Assessing the impact of an ageing population on complication rates and in-patient length of stay

Obesity has long been considered a risk factor for surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on outcomes after appendectomy. A retrospective study was performed using discharge abstract data obtained from patients with documented body mass index (BMI) undergoing appendectomy for appendicitis (n = 2919). Complications and length of stay for different BMI categories were compared. Obese patients (BMI > 30 kg/m2) had similar rates of perforation (20%) and were as likely to undergo a laparoscopic approach (85%) as nonobese patients. On multivariable and univariate analysis, no significant differences were observed when comparing obese and nonobese patients for the outcomes of length of stay, infectious complications, and need for readmission. On multivariate analysis, laparoscopy predicted lower complication rates and decreased length of stay. In this study, obesity did not significantly impact rates of perforation, operative approach, length of stay, infectious complications, or readmission.

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Perioperative complication rates following neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2020.38.4_suppl.688 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 38 (4_suppl) ◽

pp. 688-688

Author(s):

Christopher R. Deig ◽

Blake Beneville ◽

Amy Liu ◽

Aasheesh Kanwar ◽

Alison Grossblatt-Wait ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Neoadjuvant Therapy ◽

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma ◽

Locally Advanced ◽

Hospital Length ◽

Hospital Length Of Stay ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Perioperative Complication ◽

The Impact

688 Background: Whether upfront resection or total neoadjuvant therapy is superior for the treatment of potentially resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains controversial. The impact of neoadjuvant treatment on major perioperative complication rates for patients (pts) undergoing resection for PDAC is commonly debated. We hypothesized that rates would be comparable among patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation (neo-CRT), neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone (neo-CHT), or upfront surgery. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 208 pts with PDAC who underwent resection within a multidisciplinary pancreatico-biliary program at an academic tertiary referral center between 2011-2018. Data were abstracted from the medical record, an institutional cancer registry and NSQIP databases. Outcomes were assessed using χ2, Fisher’s exact test and two-tailed Student’s t-tests. Results: 208 pts were identified: 33 locally advanced, borderline or upfront resectable pts underwent neo-CRT, 35 borderline or resectable pts underwent neoadjuvant-CHT, and 140 resectable pts did not undergo neoadjuvant therapy. There were no statistically significant differences in major perioperative complication rates between groups. Overall rates were 36.4%, 34.3%, and 26.4% for pts who underwent neo-CRT, neo-CHT alone, or upfront resection, respectively (p = 0.38). No significant difference were observed in complication rates (35.3% v. 26.4%; p = 0.19) or median hospital length of stay (10 days v. 10 days; p = 0.87) in pts who received any neoadjuvant therapy versus upfront resection. There were two perioperative deaths in the neo-CRT group (6.1%), zero in the neo-CHT group, and four in the upfront resection group (2.9%); p = 0.22. Conclusions: There were no significant differences in major perioperative complication rates, hospital length of stay, or post-operative mortality in pts who underwent neoadjuvant therapy (neo-CRT or neo-CHT alone) versus upfront surgery. Notably, neo-CRT had comparable perioperative complication rates to neo-CHT alone, which suggests neoadjuvant radiation therapy may not pose additional surgical risk.

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62 Geriatric Surgical Liaison Staff Perspectives of Geriatric Care Before and After Introduction of An Embedded Service

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afz187.03 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. i18-i20

Author(s):

K Shah ◽

R Kyzy ◽

H Pittaway

Keyword(s):

Older Patients ◽

Discharge Planning ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Ageing Population ◽

Emergency Setting ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Before And After ◽

Key Indicators ◽

The Impact ◽

Multi Disciplinary Team

Abstract Introduction National evidence demonstrates that older people having surgery, both in the elective and emergency setting, have more adverse outcomes postoperatively when compared with their younger counterparts (1). National reports have recommended daily input from a geriatric team for older patients having surgery (2). At our hospital we have introduced a geriatric surgical liaison consultant as a formal post to ensure daily geriatric input or review for patients over the age of 70 or comorbid younger patients as requested. The aim of this study was to review perspectives across the multi-disciplinary team on care provided to these patients before and after introduction of the surgical liaison team. Methods We created a 10 part questionnaire, which was distributed amongst all members of the multi-disciplinary team, asking them to rate confidence out of 10 in management of comorbidity, polypharmacy, discharge planning, pain assessments and nutrition. These data were then analysed to produce median scores for each category before and after the introduction of the service. We compared the change in scores between the foundation year 1 (FY1) doctors and the remainder of the respondents. Results The below table demonstrates the median scores across all 36 respondents in their confidence with the assessment and management of the 10 key domains before and after the liaison service was introduced: Conclusions Universally within our survey, staff reported improvement in all 10 key indicators of care of older patients on surgery with the introduction of a geriatric surgical liaison team. Greatest benefit was seen within the FY1 group. References 1. McVeigh TP, Al-Azawi D, O'Donoghue GT, Kerin MJ. Assessing the impact of an ageing population on complication rates and in-patient length of stay, Int J Surg, 2013, vol. 11 (pg. 872–5). 2. Wilkinson K. An age old Problem: A Review of the Care Received by Elderly Patients Undergoing Surgery: A Report by the National Confidential Enquiry Into Patient Outcome and Death. London, 2010.

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Impact of tranexamic acid on clinical and hematologic outcomes following total shoulder arthroplasty

Shoulder & Elbow ◽

10.1177/17585732211023053 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 175857322110230

Author(s):

McKayla Kelly ◽

Justin Turcotte ◽

M Brook Fowler ◽

Michaline West ◽

Cyrus Lashgari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Tranexamic Acid ◽

Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽

Total Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Vein Thrombosis ◽

Reverse Total Shoulder ◽

The Impact

Background The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of intravenous tranexamic acid on clinical and hematologic outcomes after total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods Retrospective review was conducted for 282 consecutive patients undergoing either anatomic shoulder arthroplasty or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression were used to compare outcomes for patients receiving intravenous tranexamic acid with those who did not. Results Of the 282 patients included in this study, 78 patients received intravenous tranexamic acid and 204 did not. Patients who received intravenous tranexamic acid had significantly lower pre- to postoperative change in hemoglobin and hematocrit, and decreased postoperative drain output. In addition, patients receiving intravenous tranexamic acid were significantly less likely to have a postoperative hematocrit <30. There were no significant differences in length of stay, rate of 30 day hematoma, surgical site infection, deep vein thrombosis, or readmission between groups. Conclusion Intravenous tranexamic acid is associated with a significant reduction in change in hematocrit and hemoglobin and postoperative drain output after both anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Despite improving hematologic outcomes for these patients, tranexamic acid appears to have little impact on clinical outcomes such as length of stay and 30-day complication rates.

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The impact of age on patients undergoing transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer

Diseases of the Esophagus ◽

10.1093/dote/doaa056 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anantha Madhavan ◽

Sivesh K Kamarajah ◽

Maziar Navidi ◽

S Wahed ◽

Arul Immanuel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Overall Survival ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Neoadjuvant Treatment ◽

Ageing Population ◽

Transthoracic Esophagectomy ◽

Short Term ◽

Term Survival ◽

Long Term Survival ◽

The Impact

Summary To compare long-term and short-term outcomes in patients <70 years old with those ≥ 70 years old, who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy for carcinoma. With an ageing population more patients, with increasing co-morbidities are being diagnosed with potentially curable esophageal cancer. Concerns exist regarding offering older patients esophagectomy, conversely undue prejudice may exists that may prevent surgery being offered. Consecutive patients from a single unit between January 2000 and July 2016 that underwent trans-thoracic esophagectomy with or without neoadjuvant treatment for carcinoma were included. Short-term outcomes including morbidity, mortality, length of stay and long-term survival were compared between those <70 and those ≥ 70. This study identified 992 patients who underwent esophagectomy during the study period, of which 302 (30%) ≥ 70 years old. Greater proportion ≥ 70 years old had SCC (squamous cell carcinoma) (23%) than <70 (18%) (p = 0.07). Patients ≥ 70 years old were noted to have higher ASA Grade 3 (34% vs 25%, p = 0.004) and were less likely to receive neoadjuvant treatment (64% vs 45% p<0.001). Length of stay was longer in ≥ 70 (14 vs 17 days p<0.001), and there were more complications (63% vs 75% p<0.001). In hospital mortality was higher in ≥ 70 (2% vs 5% p = 0.026). Overall survival was 50 months in <70 vs 36 months in ≥ 70 (p = <0.001). In <70s with adenocarcinoma, overall survival was 52 months vs 35 months in the ≥ 70 (p<0.001). No significant difference in survival in patients with SCC, 49 months in <70 vs 54 months in ≥ 70 (p = 0.711). Increased peri-operative morbidity and mortality combined with the reduction in the long term survival in the over 70s cohort should be addressed when counselling patients undergoing curative resection for oesophageal cancer.

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Revolutionising rapid recovery: a quality improvement project in hip and knee replacement

BMJ Open Quality ◽

10.1136/bmjoq-2020-001249 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. e001249

Author(s):

Rebekah J Parkes ◽

Olusegun Ayeko ◽

Luke Brunton ◽

William Griffiths-Jones ◽

Zsolt Ungvari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Knee Replacement ◽

Enhanced Recovery ◽

Rapid Recovery ◽

Fiscal Year ◽

Ageing Population ◽

Patient Journey ◽

Improvement Project ◽

Joint Replacements ◽

The Impact

With increasing bed pressures and an ageing population, there is a need to increase throughput and reduce the bed burden of joint replacements. These issues were recognised in North Devon and an enhanced recovery pathway was established. Enhanced recovery, which aims to optimise the patient journey and shorten the inpatient admission, was first adopted for hip and knee replacements in North Devon District hospital in 2011. The Rapid Recovery Group, comprised a multidisciplinary team involved in the perioperative patient pathway, formed in the third financial quarter of 2018/2019 (Q3). The group was tasked with the optimisation of the pathway for patients requiring hip and knee replacement from referral to 12 months postoperation. Representatives from the group visited a similar sized hospital with successful outcomes from their pathway in order to compare and then construct a new pathway based on observed practices. Multiple interventions were instigated, alongside continuous data collection, forming a combination of simultaneous and sequential Plan Do Study Act cycles. Interventions involved intraoperative local anaesthetic injection protocols, use of Taurus frames together with nurse-led mobilisation and trials of simplified drug charts. Information collected included type of surgery, length of stay, who mobilised patients and when. Mean length of stay in total hip and knee replacement has dropped from 3.6 to 2.4 days and 3.6 to 2.0 days respectively, comparing mean for the fiscal year 2018/2019 to 2019/2020, putting the hospital in the top 10 trusts in the country. With multiple changes occurring simultaneously, the impact of individual elements is difficult to isolate but the overall impact of the interventions is evident. A drastic improvement in the length of stay has been seen and the collaborative multidisciplinary approach has been pivotal to success.

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The Institute for Healthcare Improvement–NeuroPoint Alliance collaboration to decrease length of stay and readmission after lumbar spine fusion: using national registries to design quality improvement protocols

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2020.5.spine20457 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 812-821

Author(s):

Scott L. Zuckerman ◽

Clinton J. Devin ◽

Vincent Rossi ◽

Silky Chotai ◽

E. Hunter Dyer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Improvement ◽

Length Of Stay ◽

Discharge Planning ◽

Lumbar Fusion ◽

Nonparametric Tests ◽

Learning System ◽

Design Quality ◽

Implementation Phase ◽

Healthcare Improvement ◽

The Impact

OBJECTIVENational databases collect large amounts of clinical information, yet application of these data can be challenging. The authors present the NeuroPoint Alliance and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (NPA-IHI) program as a novel attempt to create a quality improvement (QI) tool informed through registry data to improve the quality of care delivered. Reducing the length of stay (LOS) and readmission after elective lumbar fusion was chosen as the pilot module.METHODSThe NPA-IHI program prospectively enrolled patients undergoing elective 1- to 3-level lumbar fusions across 8 institutions. A three-pronged approach was taken that included the following phases: 1) Research Phase, 2) Development Phase, and 3) Implementation Phase. Primary outcomes were LOS and readmission. From January to June 2017, a learning system was created utilizing monthly conference calls, weekly data submission, and continuous refinement of the proposed QI tool. Nonparametric tests were used to assess the impact of the QI intervention.RESULTSThe novel QI tool included the following three areas of intervention: 1) preoperative discharge assessment (location, date, and instructions), 2) inpatient changes (LOS rounding checklist, daily huddle, and pain assessments), and 3) postdischarge calls (pain, primary care follow-up, and satisfaction). A total of 209 patients were enrolled, and the most common procedure was a posterior laminectomy/fusion (60.2%). Seven patients (3.3%) were readmitted during the study period. Preoperative discharge planning was completed for 129 patients (61.7%). A shorter median LOS was seen in those with a known preoperative discharge date (67 vs 80 hours, p = 0.018) and clear discharge instructions (71 vs 81 hours, p = 0.030). Patients with a known preoperative discharge plan also reported significantly increased satisfaction (8.0 vs 7.0, p = 0.028), and patients with increased discharge readiness (scale 0–10) also reported higher satisfaction (r = 0.474, p < 0.001). Those receiving postdischarge calls (76%) had a significantly shorter LOS than those without postdischarge calls (75 vs 99 hours, p = 0.020), although no significant relationship was seen between postdischarge calls and readmission (p = 0.342).CONCLUSIONSThe NPA-IHI program showed that preoperative discharge planning and postdischarge calls have the potential to reduce LOS and improve satisfaction after elective lumbar fusion. It is our hope that neurosurgical providers can recognize how registries can be used to both develop and implement a QI tool and appreciate the importance of QI implementation as a separate process from data collection/analysis.

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Reduced influence of affective disorders on perioperative complication rates, length of hospital stay, and healthcare costs following spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2019.7.peds19223 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 722-727

Author(s):

Aladine A. Elsamadicy ◽

Andrew B. Koo ◽

Megan Lee ◽

Adam J. Kundishora ◽

Christopher S. Hong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Care ◽

Idiopathic Scoliosis ◽

Affective Disorder ◽

Affective Disorders ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Total Cost ◽

Adolescent Patients ◽

Perioperative Complication ◽

The Impact

OBJECTIVEIn the past decade, a gradual transition of health policy to value-based healthcare has brought increased attention to measuring the quality of care delivered. In spine surgery, adolescents with scoliosis are a population particularly at risk for depression, anxious feelings, and impaired quality of life related to back pain and cosmetic appearance of the deformity. With the rising prevalence of mental health ailments, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of concurrent affective disorders on patient care after spinal surgery in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact that affective disorders have on perioperative complication rates, length of stay (LOS), and total costs in adolescents undergoing elective posterior spinal fusion (PSF) (≥ 4 levels) for idiopathic scoliosis.METHODSA retrospective study of the Kids’ Inpatient Database for the year 2012 was performed. Adolescent patients (age range 10–17 years old) with AIS undergoing elective PSF (≥ 4 levels) were selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification coding system. Patients were categorized into 2 groups at discharge: affective disorder or no affective disorder. Patient demographics, comorbidities, complications, LOS, discharge disposition, and total cost were assessed. The primary outcomes were perioperative complication rates, LOS, total cost, and discharge dispositions.RESULTSThere were 3759 adolescents included in this study, of whom 164 (4.4%) were identified with an affective disorder (no affective disorder: n = 3595). Adolescents with affective disorders were significantly older than adolescents with no affective disorders (affective disorder: 14.4 ± 1.9 years vs no affective disorder: 13.9 ± 1.8 years, p = 0.001), and had significantly different proportions of race (p = 0.005). Aside from hospital region (p = 0.016), no other patient- or hospital-level factors differed between the cohorts. Patient comorbidities did not differ significantly between cohorts. The number of vertebral levels involved was similar between the cohorts, with the majority of patients having 9 or more levels involved (affective disorder: 76.8% vs no affective disorder: 79.5%, p = 0.403). Postoperative complications were similar between the cohorts, with no significant difference in the proportion of patients experiencing a postoperative complication (p = 0.079) or number of complications (p = 0.124). The mean length of stay and mean total cost were similar between the cohorts. Moreover, the routine and nonroutine discharge dispositions were also similar between the cohorts, with the majority of patients having routine discharges (affective disorder: 93.9% vs no affective disorder: 94.9%, p = 0.591).CONCLUSIONSThis study suggests that affective disorders may not have a significant impact on surgical outcomes in adolescent patients undergoing surgery for scoliosis in comparison with adults. Further studies are necessary to elucidate how affective disorders affect adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis, which may improve provider approach in managing these patients perioperatively and at follow-up in hopes to better the overall patient satisfaction and quality of care delivered.

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Economic Growth and Fiscal Sustainability in the EU: The Impact of an Ageing Population

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.1997174 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Giuseppe Carone ◽

Declan Costello ◽

Nuria Diez Guardia ◽

Per Eckefeldt ◽

Gilles Mourre

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Fiscal Sustainability ◽

Ageing Population ◽

The Impact ◽

The Eu

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