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Background When pregnant patients require surgery, whether to perform an operation open or laparoscopic is often debated. We evaluated the impact of laparoscopy for common general surgical problems in pregnancy to determine safety and trends in operative approach over time. Methods Pregnant patients undergoing appendectomy or cholecystectomy were identified using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. We analyzed demographics, operative characteristics, and outcomes. Univariate comparison and multivariate regression analysis (MVA) were performed adjusting for confounding factors: age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, and smoking, and an additional MVA was performed for perforated cases. Results A total of 1999 pregnant patients between 2005 and 2012 were evaluated. Of 1335 appendectomies, 894 were performed laparoscopically (LA) and 441 open (OA). For 664 cholecystectomies, 606 were laparoscopic (LC) and 58 open (OC). There were no deaths. For LA versus OA, patient characteristics were not different {age: 27.7 vs. 28.2 years, p  = 0.19; diabetes: 1.8 vs. 0.9 %, p  = 0.24; smoking: 19 vs. 16.1 %, p  = 0.2} except for BMI (27.9 vs. 28.4 kg/m 2 ; p  = 0.03). LA had shorter operative times (ORT), length of stay (LOS), and fewer postoperative complications compared to OA. In MVA, difference between approaches remained statistically significant for ORT (<0.0001), LOS (<0.01), and wound complications (<0.01). MVA was performed for perforated cases alone: LA had equal ORT ( p  = 0.19) yet shorter LOS ( p  = <0.001). The majority of LA were performed in the last 4 years versus the first 4 years (61 vs. 39 %, p  < 0.001). For LC versus OC, patient characteristics were not different: age (28.3 vs. 28.7 years; p  = 0.33), BMI (31.4 vs. 33.2 kg/m 2 , p  = 0.25), diabetes (2.8 vs. 3.5 %, p  = 0.68), and smoking (21.1 vs. 25.9 %, p  = 0.4). LC had a shorter ORT, LOS, and fewer postoperative complications than OC. In MVA, the difference between approaches remained statistically significant for ORT (<0.0001), LOS (<0.0001), and minor complications (<0.01). In MVA for cholecystitis with perforation, no difference was seen for LOS, ORT, or postoperative complications ( p  > 0.05). The percentage of LC cases appeared to increase over time (89 vs. 93 %, p  = 0.06). Conclusion While fetal events are unknown, LA and LC in pregnant patients demonstrated shorter ORT, LOS, and reduced complications and were performed more frequently over time. Even in perforated cases, laparoscopy appears safe in pregnant patients.

Introduction Complex ventral hernia repair (VHR) is associated with a greater than 30 % wound complication rate. Perfusion mapping using indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG-FA) has been demonstrated to predict skin and soft tissue necrosis in many reconstructive procedures; however, it has yet to be evaluated in VHR. Methods Patients undergoing complex VHR involving component separation and/or extensive subcutaneous advancement flaps were included in a prospective, blinded study. Patients with active infection were excluded. ICG-FA was performed prior to incision and prior to closure, but the surgeon was not allowed to view it. An additional blinded surgeon documented wound complications and evaluated postoperative photographs. The operative ICG-FA was reviewed blinded, and investigators were then unblinded to determine its ability to predict wound complications. Results Fifteen consecutive patients were enrolled with mean age of 56.1 years and average BMI of 34.9, of which 60 % were female. Most (73.3 %) had prior hernia repairs (average of 1.8 prior repairs). Mean defect area was 210.4 cm 2 , mean OR time was 206 min, 66.6 % of patients underwent concomitant panniculectomy, and 40 % had component separation. Mean follow-up was 7 months. Two patients developed wound breakdown requiring reoperation, while 1 had significant fat necrosis and another a wound infection, requiring operative intervention. ICG-FA was objectively reviewed and predicted all 4 wound complications. Of the 12 patients without complications, 1 had an area of low perfusion on ICG-FA. This study found a sensitivity of 100 % and specificity of 90.9 % for predicting wound complications using ICG-FA. Conclusion In complex VHR patients, subcutaneous perfusion mapping with ICG-FA is very sensitive and has the potential to reduce cost and improve patient quality of life by reducing wound complications and reoperation.

Introduction Postoperative sepsis is a rare but serious complication following elective surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the rate of postoperative sepsis following elective laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP) and to identify patients’ modifiable, preoperative risk factors. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried from 2005 to 2013 for factors associated with the development of postoperative sepsis following elective LGBP. Patients who developed sepsis were compared to those who did not. Results were analyzed using the Chi-square test for categorical variables and Wilcoxon two-sample test for continuous variables. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to calculate adjusted odds ratios for factors contributing to sepsis. Results During the study period, 66,838 patients underwent LGBP. Of those, 546 patients developed postoperative sepsis (0.82 %). The development of sepsis was associated with increased operative time (161 ± 77.8 vs. 135.10 ± 56.5 min; p  < 0.0001) and a greater number of preoperative comorbidities, including diabetes (39.6 vs. 30.6 %; p  < 0.0001), hypertension requiring medication (65.2 vs. 54 %; p  < 0.0001), current tobacco use (16.7 vs. 11.5 %; p  = 0.0002), and increased pack-year history of smoking (8.6 ± 18.3 vs. 5.6 ± 14.2; p  = 0.0006), and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (0.51 ± 0.74 vs. 0.35 ± 0.57, p  < 0.0001). Sepsis resulted in an increased length of stay (10.1 ± 14.4 vs. 2.4 ± 4.8 days; p  < 0.0001) and a 30 times greater chance of 30-day mortality (4.03 vs. 0.11 %, p  < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that current smokers had a 63 % greater chance of developing sepsis compared to non-smokers, controlling for age, race, gender, BMI, and CCI score (OR 1.63, 95 % CI 1.23–2.14; p  = 0.0006). Conclusions Laparoscopic gastric bypass is uncommonly associated with postoperative sepsis. When it occurs, it portends a 30 times increased risk of death. A patient history of diabetes, hypertension, and increasing pack-years of smoking portend an increased risk of sepsis. Current smoking status, a preoperative modifiable risk factor, is independently associated with the chance of postoperative sepsis. Preoperative patient optimization and risk reduction should be a priority for elective surgery, and patients should be encouraged to stop smoking prior to gastric bypass.

Introduction Due to the impact of LeapFrog and many scientific publications, regionalization for solid-organ operations gained momentum in the early 2000s. This study examines the effects of regionalization for medically indicated, nontrauma splenectomies (NTSs) in the USA. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data were analyzed for NTS based on International Classification of Disease Ninth Revision Clinical Modification codes for 1998–1999 (the 1990s) and 2008–2009 (the 2000s). The hospitals in the NIS were stratified by volume and divided into high volume (HV), medium volume, and low-volume (LV) terciles based on the annual volume of splenectomies performed (<5, 5–10, and 11+, respectively). Demographics, comorbidities, complications, admission status, and in-patient mortality were recorded. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were utilized. Results NIS recorded 4,293 NTS performed in the 1990s and 3,384 in the 2000s. Despite the decrease in operative volume, regionalization did not occur: in the first decade 30, 37, and 33 % of cases occurred in LV center (LVC), medium volume center, and HV center (HVC), respectively, compared with 34, 30, and 36 % in the second decade ( p  < 0.001). Patients were older in low-volume hospitals (LVC) than in high-volume hospitals (HVC) in both decades (in the 1990s: 45.3 vs. 52.7 years, p  < 0.001; in the 2000s: 49.1 vs. 54.5 years, p  < 0.001). The Charlson Comorbidity Index scores were not different in LVC compared with HVC in both decades (the 1990s: 1.31 vs. 1.23, p  = 0.73; the 2000s: 1.54 vs. 1.41, p  = 0.72). In both decades, LVC had more emergent admissions than HVC (20.3 vs. 16.8 %, p  = 0.03; 28.8 vs. 19.5 %, p  < 0.001). Complication rates were higher in LVC in both decades (the 1990s: 16.9 vs. 13.6 %, p  = 0.02; the 2000s: 19.8 vs. 15.5 %, p  = 0.006). Mortality was not different for HVC and LVC in both decades (the 1990s: 3.75 vs. 4.27, p  = 0.49; the 2000s: 2.94 vs. 4.03, p  = 0.15). Conclusions NTS has not been affected by regionalization, which is dissimilar to other solid-organ abdominal procedures. Indeed, the benefit of regionalization for splenectomy has not been established.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of patient and hospital demographics on cholecystectomy outcomes. Year 2000 data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was obtained for all patients undergoing inpatient cholecystectomy at 994 nationwide hospitals. Differences (p < 0.05) were determined using standard statistical methods. Of 93,578 cholecystectomies performed, 73.4% were performed laparoscopically. Length of hospital stay (LOS), charges, morbidity, and mortality were significantly less for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Increasing patient age was associated with increased LOS, charges, morbidity, mortality, and a decreased LC rate. Charges, LOS, morbidity, and mortality were highest for males with a lower LC rate than for females Mortality and LOS were higher, whereas morbidity was lower for African Americans than for whites. Hispanics had the shortest LOS, as well as the lowest morbidity and mortality rates. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed more commonly for Hispanics than for whites or African Americans, with lower charges for whites. Medicare-insured patients incurred longer LOS as well as higher charges, morbidity, and mortality than Medicaid, private, and self-pay patients, and were the least likely to undergo LC. As median income decreases, LOS increases, and morbidity decreases with no mortality effect. Teaching hospitals had a longer LOS, higher charges, and mortality, and a lower LC rate, with no difference in morbidity, than nonteaching centers. As hospital size (number of beds) increased, LOS, and charges increased, with no difference in morbidity. Large hospitals had the highest mortality rates and the lowest incidence of LC. Urban hospitals had higher LOS and charges with a lower LC rate than rural hospitals. After control was used for all other covariates, increased age was a predictor of increased morbidity. Female gender, LC, and intraoperative cholangiogram all predicted decreased morbidity. Increased age, complications, and emergency surgery predicted increased mortality, with laparoscopy and intraoperative cholangiogram having protective effects. Patient income, insurance status, and race did not play a role in morbidity or mortality. Academic or teaching status of the hospital also did not influence patient outcomes. Patient and hospital demographics do affect the outcomes of patients undergoing inpatient cholecystectomy. Although male gender, African American race, Medicare-insured status, and large, urban hospitals are associated with less favorable cholecystectomy outcomes, only increased age predicts increased morbidity, whereas female gender, laparoscopy, and cholangiogram are protective. Increased age, complications, and emergency surgery predict mortality, with laparoscopy and intraoperative cholangiogram having protective effects.