Roman Nowygrod

Trend, Risk Factors, and Costs of Clostridium difficile Infections in Vascular Surgery

BACKGROUND Starting in December 2013, the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program included Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) rates as a new publically reported quality measure. Our goal was to review the trend, hospital variability in CDI rates, and associated risk factors and costs in vascular surgery. METHODS The rates of CDI after major vascular procedures including aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) repair, carotid endarterectomy or stenting, lower extremity revascularization (LER), and LE amputation were identified using Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for 2000-2011. Risk factors associated with CDI were analyzed with hierarchical multivariate logistic regression. Extra costs, length of stay (LOS), and mortality were assessed for propensity-matched hospitalizations with and without CDI. RESULTS During the study period, the rates of CDI after vascular procedures had increased by 74% from 0.6 in 2000 to 1.05% in 2011, whereas the case fatality rate was stable at 9-11%. In 2011, the highest rates were after ruptured aortic abdominal aneurysm (rAAA) repair (3.3%), followed by lower extremity amputations (2.3%) and elective open AAA (1.3%). The rates of CDI increased after all vascular procedures during the 12 years. The highest increase was after endovascular LER (151.8%) and open rAAA repair (135.7%). In 2011, patients who had experienced CDI had median LOS of 15 days (interquartile range, 9-25 days) compared with 8.3 days for matched patients without CDI, in-hospital mortality 9.1% (compared with 5.0%), and

Validity and reliability of a novel written examination to assess knowledge and clinical decision making skills of medical students on the surgery clerkship

13,471 extra cost per hospitalization. The estimated cost associated with CDI in vascular surgery in the United States was ∼

Two-Stage Hybrid Repair of a Complex Symptomatic Celiac Aneurysm

98 million in 2011. Hospital rates of CDI varied from 0 to 50% with 3.5% of hospitals having infection rates ≥5%. Factors associated with CDI included multiple chronic conditions, female gender, surgery type, emergent and weekend hospitalizations, hospital transfers, and urban locations. CONCLUSIONS Despite potential reduction of infection rates as evidenced by the experience of hospitals with effective interventions, CDI is increasing among vascular surgery patients. It is associated with prolonged LOS, increased mortality, and higher costs.

Diabetes and Lower Extremity Amputation

BACKGROUND The Surgery Clerkship Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) is a novel written examination developed to assess the surgical knowledge, clinical decision making, communication skills, and professionalism of medical students on the surgery clerkship. This study was undertaken to determine its validity. METHODS Data were prospectively collected from July 2011 through February 2013. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were used to assess score trend; convergent validity with National Board of Medical Examiners surgery and medicine subject scores, United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge scores, and evaluation of clinical reasoning and fund of knowledge; and the effect of clerkship order. Exam reliability was assessed using a modified Cronbachs α statistic. RESULTS During the study period, 262 students completed the CSE, with a normal distribution of performance. United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Knowledge score and end-of-clerkship evaluations of fund of knowledge and clinical reasoning predicted CSE score. Performance on the CSE was independent of clerkship order or prior clerkships. The modified Cronbachs α value for the exam was .67. CONCLUSIONS The CSE is an objective, valid, reliable instrument for assessing students on the surgery clerkship, independent of clerkship order.

Cultivation of Enterobacter Hormaechei from Human Atherosclerotic Tissue

We report the case of a novel 2-stage hybrid repair of a complex celiac artery aneurysm. The patient was a 42-year-old man with a proximal celiac artery aneurysm giving rise to distinct right and left hepatic arterial branches. Repair was performed using a staged approach. First, a bifurcated aortohepatic bypass was constructed to the common and left hepatic arteries. After recovering from surgery, he underwent percutaneous embolization of the aneurysm. Completion angiograms demonstrated flow into all celiac branches with successful thrombosis of the aneurysm. At 12-month follow-up, the patient had remained symptom-free with patent bypass grafts and complete aneurysm exclusion. We describe the treatment option we used, which involves repair of a complex celiac aneurysm using a 2-stage, open, endovascular approach.

Watch what happens: using a web-based multimedia platform to enhance intraoperative learning and development of clinical reasoning

Lower extremity amputation is required for a significant percentage of diabetic patients to control diabetic foot disease. Diabetics are prone to lower extremity ischemia, ulceration, infection, and gangrene. Despite medical and surgical advances, the mortality and morbidity rates for major amputations remain quite high. Clinical judgment and diagnostic testing can aid in the determination of the most appropriate procedure to treat infection, maintain limb length, and ultimately facilitate rehabilitation.