Search

OBJECTIVES A third of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) require a gastrostomy tube (GT) for nutritional support. We compared CDH infants who are GT-dependent to those able to meet their nutritional needs orally, to identify factors associated with requiring a GT and evaluate their long-term growth. METHODS Patients with CDH repaired at a single institution between 2012 and 2020 were included. Charts were retrospectively reviewed for demographic, surgical, and post-operative details. Mann-Whitney test and Fischer exact test were performed to compare GT-dependent neonates (n = 38, experimental) with orally fed neonates (n = 63, control). Significance was set at

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of fetal gallstones is estimated at 0.45% and its clinical relevance after birth remains unknown. This study aimed to describe the natural history of fetal gallstones and their clinical sequelae after birth. METHODS: We queried a database of fetuses referred for second and third trimester sonograms performed for high-risk pregnancies, and identified cases with fetal gallstones (1996–2019). Demographics, prenatal/postnatal imaging findings, and clinical sequelae were collected. A literature review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: We screened approximately 200,000 obstetric sonograms; 34 fetuses were found to have cholelithiasis. The median gestational age at the time of US was 35 weeks (range 22 – 38). Fifty-six percent were female and 11.8% were twin pregnancies with one affected fetus. Median maternal age was 28 years (range 17–42). Eight fetuses underwent postnatal imaging and 4 had persistent cholelithiasis. There was one case of in utero demise. Two patients had structural anomalies (renal and cardiac) by US. A subset of 17 patients was followed long-term (range 3–20 years), and none developed clinical sequelae from cholelithiasis. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: No child developed postnatal clinical sequelae related to cholelithiasis identified in utero. Fetal cholelithiasis can be managed expectantly without follow-up imaging in asymptomatic patients.

Disparities are prevalent in numerous areas of healthcare. We sought to investigate whether there were racial/ethnic disparities among pregnant women with the most severe form of alloimmunization who require intrauterine transfusions (IUT). We reviewed patients who underwent IUT for alloimmunization at a single fetal treatment center between 2015 and 2020. This "IUT cohort" was compared to an "Alloimmunization cohort": patients seen at our institution with a diagnosis of alloimmunization during pregnancy, who did not receive IUT. We collected maternal demographics including self-identified race/ethnicity and primary language, transfusion, and antibody characteristics. The cohorts were compared using unpaired t-tests, Mann-Whitney tests, and Fischer's exact tests, as appropriate. The IUT cohort included 43 patients and the alloimmunization cohort included 1049 patients. Compared to the alloimmunization cohort, there were significantly more patients of Latina descent in the IUT cohort (23.3% vs. 3.4%, p

OBJECTIVE: To examine potential disparities in patient access to elective procedures during the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Elective surgeries during the pandemic was limited acutely. Access to surgical care was restored in a recovery phase but backlogs and societal shifts are hypothesized to impact surgical access. METHODS: Adults with electronic health record orders for procedures ("procedure requests"), from March 16 to August 25, 2019 and March 16 to August 25, 2020, were included. Logistic regression was performed for requested procedures that were not scheduled. Linear regression was performed for wait time from request to scheduled or completed procedure. RESULTS: The number of patients with procedure requests decreased 20.8%, from 26,789 in 2019 to 21,162 in 2020. Patients aged 36-50 and >65 years, those speaking non-English languages, those with Medicare or no insurance, and those living > 100 miles away had disproportionately larger decreases. Requested procedures had significantly increased adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of not being scheduled for patients with primary languages other than English, Spanish, or Cantonese (aOR 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.28); unpartnered marital status (aOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.07-1.37); uninsured or self-pay (aOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.53-2.70). Significantly longer wait times were seen for patients aged 36-65 years; with Medi-Cal insurance; from ZIP codes with lower incomes; and from ZIP codes > 100 miles away. CONCLUSIONS: Patient access to elective surgeries decreased during the pandemic recovery phase with disparities based on patient age, language, marital status, insurance, socioeconomic status, and distance from care. Steps to address modifiable disparities have been taken.

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) commonly affects surgical patients, particularly trauma patients. However, baseline knowledge of IPV is poor among surgeons and screening is variable. We designed a project to educate surgical residents on IPV and standardize screening in all trauma patients. Materials and Methods Quality improvement frameworks and the Modified Provider Survey were used to examine residents’ attitudes and behaviors regarding IPV at a level one trauma center. An educational curriculum was designed with a trainee-led, multidisciplinary team to address knowledge gaps, barriers, and relevant reporting laws, and provide framing language that normalized screening. Results Fifty-seven surgical residents (64% response rate) spanning post-graduate years 1-7 completed surveys. All respondents believed IPV was relevant to their patients, yet only 4% correctly identified the prevalence of IPV. Only 15% felt comfortable screening for IPV and 75% felt they had received inadequate training. The most common barriers to screening were insufficient knowledge of community resources and what to do if patients screened positive. Most residents grossly underestimated the incidence of IPV and 19% believe healthcare providers have a limited role in being able to help IPV victims. There were no significant differences in responses between male and female residents or among residents from different postgraduate levels. Conclusions Surgical residents believe IPV is relevant, but few feel they have adequate training. Residents vastly underestimated the societal prevalence of IPV and the majority never screened patients for IPV. A residency-wide curriculum can address common misperceptions and perceived barriers.

Background/purposeCholedochal cysts are congenital dilations of the bile ducts, and are associated with an increased risk of malignant transformation. The purpose of this study is to report the outcomes of a large series of patients with choledochal cysts and to highlight our analysis of one patient who developed malignancy after cyst resection.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of patients

Kidney transplant recipients are frequently prescribed excess opioids at discharge relative to their inpatient requirements. Recipients who fill prescriptions after transplant have an increased risk of death and graft loss. This study examined the impact of standardized prescriptions on discharge amount and number of outpatient refills.A historical cohort (Group 1) was compared to a cohort without patient-controlled analgesia (Group 2) and a cohort in which providers prescribed no opioids to patients who required none on the day prior to discharge, and 10 pills to those who required opioids on the day prior (Group 3). Demographics, oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) prescribed on the day prior to and at discharge, and outpatient refills were collected.270 recipients were included. There was a nonsignificant trend towards lower OMEs on the day prior to discharge in Groups 2 and 3. Nonopioid adjunct use increased (P0.001). Discharge OMEs significantly decreased (mean 87.2 in Group 1, 62.8 in Group 2, 26.6 in Group 3, P0.001). The number of patients discharged without opioids increased (23.8% of Group 1, 37.5% of Group 2, 60.6% of Group 3, P0.001). Group 3, Asian descent, and lower OMEs on the day prior were factors significantly associated with decreased discharge OMEs on multivariable linear regression. Twelve percent of Group 2 and 2% of Group 3 patients received an outpatient refill (P = 0.02).A protocol targeting discharge opioids significantly reduced the amount of opioids prescribed in kidney transplant recipients; most patients subsequently received no opioids at discharge.

BACKGROUND Share 35 was a policy implemented in 2013 to increase regional sharing of deceased donor livers to patients with model for end-stage liver disease ≥ 35 to decrease waitlist mortality for the sickest patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT). The purpose of this study was to determine whether live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) volume was impacted by the shift in allocation of deceased donor livers to patients with higher model for end-stage liver disease scores. METHODS Using Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Standard Transplant Analysis and Research files, we identified all adults who received a primary LT between October 1, 2008, and March 31, 2018. LT from October 1, 2008, through June 30, 2013, was designated as the pre-Share 35 era and July 1, 2013, through March 31, 2018, as the post-Share 35 era. Primary outcomes included transplant volumes, graft survival, and patient survival in both eras. RESULTS In total, 48 779 primary adult single-organ LT occurred during the study period (22 255 pre-Share 35, 26 524 post). LDLT increased significantly (6.8% post versus 5.7% pre, P

BackgroundSix percent of opioid-naïve patients develop opioid dependence post-operatively. We implemented a protocol in our renal transplant recipients that eliminated opioid patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and included a multi-modal non-opioid regimen. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of PCA elimination on opioid requirements at discharge in renal transplant recipients.MethodsWe reviewed adult renal transplant recipients for the three months prior to, and following, the protocol's implementation. Patients with an intra-abdominal transplant, pancreas-renal transplant, or chronic pain were excluded. The number of opioid pills prescribed on the day prior to discharge were categorized as A) 0, B) 1-3, and C) ≥4. Discharge opioid prescriptions were then evaluated based on a recent recommendation that group A receive 0 pills, group B 15 pills, and group C 30 pills, to satisfy the outpatient pain needs of 85% of patients. Pre- and post-intervention metrics were compared using independent t-tests and Chi squared tests.Results150 recipients were included (79 pre-intervention, 71 post; 51% male). PCA use decreased significantly (81% vs. 4.2%, p&nbsp

Background: Prune belly syndrome (PBS) and congenital pouch colon (CPC) are rare congenital syndromes with a low incidence in the United States (U.S.) with most CPC cases being from India. In this case report, we describe, to the best of our knowledge, the first PBS variant and CPC patient in the U.S. Case Presentation: A 30-year-old G2P0010 woman was referred to a tertiary center after an 18-week ultrasound showed a fetal abdominal mass. A prenatal MRI showed a dilated loop of bowel containing a mixture of urine and meconium, oligohydramnios, and a protuberant abdominal wall. Born at 37 weeks, the child’s physical exam was notable for a distended abdomen with thin abdominal musculature, non-palpable bilateral testes, no anal opening, and flat buttocks. Intra-operatively, a dilated cecum/ascending colon was noted with an abrupt change in caliber at the transverse colon, bilateral enlarged ureters, a left testis at the internal ring and no visualized right testis. A colostomy and mucous fistula were created 5 cm from the sigmoid pouch. Conclusion: While most reported cases of CPC undergo single stage repair (one operation) at 1 day of life, our patient underwent the first procedure of a staged repair at 16 hours of life given his clinical instability at the time as well as his unknown urological anatomy in the setting of urinary obstruction. This case demonstrates the importance of fetal imaging, multidisciplinary approach at a tertiary care center, and reinforces a staged repair when necessary.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The differential diagnosis for prenatal suprarenal masses (SRM) is broad and includes neuroblastoma, adrenal hemorrhage and subdiaphragmatic extralobar pulmonary sequestration (SEPS). We sought to elucidate the appropriate postnatal management for fetuses found to have a SRM. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients prenatally diagnosed with SRM at our institution between 1998 and 2018. Prenatal characteristics, imaging, and neonatal outcomes were collected. We also performed a PubMed literature search and pooled analysis of all patients with a prenatally diagnosed SRM previously described in the literature. RESULTS: The literature review yielded 32 studies, of which 19 were single case reports. In our case series, twelve patients were included. Seven patients were delivered vaginally, one was terminated. Postnatal diagnoses included: SEPS (n=5), adrenal hemorrhage (n=3), polycystic kidney (n=2), splenic cyst (n=1), and unknown for one patient. All but two of the final diagnoses had been on the initial diagnostic differential. With the exception of the terminated fetus, all remain alive today. On pooled analysis, patients who underwent operative management were diagnosed later 32 weeks versus 24 weeks) and had a significant predominance of left-sided lesions (59.5% vs. 39.2%). The published literature demonstrates a trend towards observation versus resection over the past 30 years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients prenatally diagnosed with a SRM have an excellent prognosis. Our series demonstrates a high incidence of SEPS, which were all resected, and adrenal hemorrhage, which were observed with repeat imaging. These patients can be followed with serial postnatal ultrasounds to determine the diagnosis prior to deciding the appropriate treatment.