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BackgroundThe adequate duration of urinary drainage following colorectal surgery remains debated. The purpose of this study was to compare acute urinary retention (AUR) rates among various durations of urinary catheterization following colon and rectal surgery.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing elective colorectal resection enrolled in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol from 2018 to 2019. Patients were placed into four groups: no catheter placement (NC), catheter removed immediately after surgery (CRAS), removal less than 24 h (CR < 24), and removal greater than 24 h (CR > 24). Our primary endpoint was the rate of AUR in each group. Secondary endpoints included hospital length of stay and urinary tract infections (UTI). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to predict AUR.ResultsA total 641 patients were included in this study. 27 patients (4.2%) had NC with an AUR rate of 3.7%. 249 patients (38.8%) had CRAS with an AUR rate of 6.8%. 214 patients (33.4%) had CR < 24 with an AUR rate of 4.2%. 151 patients (23.6%) had CR > 24 with an AUR rate of 2.6%. There was no significant difference in AUR among the groups (p = 0.264). In our multivariant logistic regression, pelvic surgery was an independent risk factor for AUR (p = 0.008). There was a statistically significant higher hospital length of stay (p = 0.001) and rate of UTIs (p = 0.017) in patients with prolonged catheterization.ConclusionDeferral or early removal of urinary catheters is safe and feasible following colorectal surgery without a significant increase in AUR. Avoiding prolonged indwelling urinary catheterization may decrease associated complications such as UTI and hospital length of stay.

PurposeTo examine outcomes of surgical procedures for urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy (post-RP UI) and to identify patients who may benefit from a surgical intervention to treat post-RP UI.MethodsA retrospective chart review identified men who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) from July 2004 through July 2016 at our institution. Cases underwent surgical interventions for UI following RP. Controls had RP during the study period but did not have an intervention for UI following RP. We used the UI scale of the Expanded Prostate Index Composite (EPIC) 26 to: (1) quantify post-RP UI before and after UI intervention overall and for specific surgical procedures; (2) evaluate the significance of improvement in post-RP UI before and after UI intervention and (3) identify controls with levels of post-RP UI that were comparable to the cases.ResultsTwo thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight RPs were performed; 48 patients underwent further surgical intervention (39 slings, 9 artificial urinary sphincter, AUS). For 20 cases with complete EPIC UI data (15 slings, 5 AUS), the median (IQR) pre-UI intervention score was 27.00 (IQR 22.75–42.75). Improvement was significant overall (p < 0.001) and for slings (p = 0.001). 71/2085 controls had post-prostatectomy UI scores ≤ 27.0, suggesting that they may have benefited from a post-RP surgical intervention for UI.ConclusionData support the effectiveness of surgery to treat post-RP UI. A sizeable population of unidentified men may benefit from a surgical intervention to treat urinary incontinence after RP.

Background Current guidelines for management of critically ill stroke patients suggest that treatment in a neurocritical care unit (NCCU) and/or by a neurointensivist (NI) may be beneficial, but the contribution of each to outcome is unknown. The relative impact of a NCCU versus NI on short- and long-term outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was assessed. Methods 2,096 stroke patients admitted to a NCCU or nonneuro ICU at a tertiary stroke center were analyzed before the appointment of a NI, during the NI’s tenure, and after the NI departed and was not replaced. Data included admission ICU type, availability of a NI, age, NIHSS, ICH score, and 3 and 12 month outcome. Results For AIS, compared to the time interval with a NI, departure of the NI predicted a worse rate of return to pre-stroke function at 3 months. For ICH, NCCU treatment predicted shorter ICU and hospital LOS but had no effect on short- or long-term outcomes. No effect of a NI was seen. For SAH, availability of an NI (but not an NCCU) predicted improved outcomes but longer ICU LOS. Disposition and in-hospital mortality improved when a NI was present, but continued improvement did not occur after the NI’s departure. Conclusion Presence of an NI was associated with improved clinical outcomes. This effect was more evident in patients with SAH. Patients with ICH tend to have poor outcomes regardless of the presence of a NCCU or a NI.

Background: The NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) is an indispensable tool that aids in the determination of acute stroke prognosis and decision making. Patients with posterior circulation (PC) strokes often present with lower NIHSS scores, which may result in the withholding of thrombolytic treatment from these patients. However, whether these lower initial NIHSS scores predict better long-term prognoses is uncertain. We aimed to assess the utility of the NIHSS at presentation for predicting the functional outcome at 3 months in anterior circulation (AC) versus PC strokes. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a large prospectively collected database of adults with acute ischemic stroke. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with outcome. Additional analyses were performed to determine the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for NIHSS scores and outcomes in AC and PC infarctions. Both the optimal cutoffs for maximal diagnostic accuracy and the cutoffs to obtain >80% sensitivity for poor outcomes were determined in AC and PC strokes. Results: The analysis included 1,197 patients with AC stroke and 372 with PC stroke. The median initial NIHSS score for patients with AC strokes was 7 and for PC strokes it was 2. The majority (71%) of PC stroke patients had baseline NIHSS scores ≤4, and 15% of these ‘minor' stroke patients had a poor outcome at 3 months. ROC analysis identified that the optimal NIHSS cutoff for outcome prediction after infarction in the AC was 8 and for infarction in the PC it was 4. To achieve >80% sensitivity for detecting patients with a subsequent poor outcome, the NIHSS cutoff for infarctions in the AC was 4 and for infarctions in the PC it was 2. Conclusion: The NIHSS cutoff that most accurately predicts outcomes is 4 points higher in AC compared to PC infarctions. There is potential for poor outcomes in patients with PC strokes and low NIHSS scores, suggesting that thrombolytic treatment should not be withheld from these patients based solely on the NIHSS.

PurposeTo examine the ability of the Decipher test to predict early biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy and to impact clinical decisions in advance of metastasis and death.MethodsWe identified Decipher tests ordered after radical prostatectomy for adverse pathology in men treated for prostate cancer between 1/1/14 and 8/31/18. Biochemical recurrence was defined as prostate-specific antigen > 0.02 ng/mL. Decipher score is reported as lower risk (< 0.6) and higher risk ≥ 0.60). Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to examine the relationship between Decipher score and time to biochemical recurrence (months). Cox regression was used to analyze the relationship between Decipher score and time to biochemical recurrence while controlling for a number of clinical characteristics. Secondary analyses focused on a subset of men with prostate-specific antigen > 0.02 and < 0.20 ng/mL to determine if high-risk Decipher scores were associated with receipt of salvage treatment.ResultsA total of 203 cases were analyzed: 37.9% and 62.1% had lower and higher risk Decipher scores respectively, and 56.2% had a biochemical recurrence. Median (inter-quartile range) follow-up was 20 (13.5, 25.3) months. Decipher score was significantly associated with time to biochemical recurrence (p = 0.027) while in the secondary analyses, high-risk Decipher scores (≥ 0.60) were associated with salvage treatment (p = 0.018). Stage category and Decipher score were significant predictors of time from elevated PSA to salvage treatment in the secondary analyses.ConclusionWhile it might not contribute statistically, Decipher score can be clinically useful in helping patients reach treatment decisions.

BackgroundPatients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) have different healthcare needs after surgery. Our aim was to quantify non-routine healthcare utilization after RYGB vs. SG.MethodsWe compared non-routine (NR) visits made and associated services provided up to 2 years post-surgery for patients undergoing RYGB or SG at a Bariatric Surgery Comprehensive Center between March 2013 and April 2015.ResultsA total of 258 and 461 patients had primary RYGB and SG, respectively. Successful follow-up rates at one (76.2%) and 2 years post-surgery (52.6%) did not differ between groups. Rates for all NR visits, expressed as the number per 100 patients, were 68.6 in RYGB vs. 35.4 in SG patients (p < 0.0001). Emergency department visits with subsequent admission (EDA) or without subsequent admission (ED-only) and outpatient visits (OPV) were more frequent in RYGB vs. SG: EDA, 14.7 vs. 8.0 (p = 0.0076); ED-only, 17.8 vs. 7.6 (p = 0.0001); and OPV, 29.8 vs. 14.1 (p < 0.0001). RYGB required more services per 100 patients than SG, 120.9 vs. 75.3, respectively (p < 0.0001). Imaging was the resource most often used overall. Surgery type (RYGB) significantly predicted healthcare utilization even after controlling for gender, ethnicity, and other variables. Healthcare utilization peaked at 1 to 6 months post-surgery, driven by patients who underwent RYGB.ConclusionsRYGB required twice as many non-routine follow-up visits and 1.6 times greater use of healthcare services relative to SG. Computer-assisted tomography imaging and endoscopies showed the greatest differences. Peak healthcare utilization for RYGB occurred between 1 and 6 months following surgery.

Blunt hollow viscus injury (BHVI) is challenging to diagnose. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of physical exam and the role of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of BHVI. All blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) admissions to a level 1 trauma center from January 2009 through December 2011 were identified through the trauma registry. Data collected included demographics and findings on CT and physical exam. Of 2,912 patients with blunt trauma, 340 had BAT, and 30 (9%) had BHVIs. The sensitivity and specificity of CT were 86% and 88%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity and specificity of clinical exam were 53% and 69%. Twenty-seven percent of patients with BAT and bladder injuries had concomitant BHVIs. This is the largest single series of BHVI after BAT. CT is superior to clinical exam in establishing the diagnosis of BHVI. Although associated injuries are common, bladder injury may be an important marker for BHVI.

We evaluated the utility of C peptide as an addition to the DiaRem score for predicting type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission 1 year after bariatric surgery in 175 patients. DiaRem score was significantly correlated with C peptide ( r = − .43; p < .001). Both DiaRem and C peptide were significant predictors of remission of T2D (OR (95% CI) = .81 (.75–.86); p < 0001 and OR (95% CI) = 1.35 (1.15–1.60); p < .001, respectively). ROC analysis indicated that DiaRem was a significantly stronger predictor than C peptide ( p < .001). Hierarchical regression indicated that C peptide failed to significantly improve the prediction of diabetes remission after accounting for DiaRem (OR (95% CI) = 1.079 (.87–1.26); p = .406). This study does not support the inclusion of C peptide in the DiaRem algorithm.

Background The safe release of a patient from hospital care after bariatric surgery depends upon the achievement of satisfactory health status. Here, we describe a new objective scale (the Readiness for Discharge, RFD Scale) to measure the patient’s suitability for hospital discharge after bariatric surgery. Methods We conducted a retrospective, observational analysis of data collected in a randomized clinical trial of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy from 3/15/2018 to 1/12/2019. Nursing staff assessed 122 patients every 4–8 h after surgery using a checklist to document 5 components: ambulation, vital signs, pain, nausea, and oral intake of clear fluid. Satisfaction of each component was scored as “1” (satisfactory) or “0” (not satisfactory). Scores were summed and analyzed for patterns. RFD = 5 marked the patient as ready for discharge. Results Sufficient intake of clear liquid was the last RFD component satisfied in 87% of patients. Two overall response patterns emerged: “ Steady Progressors” ( n  = 51) whose RFD score rose steadily from 0 to 5 without reversion to a lower score; and “Oscillators” ( n  = 71) who had at least one temporary decrease in RFD score on the way to attaining 5, or showed a simultaneous oscillation of components without change in RFD. Conclusions The RFD checklist allows objective scoring of medical readiness for discharge after LSG and has the potential to improve clinical communication.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is an often devastating form of stroke. Aside from the initial hemorrhage, cardiac complications can occur resulting in neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy (NCM), leading to impaired cardiac function. We investigated whether aSAH patients with NCM had poorer long term functional outcomes than patients without NCM. Mortality, vasospasm, and delayed ischemic complications were also evaluated. A retrospective study of all patients admitted for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) from January 2006 to June 2011 (n=299) was conducted. Those patients who underwent an echocardiogram were identified (n=120) and were assigned to the NCM (n=49) category based on echocardiographic findings defined by a depressed ejection fraction (EF%) along with a regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) in a non-vascular pattern. Primary outcome measures included in-hospital mortality and functional outcomes as measured by the Modified Barthel Index (mBI) at 3 months and one year. Secondary analysis determined if there was an association between NCM, cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia. 16% of aSAH patients developed NCM. Mortality was higher (p<.001) in the NCM group (n=23[46.9%]) than in the non-CM group (n=28[11.2%]). Patients with NCM had poorer functional outcomes as measured by the mBI at both 3 months (p=.002) and 12 months (p=.014). The Hunt–Hess score was predictive of functional outcome as measured by the mBI at both 3 months (p=.002) as well as at 1 year (p=.014). NCM was associated with both death (p=.047 CI, 1.012–7.288) and vasospasm (p=.008 CI, 1.34–6.66) after correction for Hunt–Hess grade. Tobacco use (p<.001) and a history of diabetes mellitus (p<.009) were also associated with vasospasm. NCM was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (p=.047) in multivariate analysis. NCM is seen in a substantial number of aSAH patients and when present, it is associated with higher mortality and poorer long-term functional outcomes. This finding may guide further prospective studies in order to determine if early recognition of NCM as well as optimization of cardiac output would improve mortality.