James Kubus

Portal Vein Thrombosis and Survival in Patients with Cirrhosis

The effects of occlusive portal vein thrombosis (PVT) on the survival of patients with cirrhosis are unknown. This was a retrospective cohort study at a single center. The main exposure variable was the presence of occlusive PVT. The primary outcome measure was time‐dependent mortality. A total of 3295 patients were analyzed, and 148 (4.5%) had PVT. Variables independently predictive of mortality from the time of liver transplant evaluation included age [hazard ratio (HR), 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01‐1.03], Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.08‐1.11), hepatitis C (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.24‐1.68), and PVT (HR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.97‐3.51). Variables independently associated with the risk of mortality from the time of liver transplant listing included age (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01‐1.03), transplantation (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50‐0.81), MELD (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06‐1.10), hepatitis C (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.18‐1.90), and PVT (1.99; 95% CI, 1.25‐3.16). The presence of occlusive PVT at the time of liver transplantation was associated with an increased risk of death at 30 days (odds ratio, 7.39; 95% CI, 2.39‐22.83). In conclusion, patients with cirrhosis complicated by PVT have an increased risk of death. Liver Transpl 16:83–90, 2010.

A statewide assessment of surgical site infection following colectomy: the role of oral antibiotics.

Objective:To determine the utility of adding oral nonabsorbable antibiotics to the bowel prep prior to elective colon surgery. Summary Background Data:Bowel preparation prior to colectomy remains controversial. We hypothesized that mechanical bowel preparation with oral antibiotics (compared with without) was associated with lower rates of surgical site infection (SSI). Methods:Twenty-four Michigan hospitals participated in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative–Colectomy Best Practices Project. Standard perioperative data, bowel preparation process measures, and Clostridium difficile colitis outcomes were prospectively collected. Among patients receiving mechanical bowel preparation, a logistic regression model generated a propensity score that allowed us to match cases differing only in whether or not they had received oral antibiotics. Results:Overall, 2011 elective colectomies were performed over 16 months. Mechanical bowel prep without oral antibiotics was administered to 49.6% of patients, whereas 36.4% received a mechanical prep and oral antibiotics. Propensity analysis created 370 paired cases (differing only in receiving oral antibiotics). Patients receiving oral antibiotics were less likely to have any SSI (4.5% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.0001), to have an organ space infection (1.8% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.044) and to have a superficial SSI (2.6% vs. 7.6%, P = 0.001). Patients receiving bowel prep with oral antibiotics were also less likely to have a prolonged ileus (3.9% vs. 8.6%, P = 0.011) and had similar rates of C. difficile colitis (1.3% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.58). Conclusions:Most patients in Michigan receive mechanical bowel preparation prior to elective colectomy. Oral antibiotics may reduce the incidence of SSI.

Accelerating the Pace of Surgical Quality Improvement: The Power of Hospital Collaboration

HYPOTHESIS A regional collaborative approach is an efficient platform for surgical quality improvement. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Academic research. PATIENTS Patients undergoing general and vascular surgical procedures in 16 hospitals of the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC) were evaluated quarterly to discuss surgical quality, to identify best practices, and to assess problems with process implementation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Results among MSQC patients were compared with those among 126 non-Michigan hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) over the same interval. RESULTS A total of 315 699 patients were included in the analysis. To assess improvement, patients were stratified into 2 periods (T1 and T2). The 35 422 MSQC patients (10.7% morbidity in T1 vs 9.7% in T2 [9.0% reduction], P = .002) showed improvement, while 280 277 non-Michigan ACS NSQIP patients did not (12.4% morbidity in T1 and T2, P = .49). No improvements in mortality rates were noted in either group. Overall, the odds of experiencing a complication in T2 compared with T1 were significantly less in the MSQC group (odds ratio, 0.898) than in the non-Michigan ACS NSQIP group (odds ratio, 1.000) (P=.004). CONCLUSION A statewide surgical quality improvement collaborative supported by a third-party payer showed significant improvement in quality and high levels of participant satisfaction.

Antibiotic choice is independently associated with risk of surgical site infection after colectomy: A population-based cohort study

Objective: To determine which perioperative care practices are associated with decreased risk of surgical site infection (SSI) after colectomy surgery. Background: Optimization of perioperative care has been a common strategy for improving surgical safety, but the relationship between process measure compliance and surgical complication rates is controversial. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study performed within the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC), an organization of hospitals that prospectively collects patient data, processes of care, and 30-day outcomes. Patients undergoing colectomy surgery (n = 4331) were studied. Factors potentially associated with SSI were tested using univariate statistical tests, and a hierarchical generalized linear model was created to test for independent associations between processes of care and SSI, while adjusting for patient risk factors and clustering of patients within hospitals. Results: Several perioperative care practices were independently associated with lower risk of SSI after adjustment for patient risk, procedure type/duration, and clustering of patients by hospital site. Best practices include selection of a Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP-2)-compliant prophylactic intravenous antibiotic, postoperative normothermia, postoperative day 1 glucose control, and oral antibiotics given when bowel prep used (SCIP-1 was not significant). Further, several specific prophylactic antibiotic choices were independently associated with lower SSI rates, including cefazolin/metronidazole, ciprofloxacin/metronidazole, and ertapenem. Conclusions: In Michigan, several perioperative care practices are independently associated with decreased risk of SSI after colectomy, including SCIP-2-compliant prophylactic antibiotics, postoperative normothermia, glucose control, and oral antibiotics. Furthermore, specific prophylactic antibiotic choices are associated with lower risk of SSI. These results account for patient factors and unmeasured hospital effects, suggesting that dissemination of these perioperative care practices may decrease SSI rates.

A Contemporary Comparison of Aortofemoral Bypass and Aortoiliac Stenting in the Treatment of Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease

BACKGROUND Although aortofemoral bypass (AFB) has historically been the treatment of choice for aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD), rates of AFB have declined, while utilization of aortoiliac angioplasty and stenting (AS) has increased dramatically. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of these trends on treatment outcomes in a contemporary single-institution experience with AIOD. METHODS Between 1997 and 2007, 118 AFB and 174 AS procedures were performed in 161 men (55.1%) and 131 women at a single university teaching hospital. Patient outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and analyses were performed using chi-squared/Fishers exact test and ANOVA. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) interactions between procedure type and Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) category were calculated using a General Linear Model. A reduced Cox model was used to determine the impact of patency, presenting symptoms, duplex surveillance, and procedure type on amputations and revisions. Kaplan-Meier estimates for survival, freedom from amputation, and freedom from revision were used to evaluate long-term outcomes. RESULTS There was no difference between AFB and AS groups with respect to 30-day mortality (0.8% and 1.1%, p=0.64), myocardial infarction (1.7% and 1.1%, p=0.53), cerebrovascular accident (0.0% and 1.1%, p=0.35), or renal failure requiring hemodialysis (3.4% and 1.2%, p=0.19). AFB was associated with increased surgical complication rates including the need for emergency surgery (6.8% and 1.7%, p=0.029), infection/sepsis (16.1% and 2.3%, p<0.001), transfusion (16.1% and 5.7%, p=0.004), and lymph leak (8.5% and 0.6%, p=0.001). The difference between preprocedural and postprocedural ABI was greater for AFB than AS (R, 0.39 and 0.18, p<0.001; L, 0.41 and 0.15, p<0.001). This difference was maintained when patients were stratified by TASC category. CONCLUSION There were no differences between the AFB and AS groups with respect to long-term rates of mortality, amputation, or revision procedures. AFB continues to be performed safely, despite the case numbers in this series correlating with a lower-volume hospital. Morbidities associated with major open surgery in this series were counterbalanced by greater improvements in ABI. Patients and practitioners should continue to entertain both procedure types as viable alternatives for the treatment of AIOD.

Effects of Smoking on Survival for Patients with End-Stage Liver Disease

BACKGROUND Smokers with chronic liver disease can become eligible for transplantation, but some insurers refuse reimbursement pending smoking cessation. STUDY DESIGN Our hypothesis is that liver transplantation candidates and recipients who smoke have inferior survival compared with nonsmokers. Using a retrospective cohort study design, three Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to determine covariate-adjusted mortality from transplantation evaluation and transplantation based on smoking status at evaluation, transplantation, and posttransplantation followup. RESULTS From 1999 to 2007, 2,260 patients were evaluated. Seven hundred sixty were active smokers, and 1,500 were nonsmokers. Smokers at evaluation were younger (49.3 versus 51.7 years), were more likely to be men (65.9% versus 58.7%), have hepatitis C (54.2% versus 30.1%), have a lower Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (10.5 versus 12.3), and less likely to receive transplant (12.2% versus 18.6%) (all p < 0.05). The postevaluation multivariate model indicated that substance use, higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, hepatitis C, and older age increased mortality risk (all p < 0.05), and liver transplantation (hazards ratio = 0.986; 95% CI, 0.977 to 0.994) was associated with lower mortality. Smoking was not associated with increased mortality risk at any time point in those evaluated or receiving transplants. CONCLUSIONS Providers should continue encouraging potential liver transplantation candidates to stop smoking, but insurer-driven mandated smoking cessation might not improve survival.

Prophylactic antibiotic practices for colectomy in Michigan

BACKGROUND Although there are guidelines for prophylactic intravenous antibiotics in colorectal surgery, the objective of this study was to determine the extent to which these guidelines are followed. METHODS Twenty-seven Michigan hospitals participated in a colectomy quality-improvement project. In addition to the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program variables, these hospitals collect 25 additional data points on processes of care for colectomy cases. RESULTS From 2007 to 2009, 3,002 patients had colectomy surgery and were eligible for analysis of antibiotic practices. Prophylactic antibiotics were given in 99.5% of cases; 81.4% of antibiotic choices were Surgical Care Improvement Project-compliant, and 90.8% of dosing was within 60 minutes before surgical incision. Recommended weight-adjusted dosing was performed in 56.8% of cases, and only 6.0% of antibiotics were redosed appropriately. Practices varied by hospital. CONCLUSIONS Prophylactic antibiotic use for colectomy in Michigan hospitals did not conform to recommended practices. These findings hold the promise for targeted quality-improvement initiatives.

Survival among children with portal vein thrombosis and end‐stage liver disease

Al‐Holou S, Mathur AK, Ranney D, Kubus J, Englesbe MJ. Survival among children with portal vein thrombosis and end‐stage liver disease.
Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14: 132–137.

PA-driven VTE risk assessment improves compliance with recommended prophylaxis.

ABSTRACT Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients, particularly surgical patients. We hypothesize that PAs are well‐positioned to assist health systems with implementation of efforts to reduce the rates of this in‐hospital complication and increase adherence to published standards for VTE prophylaxis. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of general surgical patients who underwent an operation at the University of Michigan between July 2005 and June 2007. The PAs in the Department of Surgery implemented a VTE assessment and prophylaxis intervention in June 2006. Preintervention VTE risk scores were calculated using patient demographic information, operating room data, and diagnosis codes from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM). Those calculated scores were then tested on patients who had a VTE risk score documented by PAs. Postintervention VTE was determined using ICD‐9‐CM diagnosis codes for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) and identified as “acquired in hospital” or readmitted with a principal diagnosis of DVT or PE within 30 days following surgery. We then compared the frequency with which patients in the preintervention and postintervention periods received recommended VTE prophylaxis. Results: Overall, 2,046 patients underwent surgery during the study period. There were 1,079 patients in the preintervention group and 967 patients in the postintervention group, with no systematic differences in the case mix between the two groups. For all patients with a risk score of 3 or higher (indicating high and highest risk combined), orders for appropriate prophylaxis improved from an average of 23.1% in the preintervention group to an average of 63.7% in the postintervention group. Similarly, for all patients with a risk score of 5 or higher (indicating highest risk), orders for appropriate prophylaxis improved from an average of 29.4% in the preintervention group to an average of 69.5% in the postintervention group. Conclusions: Through a PA‐driven VTE risk assessment process, we dramatically increased the number of patients within our health system who were prescribed appropriate orders for VTE prophylaxis according to published guidelines and according to individual patient risk.