Brianna M. Krafcik

Short- and long-term readmission rates after infrainguinal bypass in a safety net hospital are higher than expected

Objective: Readmission rates are expected to have an increasing effect on both the hospital bottom line and physician reimbursements. Safety net hospitals may be most vulnerable. We examined readmissions at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year in a large safety net hospital to determine the magnitude and effect of short‐ and long‐term readmission rates after lower extremity infrainguinal bypass in this setting. Methods: All nonemergent extremity infrainguinal bypass performed at a large safety net hospital between 2008 and 2016 were identified. Patient demographic, social, clinical, and procedural details were extracted from the electronic medical record. An analysis of patients readmitted at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year was completed to determine the details of the readmission. Results: A total of 350 patients undergoing extremity infrainguinal bypass were identified. The most frequent indication was tissue loss (57%), followed by claudication (25.6%), and rest pain (17.4%). Patient insurance carriers included Medicare (61.7%), Medicaid (25.4%), and private (13%). The distal target was the popliteal and tibial artery in 52.6% and 47.4% cases, respectively. The majority of bypasses used autologous vein (73.1%). In‐hospital complications included pulmonary complications (4.3%), urinary tract infection (3.1%), acute renal failure (2%), graft occlusion (2%), myocardial infarction (1.7%), bleeding (1.4%), surgical wound complications (1.1%), and stroke (0.9%). The 30‐day readmission rate was 30% with the most common reasons for readmission being surgical wound complications, nonsurgical foot/leg wounds, nonextremity infectious causes, cardiac ischemia, and congestive heart failure. The 90‐day readmission rate was 49.4% and the most common reasons for readmission from 31 to 90 days were nonsurgical foot/leg wounds, graft complications, surgical wound complications, cardiac ischemia, and contralateral leg morbidity. The readmission rate within 1 year was 72.2%. Readmission causes from 91 days to 1 year included graft complications, contralateral leg morbidity, nonextremity infectious, nonsurgical foot/leg wounds, cardiac ischemia, and congestive heart failure. A tibial bypass target was associated with 30‐day (odds ratio [OR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–2.69; P = .029) and 90‐day (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.14–2.74, P = .011) readmission. Nonprivate insurance (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.17–4.57, P = .016), and critical limb ischemia (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.14–2.74; P = .035) were associated with 1‐year readmission. Conclusions: Short‐ and long‐term readmission rates in a safety net setting are high. The 30‐day rates in this study are higher than historically reported. This data sets baseline rates for 90‐day and 1‐year readmission for future analyses. Although the majority of short‐term readmissions are related to the index procedure, long‐term readmission rates are more frequently related to systemic comorbidities. Targeted patient interventions aimed at preventing the most common reasons for readmission may improve readmission rates, particularly among patients with nonprivate insurance. However, other risk factors, such as tibial target, may not be modifiable and a higher readmission rate may need to be accepted in this population.

Characterization of Planned and Unplanned 30-Day Readmissions Following Vascular Surgical Procedures.

Objective: Thirty-day readmission is increasingly used as a quality of care indicator. Patients undergoing vascular surgery have historically been at high risk for readmission. We analyzed hospital readmission details to identify patients at high risk for readmission in order to better understand these readmissions and improve resource utilization in this patient population. Methods: A retrospective review and analysis of our medical center’s admission and discharge data were conducted from October 2012 to March 2015. All patients who were discharged from the vascular surgery service and subsequently readmitted as an inpatient within 30 days were included. Results: We identified 649 vascular surgery discharges with 135 (21%) readmissions. Common comorbidities were diabetes (56%), coronary artery disease (40%), congestive heart failure (CHF; 24%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19%). Index vascular operations included open lower extremity procedures (39%), diagnostic angiograms (35%), endovascular lower extremity procedures (16%), dialysis access procedures (7%), carotid/cerebrovascular procedures (7%), amputations (6%), and abdominal aortic procedures (5%). Average index length of stay (LOS) was 7.48 days (±6.73 days). Reasons for readmissions were for medical causes (43%), surgical complications (35.5%), and planned procedures (21.5%). Reasons for medical readmissions most commonly included malaise or failure to thrive (28%), unrelated infection (24%), and hypoxia/CHF complications (21%). Common surgical causes for readmission were surgical site infections (69%), graft failure (19%), and bleeding complications (8%). Of the planned readmissions, procedures were at the same site (79%), a different site (14%), and planned podiatry procedures (7%). Readmission LOS was on average 7.43 days (±7.22 days). Conclusion: Causes for readmission of vascular surgery patients are multifactorial. Infections, both related and unrelated to the surgical site, remain common reasons for readmission and represent an opportunity for improvement strategies. Improved understanding of readmissions following vascular surgery could help adjust policy benchmarks for targeted readmission rates and help reduce resource utilization.

Contemporary open repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms

Objective: Although endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs) is increasingly more prevalent and may yield better results, open repair of rAAAs is still commonly performed. Our goal was to assess the contemporary practice patterns and outcomes of open repair of rAAA. Methods: The 2011–2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program targeted open AAA database was queried for all rAAAs. Patient characteristics, presentation, aneurysm details, and operative details were analyzed to identify factors that may affect outcome in this population of patients. Results: We identified 404 patients who underwent open repair of rAAA. The average age was 72 ± 9.4 years, and 76.2% were male. There were 230 (56.9%) patients who presented with hypotension. The operative approach was retroperitoneal in 16.3% of cases. The proximal extents of the aneurysms were infrarenal (52.5%), juxtarenal (24.3%), pararenal (4.2%), and suprarenal (8.2%). The distal extents were aortic (38.6%), common iliac artery (34.2%), and external or internal iliac artery (8.9%). Renal, visceral, and lower extremity revascularization was performed in 6.4%, 2.2%, and 7.9% of patients, respectively. Thirty‐day mortality was 35.6%, and postoperative complications included cardiac (18.3%), pulmonary (42.3%), wound complications (6.7%), acute renal failure (17.3%), and ischemic colitis (9.4%). Postoperative length of stay was 13.1 ± 12.7 days, and 30‐day readmission was 4.5%. Predictors of 30‐day mortality were transperitoneal approach (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38–7.89; P < .001), hypotension at presentation (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.2–3.56; P = .007), and age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.09; P = .001). Transperitoneal approach also increased the risk of postoperative cardiac complications (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.01–10.4; P = .047). Postoperative pulmonary complications were predicted by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.07–3.94; P = .03) and hypotension at presentation (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.06–2.96; P = .03). Conclusions: The majority of contemporary open rAAA repairs were performed for infrarenal aneurysms. Transperitoneal approach, hypotension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were associated with higher mortality and postoperative complications. Thirty‐day mortality after rAAA was lower compared with historical data.

The Role of the Model of End-Stage Liver Disease Score in Predicting Outcomes of Carotid Endarterectomy.

Objectives: The Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has been traditionally utilized to prioritize for liver transplantation; however, recent literature has shown its value in predicting surgical outcomes for patients with hepatic dysfunction. The benefit of carotid endarterectomy in asymptomatic patients is dependent on low perioperative morbidity. Our objective was to use MELD score to predict outcomes in asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Methods: Patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data sets from 2005 to 2012. The Model of End-Stage Liver Disease score was calculated using serum bilirubin, creatinine, and the international normalized ratio (INR). Patients were grouped into low (<9), moderate (9-14), and high (15+) MELD classifications. The effect of the MELD score on postoperative morbidity and mortality was assessed by multivariable logistic and gamma regressions and propensity matching. Results: There were 7966 patients with asymptomatic carotid endarterectomy identified. The majority 5556 (70%) had a low MELD score, 1952 (25%) had a moderate MELD score, and 458 (5%) had a high MELD score. High MELD score was independently predictive of postoperative death, increased length of stay, need for transfusion, pulmonary complications, and a statistical trend toward increased cardiac arrest/myocardial infarction. The Model of End-Stage Liver Disease score did not affect postoperative stroke, wound complications, or operative time. Conclusion: High MELD score places asymptomatic patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy at a higher risk of adverse outcomes in the 30 days following surgery. This provides further empirical evidence for risk stratification when considering treatment for these patients. Outcomes of medical management or carotid stenting should be investigated in high-risk patients.

A single center analysis of factors influencing study start-up timeline in clinical trials

Aim: Efficient start-up phase in clinical trials is crucial to execution. The goal was to determine factors contributing to delays. Materials & methods: The start-up milestones were assessed for 38 studies and analyzed. Results: Total start-up time was shorter for following studies: device trials, no outsourcing, fewer ancillary services used and in interventional versus observational designs. The use of a centralized Institutional Review Board (IRB) versus a local IRB reduced time to approval. Studies that never enrolled took longer on average to finalize their budget/contract, and obtain IRB than ones that did enroll. Conclusion: Different features of clinical trials can affect timeline of start-up process. An understanding of the impact of each feature allows for optimization.