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OBJECTIVE To define a complication of the translabyrinthine surgical approach to the posterior fossa related to a rare variant of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) that penetrated into the petrous temporal bone. PATIENT A healthy 59-year-old male with a unilateral sporadic vestibular schwannoma. INTERVENTION The patient elected to undergo a translabyrinthine approach for resection of a vestibular schwannoma. An aberrant loop of AICA was encountered during the temporal bone dissection within the petrous portion of the temporal bone. OUTCOMES The patient suffered a presumed ischemic insult resulting in a fluctuating ipsilateral facial paresis and atypical postoperative nystagmus. RESULTS MRI demonstrated an ischemic lesion in the vascular distribution of the right anterior-inferior cerebellar artery, including the lateral portion of the right cerebellar hemisphere, middle cerebellar peduncle, and bordering the right cranial nerve VII nucleus. His functional recovery was excellent, essentially identical to the anticipated course in an otherwise uncomplicated surgery. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the irregular anatomy of the AICA as well as the importance of thorough neurological exams in the postsurgical lateral skull base patient.

Introduction Synoptic operative reporting has been shown to improve completeness and consistency in surgical documentation. We sought to determine whether operative reports contain the key elements recommended by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer. Methods Rectal cancer operative reports from June–December 2018 were submitted from ten hospitals in Michigan. These reports were analyzed to identify key elements in the synoptic operative template and assessed for completeness. Results In total, 110 operative reports were reviewed. Thirty-one (28%) reports contained all 24 elements; all of these reports used a synoptic template. Overall, 62 (56%) reports used a synoptic template and 48 (44%) did not. Using a synoptic template significantly improved documentation, as these reports contained 92% of required elements, compared to 39% for narrative reports (p Conclusions/Discussion Narrative operative reports inconsistently document rectal cancer resection. This study provides evidence that synoptic reporting will improve quality of documentation for rectal cancer surgery.

Background Patients seeking second opinions are a challenge for the colorectal cancer provider because of complexity, failed therapeutic relationship with another provider, need for reassurance, and desire for exploration of treatment options. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the patient and treatment characteristics of patients seeking initial and second opinions in colorectal cancer care at a multidisciplinary colorectal cancer clinic. Design This was a retrospective cohort study. Settings A prospectively collected clinical registry of a multidisciplinary colorectal cancer clinic was included. Patients The study included patients with colon or rectal cancer seen from 2012 to 2017. Main outcome measures Data were analyzed for initial versus second opinion and demographic and clinical characteristics. Results Of 1711 patients with colorectal cancer, 1008 (58.9%) sought an initial opinion and 700 (40.9%) sought a second opinion. As compared with initial-opinion patients, second-opinion patients were more likely to have stage IV disease (OR = 1.94 (95% CI, 1.47-2.58)), recurrent disease (OR = 1.67 (95% CI, 1.13-2.46)), and be ages 40 to 49 years (OR = 1.47 (95% CI, 1.02-2.12)). Initial- and second-opinion cohorts were similar in terms of sex, race, and proportion of colon versus rectal cancer. Among second-opinion patients, 246 (35%) transitioned their care to the multidisciplinary colorectal cancer clinic. Limitations We were unable to capture the final treatment plan for those patients who did not transfer care to the multidisciplinary colorectal cancer clinic. Conclusions Patients seeking a second opinion represent a unique subset of patients with colorectal cancer. In general, they are younger and more likely to have stage IV or recurrent disease than patients seeking an initial opinion. Although transfer of care to a multidisciplinary colorectal cancer clinic after second opinion is lower than for initial consultations, multidisciplinary colorectal cancer clinics provide an important role for patients with complex disease characteristics and treatment needs. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B192. CARACTERiSTICAS DE LOS PACIENTES QUE BUSCAN UNA SEGUNDA OPINIoN EN CLiNICAS MULTIDISCIPLINARIAS ESPECIALIZADAS EN CaNCER COLORECTAL: Los pacientes que buscan una segunda opinion son un desafio para el medico que trata el cancer colorrectal debido a la complejidad de la situacion, a la relacion terapeutica fallida con otro especialista, a la necesidad de tranquilidad y el deseo de explorar otras opciones del tratamiento.El describir las caracteristicas y el tratamiento de los pacientes que buscan opiniones iniciales y secundarias en la atencion del cancer colorrectal en una clinica especializada de manera multidisciplinaria en cancer colorrectal.Este es un estudio de cohortes retrospectivo.Registro clinico de casos obtenidos prospectivamente en una clinica especializada de manera multidisciplinaria en cancer colorrectal.Todos aquellos pacientes con cancer de colon o recto examinados entre 2012-2017.Se analizaron los datos obtenidos en la opinion inicial y se compararon con la segunda opinion, se revisaron tanto sus caracteristicas demograficas como clinicas.De 1711 pacientes con cancer colorrectal, 1008 (58.9%) buscaron una opinion inicial, 700 (40.9%) buscaron una segunda opinion. En comparacion con los pacientes de opinion inicial, los pacientes de segunda opinion presentaron mas probabilidades de tener enfermedad en estadio IV (OR 1.94, IC 95% 1.47-2.58), enfermedad recurrente (OR 1.67, IC 95% 1.13-2.46) y tener edades entre 40 y 49 (O 1.47, IC 95% 1.02-2.12). Las cohortes iniciales y de segunda opinion fueron similares en terminos de genero, raza y proporcion del cancer de colon versus cancer de recto. Entre los pacientes de segunda opinion, 246 (35%) transfirieron su tratamiento hacia una clinica multidisplinaria especializada en cancer colorrectal.No se obtuvieron los planes del tratamiento final de aquellos pacientes que no transfirieron sus cuidados hacia una la clinica especializada en cancer colorrectal.Los pacientes que buscan una segunda opinion representan un subconjunto unico de personas con cancer colorrectal. En general, son mas jovenes y tienen mas probabilidades de tener enfermedad en estadio IV o recurrente, con relacion a aquellos pacientes que buscan una opinion inicial. Aunque la transferencia de los cuidados hacia una clinica multidisciplinaria especializada en cancer colorrectal despues de una segunda opinion es menor que para las consultas iniciales. Las clinicas multidisciplinarias especializadas en cancer colorrectal juegan un papel importante con los pacientes que tienen caracteristicas complejas de enfermedad y necesidades particulares en el tratamiento. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B192. (Traduccion-Dr Xavier Delgadillo).

Objectives In-office serial intralesional steroid injections (SILSIs) have become a commonly used treatment for subglottic stenosis. We characterized the impact of SILSIs on the time between operating room visits and incidence of glucocorticoid systemic side effects. Study Design Retrospective case series. Setting Academic tertiary care center. Methods All patients with subglottic stenosis receiving SILSIs at 1 institution from 2016 to 2020 were included. Surgery-free interval was compared using paired t tests. Side effect incidence was calculated with Kaplan-Meier methodology for visualization. Results Nineteen patients and 207 procedures were included. The majority of patients were White (95%) and female (95%) and had idiopathic subglottic stenosis (53%). Mean surgery-free interval for all patients was 8.7 months (95% CI, 5.6-11.8) before initiating SILSIs. Of 11 patients with calculable surgery-free interval, 10 experienced improvement, with a mean surgery-free interval increase of 4.6 months (95% CI, 2.4-6.7). Seven patients have not required surgery since initiation of SILSIs, with a mean follow-up time of 28 months (95% CI, 25-31). Noncutaneous systemic side effects occurred at a mean 3.2 months (95% CI, 2.4-4.0) from first injection and included Cushing's syndrome, increased intraocular pressure, central serous chorioretinopathy, and new insulin requirement in the setting of diabetes. Conclusions Ninety-one percent of patients who initiated SILSIs and had a subsequent return to the operating room experienced a mean 4.6-month increase in surgery-free interval. Systemic side effects of glucocorticoids occurred in 32% of patients after initiating SILSIs. This should be considered in preprocedure counseling and side effect monitoring during treatment.

Background and Objectives In North America, preoperative combination chemoradiation is the most commonly recommended and utilized approach to locally advanced rectal cancer. There is increasing interest in the use of induction chemotherapy (IC) before radiation and surgery in locally advanced rectal cancer. How widely IC is being used and whether it improves pathologic and oncologic outcomes is unknown. Methods We evaluated clinical stage 2 or 3 rectal cancer patients in the National Cancer Database between 2006 and 2015. We identified predictors of use of IC with multivariable logistic regression and compared survival between groups using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Among 36 268 patients, IC use increased significantly over time from 5.5% in 2006 to 15.9% in 2015 (P

BACKGROUND Long-term functional outcomes are poorly characterized for salvage laryngectomy. We identified predictors of esophageal stricture and swallowing function after salvage laryngectomy in a large cohort. METHODS A retrospective study of 233 patients who underwent salvage total laryngectomy for recurrent/persistent squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx or hypopharynx after radiation (XRT) or chemoradiation (CRT) was performed. Primary outcomes were esophageal dilation within 1 year, time to dilation, and gastrostomy tube dependence. Multivariate logistic and Cox regressions were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Dilation was performed in 29.9% of patients. Dilation was twice as likely in patients with post-operative fistula compared to those without (Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.10, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.06-4.13, P = .03). Every year between XRT/CRT and salvage was associated with 10% increase in dilation (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.17, P = .01). No factors were associated with dilation by 1 year. About 10% of patients were at least partially gastrostomy tube-dependent 1 year post-operatively. At last follow-up (median 29 months), this rate was 13%. Patients with supraglottic recurrence had an increased risk of gastrostomy tube dependence at 1 year compared to glottic (OR 16.7, 95% CI 1.73-160, P = .02). For every 10 pack years pre-salvage, the OR of requiring tube feeds at last follow-up was 1.24 (95% CI 1.04-1.48, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS Fistula and pre-salvage smoking were associated with stricture post-salvage laryngectomy. No factors were associated with dilation by 1 year. Supraglottic recurrence and smoking were associated with gastrostomy tube dependence. These findings are important for pre-operative counseling prior to salvage laryngectomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1229-1234, 2021.

Objectives To characterize the impact of subglottic stenosis (SGS) on voice-related quality of life (V-RQOL) and quantify the effect of treatment on voice outcomes. Study design Case series. Methods Retrospective review of SGS patients treated from 1996 to 2018 at a single institution to assess for 1) V-RQOL association with individual patient cumulative treatment number and 2) V-RQOL correlation with treatment type, time between treatments, and degree of stenosis. Analysis included both parametric and nonparametric statistical comparison across treatment types and multivariable and univariate linear regression. Results Sixty-one patients, predominantly white (93%) and female (93%), were included. Etiology of SGS included idiopathic (61%), iatrogenic (16%), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (16%), and other (7%). The plurality of patients had four or more treatments (44%), with the remainder having one (28%), two (13%), or three treatments (15%). Analysis of change between pre- and postoperative V-RQOL scores was completed for 130 treatments. These included dilation with laser incision (52%), in-office injection (34%), dilation without division (8%), cricotracheal resection (1%), and all other treatment (8%). For every 10% improvement in airway caliber postoperatively, there was a 1.3-point improvement in calculated V-RQOL (r = 0.27, P = .02). After adjustment for treatment type, age, sex, and SGS etiology, this association held (beta = 1.5, P = .02). Change in V-RQOL was not associated with treatment type, treatment number, or time between treatments. Conclusion Patients with subglottic stenosis who have greater degree of change in airway caliber experience greater improvement in V-RQOL scores following treatment. V-RQOL scores are not associated with treatment type or time between individual treatments. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 131:360-365, 2021.

Extended care facility use is a primary driver of variation in hospitalization-associated health care payments and is increasingly a focus for savings under episode-based payment. However, concerns remain that extended care facility limits could incur rising readmissions, emergency department use, or other costs. We analyzed the effects of a statewide value improvement initiative to decrease extended care facility use after lower extremity arthroplasty on extended care facility use, readmission, emergency department use, and payments.We performed a retrospective cohort study using complete claims from the Michigan Value Collaborative for patients undergoing lower extremity joint replacement. We compared the change in extended care facility use before (2012-2013) and after (2016-2017) the aforementioned statewide initiative with 90-day postacute care, readmission, and emergency department rates and payments using t tests.Of the patients included, 68,537 underwent total knee arthroplasty; 27,131 underwent total hip arthroplasty. Statewide, extended care facility use and postacute care payments decreased (extended care facility: 27.5% before vs 18.1% after, payments: $4,999 vs $3,832, P.0001) without increased readmission rates (8.0% vs 7.6%, P = .10) or payments ($1,087 vs $1,026, P = .14). Emergency department use increased (7.8% vs 8.9%, P.0001). Per hospital, there was no association between extended care facility use change and readmission rate change (r = 0.05). Hospital change in extended care facility use ranged from +2.3% (no extended care facility decrease group) to -16.6% (large extended care facility decrease group) and was associated with lower total episode payments without differences in change in readmission rate/payments or emergency department use.Despite decreased use of extended care facilities, there was no compensatory increase in readmission rate or payments. Reducing excess use of extended care facilities after joint replacement may be an important opportunity for savings in episode-based reimbursement.

Sharp recanalization of chronic venous occlusions is usually performed with targeting of wire-capture devices like loop snares or balloons. We describe sharp recanalization of chronic venous occlusions using self-expanding stents and vascular plugs. We retrospectively reviewed all sharp venous recanalization procedures performed over an 11-month period and found Wallstent and Amplatzer vascular plug (AVP) targeting was performed in 16 patients. Patient demographics, occlusion site, targeting device, technical success of the targeting, and overall procedural success were recorded. Technical success was achieved in twelve (86%) Wallstent and two (67%) AVP deployments. Procedural success was achieved in 15 (94%). Three minor complications occurred. Wallstent and AVP targeting may be a useful technique when performing sharp recanalization for chronic venous occlusions. These devices expand the target space and present the same cross section viewed from any angle and can directly capture and extract the wire, features helpful in regions with crowded vascular anatomy.

This cohort study uses the National Cancer Database to examine changes in rates of diagnosis of thyroid cancer among Medicaid beneficiaries after Medicaid expansion in 2014.

INTRODUCTION: There has been significant interest in the relationship between hospital volume and outcomes across fields. However, the relationship between hospital volume, established quality metrics, and survival has not been established for head and neck cancer. We investigated the relationship between hospital volume and outcomes for head and neck cancer. METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database (2004-2016) data for upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinoma, hospital volume deciles were determined. Univariate log-rank analysis was used to determine volume thresholds with significantly different overall survival (OS). The primary outcome measure was overall survival; other outcomes included complete neck dissection (≥18 lymph nodes removed), negative margins, and time to adjuvant radiation Citation Format: Ari D Schuman, Andrew J Rosko, Scott E Regenbogen, Steven B Chinn. Volume and quality in head and neck cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A139.

Objective Evaluate the relationship between medical school factors (including preclinical mentorship, order of clerkships, and clerkship grades) and matching into surgical specialties. Design Clerkship information, match data, and data on structured preclinical research obtained from 2010 to 2015 for a single institution was obtained and analyzed using multivariate analysis. Setting University of Michigan Medical School. Participants Seven hundred and forty-six students who took both the Internal Medicine and Surgery clerkships between 2010 and 2015 and have since participated in the match. Results Among 740 students studied, 243 matched into a surgical field. Higher Shelf scores were associated with higher clerkship grades in Surgery and Internal Medicine. Honors or High Pass in Surgery were associated with matching into a surgical field. Structured preclinical research in Surgery and order of clerkship were not associated with matching into a surgical field. Conclusions Students who went into surgery were more likely to receive Honors or High Pass. Preclinical choices geared toward a surgical specialty (e.g., order of clerkship and structured research) were not associated with matching into a surgical field. These data may help guide school specific advice for students.