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Background There is wide variability and considerable controversy regarding the classification of appendicitis and the need for postoperative antibiotics. This study aimed to assess interrater agreement with respect to the classification of appendicitis and its influence on the use of postoperative antibiotics amongst surgeons and surgical trainees. Methods A survey comprising 15 intraoperative images captured during appendectomy was distributed to surgeons and surgical trainees. Participants were asked to classify severity of disease (normal, inflamed, purulent, gangrenous, perforated) and whether they would prescribe postoperative antibiotics. Statistical analysis included percent agreement, Krippendorff’s alpha for interrater agreement, and logistic regression. Results In total, 562 respondents completed the survey: 206 surgical trainees, 217 adult surgeons, and 139 pediatric surgeons. For classification of appendicitis, the statistical interrater agreement was highest for categorization as gangrenous/perforated versus nongangrenous/nonperforated (Krippendorff’s alpha = 0.73) and lowest for perforated versus nonperforated (Krippendorff’s alpha = 0.45). Fourteen percent of survey respondents would administer postoperative antibiotics for an inflamed appendix, 44% for suppurative, 75% for gangrenous, and 97% for perforated appendicitis. Interrater agreement of postoperative antibiotic use was low (Krippendorff’s alpha = 0.28). The only significant factor associated with postoperative antibiotic utilization was 16 or more years in practice. Conclusions Surgeon agreement is poor with respect to both subjective appendicitis classification and objective utilization of postoperative antibiotics. This survey demonstrates that a large proportion (59%) of surgeons prescribe antibiotics after nongangrenous or nonperforated appendectomy, despite a lack of evidence basis for this practice. These findings highlight the need for further consensus to enable standardized research and avoid overtreatment with unnecessary antibiotics.

Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is a fulminant fatal human disease caused by the free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Infection occurs after inhalation of water containing the amoeba, typically after swimming in bodies of warm freshwater. N. fowleri migrates to the brain where it incites meningoencephalitis and cerebral edema leading to death of the patient 7 to 10 days postinfection. Although the disease is rare, it is almost always fatal and believed to be underreported. The incidence of PAM in countries other than the United States is unclear and possibly on track to being an emerging disease. Poor prognosis is caused by rapid progression, suboptimal treatment, and underdiagnosis. As diagnosis is often performed postmortem and testing is only performed by a few laboratories, more accessible testing is necessary. This article reviews the current methods used in the screening and confirmation of PAM and makes recommendations for improved diagnostic practices and awareness.

Simultaneous gastrostomy tube (GT) and tracheostomy placement in young children offers potential benefit in limiting anesthetic exposure, but it is unknown whether combining these procedures introduces additional morbidity. This study compared outcomes after combined GT and tracheostomy placement versus GT placement alone among similar ventilator-dependent patients.Ventilator-dependent children2-years-old who underwent GT placement alone (MV-GT), simultaneous GT and tracheostomy placement (GT+T), and GT placement alone with a pre-existing tracheostomy (T-GT) were identified using 2012-2018 NSQIP-Pediatric Participant User Files. Multiple logistic regression models were used to compare outcomes while adjusting for other group differences.Among 1100 children, 351 underwent MV-GT, 494 GT+T, and 255 T-GT. Major complications occurred in 23.6%, 17.0%, and 14.5% of the respective groups (p = 0.01). Major complications with GT+T were similar to T-GT (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.19, 95%CI:0.78-1.83, p = 0.4) and lower than MV-GT (aOR=0.67, 95%CI:0.47-0.95, p = 0.02). Severe complications including mortality, cardiac arrest, and stroke were similar between the three groups (p = 0.8).Children2-years-old undergoing GT+T did not experience higher post-operative complications compared to children undergoing T-GT or MV-GT. Utilizing GT+T to limit anesthetic exposure may be reasonable within this high-risk population.Treatment Study LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

BACKGROUND The failure to order the correct diagnostic test at the right time is one of the major contributing factors of diagnostic error. Excessive testing can lead to added economic burden and addressing underutilization is precarious as clinicians often fail to order the tests that would improve diagnosis, prognosis, and management. METHODS A retrospective analysis of errors in test orders of thyroid function testing (TFT) in 321 pregnant women suspected of clinical and subclinical thyroid disorders was performed. Test selection was evaluated, and determinations were made about the extent of overutilization and underutilization of TFTs in reviewing each individual patient case by a Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) scholar. RESULTS About 77% (247 cases) of the cases were found to have errors associated with test ordering for TFT. Of the cases reviewed, 18% cases were associated with overutilization, 53% of the cases were associated with underutilization, and 7% were associated with both (overutilization and underutilization). The annual cost burden because of ordering unnecessary tests was estimated to be approximately $13,000. The cost burden from errors resulting from not ordering a test would be of much greater magnitude but was difficult to estimate because underutilization has a ripple effect and may cause prolonged hospital stays, unnecessary medical bills, and delayed/ missed diagnosis leading to poor outcomes for patients. CONCLUSIONS This study evaluated whether proper utilization of TFT were made at maternal health clinic locations of a large academic medical center in pregnant women to diagnose thyroid disorder and reported the issue of wastage of resources in the clinical laboratory. The study findings show significant errors in ordering of TFT for pregnant women in more than 75% of the cases that was based on evidence-based review of patient cases.

Objectives Diagnostic Management Teams (DMTs) are one strategy for reducing diagnostic errors. This study examined errors in serology test selection after a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test in patients with suspected systemic autoimmune rheumatic disorder (SARD). Methods This retrospective study included 246 patient cases reviewed by our ANA DMT from March to August 2019. The DMT evaluated the appropriateness of tests beyond ANA screening tests (overutilization, underutilization, or both) based on American College of Rheumatology recommendations and classified cases into diagnostic error or no error groups. Errors were quantified, and patient and provider characteristics associated with diagnostic errors were assessed. Results Among 246 cases, 60.6% had at least one diagnostic error in test selection. The number of sub-serology tests ordered was 2.4 times higher in the diagnostic error group than in the no error group. The likelihood of at least one diagnostic error was higher in males and African American/Black patients, although the differences were not statistically significant. Providers from general internal medicine, primary care, and non-rheumatology specialties were approximately two times more likely to make diagnostic errors than rheumatology specialists. Conclusions Diagnostic errors in test selection after a positive ANA for patients with suspected SARD were common, although there were fewer errors when ordered by rheumatology specialists. These findings support the need to develop strategies to reduce diagnostic errors in test selection for autoimmunity evaluation and suggest that implementation of a DMT can be useful for providing guidance to clinicians to reduce overutilization and underutilization of laboratory tests.

Introduction Significant disparities are apparent in geographic areas and among racial/ethnic minority groups in Wisconsin. Cancer disparities are complex and multifactorial and require collaborative, multilevel efforts to reduce their impact. Our objective was to understand cancer disparities and identify opportunities to collaborate across community and research sectors to address them. Methods From May 2017 through October 2018, we assembled groups of community members and researchers and conducted 10 listening sessions and 29 interviews with a total of 205 participants from diverse backgrounds. Listening sessions and interviews were scheduled on the basis of participant preference and consisted of a brief review of maps illustrating the breast and lung cancer burden across Wisconsin, and a semistructured set of questions regarding causes, solutions, and opportunities. Interviews followed the same structure as listening sessions, but were conducted between a facilitator and 1 or 2 individuals. Major themes were summarized from all sessions and coded. We used the Model for Analysis of Population Health and Health Disparities to identify areas for collaboration and to highlight differences in emphasis between community participants and researchers. Results Participants identified the need to address individual behavioral risks and medical mistrust and to build equitable multilevel partnerships. Communities provided insights on the impact of environment and location on cancer disparities. Researchers shared thoughts about societal poverty and policy issues, biologic responses, genetic predisposition, and the mechanistic influence of lifestyle factors on cancer incidence and mortality. Conclusion Listening sessions and interviews provided insight into contributors to cancer disparities, barriers to improving outcomes, and opportunities to improve health. The unique perspectives of each group underscored the need for multisector teams to tackle the complex issue of cancer disparities.

Blunt abdominal aortic injury is an infrequent occurrence after blunt trauma. The majority of these injuries result from deceleration forces sustained in motor vehicle collisions. Effects of these forces on the thoracic aorta are well described, but associated spinal compression or distraction can also lead to injury of the affixed abdominal aorta. We present a case of multifocal blunt thoracic and abdominal aortic injury with circumferential abdominal aortic dissection, resulting in aortoaortic intussusception associated with a thoracolumbar spinal injury. The unique diagnostic challenge and subsequent successful endovascular management of a rare nonocclusive abdominal aortic intussusception are herein discussed.

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore and describe how clinical laboratory science students at a tertiary university hospital perceive and conceptualize interprofessional education (IPE) through exposure to IPE in clinical preceptorship and service learning experiences. Participants included five clinical laboratory science students. The data collection and analysis process included multiple interviews, student clinical preceptorship journals, student service learning journals, and a researcher9s journal. The constant comparison method was used throughout the study as themes and patterns emerged from the raw data and were discovered.1 Findings indicated that participants believed that IPE helped reduce professional hierarchy, promoted equality and respect and maximized interprofessional collaboration between the health professions. Themes that supported IPE were comprised of: hierarchal environment, mutual respect, forming and maintaining an identity, and sharing content knowledge. The results from this study reveal how an interprofessional curriculum can unite clinical laboratory science students with other health professions students early in their formative years to address the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of a disjointed health care team that negatively affects health care in the United States today. ABBREVIATIONS:WHO – World Health Organization, CLS – Clinical Laboratory Science, IPE – Interprofessional Education

Perioperative blood transfusions in children are associated with patient morbidity and are often overutilized. In this study, we identify procedures most commonly associated with the use of red blood cells (RBC) in childrens surgery and develop risk-adjusted models for benchmarking.Data from the 2012-2015 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric participant use data files were used. CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes were grouped to identify the procedures where transfusions were allocated and associated patient demographics and comorbidities. Patients were stratified in two age groups (0-3 mo and 3 mo to 18 y), and a logistic regression model was developed for each age group.Of 369,176 total cases, 21,410 (5.8%) were associated with a perioperative transfusion. 659 CPT codes were grouped in 207 clusters according to their similarities. The most common procedures associated with transfusion were arthrodesis for spinal deformity (n = 9533, 44.5%), followed by craniectomy for craniosynostosis (n = 1853, 8.7%). The logistic regression model for patients3 mo included 18 variables and had excellent discriminatory performance (area under the curve 0.866). The model for patients ≥3 mo to 18 y had 21 variables and an area under the curve of 0.911.The majority of transfusions used in children's surgery are concentrated within a relatively few procedural groups. These findings can help centers in focusing blood optimization efforts on common surgeries with high transfusion rates. In addition, multiple preoperative factors have been built into a risk-adjusted model that can be used for benchmarking blood transfusions among hospitals.

Background There is an increasing national trend toward initial venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for infants and children with respiratory disease; however, some proportion of patients initiated on VV ECMO will ultimately require conversion to venoarterial (VA) support for circulatory augmentation. The purpose of this work is to describe patients who required conversion from VV to VA ECMO and to highlight the increased mortality in this population. Materials and methods Demographic and disease-specific data on children who underwent VV-to-VA ECMO conversion were extracted from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry. Survival comparisons to age-matched patients undergoing unconverted ECMO runs were made using the 2016 Extracorporeal Life Support Organization International Summary report. The relative risk (RR) of death associated with VV-to-VA conversion was calculated, and statistical analysis of survival was performed using a chi-squared test with P Results This study cohort consisted of 1382 patients who required VV-to-VA conversion. The overall hospital survival rate for neonates requiring conversion was 60%, compared with 83% for unconverted VV runs and 64% for unconverted VA runs (RR 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.34). Similarly, the survival of older children requiring conversion was 46% compared with 66% and 51%, respectively (RR 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.27). Conclusions VV-to-VA conversion does occur and is associated with increased mortality. The need for conversion from VV to VA ECMO may represent an early failure to recognize physiologic parameters or disease severity that would be better managed with initial VA support. Further research is needed to pinpoint the cause of increased mortality and to identify predictors of VV failure to optimize initial mode selection.

This report discusses the need for a Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences program and describes a curriculum to train Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences students. The Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences program was developed to help reduce diagnostic errors in patient care by enhancing connections between the clinical laboratory and health care providers. Data are presented from program implementation in 2016 to 2017 academic year to 2019 to 2020 regarding the faculty and student demographics, program statistics (eg, admissions and attrition rates), and effectiveness. Perceptions of program effectiveness were obtained via surveys from 28 faculty physicians who supervised Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences students during clinical service rotations. Another survey assessed the preferred type of practice after graduation of 33 students. Over the 4-year period, the program had a 50% rate of admission and a 21.8% attrition rate. As of December 2020, 15 students graduated from the program. The majority (69%-82%) of physician faculty who completed the survey agreed that Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences students contributed positively at clinical rounds. Approximately two-thirds of students reported a preference to lead a Diagnostic Management Team or serve as an advanced practice provider in a Diagnostic Management Team with leadership provided by an MD/DO or PhD. This report provides useful information for other institutions that may want to establish similar Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences programs. Early data suggest that our program effectively trains doctoral-level advanced practice medical laboratory scientists, who may play an important role in improving patient safety by reducing diagnostic errors and providing value-based, optimal patient care.

Laparoscopy is being increasingly applied to pediatric inguinal hernia repair. In younger children, however, open repair remains preferred due to concerns related to anesthesia and technical challenges. We sought to assess outcomes after laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repair in children less than or equal to 3 years. A prospective, single-blind, parallel group randomized controlled trial was conducted at three clinical sites. Children ≤3 years of age with reducible unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernias were randomized to laparoscopic herniorrhaphy (LH) or open herniorrhaphy (OH). The primary outcome was the number of acetaminophen doses. Secondary outcomes included operative time, complications, and parent/caregiver satisfaction scores. Forty-one patients were randomized to unilateral OH (n = 10), unilateral LH (n = 17), bilateral OH (n = 5) and bilateral LH (n = 9). Acetaminophen doses, LOS, complications, and parent/caregiver scores did not differ among groups. Laparoscopic unilateral hernia repair demonstrated shorter operative time, a consistent finding for overall laparoscopic repair in univariate (p = 0.003) and multivariate (p = 0.010) analysis. No cases of testicular atrophy were documented at 2 (SD = 2.7) years. Children ≤3 years of age in our cohort safely underwent LH with similar pain scores, complications, and recurrence as OH. Parents and caregivers report high satisfaction with both techniques.

This study aims to characterize the delivery of pediatric surgical care based on hospital volume stratified by disease severity, geography, and specialty. Longitudinal regionalization over the 10-year study period is noted and further explored.The Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) was queried from 2000 to 2009 for patients18 years undergoing noncardiac surgery. Hospitals nationwide were grouped into commutable regions and identified as high-volume centers (HVCs) if they had more than 1000 weighted procedures per year. Regions that had at least one HVC and one or more additional lower volume center were included for analysis. Low-risk, high-risk neonatal, and surgical subspecialties were analyzed separately.A total of 385,242 weighted pediatric surgical admissions in 33 geographical regions and 224 hospitals were analyzed. Overall, HVCs comprised 33 (14.7%) hospitals, medium-volume center (MVC) 33 (14.7%), and low-volume center (LVC) 158 (70.5%). The four low-risk procedures analyzed were increasingly regionalized: appendectomy (52% in HVCs in 2000 to 60% in 2009, P0.001), fracture reduction (63% to 68%, P0.001), cholecystectomy (54% to 63%, P0.001), and pyloromyotomy (65% to 85%, P0.001). Neonatal surgery showed significant regionalization trends for tracheoesophageal fistula (66% to 87%, P0.001) and gastroschisis (76% to 89%, P0.001).This is the first large-scale, multi-region analysis to demonstrate that pediatric surgical care has transitioned to HVCs over a recent decade, particularly for low-risk patients. It is important for practitioners and policymakers alike to understand such volume trends in order to ensure hospital capacity while maintaining an optimal quality of care.

To meaningfully impact cancer disparities, scientists and community need to work differently together. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) offers a strong first step but in practice often falls short of its full potential. The Community Cancer Science Network (CCSN) is an initiative of the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center to address breast and lung cancer disparities statewide. This initiative began with a three-year study and design team process which identified a need for academic medicine and community to come together to address disparities in Wisconsin. A design team made up of basic and population science researchers, clinicians and community-based organization leaders representing communities impacted by disparities convened to gather data and examine trends to better understand root causes. The team identified several hurdles impeding authentic community-academic partnerships including: 1) isolated solutions putting the primary responsibility for change on individuals and communities; 2) significant issues of trust due to racism and other forms of oppression; 3) misunderstandings and misinformation about community priorities/needs and the intersections of science and quality of life; and 4) structures to support working together in authentic ways. Following this work, the initiative moved into the next phase to address these hurdles. In this phase, CCSN uses developmental evaluation to help shape new ways of working together to go beyond CBPR by explicitly addressing mistrust, shared understanding, power and privilege differentials and more. CCSN begins with creating change in academic medicine and places community members at the table as experts. We report on first year learning, including the development of our guiding framework, managing resistance to change, and putting in practice an anti- oppression, co-learning model to support innovation and engage community and researchers as equitable partners. Further, we discuss the challenges of using a developmental evaluation approach in an academic environment. These include: 1) the need for significant shifts within core leadership teams and funders to look inward at their commitment to change internally; 2) differences in beliefs and practice between evaluation and research around planning, credibility of evidence, and use of data and language; 3) multiple levels of leadership models and engagement structures starting at different places and with varying understandings and assumptions of the models and approaches we are trying to use; 4) moving forward within a set of much larger systems that are becoming ready and changing at different paces. Conclusion. Eradicating cancer disparities requires novel ways to facilitate authentic community and academic medicine collaborations. Developmental evaluation supports an iterative process to quickly identify challenges and successes promoting ongoing learning and the ability to pivot and adapt approaches. Citation Format: Laura Pinsoneault, Tobi Cawthra, Beth Brunner, Linda Conlon, Lyle Ignace, Judy Heubel, Sandra Millon-Underwood, Hallgeir Rui, Jose Salazar, Ellen Velie, Alonzo Walker, Melinda Stolley. A framework for transformed community-academic partnerships to reduce cancer disparities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-041.

Background: Despite advances in breast and lung cancer research, racial and geographic disparities persist in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System indicates that disparities in lung cancer mortality rates, as well as breast cancer incidence and mortality between black and white populations, have significantly worsened in the past decade. Root causes for these cancer-related health disparities are complex and multifactorial and require innovative approaches to be resolved. A comprehensive understanding of the unique contributors to breast and lung cancer disparities in the state of Wisconsin is required. Methods: To explore root causes of breast and lung cancer disparities and opportunities to address them, we engaged more than 100 stakeholders from across the research and community spectrum, including basic scientists, population health experts, clinicians, community and nonprofit leaders, community health workers, community members, federally qualified health center and free clinic directors, and public health professionals. We utilized a flexible discussion format responsive to participant needs (i.e., one-on-one interviews, small group discussions at conferences, and focus groups). Sessions were tailored specifically to each group, to accommodate differences in style, language including appropriate vernacular, format, and familiarity with the topic. Results: Our most compelling finding was that no group (researchers, community organizers, educators, etc.) felt that their group had the capacity to significantly reduce cancer disparities through their efforts alone but recognized the unique knowledge and skills they could contribute. Researchers without established disparities focus shared that they are aware of health disparities and are willing to contribute to reduction efforts but did not intuitively know ways to leverage their skills. Conversely, community leaders understood the value of their work, but many believed that their efforts were meant to inform larger research-based initiatives. Both community and research groups emphasized the role of stress, the impact of health care quality and medical mistrust, the connection to environmental exposures (social and physical), as well as the factors influencing risk behaviors. Conclusions and Future Directions: Each stakeholder group interviewed revealed unique opportunities to reduce disparities in breast and lung cancer incidence, late-stage diagnosis, and mortality, but shared a feeling that cross-sector collaborations are critical to make an impact. These results will inform the assembly of multidisciplinary work groups to assess the complex, multifactorial contributors to breast and lung cancer disparities revealed in these interviews and develop novel strategies to address them. Citation Format: Jose Salazar, Jessica Olson, Tobi Cawthra, Melinda Stolley, Sandra Millon-Underwood, Kirsten Beyer, David Fraser, Lyle Ignace, Laura Pinsoneault, Alonzo Walker, Carol Williams, Cheryl Maurana. Contributors to breast and lung cancer disparities in Wisconsin: Results from statewide focus groups and interviews [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr C080.

Background: Wisconsin’s cancer disparities affect both urban minority and rural communities. A team of academic researchers and community stakeholders convened to understand the complexity of these disparities by analyzing relevant data and community and academic perspectives. Through this analysis, the team identified opportunities for multi-sector collaboration and develop an integrated and collaborative action plan. Methods: Listening sessions and interviews were conducted with more than 200 individuals representing diverse “cells to community” backgrounds. Sessions included a brief review of maps illustrating the breast and lung cancer burden across Wisconsin, and a semi-structured set of questions regarding causes, solutions, and opportunities. A leader with cancer disparities knowledge, public health expertise, and qualitative data collection experience facilitated listening sessions. Whenever possible, facilitators were representative of the cultural and racial/ethnic identities or research backgrounds of the majority of participants. ATLAS.ti was used to codify themes from field notes by two independent coders. Rules for summarizing data, coding, and organizing results were discussed iteratively, and a third qualitative researcher resolved discrepancies. Emerging themes strongly aligned with The Model for Analysis of Population Health and Health Disparities by the National Institutes of Health, and thus, themes were integrated into this framework. Results: Coding themes using The Model for Analysis of Population Health and Health Disparities highlighted areas for potential collaboration as well as specific gaps in knowledge or awareness between researchers and community stakeholders. Communities had unique insights regarding the physical context of cancer disparities including environmental and social factors. Researchers, on the other hand, reflected specialized expertise on biologic and genetic pathways and biological responses such as genetic predisposition and the influence of reproductive and gynecologic factors. Participants from all sectors recognized the need to address individual behavioral risks, patient support, and the need for multi-level partnerships. Conclusions: The Model for Analysis of Population Health and Health Disparities is an effective tool for understanding results from broad based, transdisciplinary perspectives. Using this framework to analyze listening sessions reveal that stakeholders in both community and research settings had unique expertise and perspectives that enhanced the team’s collective understanding of cancer disparities in Wisconsin. Citation Format: Jessica Olson, Tobi Cawthra, Kirsten Beyer, David Frazer, Lyle Ignace, Cheryl Maurana, Sandra Millon-Underwood, Laura Pinsoneault, Jose Salazar, Alonzo Walker, Carol Williams, Melinda Stolley. Community and research perspectives regarding cancer disparities: A comparative analysis of listening sessions with diverse stakeholders [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B015.

Although gastrostomy placement is one of the most common procedures performed in children, the optimal technique remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate variability in the method of gastrostomy tube placement in children in the United States. Patients &lt, 18 years old undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) or surgical gastrostomy (SG) (including open or laparoscopic) from 1997 to 2012 were identified using the Kids&rsquo, Inpatient Database. Method of gastrostomy placement was evaluated using a multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression model with a random intercept term and a patient-age random-effect term. A total of 67,811 gastrostomy placements were performed during the study period. PEG was used in 36.6% of entries overall and was generally consistent over time. PEG placement was less commonly performed in infants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.30, 95%CI 0.26&ndash, 0.33), children at urban hospitals (aOR: 0.38, 95%CI 0.18&ndash, 0.82), and children cared for at children&rsquo, s hospitals (aOR 0.57, 95%CI 0.48&ndash, 0.69) and was more commonly performed in children with private insurance (aOR 1.17, 95%CI 1.09&ndash, 1.25). Dramatic variability in PEG use was identified between centers, ranging from 0% to 100%. The random intercept and slope terms significantly improved the model, confirming significant center-level variability and increased variability among patients &lt, 1 year old. These findings emphasize the need to further evaluate the safest method of gastrostomy placement in children, in particular among the youngest patients in whom practice varies the most.

Background: Advances in prevention, detection, and treatment of breast and lung cancer have decreased incidence and mortality rates but have not benefited all populations equally. In Wisconsin, the disparity in lung cancer mortality rates between Black and White residents is the second largest in the nation, and disparities in breast cancer incidence have significantly worsened in the past decade. To address the complex etiology behind these disparities, the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment assembled a racially and ethnically diverse multidisciplinary team to inform efforts to reduce cancer disparities in Wisconsin. Methods: Our panel of eight experts, along with a program facilitator, met biweekly for 15 months. Members had broad expertise in diverse communities, public health, behavioral science, health geography, molecular biology and clinical care. The team had not previously collaborated together. The team's objectives were to (1) gain a contextualized understanding of the molecular, genetic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors contributing to cancer disparities, as well as barriers and promoters to these discoveries; (2) identify relevant issues on which to focus future efforts; and (3) facilitate the creation of collaborative work groups to develop and implement innovative strategies to address cancer disparities statewide. Results: At the conclusion, team efforts included: (1) creating statewide maps reflecting breast and lung cancer incidence, late-stage diagnosis, and mortality, as well as potential socioeconomic contributors to disparities; (2) reviewing literature on efforts reducing cancer disparities; (3) completing a root cause analysis of cultural, socioeconomic, and genetic contributors; (4) identifying and assessing focused topics for further study; and (5) designing a comprehensive framework to guide the work of collaborative, cross-sector teams on prioritized topics. An additional and notable result was feedback from team members that participation in the group challenged them to reimagine cross-disciplinary collaboration and consider how to engage diverse backgrounds and perspectives in future cancer-disparities work. Conclusions and Future Directions: The resulting topics and framework will direct the funding and formation of collaborative, cross-sector work groups to (1) think beyond their expertise; (2) create, adapt, or adopt collaborative strategies for addressing complex health problems; and (3) develop, test, and evaluate initiatives to address breast and lung cancer disparities in incidence, late-stage diagnosis, and mortality. Citation Format: Melinda R. Stolley, Tobi Anne Cawthra, Jessica Olson, Sandra Millon-Underwood, Kirsten Beyer, David Fraser, Lyle Ignace, Laura Pinsoneault, Jose Salazar, Alonzo Walker, Carol Williams, Cheryl Maurana. Results from a cross-sector collaboration: Understanding contributors to breast and lung cancer disparities and creating novel approaches to reduce impact [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr C081.

OBJECTIVES: Latinos in the United States experience a disproportionate number of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and higher use of alcohol and illegal drugs, which has been attributed to increases in risk behaviors following immigration. Whereas substantial research documents these behavioral changes, little is known about how immigrants increase their risk or why some immigrants increase their risk and other immigrants do not. This study explored how the social and normative context affects sexual and substance use behaviors among Latino immigrant men in a midsized Midwestern city of the United States. METHODS: We interviewed 64 Latino immigrant men recruited from community sites in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (mean age = 32.6 years). Participants reported the social and normative contexts preceding and following immigration, including social networks and support, perceptions of the law, and familiar and peer normative influences. RESULTS: Immigrants attributed changes in their sexual and substance use behaviors to their immigration goals, social support, peer and familial normative influences, and restrictions related to their immigrant status. Immigration for economic and personal advancement was generally protective from behaviors that would interfere with those goals as were extended familial networks that could provide support, resources, and normative control. The need to stay under the radar of authorities, the proportion of Latinos in the community, the social and normative changes associated with immigrants’ age, and the higher perceptions of risk for HIV in the United States compared with their home countries also influenced immigrants’ sexual and substance use behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in risk behavior after immigration to the United States reflect a combination of social and normative factors and personal goals. Interventions and policies aiming to prevent HIV and substance use among Latino immigrants should understand the contextual conditions that decrease or increase their risk behaviors in the United States.

Introduction Isomerism, or heterotaxy syndrome, affects many organ systems anatomically and functionally. Intestinal malrotation is common in patients with isomerism. Despite a low reported risk of volvulus, some physicians perform routine screening and prophylactic Ladd procedures on asymptomatic patients with isomerism who are found to have intestinal malrotation. The primary aim of this study was to determine if isomerism is an independent risk factor for volvulus. Methods Kid's Inpatient Database data from 1997 to 2012 was utilized for this study. Characteristics of admissions with and without isomerism were compared with a particular focus on intestinal malrotation, volvulus, and Ladd procedure. A logistic regression was conducted to determine independent risk factors for volvulus with respect to isomerism. Results 15,962,403 inpatient admissions were included in the analysis, of which 7970 (0.05%) patients had isomerism, and 6 patients (0.1%) developed volvulus. Isomerism was associated with a 52-fold increase in the odds of intestinal malrotation by univariate analysis. Of 251 with isomerism and intestinal malrotation, only 2.4% experienced volvulus. Logistic regression demonstrated that isomerism was not an independent risk factor for volvulus. Conclusion Isomerism is associated with an increased risk of intestinal malrotation but is not an independent risk factor for volvulus. Type of Study Prognosis study. Level of Evidence Level III.

BACKGROUND Although prior studies support the use of a hemoglobin (Hb) transfusion trigger of 7 to 8 g/dL for most hospitalized adults, there are few studies in pediatric populations. We therefore investigated transfusion practices and Hb triggers in hospitalized children. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We performed a historical cohort study comparing transfusion practices in hospitalized children by service within a single academic institution. Blood utilization data from transfused patients (n = 3370) were obtained from electronic records over 4 years. Hb triggers and posttransfusion Hb levels were defined as the lowest and last Hb measured during hospital stay, respectively, in transfused patients. The mean and percentile distribution for Hb triggers were compared to the evidence-based restrictive transfusion threshold of 7 g/dL. RESULTS Mean Hb triggers were above the restrictive trigger (7 g/dL) for eight of 12 pediatric services. Among all of the services, there were significant differences between the mean Hb triggers (>2.5 g/dL, p 3 g/dL, p

Background Reducing healthcare costs while maintaining quality of care is one of the challenges of the current healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to compare the hospital charges accrued following laparoscopic (LA) and open (OA) appendectomies in the pediatric population. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all pediatric appendectomies (n = 264) performed from 2007 to 2013 at a single academic center. Subgroup analysis on charges and costs was performed on perforated and nonperforated LA and OA. Results A total of 195 (73.9%) appendectomies were performed laparoscopically. LA in both perforated and nonperforated groups was associated with higher surgical supply, operating room, and total hospital charges compared with OA. Surgical supply costs to the facility were higher by an average of $1,000 for both nonperforated and perforated appendicitis in the LA group. Length of stay and postoperative complications were comparable within all groups. Conclusions In this study, LA is associated with significantly higher surgical costs and charges than OA without improvement in outcomes. Investigation into cost reduction strategies of laparoscopy should be a component of future clinical appendicitis research.

Describe safety and postoperative sequelae of pediatric otologic surgery and identify predictive factors for postoperative events.Retrospective cohort study of the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database.Data pooled from the 2012 NSQIP-P public use file (50 institutions).Current procedural terminology codes were used to identify children who underwent otologic surgery. Variables of interest included demographics and 30-day postoperative events grouped as reoperation, readmission, and complication. Event rates were determined and prevalence of events compared by procedure type and within patient subgroups according to chi-square analysis. Multivariate logistic regression evaluated predictive factors for postoperative events.Of 37,319 pediatric operations, 2556 (6.8%) were otologic procedures. The most common procedure was tympanoplasty (n = 893, 34.9%), followed by myringoplasty (n = 741, 30.0%), cochlear implantation (n = 464, 18.2%), and tympanomastoidectomy (n = 458, 17.9%). There were 9 reoperations (0.4%), 32 readmissions (1.3%), and 18 complications (0.7%). Children undergoing tympanomastoidectomy or cochlear implantation were more likely to be readmitted irrespective of other factors (odds ratio = 5.5, P = .010; odds ratio = 3.5, P = .083). Children3 years old were 4 times more likely to be readmitted than older children (odds ratio = 4.4, P.001).Pediatric otologic procedures are common and have low rates of global 30-day postoperative events. Tympanomastoidectomy and cochlear implantation have the highest risk of 30-day readmission. Young children (3 years) are more likely to be readmitted following these procedures. Further optimization of the NSQIP-P to include specialty and procedure-specific variables is necessary to assess complete, actionable outcomes of pediatric otologic surgery, however the present study provides a foundation to build upon for safety and quality improvement initiatives in pediatric otology.

To evaluate trends and factors associated with interfacility differences in imaging modality selection in the diagnosis and management of children with suspected acute appendicitis. We conducted a retrospective review of diagnostic imaging selection and outcomes in patients

Background Previous models of support for premature sheep fetuses have consisted of cesarean delivery followed by catheterization of umbilical or central vessels and support with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The limitations of these models have been insufficient blood flow, significant fetal edema, and hemorrhage related to anticoagulation. Methods We performed a gravid hysterectomy on 13 ewes between 135 and 145days gestational age. The uterine vessels were cannulated bilaterally and circulatory support was provided via ECMO. Successful transition was defined as maintenance of fetal heart rate for 30minutes after establishing full extracorporeal support. Circuit flow was titrated to maintain mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO 2 ) of 70–75%. Results Seven experiments were successfully transitioned to ECMO, with an average survival time of 2hours 9minutes. The longest recorded time from cannulation to death was 6hours 14minutes. By delivering a circuit flow of up to 2120ml/min, all but one of the transitioned uteri were maintained within the desired SvO 2 range. Conclusion We report a novel animal model of fetal ECMO support that preserves the placenta, mitigates the effects of heparin, and allows for increased circuit flow compared to prior techniques. This approach may provide insight into a technique for future studies of fetal physiology.

There is an ongoing debate among pediatric surgeons regarding the need or lack thereof to centralize the surgical care of children to high-volume children's centers. Risk-adjusted comparisons of hospitals performing pediatric surgery are needed.Admissions from 2006 to 2010 from two national administrative databases were analyzed. Only nontrauma pediatric patients undergoing a noncardiac surgical procedure were included. Risk-adjustment was performed with a validated International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision code-based tool. Hospitals were grouped into metropolitan regions using the first three digits of their zip code. Poorly performing outlier hospitals were defined by an odds ratio1 and P value.05 for mortality compared with the center with the greatest pediatric operative volume in that same region.Information was obtained from 415,546 pediatric surgical admissions, and 173 hospitals in 55 regions were compared. A total of 18 poor performing hospitals (adjusted odds ratio, range 1.91-35.95) in 15 regions were identified. Mortality in poor performers ranged from 1.11% to 10.19% whereas that in the high-volume reference centers was 0.37-2.41%. A subset analysis in patients1 year of age showed 37 poor performers in 46 regions. Median number of surgical admissions was 345 (interquartile range 152-907) for nonoutlier and 240 (interquartile range 135-566) for outlier centers (P = .30).The present analysis is a novel risk-adjusted assessment of the performance of hospitals delivering pediatric surgical care. By identifying the existence of multiple poor performing outlier hospitals, this study provides valuable data for discussion as health care delivery systems continue to debate optimal resource distribution and regionalization of the surgical care of children.

For a number of pediatric and adult conditions, morbidity and mortality are increased when patients present to the hospital on a weekend compared to weekdays. The objective of this study was to compare pediatric surgical outcomes following weekend versus weekday procedures.Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and the Kids' Inpatient Database, we identified 439,457 pediatric (18 years old) admissions from 1988 to 2010 that required a selected index surgical procedure (abscess drainage, appendectomy, inguinal hernia repair, open fracture reduction with internal fixation, or placement/revision of ventricular shunt) on the same day of admission. Outcome metrics were compared using logistic regression models that adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics as well as procedure performed.Patient characteristics of those admitted on the weekend (n=112,064) and weekday (n=327,393) were similar, though patients admitted on the weekend were more likely to be coded as emergent (61% versus 53%). After multivariate adjustment and regression, patients undergoing a weekend procedure were more likely to die (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.21-2.20), receive a blood transfusion despite similar rates of intraoperative hemorrhage (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.26), and suffer from procedural complications (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.14-1.74).Pediatric patients undergoing common urgent surgical procedures during a weekend admission have a higher adjusted risk of death, blood transfusion, and procedural complications. While the exact etiology of these findings is not clear, the timing of surgical procedures should be considered in the context of systems-based deficiencies that may be detrimental to pediatric surgical care.

SummaryBackground Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is a potentially fatal metabolic disorder. Due to its rarity, limited evidence exists about risk factors, morbidity, and mortality especially in children. Methods Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and the Kid's Inpatient Database (KID), admissions with the ICD-9 code for MH (995.86) were extracted for patients 0–17 years of age. Demographic characteristics were analyzed. Logistic regression was performed to identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with mortality. A subset of patients with a surgical ICD-9 code in the KID was studied to calculate the prevalence of MH in the dataset. Results A total of 310 pediatric admissions were seen in 13 nonoverlapping years of data. Patients had a mortality of 2.9%. Male sex was predominant (64.8%), and 40.5% of the admissions were treated at centers not identified as children's hospitals. The most common associated diagnosis was rhabdomyolysis, which was present in 26 cases. Regression with the outcome of mortality did not yield significant differences between demographic factors, age, sex race, or hospital type, pediatric vs nonpediatric. Within a surgical subset of 530 449 admissions, MH was coded in 55, giving a rate of 1.04 cases per 10 000 cases. Conclusions This study is the first to combine two large databases to study MH in the pediatric population. The analysis provides an insight into the risk factors, comorbidities, mortality, and prevalence of MH in the United States population. Until more methodologically rigorous, large-scale studies are done, the use of databases will continue to be the optimal method to study rare diseases.

Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) has become the treatment of choice in many centers in the recent years due to the successful surgical outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the results of MIRPE at our institute. Two hundred and fifty cases who had had MIRPE between August 2005 and February 2012 were included in the study and they were evaluated retrospectively according to the demographics, form of the deformity, number of retrosternal bars, operation duration, perioperative and postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, reoperations, bar removal and patient satisfaction. Two hundred and three of the patients were male, 47 were female and the median age was 16.5 (range: 6-36). The deformity was symmetric in 180 and asymmetric in 70 cases. One pectus bar was used in 157 cases, two in 87, three in 6 cases for the correction of the deformity. The median operation duration was 60 minutes (range: 20-180) and the median duration of hospital stay was 5 days (range: 2-10). Thirteen patients were reoperated due to inefficient correction of the deformity. Bars of the 30 patients have been removed on planned date without any recurrence in all but one patient. According to the evaluation of the quality-of-life questionnaires 95% of the patients were satisfied with surgical outcome. Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum is a successful surgical technique and can be preferred for the short operating time, low morbidity and high levels of patient satisfaction.

Appendicitis remains a common indication for urgent surgical intervention in the United States, and early appendectomy has long been advocated to mitigate the risk of appendiceal perforation. To better quantify the risk of perforation associated with delayed operative timing, this study examines the impact of length of inpatient stay preceding surgery on rates of perforated appendicitis in both adults and children.This study was a cross-sectional analysis using the National Inpatient Sample and Kids' Inpatient Database from 1988-2008. We selected patients with a discharge diagnosis of acute appendicitis (perforated or nonperforated) and receiving appendectomy within 7 d after admission. Patients electively admitted or receiving drainage procedures before appendectomy were excluded. We analyzed perforation rates as a function of both age and length of inpatient hospitalization before appendectomy.Of 683,590 patients with a discharge diagnosis of appendicitis, 30.3% were recorded as perforated. Over 80% of patients underwent appendectomy on the day of admission, approximately 18% of operations were performed on hospital days 2-4, and later operations accounted for1% of cases. During appendectomy on the day of admission, the perforation rate was 28.8%; this increased to 33.3% for surgeries on hospital day 2 and 78.8% by hospital day 8 (P0.001). Adjusted for patient, procedure, and hospital characteristics, odds of perforation increased from 1.20 for adults and 1.08 for children on hospital day 2 to 4.76 for adults and 15.42 for children by hospital day 8 (P0.001).Greater inpatient delay before appendectomy is associated with increased perforation rates for children and adults within this population-based study. These findings align with previous studies and with the conventional progressive pathophysiologic appendicitis model. Randomized prospective studies are needed to determine which patients benefit from nonoperative versus surgically aggressive management strategies for acute appendicitis.

The complexity and high cost of neonatal and pediatric intensive care has generated increasing interest in developing measures to quantify the severity of patient illness. While these indices may help improve health care quality and benchmark mortality across hospitals, comprehensive understanding of the purpose and the factors that influenced the performance of risk stratification indices is important so that they can be compared fairly and used most appropriately. In this review, we examined 19 indices of risk stratification used to predict mortality in critically ill children and critically analyzed their design, limitations, and purposes. Some pediatric and neonatal models appear well-suited for institutional benchmarking purposes, with relatively brief data acquisition times, limited potential for treatment-related bias, and reliance on diagnostic variables that permit adjustment for case mix. Other models are more suitable for use in clinical trials, as they rely on physiologic variables collected over an extended period, to better capture the interaction between organ systems function and specific therapeutic interventions in acutely ill patients. Irrespective of their clinical or research applications, risk stratification indices must be periodically recalibrated to adjust for changes in clinical practice in order to remain valid outcome predictors in pediatric intensive care units. Longitudinal auditing, education, training, and guidelines development are also critical to ensure fidelity and reproducibility in data reporting. Conclusion: Risk stratification indices are valid tools to describe intensive care unit population and explain differences in mortality.

Background Advances in surgical technique for pectus excavatum repair continue to change practice patterns. The present study examines trends in operative age in a nationwide administrative database. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was performed using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data from 1998 to 2009. Pediatric discharges involving surgical repair of pectus excavatum were selected. Patients were sub-grouped by age at operation and calendar year of repair for further comparison. Results A total of 5830 elective admissions were identified that met inclusion criteria. Mean age at operation was 13.5 years, and this increased from 11.8 years to 14.4 years over the period studied and was accompanied by narrowing of the interquartile range. Examined over groups of four calendar years, patient age at the time of repair was significantly higher in more recent years in both unadjusted and multivariate analyses ( P Conclusions The age at operation in this sample has steadily increased, with an accompanying decrease in variability. This is consistent with previous findings and with overall trends in patient selection reported in the literature. This selection pattern may reflect evolving consensus regarding optimal management of pectus excavatum and provide clinical guidance regarding appropriate referral and intervention.

Importance The number of practicing pediatric surgeons has increased rapidly in the past 4 decades, without a significant increase in the incidence of rare diseases specific to the field. Maintenance of competency in the index procedures for these rare diseases is essential to the future of the profession. Objective To describe the demographic characteristics and operative experiences of practicing pediatric surgeons using Pediatric Surgery Board recertification case log data. Design, Setting, and Participants We performed a retrospective review of 5 years of pediatric surgery certification renewal applications submitted to the Pediatric Surgery Board between 2009 and 2013. A surgeon’s location was defined by population as urban, large rural, small rural, or isolated. Case log data were examined to determine case volume by category and type of procedures. Surgeons were categorized according to recertification at 10, 20, or 30 years. Main Outcome and Measure Number of index cases during the preceding year. Results Of 308 recertifying pediatric surgeons, 249 (80.8%) were men, and 143 (46.4%) were 46 to 55 years of age. Most of the pediatric surgeons (304 of 308 [98.7%]) practiced in urban areas (ie, with a population >50 000 people). All recertifying applicants were clinically active. An appendectomy was the most commonly performed procedure (with a mean [SD] number of 49.3 [35.0] procedures per year), nonoperative trauma management came in second (with 20.0 [33.0] procedures per year), and inguinal hernia repair for children younger than 6 months of age came in third (with 14.7 [13.8] procedures per year). In 6 of 10 “rare” pediatric surgery cases, the mean number of procedures was less than 2. Of 308 surgeons, 193 (62.7%) had performed a neuroblastoma resection, 170 (55.2%) a kidney tumor resection, and 123 (39.9%) an operation to treat biliary atresia or choledochal cyst in the preceding year. Laparoscopy was more frequently performed in the 10-year recertification group for Nissen fundoplication, appendectomy, splenectomy, gastrostomy/jejunostomy, orchidopexy, and cholecystectomy ( P P = .70). It was more frequently used by surgeons recertifying in the 10-year group (used in 11 375 of 14 456 procedures [78.7%]) than by surgeons recertifying in the 20-year (used in 6214 of 8712 procedures [71.3%]) or 30-year group (used in 2022 of 3805 procedures [53.1%]). Conclusions and Relevance Practicing pediatric surgeons receive limited exposure to index cases after training. With regard to maintaining competency in an era in which health care outcomes have become increasingly important, these results are concerning.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common acquired gastrointestinal disease of infancy that is strongly correlated with prematurity. Both percutaneous abdominal drainage and laparotomy with resection of diseased bowel are surgical options for treatment of NEC. The objective of the present study is to compare outcomes of patients who were treated either with bowel resection/ostomy (BR/O), percutaneous drainage (PD) or Both procedures for NEC in a retrospective analysis.A retrospective analysis was performed using data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, extracted from a combination of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) from 1988 to 2005. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed for in-hospital mortality associated with PD, BR/O or Both procedures for management of NEC. In addition, linear regression was performed for length of stay and total hospital charges. Odds ratios were calculated using the BR/O category as the reference group.There were 4,238 patients identified who underwent BR/O, 286 for PD, and 133 for Both procedures for NEC. Patients undergoing PD had a 5.7 times higher odds of death compared to patients treated with BR/O (p0.05) alone; patients receiving Both procedures did not have significantly higher odds of death compared to the BR/O group. Patients who underwent PD had a shorter length of stay (43 days; p0.05) and lower total hospital charges ($173,850; p0.05) in comparison to patients treated with BR/O. Length of stay and total hospital charges were greater in patients who received Both procedures, compared to those receiving BR/O alone, but this was not statistically significant.In this nationwide sample of infants with NEC, outcomes for peritoneal drainage alone were poorer than those for bowel resection and enterostomy and for Both procedures. Increased overall mortality and shorter length of stay and hospital charges suggest higher early mortality associated with peritoneal drainage alone. Risk stratifying these groups using prematurity, birth weight, and number of concurrent diagnoses yielded equivocal results. A more detailed study will be needed to determine whether the patient populations that underwent initial laparotomy and bowel resection are substantially different from those that receive peritoneal drainage, or whether differences in outcome may be directly attributable to the type of procedure performed.

The objective of this article is to inform educators about the use of currently available educational technology tools to promote student retention, engagement and interaction in online courses. Educational technology tools include content management systems, podcasts, video lecture capture technology and electronic discussion boards. Successful use of educational technology tools requires planning, organization and use of effective learning strategies.

Background The nationwide mortality of neonates with gastroschisis was compared to determine whether significant variations in outcome occurred at the hospital level. Methods Utilizing a previously developed risk-stratification index, low-risk neonates with gastroschisis were identified by a score of ≤2. Only hospitals that had a record of treating >25 low-risk neonates were included in the analysis. Hospital performance in treating infants with gastroschisis was categorized into moderate and extreme outliers. Results A total of 4,344 neonates with gastroschisis were identified at 506 individual hospitals. Low-risk neonates had an overall mortality of 2.9% compared with high-risk neonates whose overall mortality was 24.4%. Forty hospitals treated >25 low-risk neonates in the years studied for a total of 1,775 low-risk patients. The mean, in-hospital mortality of this cohort was 3.1% (range, 0–14.3). Eight hospitals were moderate outliers with mortality rates between 3.8% and 8.0%. Two hospitals were extreme outliers with mortality rates of 8.6% and 14.3%. Conclusion A substantial variation exists in the mortality of neonates with low-risk gastroschisis across hospitals. Further improvements in survival may, thus, depend on targeting quality improvement initiatives to standardization of operative approaches as well improvements in nonoperative factors such as neonatal intensive care unit practices, nurse-to-patient ratios, and levels of intensivist staffing.

The insertion of tunneled central venous access catheters (CVCs) in infants can be challenging. The use of the ultrasound-guided (UG) approach to CVC placement has been reported in adults and children, but the technique is not well studied in infants.A retrospective review was performed of infants under 3.5 kg who underwent attempted UG CVC placement between August 2012 and November 2013. All infants underwent UG CVC placement using a standard 4.2-French or 3.0-French CVC system (Bard Access Systems, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT). The UG approach was performed on all infants with the M-Turbo(®) ultrasound system (SonoSite, Inc., Bothell, WA). The prepackaged 0.025-inch-diameter J wire within the set was used in all infants weighing greater than 2.5 kg. A 0.018-inch-diameter angled glidewire (Radiofocus(®) GLIDEWIRE(®); Boston Scientific Inc., Natick, MA) was used in infants less than 2.5 kg. Data collected included infant weight, vascular access site, diameter of cannulated vein (in mm), and complications.Twenty infants underwent 21 UG CVC placements (mean weight, 2.4 kg; range, 1.4-3.4 kg). Vascular CVC placement occurred at the following access sites: 16 infants underwent 17 placements via the right internal jugular vein, versus 3 infants via the left internal jugular vein. The average size of the target vessel was 4.0 mm (range, 3.5-5.0 mm). One infant had inadvertent removal of the UG CVC in the right internal jugular vein on postoperative Day 7. This infant returned to the operating room and underwent a successful UG CVC in the same right internal jugular vein. There were no other complications in the group.The UG CVC approach is a safe and efficient approach to central venous access in infants as small as 1.4 kg. Our experience supports the use of a UG percutaneous technique as the initial approach in underweight infants who require central venous access.

Although prior studies support the use of a hemoglobin (Hb) transfusion trigger of 7 to 8 g/dL for most hospitalized adults, there are few studies in pediatric populations. We therefore investigated transfusion practices and Hb triggers in hospitalized children.We performed a historical cohort study comparing transfusion practices in hospitalized children by service within a single academic institution. Blood utilization data from transfused patients (n = 3370) were obtained from electronic records over 4 years. Hb triggers and posttransfusion Hb levels were defined as the lowest and last Hb measured during hospital stay, respectively, in transfused patients. The mean and percentile distribution for Hb triggers were compared to the evidence-based restrictive transfusion threshold of 7 g/dL.Mean Hb triggers were above the restrictive trigger (7 g/dL) for eight of 12 pediatric services. Among all of the services, there were significant differences between the mean Hb triggers (2.5 g/dL, p0.0001) and between the posttransfusion Hb levels (3 g/dL, p 0.0001). The variation between the 10th and 90th percentiles for triggers (up to 4 g/dL, p 0.0001) and posttransfusion Hb levels (up to 6 g/dL, p 0.0001) were significant. Depending on the service, between 25 and 90% of transfused patients had Hb triggers higher than the restrictive range.Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion therapy varies significantly in hospitalized children with mean Hb triggers above a restrictive threshold for most services. Our findings suggest that transfusions may be overused and that implementing a restrictive transfusion strategy could decrease the use of RBC transfusions, thereby reducing the associated risks and costs.

Background In an era of wide regionalization of pediatric trauma systems, interhospital patient transfer is common. Decisions regarding the location of definitive trauma care depend on prehospital destination criteria (primary triage) and interfacility transfers (secondary triage). Secondary overtriage can occur in any resource-limited setting but is not well characterized in pediatric trauma. Methods The National Trauma Data Bank from 2008 to 2011 was queried to identify patients 15years or younger who were transferred to pediatric trauma centers. Secondary overtriage was defined as meeting all 4 of the following criteria: injury severity score (ISS) less than 9, no need for surgical procedure, no critical care admission, and length of stay of less than 24hours. All other transfers were deemed appropriate triage. Results Our definition of secondary overtriage was met in 32,318 patients out of 144,420 transfers (22.4%). Within this group, 37.5% were discharged directly from the emergency department of the receiving hospital without hospital admission. Appropriately triaged patients required a therapeutic procedure in 43.5% of cases. Differences in age, sex, mechanism of injury, and payer status were modest. Conclusions Secondary overtriage is prevalent in pediatric trauma systems nationwide and is not associated with any particular patient characteristics. Because clinical outcomes and healthcare spending are increasingly scrutinized, secondary overtriage may reflect unnecessary patient transfer and a source of potential cost savings. Development of better guidelines for secondary triage of pediatric trauma patients may enable timely assessment and treatment of children who require a higher level of care while also preventing inefficient use of available resources.

Background Childhood obesity is a worsening epidemic. Little is known about the impact of elevated BMI on perioperative and postoperative complications in children who undergo laparoscopic surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of obesity on surgical outcomes in children using laparoscopic appendectomy as a model for the broader field of laparoscopic surgery. Study design Using the Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data from 2012, patients aged 2–18years old with acute uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy were identified. Children with a body mass index (BMI)≥95th percentile for their age and gender were considered obese. Primary outcomes, including overall morbidity and wound complications, were compared between nonobese and obese children. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to identify the impact of obesity on outcome. Results A total of 2812 children with acute appendicitis who underwent appendectomy were included in the analysis; 22% were obese. Obese children had longer operative times but did not suffer increased postoperative complications when controlling for confounders (OR 1.3, 95% CI: 0.83–0.072 for overall complications, OR 1.3, 95% CI: 0.84–1.95 for wound complications). Conclusions Obesity is not an independent risk factor for postoperative complications following laparoscopic appendectomy. Although operative times are increased in obese children, obesity does not increase the likelihood of 30-day postoperative complications.

Background Blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) is the second most common cause of death in trauma patients. Eighty percent of patients with BTAI will die before reaching a trauma center. The issues of how to diagnose, treat, and manage BTAI were frst addressed by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) in the practice management guidelines on this topic published in 2000. Since that time, there have been advances in the management of BTAI. As a result, the EAST guidelines committee decided to develop updated guidelines for this topic using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework recently adopted by EAST. Methods A systematic review of the MEDLINE database using PubMed was performed. The search retrieved English language articles regarding BTAI from 1998 to 2013. Letters to the editor, case reports, book chapters, and review articles were excluded. Topics of investigation included imaging to diagnose BTAI, type of operative repair, and timing of operative repair. Results Sixty articles were identifed. Of these, 51 articles were selected to construct the guidelines. Conclusion There have been changes in practice since the publication of the previous guidelines in 2000. Computed tomography of the chest with intravenous contrast is strongly recommended to diagnose clinically signifcant BTAI. Endovascular repair is strongly recommended for patients without contraindications. Delayed repair of BTAI is suggested, with the stipulation that effective blood pressure control must be used in these patients.

The surgery of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in modern pediatric surgical practice. Any differences in perioperative and long-term clinical outcomes following laparoscopic (LN) or open Nissen (ON) fundoplication have not been comprehensively described in young children. This randomized, prospective study examines outcomes following LN versus ON in children2 years of age.Four surgeons at a single institution enrolled patients under 2 years of age that required surgical management of GERD, who were then randomized to LN or ON between 2005 and 2012. A universal surgical dressing was employed for blinding. Analgesia and enteral feeding pathways were standardized. The primary outcome was postoperative length of stay. Perioperative outcomes and long-term follow up were collected as secondary outcomes and used to compare groups.Of 39 enrolled patients, 21 were randomized to ON and 18 to LN. Length of postoperative hospital stay, time of advancement to full enteral feeds, and analgesic requirements were not significantly different between treatment cohorts. The LN group experienced longer median operating times (173 vs 91 min, P0.001) and higher surgical charges ($4450 vs $2722, P=0.002). The incidence of post-discharge complications did not differ significantly between the groups at last follow-up (median 42 months).This randomized trial comparing postoperative outcomes following LN vs ON did not detect statistically significant differences in short- or long-term clinical outcomes between these approaches. LN was associated with longer surgical time and higher operating room costs. The benefits, risks, and costs of laparoscopy should be carefully considered in clinical pediatric surgical practice.

Introduction The intracorporeal placement and tying of suture (IT) can be challenging leading to prolonged CO 2 insufflation, anesthesia, and potential morbidity. The unidirectional barbed knotless suture (V-LOC) has emerged as an innovative technology that has been shown to reduce the time associated with IT. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis comparing our initial experience utilizing V-LOC to perform a novel continuous stitch laparoscopic fundoplication (CF) to standard laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (NF). Methods Institutional review board approval was obtained to analyze data on patients who underwent V-LOC CF and NF. Data retrieval included age, gender, weight, diagnosis, procedure, operative time, major complications (reoperation for wrap failure/migration or recurrent symptoms), and follow up. Results Twenty patients underwent the V-LOC CF and gastrostomy placement (GT) from January to October 2013. Seventeen patients underwent NF and GT from March 2012 to February 2013. There were no significant differences in age, weight, or incidence of major complications. V-LOC CF led to a significant 30% reduction in operative time compared to NF (79.1±24.2min vs. 113.8±25.9min, respectively, P Conclusions This is the first report documenting the continuous stitch fundoplication utilizing the unidirectional barbed knotless suture in children. Although follow-up is short, the V-LOC CF appears to be a safe and effective technique that may reduce operative time in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease. This technology may be beneficial in other minimally invasive applications in pediatric surgery.

Thymectomy is an accepted component of treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG), but optimal timing and surgical approach have not been determined. Though small series have reported the feasibility of thoracoscopic resection, some studies have suggested that minimally invasive methods are suboptimal compared to open sternotomy owing to incomplete clearance of thymic tissue. Here we report the largest series of thymectomies for pediatric myasthenia gravis in the literature to date.A retrospective review of patients undergoing thymectomy for MG between 1990 and 2013 in a tertiary referral hospital was performed. Twelve patients who underwent thoracoscopic thymectomy were compared to 16 patients who underwent open thymectomy via median sternotomy. Postoperative outcomes were determined by electronic chart review in consultation with the treating pediatric neurologist. Disease severities were graded according to a modified Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) Quantitative MG (QMG) score.Overall, thoracoscopic resections tended to be performed on patients with earlier and less severe disease than open surgeries. Inpatient length of stay was significantly shorter after thoracoscopic surgery (mean 1.8 vs 8.0 days, p=0.045). The preoperative and postoperative MGFA QMG scores were equivalent between the two groups. Both groups experienced a decrease in disease severity (p0.001) after median follow-up time of 23 months in the thoracoscopic group and 44 months in the open group.Minimally invasive thymectomy for MG in children has increased in popularity as surgeons and neurologists compare the risks and benefits of surgery against other therapies. This analysis suggests that thoracoscopic thymectomy is not inferior to median sternotomy in terms of disease control in this small series, and that the morbidity of the thoracoscopic approach appears sufficiently low to be considered for early stage disease. Low perioperative morbidity and shortened hospital course make thoracoscopic thymectomy an attractive option in centers with sufficient medical and surgical experience.

Objectives:There is a paucity of data regarding postoperative complications associated with pediatric otologic procedures. We describe safety and postoperative sequelae of these procedures using data from the largest quality improvement initiative in pediatric surgery, the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P). This study is the first to assess safety of pediatric otologic surgery using NSQIP-P data.Methods:We identified children who underwent outpatient otologic surgery using current procedural terminology codes. Variables of interest included patient demographics and 30-day unplanned postoperative events including reoperation, readmission, and wound complication. Adverse event rates were determined and prevalence of events was compared by procedure type and within patient subgroups.Results:Of 37,319 pediatric surgical cases, 2410 were otologic procedures. The most common procedure was tympanoplasty (N = 836, 34.7%), followed by myringoplasty (N = 7...