an area of growing innovation and investment, but whether PET use in the setting of electronic medical record (EMR) supported patient portals are associated with improved outcomes is unknown. Therefore, we assessed PET and EMR activation among patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery on an enhanced recovery pathway. METHODS: We identified adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery between 1/2017 and 7/2021. EMR activations were assessed and patients were considered PET users if they used a proprietary PET application. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with PET use and determine whether the level of engagement (percentage of messages read by the patient) was associated with 30-day outcomes. RESULTS: 484 patients (53.5% PET users, 81.6% with an activated EMR patient portal, 30.8% ≥ 70 years of age) were included. PET users were younger, more likely to have their EMR portal activated and had decreased odds of prolonged length of stay [odds ratio (OR) 0.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-0.8]. Among patients ≥ 70 years, PET users had reduced odds of readmissions (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.9) compared to PET non-users. The most engaged PET users had decreased morbidity (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.8) and readmissions (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.8) compared to the least engaged PET users. CONCLUSION: When controlling for EMR activation, patients who use PET, specifically those with higher levels of engagement or aged ≥ 70, have improved outcomes following elective colorectal surgery. Interventions aimed at increasing the adoption of PET among older adults may be warranted.

Surgical Informed Consent: A Scoping Review of Physician-facing Decision Support Tools.

Objectives: Physician-facing decision support tools facilitate shared decision-making (SDM) during informed consent, but it is unclear whether they are comprehensive in the domains they measure. In this scoping review, we aimed to (1) identify the physician-facing tools used during SDM; (2) assess the patient-centered domains measured by these tools; (3) determine whether tools are available for older adults and for use in various settings (elective vs. emergent); and (4) characterize domains future tools should measure. Methods: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews, Embase, Medline, and Web of Science were queried for articles published between January 2000 and September 2022. Articles meeting inclusion criteria underwent title and abstract review. Eligible studies underwent data abstraction by two reviewers. Results: Of 4365 articles identified, 160 were eligible. Tools to aid in surgical SDM focus on elective procedures (79%) and the outpatient setting (71%). Few tools are designed for older adults (5%) or for nonelective procedures (9%). Risk calculators were most common, followed by risk indices, prognostic nomograms, and communication tools. Of the domains measured, prognosis was more commonly measured (85%), followed by alternatives (28%), patient goals (36%), and expectations (46%). Most tools represented only one domain (prognosis, 33.1%) and only 6.7% represented all four domains. Conclusions and Implications: Tools to aid in the surgical SDM process measure short-term prognosis more often than patient-centered domains such as long-term prognosis, patient goals, and expectations. Further research should focus on communication tools, the needs of older patients, and use in diverse settings.

Are postoperative opioid stewardship protocols sustainable? Results from a 2-year quality improvement project.

BACKGROUND: Opioid stewardship protocols reduce opioid overprescription, but many require corrective action within 1 year. Because there are limited data on the sustainability of opioid reduction protocols, we sought to evaluate prescribing trends beyond 1 year. METHODS: We reviewed prescribing data from a tertiary care center to establish a consensus discharge opioid-prescribing guideline. Subsequently, we performed a prospective quality-improvement study for patients on an enhanced recovery protocol undergoing elective colectomies, proctectomies, and stoma-related procedures. We gathered process (protocol compliance), balance (rates of patient-controlled analgesia and nerve blocks, inpatient opioid utilization, pain scores within 48 hours of discharge), and clinical measures (median discharge opioid pills, postdischarge day 7 satisfaction). RESULTS: In total, 1,049 patients with similar ages, operative indications, and rates of substance use pre- and postintervention were included. Over 2 years, compliance was 88.6%, and there was a 43.6% reduction in the total discharge number of opioid pills. Phone calls for opioid refills were stable (10.2% pre- vs 7.8% postintervention, P = .16), and the following all decreased significantly: intraoperative nerve blocks, patient-controlled analgesia use, and final 48-hour and total median inpatient opioid use. There was a clinically negligible, statistically significant reduction in pain scores within 48 hours of discharge. Fifty patients provided satisfaction data, and 92% were satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their analgesia. CONCLUSION: Over 2 years, reduced opioid prescribing was maintained without escalating resources. Sustainability suggests that after successfully implementing an opioid reduction protocol, institutions may safely redeploy quality improvement resources elsewhere.

A Remote Symptom Monitoring Tool As Part of Ambulatory Cancer Surgery Recovery: A Qualitative Analysis of Patient Experience.

PURPOSE: Patients recovering from ambulatory cancer surgery at home may find it difficult to determine whether their postoperative symptoms are normal or potentially serious. We developed the Recovery Tracker to help patients navigate such issues. The Recovery Tracker is a 10-day, web-based electronic survey that monitors symptoms daily and provides feedback as to whether reported symptoms are expected or require follow-up. We sought to examine patient perceptions using this tool. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted from August 2017 to September 2019 with a convenience sample of patients from a larger randomized controlled trial of the Recovery Tracker. Patients undergoing surgery at an ambulatory cancer center dedicated to the surgical treatment of breast, gynecologic, urologic, head, and neck cancers and benign tumors were included. Thematic analysis was applied to derive key themes and codes via NVivo qualitative analysis software. Recruitment was conducted iteratively until thematic saturation. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were interviewed. Interview responses were organized into five main themes: (1) The Recovery Tracker led to more seamless communication with the care team; (2) symptoms not expected or not listed on the Recovery Tracker caused stress; (3) the Recovery Tracker was perceived as an extension of care, prompting reflection about symptoms and recovery; (4) Enhanced Feedback provided reassurance and helped set expectations; and (5) the Recovery Tracker was easy to use. CONCLUSION: The patient experience of electronic symptom monitoring and feedback is congruent with the aims of such monitoring and feedback. Further qualitative research is required in more diverse populations.

Epidemiology and healthcare utilization for rectal foreign bodies in United States adults, 2012-2021.

INTRODUCTION: Presentations to the emergency department for rectal foreign bodies are common, but there is little epidemiologic information on this condition. This limits the ability to provide evidence-based education to trainees regarding the populations affected, the types and frequency of foreign bodies, and factors associated with hospitalization. To address this, we analyzed national estimates of emergency department presentations for rectal foreign bodies from 2012 to 2021 in the US. METHODS: We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for any injury to the 'pubic region' or 'lower trunk' with an accompanying diagnosis of foreign body, puncture, or laceration. Two authors manually reviewed all clinical narratives to identify cases of rectal foreign bodies. National estimates were determined using weighting and strata variables, incidence rates calculated using census data, trends assessed by linear regression, and factors associated with hospitalization identified by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: From 885 cases, there were an estimated 38,948 (95% CI, 32,040-45,856) emergency department visits for rectal foreign bodies among individuals ≥15 years from 2012 to 2021. The average age was 43, 77.8% were male, 55.4% of foreign bodies were sexual devices, and 40.8% required hospitalization. The annual incidence of presentations for rectal foreign bodies increased from 1.2 in 2012 to 1.9 per 100,000 persons in 2021 (R2 = 0.84, p < 0.01). Males have a bimodal age distribution peaking in the fifth decade, while females have a right-skewed age distribution peaking in the second decade. Female sex (odds ratio [OR] 0.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-0.6) and, compared to sexual devices, balls/marbles (OR 0.2; 95% CI, 0.05-0.6) or drugs/paraphernalia (OR 0.1; 95% CI, 0.05-0.4) are associated with a reduced odds of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Presentations to the emergency department for rectal foreign bodies increased for males and females from 2012 to 2021 in the United States. These epidemiologic estimates for a complex form of anorectal trauma provide preclinical information for emergency medicine, surgery, and radiology trainees.

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

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

A Novel Use for Pelvic MRI Scans to Estimate Lean Body Mass and Screen for Sarcopenia in Patients With Rectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia, the combination of low lean body mass and decreased muscle strength, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality among patients with colorectal cancer. Standard methods for assessing lean body mass and muscle strength, such as bioelectric impedance analysis and handgrip dynamometry, are rarely obtained clinically. Per National Cancer Center Network recommendations, pelvic MRI is routinely collected for staging and surveillance among patients with rectal cancer. However, there are no data assessing the relationship of pelvic MRI lean body mass measurements at the fifth lumbar vertebrae with bioelectric impedance analysis, handgrip strength, or abdominal CT in patients with rectal cancer. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether pelvic MRI lean body mass correlates with a standard for lean body mass measurement (bioelectric impedance analysis), muscle function (handgrip strength), and an imaging modality frequently used in the literature to identify sarcopenia (abdominal CT at the third lumbar vertebrae). IMPACT OF INNOVATION: Lean body mass measurements from routinely collected pelvic MRI at the fifth lumbar vertebrae accurately and reproducibly estimate lean body mass and modestly correlate with handgrip strength. Rectal cancer pelvic MRI may be repurposed for identifying sarcopenia without increasing inconvenience, ionizing radiation exposure, or expenditure to patients with rectal cancer. TECHNOLOGY, MATERIALS, AND METHODS: Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer with pretreatment bioelectric impedance analysis and handgrip strength measurements within 3 months of their staging pelvic MRI were eligible. Axial skeletal muscle areas were segmented using T1-weighted series pelvic MRI at the fifth lumbar vertebrae and abdominal CT at the third lumbar vertebrae using Slice-O-Matic (Tomovision, Montreal, Canada). Lean body mass (kilograms) was derived from skeletal muscle area with standard equations. Handgrip strength (kilograms) was the maximum of 3 dominant hand attempts in the standing anatomical position. The primary outcome was the agreement between lean body mass measured by pelvic MRI (at the fifth lumbar vertebrae) and bioelectric impedance analysis. Secondary outcomes included the concordance of pelvic MRI lean body mass (at the fifth lumbar vertebrae) with abdominal CT (at the third lumbar vertebrae) and handgrip strength. Additionally, the intra- and interobserver validity, internal consistency, and the mean difference (bias) between lean body mass measurements by pelvic MRI and bioelectric impedance analysis were evaluated. PRELIMINARY RESULTS: Sixteen patients were eligible. The average lean body mass was similar and consistent across 2 observers between bioelectric impedance analysis and pelvic MRI. There was a strong correlation between lean body mass measured on pelvic MRI, bioelectric impedance analysis, and abdominal CT. The reliability of 2 pelvic MRI lean body mass measurements (2 weeks apart by blinded observers) and the correlation of lean body mass between pelvic MRI and bioelectric impedance analysis was strong. Inter- and intraobserver correlation, reliability, and internal consistency were strong for the entire cohort. There was a moderate correlation between pelvic MRI lean body mass and handgrip strength. CONCLUSIONS: Lean body mass measured at the fifth lumbar vertebrae on pelvic MRI is reproducible and correlates strongly with measurements from bioelectric impedance analysis (standard) and abdominal CT at the third lumbar vertebrae and modestly with handgrip strength. These data suggest that MRI lean body mass measurements may be a method to screen patients with rectal cancer for sarcopenia. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Future studies may evaluate changes in lean body mass on serial pelvic MRI studies among patients with rectal cancer.

Low Preoperative Serum Creatinine is Common and Associated With Poor Outcomes After Nonemergent Inpatient Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between low preoperative serum creatinine and postoperative outcomes. BACKGROUND: The association between low creatinine and poor surgical outcomes is not well understood. METHODS: We identified patients with creatinine in the 7 days preceding nonemergent inpatient surgery in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2005 to 2020. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between creatinine and 30-day mortality and major complications. RESULTS: Of 1,809,576 patients, 27.8% of males and 23.5% of females had low preoperative serum creatinine, 14.6% experienced complications, and 1.2% died. For males, compared with the reference creatinine of 0.85 to 1.04, those with serum creatinine ≤0.44 had 55% increased odds of mortality [ adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.55; 95% CI, 1.29-1.86] and 82% increased odds of major complications (aOR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.69-1.97). Similarly, for females, compared with the reference range of 0.65 to 0.84, those with serum creatinine ≤0.44 had 49% increased odds of mortality (aOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.32-1.67) and 76% increased odds of major complications (aOR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.70-1.83). These associations persisted for the total cohort, among those with mildly low albumin, and for those with creatinine values measured 8 to 30 days preoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: A low preoperative creatinine is common and associated with poor outcomes after nonemergent inpatient surgery. A low creatinine may help identify high-risk patients who may benefit from further evaluation and optimization.

Major renal morbidity following elective rectal cancer resection by the type of diverting ostomy.

AIM: Patients with rectal cancer often undergo faecal diversion, yet the existing literature cursorily reports renal sequelae by the type of ostomy. We aimed to determine whether the presence of an ileostomy or colostomy was associated with postoperative renal morbidity. METHODS: We identified patients with rectal cancer undergoing elective resection with primary anastomosis without diversion, with an ileostomy and with a colostomy by 21 possible procedures in the colectomy- and proctectomy-specific National Surgical Quality Improvement Program files. The odds of major renal events (renal failure [dialysis initiated] or progressive renal insufficiency [>2 mg/dl increase in creatinine without dialysis]), progressive renal insufficiency alone and readmissions were assessed using propensity score weighting and logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 15 075 patients (63.7% Stage II-III, 85.7% creatinine values obtained ≤30 days preoperatively), 37.7% were not diverted, 39.5% had an ileostomy and 22.9% a colostomy. Compared to non-diverted patients, diversion was associated with major renal events (ileostomy, odds ratio [OR] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-2.9; colostomy, OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3-2.5), progressive renal insufficiency (ileostomy, OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.5; colostomy, OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.4-2.9), readmissions for renal failure (ileostomy, OR 3.2, 95% CI 2.1-5.0; colostomy, OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.6-4.1) and readmissions for fluid/electrolyte abnormalities (ileostomy, OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.6-3.3; colostomy, OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.6). CONCLUSION: Diverting ostomies after elective rectal cancer resection are strongly associated with renal morbidity. The decision to divert is complex, and it is unclear whether select patients may benefit from a colostomy from a renal perspective.

Sigmoid volvulus: Evaluating identification strategies and contemporary multicenter outcomes.

BACKGROUND: There is limited epidemiologic data on sigmoid volvulus (SV) from non-endemic regions. Therefore, we performed a multicenter study to report contemporary outcomes and appraise literature-based methods that pair diagnostic and procedural codes to identify SV. METHOD: Using an automated search for patients with 'volvulus' in our system from 2011 to 2021, we reviewed electronic charts to clarify the diagnosis, automatically replicate three strategies to identify SV, and retrieved 6-month outcomes. RESULTS: Of 895 patients, 109 had SV. Literature-based strategies poorly identified SV. At the index admission, patients underwent endoscopic reduction alone (33%), emergent (16.5%), semi-elective (34%), or elective (16.5%) surgery. Endoscopic reduction alone had high recurrence rates and delayed surgery was associated with worse outcomes. CONCLUSION: Literature-based strategies to identify SV suffer from misclassification bias which affects patient counseling. In this large series, one-third of patients do not undergo during their index admission despite improved outcomes with earlier surgery.

Quality of life and function after rectal cancer surgery with and without sphincter preservation.

Despite improvements in surgical techniques, functional outcomes and quality of life after therapy for rectal cancer remain suboptimal. We sought to prospectively evaluate the effect of bowel, bladder, and sexual functional outcomes on health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients with restorative versus non-restorative resections after rectal cancer surgery. A cohort of 211 patients with clinical stage I-III rectal cancer who underwent open surgery between 2006 and 2009 at Memorial Sloan Kettering were included. Subjects were asked to complete surveys preoperatively and at 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Validated instruments were used to measure QOL, bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses evaluated predictors of 24- month QOL. In addition, longitudinal trends over the study period were evaluated using repeated measures models. In total, 180 patients (85%) completed at least 1 survey, and response rates at each time point were high (>70%). QOL was most impaired at 6 and 12 months and returned to baseline levels at 24 months. Among patients who underwent sphincter-preserving surgery (SPS; n=153 [85%]), overall bowel function at 24 months was significantly impaired and never returned to baseline. There were no differences in QOL at 24 months between patients who underwent SPS and those who did not (p=.29). Bowel function was correlated with QOL at 24 months (Pearson correlation,.41; p<.001). QOL among patients who have undergone SPS for rectal cancer is good despite poor function. Patients with ostomies are able to adjust to the functional changes and, overall, have good global QOL. Patients with low anastomoses had lower global QOL at 24 months than patients with permanent stomas. Our findings can help patients set expectations about function and quality of life after surgery for rectal cancer with and without a permanent stoma.

Patient-Reported Impact of Symptoms in Crohn's Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) experience a variety of symptoms that significantly affect their lives. In this study, we (i) ascertain the most prevalent and impactful symptoms in CD and (ii) identify modifying factors that are associated with a higher disease burden in CD. METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews with adult participants with CD to determine what issues have the greatest impact on their lives. Next, we conducted a large cross-sectional study of individuals with CD to determine the prevalence and relative importance of those symptoms and themes and to identify the demographic features that are associated with a higher disease burden. RESULTS: Sixteen individuals with CD provided 792 direct quotes regarding their symptomatic burden. Four hundred three people with CD participated in our cross-sectional study. The symptomatic themes with the highest prevalence in CD were gastrointestinal issues (93.0%), fatigue (86.4%), dietary restrictions (77.9%), and impaired sleep or daytime sleepiness (75.6%). The symptomatic themes that had the greatest impact on patients' lives (0-4 scale) related to fatigue (1.82), impaired sleep or daytime sleepiness (1.71), gastrointestinal issues (1.66), and dietary restrictions (1.61). Symptomatic theme prevalence was strongly associated with a higher number of soft stools per day, greater number of bowel movements per day, missed work, employment and disability status, and having perianal disease. DISCUSSION: Patients with CD experience numerous symptoms that affect their daily life. These symptoms, some underrecognized, vary based on disease and demographic characteristics and represent potential targets for future therapeutic interventions.