Fariba Jafari

Standard prophylactic enoxaparin dosing leads to inadequate anti-Xa levels and increased deep venous thrombosis rates in critically Ill trauma and surgical patients

BACKGROUND Deep venous thromboses (DVT) continue to cause significant morbidity in critically ill patients. Standard prophylaxis for high risk patients includes twice-daily dosing with 30 mg enoxaparin. Despite prophylaxis, DVT rates still exceed 10% to 15%. Anti-Xa levels are used to measure the activity of enoxaparin and 12-hour trough levels <or=0.1 IU/mL have been associated with higher rates of DVT in orthopedic patients. We hypothesized that low Anti-Xa levels would be found in critically ill trauma and surgical patients and that low levels would be associated with higher rates of DVT. METHODS All patients on the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) service were prospectively followed. In the absence of contraindications, patients were given prophylactic enoxaparin and anti-Xa levels were drawn after the third dose. Trough levels <or=0.1 IU/mL were considered low. Screening duplex exams were obtained within 48 hours of admission and then weekly. Patients were excluded if they did not receive a duplex, if they had a prior DVT, or if they lacked correctly timed anti-Xa levels. DVT rates and demographic data were compared between patients with low and normal anti-Xa levels. RESULTS Data were complete for 54 patients. Eighty-five percent suffered trauma (Injury Severity Score of 25 +/- 12) and 74% were male. Overall, 27 patients (50%) had low anti-Xa levels. Patients with low anti-Xa levels had significantly more DVTs than those with normal levels (37% vs. 11%, p = 0.026), despite similar age, body mass index, Injury Severity Score, creatinine clearance, high risk injuries, and ICU/ventilator days. CONCLUSION Standard dosing of enoxaparin leads to low anti-Xa levels in half of surgical ICU patients. Low levels are associated with a significant increase in the risk of DVT. These data support future studies using adjusted-dose enoxaparin.

Early Intervention to Promote Medical Student Interest in Surgery and the Surgical Subspecialties

OBJECTIVE Concerns about projected workforce shortages are growing, and attrition rates among surgical residents remain high. Early exposure of medical students to the surgical profession may promote interest in surgery and allow students more time to make informed career decisions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a simple, easily reproducible intervention aimed at increasing first- and second-year medical student interest in surgery. DESIGN Surgery Saturday (SS) is a student-organized half-day intervention of four faculty-led workshops that introduce suturing, knot tying, open instrument identification, operating room etiquette, and basic laparoscopic skills. Medical students who attended SS were administered pre-/post-surveys that gauged change in surgical interest levels and provided a self-assessment (1-5 Likert-type items) of knowledge and skills acquisition. PARTICIPANTS First- and second-year medical students. OUTCOME MEASURES Change in interest in the surgical field as well as perceived knowledge and skills acquisition. RESULTS Thirty-three first- and second-year medical students attended SS and completed pre-/post-surveys. Before SS, 14 (42%) students planned to pursue a surgical residency, 4 (12%) did not plan to pursue a surgical residency, and 15 (46%) were undecided. At the conclusion, 29 (88%) students indicated an increased interested in surgery, including 87% (13/15) who were initially undecided. Additionally, attendees reported a significantly (p < 0.05) higher comfort level in the following: suturing, knot tying, open instrument identification, operating room etiquette, and laparoscopic instrument identification and manipulation. CONCLUSIONS SS is a low resource, high impact half-day intervention that can significantly promote early medical student interest in surgery. As it is easily replicable, adoption by other medical schools is encouraged.

Colorectal Cancer Resections in the Aging US Population: A Trend Toward Decreasing Rates and Improved Outcomes

IMPORTANCE The incidence of colorectal cancer in elderly patients is likely to increase, but there is a lack of large nationwide data regarding the mortality and morbidity of colorectal cancer resections in the aging population. OBJECTIVE To examine the surgical trends and outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment in the elderly. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A review of operative outcomes for colorectal cancer in the United States was conducted in a Nationwide Inpatient Sample from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2010. Patients were stratified within age groups of 45 to 64, 65 to 69, 70 to 74, 75 to 79, 80 to 84, and 85 years and older. Postoperative complications and yearly trends were analyzed. A multivariate logistic regression was used to compare in-hospital mortality and morbidity between individual groups of patients 65 years and older and those aged 45 to 64 years while controlling for sex, comorbidities, procedure type, diagnosis, and hospital status. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES In-hospital mortality and morbidity. RESULTS Among the estimated 1,043,108 patients with colorectal cancer sampled, 63.8% of the operations were performed on those 65 years and older and 22.6% on patients 80 years and older. Patients 80 years and older were 1.7 times more likely to undergo urgent admission than those younger than 65 years. Patients younger than 65 years accounted for 46.0% of the laparoscopies performed in the elective setting compared with 14.1% for patients 80 years and older. Mortality during the 10 years decreased by a mean of 6.6%, with the most considerable decrease observed in the population 85 years and older (9.1%). Patients 80 years and older had an associated

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism in critically ill trauma patients who cannot receive chemical prophylaxis

9492 higher hospital charge and an increased 2½-day length of stay vs patients younger than 65 years. Compared with patients aged 45 to 64 years, higher risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality was observed in patients with advancing age: 65 to 69 years (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.18-1.49), 70 to 74 years (2.02; 1.82-2.24), 75 to 79 years (2.51; 2.28-2.76), 80 to 84 years (3.15; 2.86-3.46), and 85 years and older (4.72; 4.30-5.18) (P < .01). Compared with patients aged 45 to 64 years, higher risk-adjusted morbidity was noted in those with advancing age: 65 to 69 years (odds ratio, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.21-1.29), 70 to 74 years (1.40; 1.36-1.45), 75 to 79 years (1.54; 1.49-1.58), 80 to 84 years (1.68; 1.63-1.74), and 85 years and older (1.96; 1.89-2.03) (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Most operations for colorectal cancer are performed on the aging population, with an overall decrease in the number of cases performed. Despite the overall improved mortality seen during the past 10 years, the risk-adjusted mortality and morbidity of the elderly continue to be substantially higher than that for the younger population.

Implementation of a cost-saving algorithm for pelvic radiographs in blunt trauma patients

BACKGROUND Standard venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention for critically ill trauma patients includes sequential compression devices and chemical prophylaxis. When contraindications to anticoagulation are present, prophylactic inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) may be used to prevent pulmonary emboli (PE) in high-risk patients, but specific indications are lacking. We sought to identify independent predictors of VTE in critically-ill trauma patients who cannot receive chemical prophylaxis in order to identify a subset of patients who may benefit from aggressive screening and/or prophylactic IVCF placement. METHODS All trauma patients in the surgical ICU from 2008 to 2009 were prospectively followed. Patients with an ICU length of stay ≥2 days who had contraindications to prophylactic anticoagulation were included. Screening duplex exams were obtained within 48 h of admission and then weekly. CT-angiography for PE was obtained if clinically indicated. Patients were excluded if they did not receive a duplex or if they had a post-injury VTE prior to ICU admission. Data regarding VTE rates (lower extremity [LE] DVT or PE), demographics, past medical history (PMH), injuries, and surgeries were collected. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of VTE with a p<0.05. RESULTS 411 trauma patients with a mean age of 48 (SD 22) years and 8 (SD 9) ICU days were included. 72% were male and the mean ISS was 22 (SD 13). 30 (7.3%) patients developed VTE: 28 (6.8%) with LEDVT and 2 (0.5%) with PE. Risk factors for VTE with a p<0.2 on univariate analysis included: PMH of DVT, injury severity score (ISS), extremity fractures (Fx), and a pelvis or LE extremity Fx repair. After logistic regression, only PMH of DVT (OR=22.6) and any extremity Fx (OR=2.4) remained as independent predictors. CONCLUSION VTE occur in 7% of critically injured trauma patients who cannot receive chemical prophylaxis. Aggressive screening and/or prophylactic IVCF placement may be considered in patients with a PMH of DVT or extremity fractures when anticoagulation is prohibited.

Randomized Clinical Trial of Epidural Compared with Conventional Analgesia after Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery

BACKGROUND In a previous retrospective study, we demonstrated that pelvic radiographs (PXRs) in the evaluation of blunt trauma patients undergoing abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scanning have limited utility in the absence of hemodynamic instability and significant physical findings. The purpose of this study was to prospectively validate an algorithm defining indications for PXR in blunt trauma patients in the emergency department. METHODS We performed a prospective observational study of consecutive blunt trauma patients over 6 months at a single Level 1 trauma center. The trauma faculty agreed to implement an algorithm of obtaining PXRs in patients undergoing abdominal CT scanning only if a specific set of criteria were met: systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg, hemoglobin <8 mg/dL, a drop in Hgb of more than 3 mg/dL while in the trauma bay, or significant physical examination findings. The algorithm could be overridden at the discretion of the attending physician. RESULTS Nine hundred ninety-five consecutive blunt trauma patients whose evaluation was to include an abdominal CT scan were included in the study. Only 54 patients (6%) received a PXR. Fifty-six indications for PXR were provided: 35 (63%) severe pelvic pain, 14 (25%) proximal fractures, 3 (5%) hip dislocations, and only 4 (7%) had unexplained hypotension. No adverse events or delays in care occurred such as hypotension in the CT scanner or a delay in contacting interventional radiology, blood transfusion, or application of a pelvic binder. The algorithm selected PXR for patients who were more likely to have a pelvic fracture (33% vs. 4.5%, p < 0.001), hip dislocation (7.4% vs. 0.1%, p < 0.001), femur fracture (22.2% vs. 2.7%, p < 0.001), and to require blood transfusion (11.1% vs. 1.9%, p < 0.001). Implementation of this algorithm resulted in a decrease in charges of >

Volume and outcome relationship in bariatric surgery in the laparoscopic era

226,000 in 6 months. CONCLUSION When objective evaluation of the abdomen is to be obtained via CT scanning, PXR in the emergency department is obsolete in the absence of hemodynamic instability and significant physical examination findings. Implementation of a selective algorithm in this patient population can result in significant cost savings without adverse patient outcomes.

Morbidity of diverting ileostomy for rectal cancer: analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

BACKGROUND The effectiveness of thoracic epidural analgesia (EA) vs conventional IV analgesia (IA) after minimally invasive surgery is still unproven. We designed a randomized controlled trial comparing EA with IA after minimally invasive colorectal surgery. STUDY DESIGN A total of 87 patients who underwent minimally invasive colorectal procedures at a single institution between 2011 and 2014 were enrolled. Eight patients were excluded and 38 were randomized to EA and 41 to IA. Pain was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale and quality of life with the Overall Benefit of Analgesia Score daily until discharge. RESULTS Mean age was 57 ± 14 years, 43% of patients were female, and mean BMI was 28.6 ± 6 kg/m2. The 2 groups were similar in demographic characteristics and distribution of diagnoses and procedures. Epidural analgesia had a higher incidence of hypotensive systolic blood pressure (<90 mmHg) episodes (9 vs 2; p < 0.05) and a trend toward longer Foley catheter duration (3 ± 2 days vs 2 ± 4 days; p > 0.05). Epidural and IA had equivalent mean lengths of stay (4 ± 3 days vs 4 ± 3 days), daily Visual Analogue Scale scores (2.4 ± 2.0 vs 3.0 ± 2.0), and Overall Benefit of Analgesia Scores (3.2 ± 2.0 vs 3.2 ± 2.0), and similar time to start oral diet (2.8 ± 2 days vs 2.2 ± 1 days). Epidural analgesia patients used a higher total dose of narcotics (147.5 ± 192.0 mg vs 98.1 ± 112.0 mg; p > 0.05). Epidural and IV analgesia had equivalent total hospital charges (

Retrorectal Tumors: A Comprehensive Literature Review

144,991 ±

Laparoscopic Versus Open Loop Ileostomy Reversal: Is there an Advantage to a Minimally Invasive Approach?

67,636 vs