Search

Background: To heighten awareness of attending and resident surgeons regarding strategies for defense against malpractice claims, a series of risk reduction initiatives have been carried out in our Department of Surgery. We hypothesized that emphasis on certain aspects of risk might be associated with decreased malpractice costs. The relative impact of Department of Surgery initiatives was assessed when compared with malpractice experience for the rest of the Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania (CPUP).Study Design: Surgery and CPUP malpractice claims, indemnity, and expenses were obtained from the Office of General Counsel. Malpractice premium data were obtained from CPUP finance. The Department of Surgery was assessed in comparison with all other CPUP departments. Cost data (yearly indemnity and expenses), and malpractice premiums (total and per physician) were expressed as a percentage of the 5-year mean value preceding implementation of the initiative program.Results: Surgery implemented 38 risk reduction initiatives. Faculty participated in 27 initiatives; house staff participated in 10 initiatives; and advanced practitioners in 1 initiative. Department of Surgery claims were significantly less than CPUP (74.07% vs 81.07%; p < 0.05). The mean yearly indemnity paid by the Department of Surgery was significantly less than that of the other CPUP departments (84.08% vs 122.14%; p < 0.05). Department of Surgery-paid expenses were also significantly less (83.17% vs 104.96%; p < 0.05), and surgical malpractice premiums declined from baseline, but remained significantly higher than CPUP premiums.Conclusions: The data suggest that educating surgeons on malpractice and risk reduction may play a role in decreasing malpractice costs. Additional extrinsic factors may also affect cost data. Emphasis on risk reduction appears to be cumulative and should be part of an ongoing program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: General surgery training has historically lacked a standardized approach to resident quality improvement (QI) education aside from traditional morbidity and mortality conference. In 2013, the ACGME formalized QI as a component of residency training. Our residency chose the NSQIP Quality In-Training Initiative (QITI) as the foundation for our QI training. We hypothesized that a focused curriculum based on outcomes would produce change in culture and improve the quality of patient care.Study Design: Quality improvement curriculum design and implementation were retrospectively reviewed. Institutional NSQIP data pre-, during, and post-curriculum implementation were reviewed for improvement.Results: A QITI project committee designed a 2-year curriculum, with 3 parts: didactics, focused on methods of data collection, QI processes, and techniques; review of current institutional performance, practice, and complication rates; and QI breakout groups tasked with creating "best practice" guidelines addressing common complications in our NSQIP semi-annual reports. Educational presentations were given to the surgical department addressing reduction of cardiac complications, pneumonia, surgical site infections (SSIs), and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Twenty-four residents completed both years of the QITI curriculum. National NSQIP decile ranks improved in known high outlier areas: cardiac complications, ninth to fourth decile; pneumonia, eighth to first decile; SSIs, tenth to second decile; and UTIs, eighth to third decile. Pneumonia and SSI rates demonstrated statistical improvement after curriculum implementation (p < 0.003).Conclusions: Implementing a QITI curriculum with a full resident complement is feasible and can positively affect surgical morbidity and nationally benchmarked performance. Resident QI education is essential to future success in delivering high quality surgical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ACGME instituted duty hour restrictions in 2003. This presents a challenge for surgical residents who must acquire a medical and technical knowledge base during their training. Although the effect of work hour limitations on operative volume has been examined, no study has examined whether duty hour reform has had an effect on operative volume variability.Study Design: The ACGME operative log data of graduating general surgery residents from 1992 to 2015 were examined. Residents with the most and fewest total major cases were identified and case logs, learning styles, and evaluations were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using linear regression analysis, chi-square test, Student's t-test, and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Significance was defined as p < 0.05.Results: One hundred and thirty-five residents graduated from 1992 to 2015. No change in overall operative volume was seen after the 2003 duty hour reform, however, there was an increase in operative variability. In addition, there was an increase in the variability of total major cases between the resident completing the most and fewest cases per class (183.3; p = 0.02) after the start of work hour restrictions. The residents who graduated with the highest operative volume were more likely to be action-based learners (odds ratio = 6.81; 95% CI, 2.84-16.34; p < 0.001) and received superior evaluation scores.Conclusions: After the implementation of the 80-hour workweek, we found a significant increase in operative variability. This might suggest a growing disparity in the operative experience among surgical residents and, consequently, a varying quality of graduating residents. Programs should therefore consider using learning styles and developing competency-based training curricula to ensure equitable training among all trainees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The different epithelial phenotypes of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are predictors of tumor biology and post-surgical outcomes. Oncocytic-type IPMN (O-IPMN) seems to have a unique natural history, but not much information is available because of its rarity. We sought to describe the characteristics of a cohort of patients resected for O-IPMNs, focusing on their long-term outcomes after surgery. Study Design We conducted a retrospective review of the demographics, clinical presentation, pathology, and survival of a cohort of patients resected for IPMN between 1990 and 2013, comparing O-IPMN with other IPMN subtypes. Results Eighteen of 400 patients (4.5%) who underwent resection for IPMN had the oncocytic subtype. Compared with other IPMN patients, those with O-IPMNs were more likely to be male (72% vs 45%; p = 0.02) and to have main pancreatic duct involvement (72% vs 42%; p = 0.01). Oncocytic IPMNs occurred in asymptomatic individuals in 67% of cases. They had either invasive carcinoma (61%) or high-grade dysplasia (39%), and the proportions in other epithelial subtypes were 19% and 21%, respectively (p < 0.001). After resection, the 10-year recurrence rate for O-IPMNs was 46%. Recurrences occurred up to 11 years after the initial resection and a completion total pancreatectomy was performed in 4 patients. At a median follow-up of 7 years, no patients with O-IPMN had died from the disease. Conclusions Oncocytic IPMN is a unique tumor subtype that occurs mostly in the main pancreatic duct and is malignant. Recurrences after resection are not uncommon and can occur more than 10 years after the initial resection. Reoperations for recurrent O-IPMN are often feasible and have excellent results in terms of survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The management of 1- to 2-cm appendiceal carcinoid tumors remains controversial. Here we use the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to compare long-term outcomes for patients treated via resection of the primary tumor alone vs right hemicolectomy (RHC). Study Design The 1998 to 2011 NCDB User File was queried to identify patients with 1- to 2-cm appendiceal carcinoids. Patients were stratified by surgical technique: resection of the primary tumor alone vs RHC with regional lymphadenectomy. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare short-term outcomes. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method with comparisons based on the log-rank test. Results A total of 916 patients were identified, including 42% managed with primary resection and 58% with RHC. Patients who underwent RHC had slightly larger tumors and higher-stage tumors; otherwise, there were no baseline differences between groups. The rates of positive margins were similar (5.5% vs 4.5%; p = 0.60). Among all patients, 1- and 5-year survival were 98.1% and 88.7% vs 96.7% and 87.4% (p = 0.52) for those managed via primary resection vs RHC, respectively. Among patients with moderate/high-grade/anaplastic carcinoids, 1- and 5-year survival were 93.3% and 72.0% vs 92.3% and 71.9%, respectively (p = 0.78). After adjustment with Cox proportional hazards modeling, we confirmed that there was no survival benefit for patients undergoing RHC (hazard ratio = 1.14; p = 0.72). Conclusions For 1- to 2-cm appendiceal carcinoids, formal resection of the right colon does not appear to improve survival, even for higher-grade tumors. Our findings suggest that resection of the primary tumor alone is adequate for all carcinoids <2 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although it is the only curative treatment for polycystic liver disease (PLD), orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been reserved for severely symptomatic, malnourished, or refractory patients who are not candidates for palliative disease-directed interventions (DDI). Data on the effect of previous DDIs on post-transplant morbidity and mortality are scarce. We analyzed the outcomes after OLT for PLD recipients, and determined the effects of previous palliative surgical intervention on post-transplantation morbidity and mortality. Study Design We performed a retrospective analysis of factors affecting perioperative outcomes after OLT for PLD between 1992 and 2013, including comparisons of recipients with previous major open DDIs (Open DDI, n = 12) with recipients with minimally invasive or no previous DDIs (minimal DDI, n = 16). Results Over the 20-year period, 28 recipients underwent OLT for PLD, with overall 30-day, 1-, and 5-year graft and patient survivals of 96%, 89%, 75%, and 96%, 93%, 79%, respectively. Compared with the minimal DDI group, open DDI recipients accounted for all 5 deaths, had inferior 90-day and 1- and 5-year survivals (83%, 83%, and 48% vs 100%, 100%, 100%; p = 0.009), and greater intraoperative (42% vs 0%; p = 0.003), total (58% vs 19%; p = 0.031), and Clavien grade IV or greater (50% vs 6%; p = 0.007) postoperative complications, more unplanned reoperations (50% vs 13%; p = 0.003), and longer total hospital (27 days vs 17 days; p = 0.035) and ICU (10 days vs 4 days; p = 0.045) stays. Conclusions In one of the largest single-institution experiences of OLT for PLD, we report excellent long-term graft and patient survival. Previous open DDIs are associated with increased risks of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Improved identification of PLD patients bound for OLT may mitigate perioperative complications and potentially improve post-transplantation outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although hospital 30-day readmissions policies currently focus on medical conditions, readmission penalties will be expanding to encompass surgical procedures, logically beginning with common and standardized procedures, such as gastric bypass. Therefore, understanding predictors of readmission is essential in lowering readmission rate for these procedures. Study Design This is a retrospective case-control study of patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass at Tufts Medical Center from 2007 to 2012. Variables analyzed included demographics, comorbidities, intraoperative events, postoperative complications, discharge disposition, and readmission diagnoses. Univariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with readmission, which were then subjected to multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results We reviewed 358 patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass, 119 readmits, and 239 controls. By univariate analysis, public insurance, body mass index >60 kg/m 2 , duration of procedure, high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, and discharge with visiting nurse services (VNA) were significantly associated with 30-day readmissions. In the regression model, duration of procedure, high ASA class, and discharge with visiting nurse services (VNA) remained significantly associated with readmission when controlling for other factors (odds ratio [OR] 1.523, 95% CI 1.314 to 1.766; OR 2.447, 95% CI 1.305 to 4.487; and OR 0.053 with 95% CI 0.011 to 0.266, respectively). The majority of readmissions occurred within the first week after discharge. Gastrointestinal-related issues were the most common diagnoses on readmission, and included anastomotic leaks, postoperative ileus, and bowel obstruction. The next 2 most common reasons for readmission were wound infection and fluid depletion. Conclusions Using readmission risk, we can stratify patients into tiered clinical pathways. Because most readmissions occur within the first postdischarge week and are most commonly associated with dehydration, pain, or wound issues, focusing our postoperative protocols and patient education should further lower the incidence of readmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The monopolar “Bovie” instrument emits radiofrequency energy that can disrupt the function of other implanted electronic devices through a phenomenon termed electromagnetic interference . The purpose of this study was to quantify the electromagnetic interference occurring on cardiac implantable devices (CIEDs) resulting from monopolar instrument use in common, modifiable clinical scenarios. Study Design Three anesthetized pigs underwent CIED placement (1 pacemaker and 2 defibrillators). Electromagnetic interference was quantified when changing the monopolar instrument parameters of generator power, generator mode, surgical technique, orientation of active electrode cord, pathway of current vector, and proximity of active electrode to the CIED. Results Monopolar instrument parameters that decreased the electromagnetic interference occurring on the CIED included decreasing generator power from 60 W to 30 W (p < 0.001), using cut mode rather than coag mode (p < 0.001), using desiccation technique rather than fulguration technique (p < 0.001), orienting the active electrode cord from the feet rather than across the chest wall (p < 0.001), and avoiding the current vector from crossing the CIED system (p < 0.001). Increasing the distance between the active electrode tool and the CIED system decreased electromagnetic interference occurring on the CIED in a dose–response fashion up to a distance of 10 cm (ANOVA, p < 0.001), after which the magnitude of electromagnetic interference remained constant. Conclusions Electromagnetic interference occurring on CIEDs resulting from monopolar instruments is minimized by decreasing generator power, using cut mode, using desiccation technique, orienting the active electrode cord from the feet, avoiding the current vector for crossing the CIED system, and increasing the distance between the active electrode and the CIED. Surgeons and operating room staff can minimize electromagnetic interference on CIEDs during monopolar instrument use by accounting for these modifiable clinical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hospital readmissions are under intense scrutiny as a measure of health care quality. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed using readmission rates as a benchmark for improving care, including targeting them as nonreimbursable events. Our study aim was to describe potentially preventable readmissions after surgery and to identify targets for improvement. Study Design Patients discharged from a general surgery service over 8 consecutive quarters (Q4 2009 to Q3 2011) were selected. A working group of attending surgeons defined terms and created classification schemes. Thirty-day readmissions were identified and reviewed by a 2-physician team. Readmissions were categorized as preventable or unpreventable, and by target for future quality improvement intervention. Results Overall readmission rate was 8.3% (315 of 3,789). The most common indication for initial admission was elective general surgery. Among readmitted patients in our sample, 28% did not undergo an operation during their index admission. Only 21% (55 of 258) of readmissions were likely preventable based on medical record review. Of the preventable readmissions, 38% of patients were discharged within 24 hours and 60% within 48 hours. Dehydration occurred more frequently among preventable readmissions (p < 0.001). Infection accounted for more than one-third of all readmissions. Among preventable readmissions, targets for improvement included closer follow-up after discharge (49%), management in the outpatient setting (42%), and avoidance of premature discharge (9%). Conclusions A minority of readmissions may potentially be preventable. Targets for reducing readmissions include addressing the clinical issues of infection and dehydration as well as improving discharge planning to limit both early and short readmissions. Policies aimed at penalizing reimbursements based on readmission rates should use clinical data to focus on inappropriate hospitalization in order to promote high quality patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In 2006, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a National Coverage Determination (NCD), which mandates that bariatric procedures be performed only at accredited centers. The aim of this study was to analyze outcomes of Medicare beneficiaries who underwent bariatric surgery before (2001 through 2005) vs after (2006 through 2010) implementation of the NCD. Study Design The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was used to analyze data on patients who underwent bariatric surgery between 2001 and 2010. Main outcomes measures were demographics, length of stay, risk-adjusted inpatient morbidity and mortality, and cost. Results There were 775,040 patients who underwent bariatric surgery, with 16% of the patients Medicare beneficiaries. There was an overall trend for improved in-hospital mortality during the decade (0.35% in 2001 to 0.10% in 2010). Medicare patients who underwent bariatric surgery had higher rates of comorbidities and a higher rate of in-hospital mortality than non-Medicare patients. After the NCD, there was a significant reduction of the in-hospital mortality (0.56% vs 0.23%; p < 0.01) and serious morbidity (9.92% vs 6.98%; p < 0.01) for Medicare patients and a similar reduction of the in-hospital mortality (0.18% vs 0.08%; p < 0.01) and serious morbidity (6.84% vs 5.08%; p < 0.01) for non-Medicare patients. Compared with patients who underwent stapling bariatric procedures at accredited centers, patients at nonaccredited centers had higher risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality (odds ratio = 3.53; 95% CI, 1.01–6.52) and serious morbidity (odds ratio = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07–1.30). After the NCD, use of bariatric surgery within Medicare beneficiaries increased by 71%. Conclusions Outcomes of bariatric surgery in Medicare beneficiaries have improved substantially since the 2006 NCD. Facility accreditation appears to be a contributing factor to the observed improvement in outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Considerable hospital-to-hospital variations in surgical outcomes have been reported across surgical procedures. However, it is unclear whether hospital quality rankings are consistent for noncancer and cancer operations. We investigated the differences in hospital performance for noncancer and cancer colorectal resections at 52 hospitals participating in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC). Study Design Patients undergoing colorectal resections between 2008 and 2012 were identified. Hierarchical risk-adjusted models were used to evaluate hospital level 30-day morbidity, major morbidity, extended length-of-stay (LOS > 75 th percentile), and mortality outcomes. Hospital performance, as ranked by observed-to-expected ratios, was compared by rank-order changes, interquartile ranges (IQR), and Spearman's correlations. Results Of the 19,990 colorectal resections, 7,292 (36.5%) were for cancer. We observed wide variations in all risk-adjusted 30-day outcomes between hospitals, but only weak correlations in cancer and noncancer performance within hospitals. Overall hospital performance in mortality after noncancer and cancer operations was not correlated (Spearman's rho: 0.02). Of the best performing hospitals in mortality after noncancer resections, 69% were reclassified to a worse quartile for cancer operations (median rank-change of 12.5 ranks [IQR 5 to 27]). Similarly, hospital performance in morbidity was only moderately correlated (rho: 0.59; p < 0.001). Of the hospitals with lowest morbidity rates for noncancer resections, 31% were reclassified. We noted a similar lack of relationship in major morbidity and extended LOS. Conclusions A hospital's performance ranking in risk-adjusted outcomes after noncancer colorectal resections does not correlate to its performance for cancer-related colorectal resections. Indication for operation should be considered when leveraging risk-adjusted hospital outcomes for quality improvement efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are at high risk for recurrence after surgery. The aim of this study was to characterize outcomes of advanced GIST treated with surgery from a large multi-institutional database in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) era. Study Design Patients who underwent surgery for an advanced GIST from 1998 through 2012 were identified. Demographic, clinicopathologic, perioperative, and survival data were collected and analyzed. Results There were 87 patients with locally advanced GIST and 71 patients with recurrent/metastatic GIST. The vast majority (95%) of patients with locally advanced GIST required a multivisceral resection; most patients (87%) underwent a microscopically complete (R0) resection. Although 82% of patients had high-risk tumors according to modified NIH criteria or had recurrent/metastatic disease, only 56% of patients received adjuvant TKI therapy. Among patients with locally advanced GIST, 3-year recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates were 65% and 87%, respectively. In contrast, 3-year recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates among patients with recurrent/metastatic GIST were 49% and 82%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, predictors of worse outcomes included high mitotic rate and male sex for patients with locally advanced GIST, and age and lack of adjuvant TKI therapy were associated with adverse outcomes among patients with recurrent/metastatic GIST (all p < 0.05). Conclusions Resection of advanced GIST can be safely accomplished with high rates of R0 resection. Among patients with advanced GIST, TKI therapy was underused. Barriers to the use of TKI therapy in this population should be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Surgical Apgar Score (SAS, a 10-point score calculated using limited intraoperative data) can correlate with postoperative morbidity and mortality after general surgery. We evaluated reliability of SAS in a veteran population. Study Design: We prospectively collected demographics, medical history, type of surgery, and postoperative outcomes for any veteran undergoing general surgery at our institution (2006-2011). We categorized patients in 4 SAS groups and compared differences in morbidity and mortality. Results: Our study population included 2,125 patients (SAS ≤4: n = 29; SAS 5−6: n = 227; SAS 7−8: n = 797; SAS 9−10: n = 1,072). Low-SAS patients were likely to have significant preoperative comorbidities and to undergo major surgery, and had increased postoperative morbidity and 30-day mortality. Conclusions: The SAS is easily calculated from 3 routinely available intraoperative measurements, correlates with fixed preoperative risk (acute conditions, pre-existing comorbidities, operative complexity), and effectively identifies veterans at high risk for postoperative complications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: As new technology is developed and scientific evidence demonstrates strategies to improve the quality of care, it is essential that surgeons keep current with their skills. Rural surgeons need efficient and targeted continuing medical education that matches their broader scope of practice. Developing such a program begins with an assessment of the learning needs of the rural surgeon. The aim of this study was to assess the learning needs considered most important to surgeons practicing in rural areas. Study Design: A needs assessment questionnaire was administered to surgeons practicing in rural areas. An additional gap analysis questionnaire was administered to registrants of a skills course for rural surgeons. Results: Seventy-one needs assessment questionnaires were completed. The self-reported procedures most commonly performed included laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 44), hernia repair (n = 42), endoscopy (n = 43), breast surgery (n = 23), appendectomy (n = 20), and colon resection (n = 18). Respondents indicated that they would most like to learn more skills related to laparoscopic colon resection (n = 16), laparoscopic antireflux procedures (n = 6), laparoscopic common bile duct exploration/ERCP (n = 5), colonoscopy/advanced techniques and esophagogastroscopy (n = 4), and breast surgery (n = 4). Ultrasound, hand surgery, and leadership and communication were additional topics rated as useful by the respondents. Skills course participants indicated varying levels of experience and confidence with breast ultrasound, ultrasound for central line insertion, hand injury, and facial soft tissue injury. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that surgeons practicing in rural areas have a strong interest in acquiring additional skills in a variety of general and subspecialty surgical procedures. The information obtained in this study may be used to guide curriculum development of further postgraduate skills courses targeted to rural surgeons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Student recruiting is a top priority for surgical educators. Efforts have focused on improving the junior clerkship, but earlier interventions might prove to be more effective. This study was performed to determine students'' perceptions of surgeons across all 4 years, with special emphasis on the effect of the 3rd-year clerkship. Study Design: During 2004 to 2007, medical students at all levels were surveyed with 21 statements about surgeons'' behavior, lifestyle issues, and potential as role models. Subjects responded anonymously using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly agree). Surveys were administered annually to medical student year 1 (MS1), MS2, and MS4, and before and after the clerkship to MS3. Data were analyzed using chi-square contingency table analyses. Results: Three-thousand and sixty surveys were analyzed (MS1, n = 833; MS2, n = 670; MS3, n = 1,193; and MS4, n = 364). Responses among MS1 and MS2 confirm that students enter medical school with negative impressions of surgeons. The surgical clerkship had a positive impact, but this effect was lost by senior year. Changes in perceptions were statistically significant for 20 of 21 statements. This is underscored by the fact that the proportion of students applying to general surgery from our medical school remains essentially unchanged (2004, 5.3%; 2005, 7.4%; 2006, 10%; 2007, 7.4%; and 2008, 6%). Conclusions: These data suggest that the junior surgery clerkship has a favorable but transient impact on the negative perceptions that medical students have about surgeons. Perceptions return to negative values within 1 year of the clerkship. Recruiting efforts should be focused on earlier interaction with students rather than concentrating on a 2- to 3-month rotation in the junior year. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Dissemination of new surgical technology is a major contributor to healthcare spending growth. Accountable care organization (ACO) policy aims to control spending while maintaining quality. As a result, ACOs provide incentive for hospitals to selectively adopt newer procedures with high value.Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a 20% sample of national Medicare claims from 2010 to 2015. We identified hospitals that performed 1 of 6 sets of procedures: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve replacement, carotid endarterectomy or stent, lung lobectomy, colectomy, and prostatectomy. We identified hospitals participating in a Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO and a set of matched non-ACO control hospitals. We used a difference-in-differences approach to compare rate of surgical treatment and use of newer surgical technology for each set of procedures in ACO and non-ACO hospitals.Results: We included 707 ACO-hospitals and 1,770 control hospitals. ACO hospitals performed surgery for carotid stenosis at a lower rate than non-ACO hospitals. There was no difference in the rate of surgical treatment for all other procedure sets. ACO hospitals were less likely to use an endovascular approach for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (85.2% vs 88.2%, p < 0.001) and more likely to use a minimally invasive approach for lung lobectomy (42.2% vs 34.7%, p = 0.004) than non-ACO hospitals. In difference-in-differences analysis, ACO participation was not associated with any significant difference in use of surgical care for any of the 6 procedure sets, nor with any significant difference in use of newer surgical technology.Conclusions: Despite ACO policy incentives to selectively adopt newer surgical technology, ACO participation was not associated with differences in rate of surgery or use of newer surgical technology for 6 major surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The American College of Surgeons NSQIP offers a Surgical Risk Calculator (SRC) that provides detailed, patient-level, risk assessments for many adverse outcomes to surgeons, patients, and the general public. The SRC calculator was designed to help guide discussion and decisions by providing generally applicable (not hospital-specific) information about surgical risk using easily understood and broadly available preoperative variables. Although large, internal evaluations have shown that the SRC has good accuracy (model discrimination and calibration), external validations have been inconsistent and tend to favor a conclusion of inadequate performance.Study Design: External studies, attempting to validate the SRC, were examined with respect to 3 design features: sample size (small samples reduce reliability), case-mix homogeneity (homogeneity reduces discrimination); and number of institutions providing data (few institutions reduces generalizability). The impact of each feature was then examined in several sets of simulation studies.Results: Each of the 3 design features has the potential to act as an artifactual cause for apparent SRC predictive failure. In addition, demonstrations that SRC estimates are inferior to those from models that use additional (sometimes operation-specific) predictor variables were seen as not relevant with respect to the SRC's intended scope.Conclusions: The SRC predictive failures, reported by studies with the described design limitations, should not be misunderstood as disqualifying the SRC as an accurate and appropriate tool for its intended purpose of providing a general purpose risk calculator, applicable across many surgical domains, using easily understood and generally available predictive information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]