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Unplanned reoperations and unplanned readmissions can increase morbidity and mortality. Few studies however, have explored the association of reoperation and readmission among general surgery patients. Our aim was to examine this relationship in selected abdominal operations. Data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Participant Use Data Files from 2014 to 2018 were utilized. Six groups of operations, defined by ACS NSQIP procedure codes for ventral hernia repair, colectomy, appendectomy, proctectomy, small bowel resection, and gastrectomy, were assessed. Patients discharged ≤ 14 days after operation were included in the study. This time period was selected to reduce ACS NSQIP 30 day post-surgery follow-up bias. Unplanned reoperations were defined as those occurring during the index hospitalization. The primary outcome was unplanned readmission that occurred ≤ 14 days from the date of discharge. Logistic regression models were used to examine variables associated with unplanned readmission for each procedure group. A total of 787,118 patients were included: ventral hernia repair 35.2%, colectomy 30.6%, appendectomy 26.5%, proctectomy 3.7%, small bowel resection 3.2%, and gastrectomy 0.8%. Unplanned reoperation was independently associated with unplanned readmission for ventral hernia repair (OR 2.84, 95% CI 2.28-3.54, P < 0.001), colectomy (OR 1.58, CI 1.42- 1.76, P < 0.001), appendectomy (OR 2.91, CI 2.21-3.84, P < 0.001), and proctectomy (OR 1.41, CI 1.10-1.81, P = 0.006). Other clinically relevant covariates associated with readmission were partially dependent functional status before colectomy (OR 1.34, CI 1.23-1.46, P < 0.001), ventral hernia repair (OR 1.79, CI 1.54-2.09, P < 0.001), and small bowel resection (OR 1.44, CI 1.18-1.77, P < 0.001; and ASA 4/5 classification for colectomy (OR 2.71, CI 2.36-3.11, P < 0.001), proctectomy (OR 2.10, CI 1.48-2.97, P < 0.001), ventral hernia repair (OR 8.19, CI 6.78-9.88, P < 0.001), appendectomy (OR 2.80, CI 2.35-3.34, P < 0.001), and small bowel resection (OR 3.42, CI 2.20-5.32, P < 0.001). ASA 2, ASA 3 classification, age, and sex were also associated with unplanned readmission for most procedures. Unplanned reoperations are associated with an increase in unplanned readmission after selected abdominal operations included in this study. This factor should be considered in discharge and follow-up planning to help reduce unplanned readmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Differentiating melanoma metastasis from benign cutaneous lesions currently requires biopsy or costly imaging, such as positron emission tomography scans. Melanoma metastases have been observed to be subjectively warmer than similarly appearing benign lesions. We hypothesized that infrared (IR) thermography would be sensitive and specific in differentiating palpable melanoma metastases from benign lesions. Materials and methods: Seventy-four patients (36 females and 38 males) had 251 palpable lesions imaged for this pilot study. Diagnosis was determined using pathologic confirmation or clinical diagnosis. Lesions were divided into size strata for analysis: 0–5, >5–15, >15–30, and >30 mm. Images were scored on a scale from −1 (colder than the surrounding tissue) to +3 (significantly hotter than the surrounding tissue). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each stratum. Logistical challenges were scored. Results: IR imaging was able to determine the malignancy of small (0–5 mm) lesions with a sensitivity of 39% and specificity of 100%. For lesions >5–15 mm, sensitivity was 58% and specificity 98%. For lesions >15–30 mm, sensitivity was 95% and specificity 100%, and for lesions >30 mm, sensitivity was 78% and specificity 89%. The positive predictive value was 88%–100% across all strata, and the negative predictive value was 95% for >15–30 mm lesions and 80% for >30 mm lesions. Conclusions: Malignant lesions >15 mm were differentiated from benign lesions with excellent sensitivity and specificity. IR imaging was well tolerated and feasible in a clinic setting. This pilot study shows promise in the use of thermography for the diagnosis of malignant melanoma with further potential as a noninvasive tool to follow tumor responses to systemic therapies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]