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Objective: Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) remains a debilitating complication, occurring in 10% of patients. Studies have shown that extended aortic coverage is a risk factor for SCI. This study evaluates whether extended aortic length coverage is a significant risk factor for SCI. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 277 consecutive patients who underwent TEVAR successfully between 2006 and 2021 at a single institution. The patients were classified into 2 groups: ≥205 mm and

A 39-year-old man with past medical history of type A aortic dissection presented to the emergency department with hematemesis, hypotension, and tachycardia. Imaging revealed an aortoesophageal fistula. The patient was taken emergently for thoracic endovascular aortic repair to cover the area of potential fistula. Due to the patient being a poor operative candidate, the decision was made to treat with endoluminal esophageal wound vacuum therapy. He underwent twice weekly endoscopies with sponge changes until discharge; he has done well since. Wound vacuum therapy in conjunction with thoracic endovascular aortic repair may represent a treatment option for patients with aortoesophageal fistula who are poor candidates for surgery.

Anomalous origin of the circumflex artery from the pulmonary artery (ACxAPA) is a rare but clinically significant condition in which the circumflex artery arises from either the main pulmonary artery or one of its main branches. Untreated patients with ACxAPA may develop severe heart failure or sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis is established with either catheter or CT angiography. We present a case of an adult male with no prior known cardiac history who was found to have ACxAPA after presenting to our institution in acute decompensated heart failure.

Background/Objective: Follicular thyroid cancer without an intrathyroidal primary cancer is rare. We present a patient with multifocal pulmonary metastatic follicular thyroid cancer without apparent cancer within her thyroid. Case Report: A 44-year-old woman was referred to the thyroid cancer clinic via telemedicine for evaluation of intrapulmonary thyroid tissue. Her past medical history included Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy. Six months prior, abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed incidental bilateral lung nodules. Chest CT demonstrated 4 solid left and 1 solid right lung nodules. Lung nodule core biopsy revealed benign thyroid tissue. Thyroid ultrasound showed bilateral subcentimeter anechoic nodules. Chest CT 6 months after initial CT demonstrated stable lung nodules. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, serum thyroglobulin, and thyroglobulin antibody were 1.63 mIU/L (reference range, 0.3-5.5 mIU/L), 40.9 ng/mL (reference range, 0-35 ng/mL), and

We present the first case of a dupilumab-induced hyperinflammatory state in the setting of underlying eosinophilic esophagitis characterized by multisystem granulomatous inflammation. Although clinical trial data and subsequent real-world experience support dupilumab as a highly effective therapy for eosinophilic esophagitis, close monitoring for development of adverse symptoms following initiation remains paramount.

Background: Perioperative complications of deep vein thrombosis are well described in the total joint arthroplasty (TJA) literature. Few studies have investigated short-term perioperative outcomes of patients with primary hypercoagulable diseases (PHDs). Optimal perioperative management of PHD patients remains unknown, and they are often referred to tertiary centers for care. We investigated the influence perioperative hematology consultation and anti-coagulation use had on PHD patient outcomes following TJA surgery within the 90-day postoperative period. Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined perioperative outcomes of PHD patients undergoing TJA. Thirty-eight PHD patients were identified and compared to a 3:1 matched control group in a consecutive series of 6568 cases (2007-2019). Perioperative hematology consultations, use of anticoagulants (AC) or antiplatelet therapy, emergency department (ED) visits, readmissions, and complications within 90 days of surgery were determined. Results: The PHD cohort exhibited more frequent hematology consultations (odds ratio 5.88, 95% confidence interval: 2.59-16.63) and AC use (odds ratio 7.9, 95% confidence interval: 3.38-23.80) than controls. PHD patients did not show significantly greater rates of deep vein thrombosis, transfusion, infection, ED visits, or need for operative intervention. Similarly, AC vs antiplatelet therapy yielded comparable ED visits and readmissions within 90 days postoperatively (11.0% vs 9.7%, P = .85 and 5.5% vs 5.5%, P = 1, respectively). Conclusions: These findings suggest that despite increased hematology consultation and AC use, PHD patients do not demonstrate significantly elevated perioperative risks post-TJA, favoring careful preoperative workup and outpatient postoperative follow-up.

Background: Every degree of change in pelvic tilt (PT) leads to a 0.7° change in anteversion and a 0.3° change in inclination. This study aimed to determine the significance of contralateral hip arthritis on changes in PT using preoperative and postoperative anteroposterior radiographs. Methods: There were 193 primary total hip arthroplasties done by 2 surgeons at a single academic tertiary referral center reviewed between September 2021 and January 2023. PT was calculated as Tilt = −(ln[(B/A) × (1/0.483)]) / 0.051. Value A is the distance from the base of the SI joint to the superior margin of the obturator foramen; value B is the height of the obturator foramen. After exclusions, contralateral hips were identified as being normal (n = 75), arthritic (n = 39) (Tönnis grade 3/4), replaced (n = 34), or having undergone simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty (n = 5) on postoperative films. Difference in PT was measured between preoperative and postoperative films taken 1-3 months after surgery. Analyses for statistical significance were calculated using t-tests and one-way analysis of variance. Results: Average change in PT in patients with normal contralateral hips was −5.2° with an absolute mean difference of 7.6°, −1.5° for arthritic contralateral hips with an absolute mean difference of 5.0°, −1.6° for replaced contralateral hips with a mean absolute difference of 4.3°, and 2.2° for bilateral hips with a mean absolute difference of 2.6° (P < .01). Conclusions: Differences in postoperative PT changes between healthy, arthritic, and replaced contralateral hip study groups were significant. Changes in preoperative to postoperative tilt may have implications for optimal cup placement.

Background:. Orthopaedic academic partnerships between high-income countries (HICs) and low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are an effective method to increase research and scholarly support. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic literature review of the current state of partnerships worldwide and assess the quality, quantity, and content of their research output. Methods:. A systematic review was conducted using 4 academic databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL. Article eligibility criteria included articles published between January 2017 and 2022, with orthopaedic authors from at least 1 HIC and LMIC. Articles related to global orthopaedic surgery with exclusively HIC or LMIC authors were excluded. Results:. The database search yielded 25,928 articles, and after deduplication, 21,145 articles were included in the screening. After title and abstract screening, 408 articles underwent full-text review for eligibility. The final list of eligible articles for extraction included 310 publications in 127 journals. Published articles increased over time (46 in 2017 to 88 in 2021) and were most commonly published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (20, 6.5%). Open-access articles (203, 65.5%) had a significantly greater Journal Citation Indicator (p = 0.024) than non-open-access articles. Most studies (40.7%) were observational, with few (3.6%) randomized controlled trials. Orthopaedic trauma (38.1%) was the most common subspecialty, followed by spine (14.8%) and pediatrics (14.2%). Most partnerships were sponsored by North American authors in 65 LMICs, primarily China, India, and the sub-Saharan African region. Conclusion:. This study identified 310 articles published by orthopaedic international academic partnerships in 106 countries over the past 5 years, demonstrating that collaborations between LMIC/HIC partners nearly doubled over the study period. Sixty-five percent of the articles were published in open-access journals.

Abstract. Background:. Despite the recent emphasis on promoting international collaborations within orthopaedic surgery, criteria for determining the strengths of such partnerships has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate orthopaedic experts' perceptions of the most valuable characteristics of international academic partnerships. Methods:. This study was conducted using a modified Delphi methodology. Experts were identified through the Consortium of Orthopaedic Academic Traumatologists (COACT). Responses were collected from February to September 2022. Three rounds of surveys listing possible topics on a 5-point Likert scale were used to develop consensus among a group of experts. Consensus criteria for topic inclusion in the final scale was determined as a rating of “strongly agree” or “agree” by ≥70% of the participants in the third survey. Results:. The Round 1 survey was distributed to 96 invited participants within the COACT network, of which 50 experts (52.1%) completed the first survey. Consensus was reached on 54 topics organized into the following 5 categories: Research, Advocacy/Leadership, Training/Surgical Skills, Education/Knowledge Exchange, and Sustainability and Safety (RATES Criteria). Conclusions:. Determining the most valuable characteristics of successful international academic partnerships can lead to more sustainable, mutually beneficial collaborations. The criteria identified in this study can provide the foundation for developing new partnerships and assessing existing ones.

Abstract. Objectives:. Open tibia fractures are associated with substantial morbidity and impact on quality of life. Despite increasing incidence in low-resource settings, most open tibia fracture research comes from high-resource settings. This study aimed to assess the impact of socioeconomic status on treatment modality and evaluate predictors of health-related quality of life following open tibia fractures in Ghana. Design:. A single-center prospective observational study was conducted in Kumasi, Ghana, from May 2020 to April 2022. Adults with open tibial shaft fractures presenting within 2 weeks of injury were eligible. Demographics, comorbidities, socioeconomic factors, and hospital course were collected at enrollment. Follow-up was scheduled at 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks. A telephone survey assessing reasons for loss to follow-up was initiated on enrollment completion. Results:. A total of 180 patients were enrolled. Most patients were employed before injury (79.9%), had government insurance (67.2%), and were from rural areas (59.4%). Fracture classification was primarily Gustilo–Anderson type 3A (49.1%). No relationship between socioeconomic predictors and treatment modality was identified. The largest barriers to follow-up were preference for bonesetter treatment (63.1%), treatment cost (48.8%), and travel cost (29.8%). Of the lost to follow-up patients contacted, 67 (79.8%) reported receiving traditional bonesetter care. Reasons for seeking traditional bonesetter care included ease of access (83.6%), lower cost (77.6%), and familial influence (50.7%). Conclusion:. No association was identified between socioeconomic predictors and choice of treatment. Bonesetter treatment plays a substantial role in the care of open tibia fractures in Ghana, largely because of ease of access and lower cost.

Abstract. Background:. Long-bone fractures are a major cause of morbidity worldwide. These injuries are often complicated by infection or nonunion, which significantly affect patient quality of life and economic costs. Although studies have quantified the impact of these fractures, there is not a comprehensive review summarizing their economic and lifestyle costs. Study Objective:. This review summarized the impact of long-bone fracture infection and nonunion on health-related quality of life, as measured by utility scores, and both direct and indirect economic costs. Methods:. A systematic review was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. The search included terms related to long-bone fractures, infection, nonunion, cost, and utility. The search yielded 1267 articles, and after deduplication, 1144 were screened, yielding 116 articles for full-text review. Screening was conducted using Covidence and extraction using REDCap. Results:. Twenty-two articles met inclusion criteria, with the majority being from the United States and Europe. Most articles were retrospective studies, predominantly regarding the tibia. Fifteen articles contained cost data and 8 contained utility data, with 1 article containing both. Ten cost articles and 1 utility article contained infection data. 8 cost and all utility articles contained nonunion data. Infection ranged from 1.5 to 8.0 times the cost of an uncomplicated fracture. Nonunion ranged from 2.6 to 4.3 times the cost of an uncomplicated fracture. Utility data were variable and ranged from 0.62 to 0.66 for infection and 0.48–0.85 for nonunion. Conclusions:. Infection and nonunion after long-bone fractures are associated with large decreases in health-related quality of life and incur substantial costs to both patients and health care systems. The data presented in this review quantify these impacts and may serve useful for future economic analyses. In addition, this study highlights the dearth of high-quality literature on this important topic.

Background: Brachial plexus catheter placement at the interscalene level is beneficial for shoulder analgesia but presents logistical challenges due to the superficial nature of the plexus at this level, increased patient movement in the neck, and therefore higher likelihood for catheter dislodgement. Methods: Patients requiring shoulder arthroscopy and suprascapular nerve decompression were identified. Under arthroscopic guidance, a catheter was placed percutaneously into the scalene medius muscle next to the suprascapular nerve and the upper trunk of the brachial plexus. Patients were followed postoperatively for perioperative analgesic outcomes. Results: Ten patients were identified and consented for intraoperative brachial plexus catheter placement. Patient demographics and surgical details were determined. Postoperative adjunctive pain management and pain scores were variable. Two patients required catheter replacement using ultrasound guidance in the perioperative anesthesia care unit due to poorly controlled pain. There were no incidents of catheter failure due to dislodgement. Discussion: This study presents the first description of arthroscopically-assisted brachial plexus catheter placement. This method may present an alternative to traditional ultrasound guided interscalene catheter placement. Further study is needed to determine if analgesic outcomes, block success, and dislodgement rates are improved with this method.

Objective: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of elamipretide in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with noncentral geographic atrophy (GA). Design: ReCLAIM-2 was a prospective, phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked, multicenter trial (NCT03891875). Subjects: Patients aged ≥55 years with ≥1 eye with dry AMD with GA were enrolled. Methods: Administration of daily subcutaneous elamipretide 40 mg was investigated in subjects for 48 weeks followed by a 4-week follow-up period. Main Outcome Measures: The primary efficacy end points were the mean change from baseline (BL) in low-luminance best-corrected visual acuity (LL BCVA) and the change in square root (Sqrt) converted GA area from BL as measured by OCT. Additional predefined end points included ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity preservation assessment and categorical changes in LL BCVA. The primary safety end point was the incidence and severity of adverse events. Results: Of the 176 patients randomized, there were 117 and 59 patients in the elamipretide and placebo groups, respectively. Although elamipretide did not meet statistical significance for the primary end points (mean change in LL BCVA and mean change in Sqrt converted GA area), elamipretide produced a 43% reduction in the mean progression from BL in the macular percentage of total EZ attenuation/loss (i.e., complete loss of EZ band; nominal P = 0.0034) and 47% reduction in the mean progression of macular percentage of partial EZ attenuation/degradation (i.e., EZ-retinal pigment endothelium thickness of ≤20 microns; nominal P = 0.0040) versus placebo at week 48. Elamipretide treatment was also associated with significantly more patients experiencing a ≥10 letter gain in LL BCVA versus placebo (14.6% vs. 2.1%; nominal P = 0.0404). Adverse events were reported in 86% of those receiving elamipretide and 71% of the placebo group with the most common events being injection site reactions (e.g., pruritus, injection site pain, bruising, and erythema). Conclusions: While the primary end points were not met in this phase II study, elamipretide treatment was associated with a slowing of progressive EZ degradation/loss, a surrogate for photoreceptor damage. These findings have important clinical relevance since EZ attenuation/photoreceptor loss precedes and predicts the progressive pathological changes associated with vision loss and AMD. The EZ attenuation/loss end point will serve as the regulatory approved primary end point in the elamipretide phase III clinical development program. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of a single dose of axitinib injectable suspension (CLS-AX), a pan-anti-VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), administered via suprachoroidal injection in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Design: Phase I/IIa, open-label, sequential dose escalation. Participants: Anti-VEGF treatment-experienced patients with active subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to nAMD. Methods: The study included 4 cohorts (0.03, 0.10, 0.50, and 1.0 mg) of approximately 5 patients each enrolled in a dose-escalating fashion. Enrolled patients received intravitreal aflibercept (2 mg) followed by a single unilateral dose of CLS-AX 1 month later. All patients were followed monthly for 3 months with the option of an additional 3 months of extended follow-up for cohorts 2 to 4. End points included systemic and ocular safety and tolerability, visual acuity, retinal thickness, and need for aflibercept therapy. Main Outcome Measures: The number of patients reporting treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs), changes in ophthalmic examinations, and the number of patients qualifying for additional therapy for nAMD based on protocol-defined criteria. Results: OASIS enrolled 27 patients with nAMD with mean age of 81 years, mean duration of nAMD diagnosis of 54 months, and between 5 and 90 prior anti-VEGF treatments. Twenty-six patients completed through 3 months, with 14 entering and completing the 3-month extension. No SAEs, drug-related TEAEs, or TEAEs leading to discontinuation were observed after CLS-AX administration; there were no adverse events related to ocular inflammation, vasculitis, intraocular pressure, or dispersion of drug into the vitreous or anterior chamber. Through 6 months, stable mean best-corrected visual acuity and stable mean central subfield thickness (CST) were observed, suggestive of TKI biologic effect. No aflibercept therapy was administered up to 3 months in 58% (15/26) of patients who completed 3 months of follow-up in OASIS. In the Extension, 57% (8/14) of patients went up to 6 months without receiving aflibercept therapy. Conclusions: Up to 1.0 mg CLS-AX, a highly potent TKI targeted to the suprachoroidal space (SCS) via the SCS Microinjector, was well tolerated, with stable mean visual acuity and mean CST. A majority of patients followed for 6 months did not require aflibercept therapy. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Introduction: Single-station N2 (ssN2) versus multi-station N2 has been used as a selection criterion for treatment recommendations between surgical versus non-surgical multimodality treatment in stage III-N2 NSCLC. We hypothesized that clinical staging would be susceptible to upstaging on pathologic staging and, therefore, challenge this practice. Methods: A retrospective study of prospectively collected routine clinical data for patients with stage III-N2 NSCLC that had completed computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and staging endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and had been confirmed clinical stage III-ssN2 at multidisciplinary team discussion and went on to complete surgical resection as the first treatment to provide pathologic staging. The study was completed in two cohorts (A) across a single cancer alliance in England (Greater Manchester) January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018 and (B) across five United Kingdom centers to validate the findings in part A January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020. Results: A total of 115 patients met the inclusion criteria across cohort A (56 patients) and cohort B (59 patients) across 15 United Kingdom hospitals. The proportion of cases in which clinical stage III-ssN2 was upstaged to pathologic stage III-multi-station N2 was 34% (19 of 56) in cohort A, 32% in cohort B (19 of 59), and 33% across the combined study cohort (38 of 115). Most patients had a single radiologically abnormal lymph node on CT and PET (88%, 105 of 115). In the majority, the reasons for missed N2 disease on staging EBUS were due to inaccessible (stations 5, 6, 8, 9) N2 nodes at EBUS (34%, 13 of 38) and accessible lymph nodes not sampled during staging EBUS as not meeting sampling threshold (40%, 15 of 38) rather than false-negative sampling during EBUS (26%, 10 of 38). Conclusions: During multidisciplinary team discussions, clinicians must be aware that one-third of patients with stage III-ssN2 on the basis of CT, PET, and staging EBUS do not truly have ssN2 and this questions the use of this criterion to define treatment recommendations.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with increased complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors for AKI after THA and TKA and evaluate if preoperative use of antihypertensive drugs is a risk factor for AKI. Methods: A retrospective review of 7406 primary TKAs and THAs (4532 hips and 2874 knees) from 2013 to 2019 was performed. The following preoperative variables were obtained from medical records: medications, chemistry 7 panel, Elixhauser comorbidities, and demographic factors. AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine by 26.4 μmol·L−1. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors. Results: The overall incidence of postoperative AKI was 6.2% (n = 459). Risk factors for postoperative AKI were found to be: chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR] = 7.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.8-9.4), diabetes (OR: 5.03; 95% CI: 2.8-6.06), ≥3 antihypertensive drugs (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 2.1-6.2), preoperative use of an angiotensin receptor blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 2.2-5.9), perioperative vancomycin (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.8-4.6), and body mass index >40 kg/m2 (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-3.06). Conclusions: We have identified several modifiable risk factors for AKI that can be optimized prior to an elective THA or TKA. The use of certain antihypertensive agents namely angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and multidrug antihypertensive regimens were found to significantly increase the risk of AKI. Therefore, perioperative management of patients undergoing joint replacement should include medical comanagement with a focus on careful management of antihypertensives.

Objectives: Recent research suggests that increased cerebral oxygen use during surgical intervention for neonates with congenital heart disease may play a role in the development of postoperative white matter injury. The objective of this study is to determine whether increased cerebral electrical activity correlates with greater decrease of cerebral oxygen saturation during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Methods: Neonates with critical congenital heart disease requiring surgical intervention during the first week of life were studied. All subjects had continuous neuromonitoring with electroencephalography and an optical probe (to quantify cerebral oxygen saturation) during cardiac surgical repair that involved the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. A simple linear regression was used to investigate the association between electroencephalography metrics before the deep hypothermic circulatory arrest period and the change in cerebral oxygen saturation during the deep hypothermic circulatory arrest period. Results: Sixteen neonates had both neuromonitoring modalities attached during surgical repair. Cerebral oxygen saturation data from 5 subjects were excluded due to poor data quality, yielding a total sample of 11 neonates. A simple linear regression model found that the presence of electroencephalography activity at the end of cooling is positively associated with the decrease in cerebral oxygen saturation that occurs during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (P

Background:. Due to variations in perforator vasculature, deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap preoperative imaging can minimize operative time required to locate the most suitable perforators. Dedicated computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been the gold standard; however, many patients have already undergone a staging computed tomography (CT) per oncologic workup. The benefits from CTA may also be realized with a staging CT or CT with IV contrast. Methods:. Ten patients who underwent DIEP flap reconstruction with staging CT and CTA within 3 years of one another were included in this study. Reviewers evaluated axial views of both imaging modalities separately to identify each visible perforator in reference to the pubic symphysis from the xiphoid to the pubic symphysis. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine agreement in location of perforators between the two imaging studies. Statistical analysis was performed using an ICC and Wilcoxon signed rank-tests. Results:. The identified perforators within the patient cohort had an excellent correlation between their location on CT and CTA based upon ICC. The mean number of perforators identified in the CT group was 15.3 (SD 4.9) and in the CTA group was 18.8 (SD 6.4), which was not statistically different (P = 0.247). Conclusions:. CT has similar efficacy in identifying number of perforators and perforator location to dedicated CTA for preoperative planning in DIEP flaps. This has the potential for decreased patient contrast and ionizing radiation exposure as well as improved patient and healthcare resource utilization.

This commentary’s objective was to identify whether female representation at critical care conferences has improved since our previous publication in 2018. We audited the scientific programs from three international (International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine [ISICEM], European Society of Intensive Care Medicine [ESICM], and Society of Critical Care Medicine [SCCM]) and two national (State of the Art [SOA] and Critical Care Canada Forum) critical care conferences from the years 2017 to 2022. We collected data on the number of female faculty members and categorized them into physicians, nurses, allied health professions (AHPs), and other. Across all conferences, there was an increased representation of females as speakers and moderators over the 6 years. However, at each conference, male speakers outnumbered female speakers. Only two conferences achieved gender parity in speakers, SCCM in 2021 (48% female) and 2022 and SOA in 2022 (48% female). These conferences also had the highest representation of female nursing and AHP speakers (25% in SCCM, 2021; 19% in SOA, 2022). While there was a statistically significant increase in female speakers (p < 0.01) in 2022 compared with 2016, there was a persistent gender gap in the representation of men and female physicians. While the proportion of female moderators increased in each conference every year, the increase was statistically only significant for ISICEM, ESICM, and SCCM (p < 0.05). The proportion of female nurses and AHP speakers increased in 2022 compared with 2016 (p < 0.0001) but their overall representation was low with the highest proportion (25%) in the 2022 SCCM conference and the lowest (0.5%) in the 2017 ISICEM conference. This follow-up study demonstrates a narrowing but persisting gender gap in the studied critical care conferences. Thus, a commitment toward minimizing gender inequalities is warranted.

Summary:. Patients undergoing extensive lymph node dissection and radiation are at high risk for not only lymphedema but also painful contracture. In a standard lymphadenectomy, immediate lymphatic reconstruction using a lymphovenous bypass is effective in reconstructing the lymphatic defect. However, a more aggressive nodal clearance leaves the patient with a large cavity and skeletonized neurovascular structures, often resulting in severe contracture, pain, cosmetic deformity, and venous stricture. Adjuvant radiotherapy to the nodal bed can lead to severe and permanent disability despite physical therapy. Typically, these patients are referred to us after the fact, where surgery will rarely restore the patient to normal function. In an effort to avoid lymphedema and contracture, we have been reconstructing both the lymphatic and soft tissue defect during lymphadenectomy, using vascularized omentum lymphatic transplant (VOLT). A total of 13 patients underwent immediate reconstruction with VOLT at the time of axillary (n = 8; 61.5%) or groin (n = 5; 38.5%) dissection. No postoperative complications were observed. The mean follow-up time was 15.1 ± 12.5 months. Only one lower extremity patient developed mild lymphedema (11% volume differential), with excellent scores in validated patient-reported outcomes. All patients maintained full range of motion with no pain. None of the 13 patients required a compression garment. Immediate lymphatic reconstruction with VOLT is a promising procedure for minimizing the risk of lymphedema and contracture in the highest risk patients undergoing particularly extensive lymph node dissection and radiotherapy.

Background: Surgeon visual estimation of shoulder range of motion (ROM) is commonplace in the outpatient office setting and routinely reported in clinical research, but the reliability and accuracy of this practice remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to establish the reliability and accuracy of remote visual estimation of shoulder ROM in healthy volunteers and symptomatic patients among a large group of shoulder surgeons. Our hypothesis is that remote visual estimation would be reliable and accurate compared with the digital goniometer method. Methods: Fifty shoulder surgeon members of the PacWest Shoulder and Elbow Society independently determined the active shoulder forward flexion (FF), internal rotation at 90° abduction (IR90), external rotation at 90° abduction, external rotation at the side , and maximal spinal level reached with internal rotation (IRspine) through visual estimation of video recordings taken from 10 healthy volunteers and 10 symptomatic patients. Variations in measurements were quantified using the interobserver reliability through calculation of the intraclass correlation coefficient. Accuracy was determined through comparison with digital goniometer measurements obtained with an on-screen protractor application using Bland–Altman mean differences and 95% limits of agreement. Results: The interobserver reliability among examiners showed moderate to excellent correlation, with intraclass correlation coefficient ranging from 0.768 to 0.928 for the healthy volunteers and 0.739 to 0.878 for the symptomatic patients. Accuracy was limited, with upper limits of agreement exceeding the established minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) for FF (20° vs. MCID of 14°) and IR90 (25° vs. 18°) in the healthy volunteers and for FF (33° vs. 16°), external rotation at 90° abduction (21° vs. 18°), and IR90 (31° vs. 20°) in the symptomatic patients. Conclusion: Despite generally high intersurgeon reliability in the visual estimation of shoulder ROM, there was questionable accuracy when compared to digital goniometer measurements,with measurement errors often exceeding established MCID values. Given the potential implications for the clinical response to treatment and the significance of research findings, the adoption of validated instruments to measure ROM and the standardization of examination procedures should be considered.

Objective: Data regarding management of lower-extremity malperfusion in the setting of type A aortic dissection are limited. This study aimed to compare acute type A aortic dissection with lower-extremity malperfusion outcomes in patients undergoing lower-extremity revascularization with no revascularization. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing acute type A aortic dissection surgery were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Perioperative variables were compared between patients with and without lower-extremity malperfusion. Factors associated with lower-extremity malperfusion, revascularization, and mortality were determined using univariable Cox regression and Firth's penalized likelihood modeling. Results: From January 2007 to December 2021, 601 patients underwent proximal aortic repair for acute type A aortic dissection at a quaternary care center. Of these, 85 of 601 patients (14%) presented with lower-extremity malperfusion and were more often male (P = .02), had concomitant moderate or greater aortic insufficiency (P = .05), had lower ejection fraction (P = .004), had preoperative dialysis dependence (P = .01), and had additional cerebral, visceral, and renal malperfusion syndromes (P

Objective: Patients undergoing congenital cardiac surgery require induction of anesthesia. Our objective was to identify the median anesthesia ready time and the predictors of this time. Methods: By using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database, we identified patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass procedures from 2017 to 2021. Univariate and multivariable regression modeling to predict the anesthesia ready time was performed using mixed-effects linear regression. Results: After exclusion of outliers, 44,418 cases were analyzed. The median anesthesia ready time was 51 minutes (interquartile range, 38-66). On multivariable analysis, independent predictors of a longer anesthesia ready time included decreasing weight (0.3 min/10 kg, 95% CI, 0.1-0.6; P = .011), prematurity (1.5 minutes, 95% CI, 0.8-2.2; P

Objective: To reduce unwitnessed inpatient falls on the neurology services floor at an academic medical center by 20% over 15 months. Patients and Methods: A 9-item preintervention survey was administered to neurology nurses, resident physicians, and support staff. Based on survey data, interventions targeting fall prevention were implemented. Providers were educated during monthly in-person training sessions regarding the use of patient bed/chair alarms. Safety checklists were posted inside each patient’s room reminding staff to ensure that bed/chair alarms were on, call lights and personal items were within reach, and patients’ restroom needs were addressed. Preimplementation (January 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021) and postimplementation (April 1, 2021, to June 31, 2022) rates of falls in the neurology inpatient unit were recorded. Adult patients hospitalized in 4 other medical inpatient units not receiving the intervention served as a control group. Results: Rates of falls, unwitnessed falls, and falls with injury all decreased after intervention in the neurology unit, with rates of unwitnessed falls decreasing by 44% (2.74 unwitnessed falls per 1000 patient-days before intervention to 1.53 unwitnessed falls per 1000 patient-days after intervention; P=.04). Preintervention survey data revealed a need for education and reminders on inpatient fall prevention best practices given a lack of knowledge on how to operate fall prevention devices, driving the implemented intervention. All staff reported significant improvement in operating patient bed/chair alarms after intervention (P

Eagle Syndrome is a rare condition with a variety of presentations, resulting from an enlarged styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament. Due to the variety of presentations, diagnosis can be difficult. In this report, we present a case of ES that presented with a constellation of neurological symptoms, including headache and visual disturbance, ultimately found to be due to cerebral sinus hypertension, exacerbated by certain movements, caused by an enlarged styloid process with calcification of the stylohyoid ligament, consistent with ES. The patient underwent styloidectomy with immediate resolution of symptoms. This case report illustrates the diagnostic quandary often posed by ES and hopes to add further understanding to its presentation and diagnosis.

Objective: The study objective was to provide a detailed overview of health resource use from birth to 18 years old for patients with functionally single ventricles and identify associated risk factors. Methods: All patients with functionally single ventricles treated between 2000 and 2017 in England and Wales were linked to hospital and outpatient records using data from the Linking AUdit and National datasets in Congenital HEart Services project. Hospital stay was described in yearly age intervals, and associated risk factors were explored using quantile regression. Results: A total of 3037 patients with functionally single ventricles were included, 1409 (46.3%) undergoing a Fontan procedure. During the first year of life, the median days spent in hospital was 60 (interquartile range, 37-102), mostly inpatient days, mirroring a mortality of 22.8%. This decreases to between 2 and 9 in-hospital days/year afterward. Between 2 and 18 years, most hospital days were outpatient, with a median of 1 to 5 days/year. Lower age at the first procedure, hypoplastic left heart syndrome/mitral atresia, unbalanced atrioventricular septal defect, preterm birth, congenital/acquired comorbidities, additional cardiac risk factors, and severity of illness markers were associated with fewer days at home and more intensive care unit days in the first year of life. Only markers of early severe illness were associated with fewer days at home in the first 6 months after the Fontan procedure. Conclusions: Hospital resource use in functionally single ventricle cases is not uniform, decreasing 10-fold during adolescence compared with the first year of life. There are subsets of patients with worse outcomes during their first year of life or with persistently high hospital use throughout their childhood, which could be the target of future research.

Background: Lymphedema is rare in arthroplasty patients but has been associated with a higher complication rate. This study sought to determine the outcomes of total joint arthroplasty in patients with lymphedema as compared to a matched control cohort. Methods: Treatment-control propensity matching was implemented on 335 patients following total knee or hip arthroplasty generating 5-patient sets of one patient with presurgery lymphedema (67 total) to 4 patients without presurgery lymphedema (268 total) and matched on age, sex, and surgery year. Body mass index and presence of diabetes were controlled using multivariable generalized estimating equations. Results: In the lymphedema cohort, 1 patient (1.5%) had a deep vein thrombosis within 90 days of their surgery, 36 (53.7%) were discharged to a rehabilitation center, 16 (23.9%) had a readmission, 14 (20.9%) were admitted to the emergency room within 90 days, 6 (9.0%) experienced infection, and 6 (9.0%) had a revision/reoperation. Lymphedema significantly increased emergency room admission within 90 days (odds ratio [OR] 4.56, P = .01) and non-home discharge (OR 4.14, P < .01), affected readmission within 90 days (OR 2.21, P = .09), revision/reoperation (OR 2.82, P = .09), and no effect on deep vein thrombosis within 90 days (OR 0.57, P = .45), postsurgical infection (OR 1.47, P = .45), length of stay (OR 0.00, P = .99), operative time (OR 0.04, P = .38), or estimated blood loss (OR 0.09, P = .47), after adjusting for various factors. Conclusions: Preoperative lymphedema is a significant risk factor for patients who are undergoing total joint arthroplasty. Preoperative and postoperative modalities should be utilized to help control lymphedema and mitigate these increased risks.

OBJECTIVES:. Inadequate self-efficacy of resuscitation team members may impair team performance, but high self-efficacy does not guarantee competence. We evaluated the relationship between individual self-efficacy and resuscitation team competence. DESIGN:. Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. SETTING:. High-fidelity in situ in-hospital cardiac arrest simulations at seven hospitals in Utah. SUBJECTS:. Multidisciplinary cardiac arrest resuscitation team members. INTERVENTIONS:. None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:. Resuscitation team members completed surveys evaluating resuscitation self-efficacy (confidence in resuscitation role, difficulty thinking clearly, and concerns about committing errors) after each simulation. The primary outcome was event-level chest compression hands-on fraction greater than 75%. Secondary outcomes included other measures of resuscitation quality, advanced cardiac life support protocol adherence, and nontechnical team performance. Analyses employed the Datta-Satten rank-sum method to account for response clustering within simulation events. Of 923 participants in 76 analyzable simulations, 612 (66%) submitted complete surveys and 33 (43%) resuscitation teams achieved hands-on fraction greater than 75%. Event-level chest compression hands-on fraction greater than 75% versus less than or equal to 75% was not associated with the percentage of resuscitation team members reporting confidence in their team role (n = 213 [74%] vs. n = 251 [77%], respectively, p = 0.18), lack of difficulty thinking clearly (n = 186 [65%] vs. n = 214 [66%], p = 0.92), or lack of worry about making errors (n = 155 [54%] vs. n = 180 [55%], p = 0.41). Team members’ confidence was also not associated with secondary outcomes, except that teams with confident members had better values for composite (3.55 [interquartile range, IQR 3.00–3.82] vs. 3.18 [IQR 2.57–3.64], p = 0.024) and global (8 [7–9] vs. 8 [6–8], p = 0.029) scales measuring nontechnical team performance. CONCLUSIONS:. Team members’ self-efficacy was not associated with most team-level competence metrics during simulated cardiac arrest resuscitation. These data suggest that self-efficacy should have a limited role for evaluation of resuscitation training programs and for initial certification and monitoring of individual resuscitation team members’ competence.

Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT) is commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer and often, despite advances in fractionated dosing schedules, produces undesirable skin toxicity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a keratin-based topical cream, KeraStat® Cream (KC; KeraNetics, Inc., Winston Salem, NC, USA) to manage the symptoms of radiation dermatitis (RD) in breast cancer patients undergoing RT. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 subjects were enrolled on this single-center, randomized, open-label study. Participants were randomly assigned to KC or standard of care (SOC, patient's choice of a variety of readily available creams or moisturizers). Patients were asked to apply the assigned treatment to the irradiated area twice daily, beginning with day 1 of RT, through 30 days post-RT. The primary outcome was compliance of use. Secondary outcomes included safety and tolerability of KC, as well as RD severity assessed using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) scale and the patient-reported Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Results: All subjects in the KC group were assessed as compliant with no adverse events. The rate of RTOG Grade 2 RD was lower in the KC group (30.8%) compared to the SOC group (54.5%, P = .408). At the final RT visit, the mean RTOG RD score was lower in the KC group (1.0) versus the SOC group (1.4). Similarly, patient-reported quality of life measured by the DLQI at the end of RT was improved in the KC group (mean 4.25, small effect) versus the SOC group (mean 6.18, moderate effect, P = .412). Conclusions: KC was safe and well tolerated with no adverse events. Though efficacy measures were not powered to draw definitive conclusions, trends and clinical assessments suggest that there is a benefit of using KC compared to SOC for breast cancer patients treated with RT, and a larger powered study for efficacy is warranted. Trial Registry: This clinical trial is registered as NCT03374995 titled KeraStat(R) Cream for Radiation Dermatitis.

Background:. Plastic surgery dates back to 800 BC, where forehead flaps were used to reconstruct noses in India. Today, it is one of the most romanticized fields in medicine. Due to the influence of social media, there has never been a larger spotlight. Ironically, this spotlight brings a narrowed perception of the scope of plastic surgery. This study aimed to assess the scope through the eyes of the average American to identify gaps in knowledge to better represent the field. Methods:. A series of questions were developed under survey methodologists and administered by Qualtrics. Responses were gathered, and data were analyzed to assess the public’s knowledge of plastic surgery’s scope. Results:. Two thousand five hundred responses were obtained, balanced across demographics similar to that of the United States. The US population has a poor understanding of the scope of plastic surgery and how to obtain board certification. Conclusions:. This survey demonstrates a gap in awareness of plastic surgery as a field and the scope outside aesthetic procedures dramatized by the media. There remains no clear understanding of the qualifications of plastic surgeons or the provider makeup of the field of cosmetic surgery. Subspecialties proved to be overlooked, and knowledge of board certification was sparse. Further effort is needed to educate both the public and patients of the scope of plastic surgery, so that they might seek and gain access to appropriate treatment in the most efficient manner to optimize outcomes regarding the form and function of the body.

Background: Dexamethasone is a commonly used perioperative medication for the management of postoperative nausea and vomiting following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). However, concerns have been raised about its potential to cause hyperglycemia. This study aimed to investigate the impact of dexamethasone administration on glucose levels and complications in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients undergoing TJA. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 1928 patients who underwent primary total knee and hip arthroplasty procedures at a large tertiary medical institution. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on whether they received preoperative dexamethasone. Postoperative blood glucose values and variability were measured, and data on complications were collected. We performed statistical analysis using descriptive analysis, multivariate logistic regression models, negative binomial regression, and a subset analysis to assess the impact of dexamethasone dose on postoperative glycemic control. Results: Preoperative dexamethasone did not significantly increase the mean glucose, fasting glucose, glucose variability, or 90-day complications in both the diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Nondiabetic patients who received dexamethasone had a significantly lower rate of intensive care unit admission (P < .01). Additionally, patients who received dexamethasone had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay compared to those who did not (P < .001). Conclusions: Preoperative dexamethasone administration is a safe and effective method for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing TJA without significant adverse effects on glucose levels, glucose variability, or infection rates in both diabetics and nondiabetics. Preoperative dexamethasone decreases postoperative length of stay.

Abstract. Objective:. We aimed to evaluate the difference in 30-day outcomes after surgical management of proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) between patients with and without chronic liver disease as defined by a MELD score greater than 10. Design:. This was a retrospective database review. Setting:. All centers participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database were included. Patients/Participants:. Patients with proximal humerus fractures who (1) underwent ORIF, HA, or SA and (2) had calculable MELD scores were included. Intervention:. Open reduction and internal fixation, hemiarthroplasty, or shoulder arthroplasty was used for treatment. Main outcome measurements:. Thirty-day complications, mortality, readmission, and reoperation rates were measured. Results:. Of the total 1732 PHF patients identified, 300 had a MELD score higher than 10. After propensity matching by significant covariates, MELD score higher than 10 was found to be significantly associated with higher rates of 30-day mortality, 30-day readmission, transfusion within 72 hours, and systemic complications. Among patients with a MELD score higher than 10, treatment with SA or HA instead of ORIF was associated with a higher rate of transfusion and longer operative time. There were no significant differences between treatment cohorts regarding mortality, reoperation, readmission, or complications. Conclusions:. A MELD score higher than 10 is associated with higher risk of surgical complications, transfusion, and death in patients undergoing surgery for proximal humerus fractures. Among patients with a MELD score higher than 10, ORIF was associated with a lower transfusion rate and shorter operative time than arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty. Level of Evidence:. Prognostic Level III.