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To explore to what extent intrauterine device (IUD) expulsion is associated with demographic and clinical risk factors.The APEX-IUD (Association of Perforation and Expulsion of IntraUterine Devices) study was a U.S. cohort study using electronic health records from three integrated health care systems (Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Southern California, and Washington) and a health care information exchange (Regenstrief Institute). These analyses included individuals aged 50 years or younger with IUD insertions from 2001 to 2018. Intrauterine device expulsion cumulative incidence and incidence rates were estimated. Using Cox regression models, hazard ratios with 95% CIs were estimated before and after adjustment for risk factors of interest (age, race and ethnicity, parity, body mass index [BMI], heavy menstrual bleeding, and dysmenorrhea) and potential confounders.In total, 228,834 individuals with IUD insertion and no delivery in the previous 52 weeks were identified (184,733 [80.7%] with levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system). Diagnosis of heavy menstrual bleeding-particularly a diagnosis in both recent and past periods-was the strongest risk factor for IUD expulsion. Categories with the highest risk of IUD expulsion within each risk factor included individuals diagnosed with overweight, obesity, and morbid obesity; those in younger age groups, especially among those aged 24 years or younger; and in those with parity of four or more. Non-Hispanic White individuals had the lowest incidence and risk, and after adjustment, Asian or Pacific Islander individuals had the highest risk. Dysmenorrhea was not independently associated with expulsion risk when adjusting for heavy menstrual bleeding.Most risk factors for expulsion identified in this study appear consistent with known physiologic factors that affect uterine anatomy and physiology (age, BMI, heavy menstrual bleeding, parity). The increased risk of IUD expulsion among individuals of color warrants further investigation. Intrauterine devices are an effective long-term contraceptive; expulsion is uncommon, but patients should be counseled accordingly.Bayer AG.EU PAS register, EUPAS33461.

Surgical correction of a flatfoot deformity is controversial. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the structural radiographic changes of the flatfoot deformity while maintaining the mobile adapter of the foot. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 56 patients that underwent this procedure comparing their pre- to postoperative angular changes during a follow-up period. The mean age of our study cohort was 53.6 (range, 20-77) years and mean follow-up period was 23 (range, 4-73) months. Radiographic union was achieved in 48 patients (86%). Forty-six patients (82%) had all required radiographs completed through final follow-up visit. We illustrated statistically significant changes to the talonavicular, Meary, talocalcaneal, calcaneal inclination, and talar declination angles, and navicular height at 3 months and final follow-up. This study suggests surgical correction of the flatfoot deformity that fused the subtalar but spared the talonavicular joint appears to achieve and maintain radiographic angular changes and achieve union.

There is growing advocacy for use of long-acting reversible contraception among sexually active adolescents. Our primary aims were to evaluate the etonogestrel subdermal contraceptive implant (SCI) insertion trends among adolescents, as well as SCI retention at 1, 2, and 3 years, indications for removal, and to identify pregnancies that occurred during SCI use. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of adolescents aged 13-19 years with SCI insertions in 2008-2014 within a large integrated health care system. Demographic and clinical characteristics included age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, gravidity, parity, insertions, reinsertions, indications for removal, and pregnancy. Electronic medical record review was conducted on a randomized sample of 540 adolescents with insertions during 2008-2011 for the retention objective to validate electronically extracted variables. Analyses included descriptive statistics, survival analysis with Kaplan-Meier estimates for implant retention and Cochran-Armitage trend test for insertions according to year during 2008-2014.Most adolescent SCI users were non-Hispanic white (43%), or Hispanic (34.2%) and 16 years or older (84.2%) at the time of insertion. Overall, 1-, 2-, and 3-year retention rates were 78.6%, 59.4%, and 26.2%, respectively, with retention at 44.3% at 2 years 9 months (indicative of removal of method for near expiration of 3-year device). The insertion rate trend showed statistically significant increases annually, from 0.14% in 2008 to 0.91% in 2014; P .0001. No pregnancies were documented during implant use. The most common indication for SCI removal was device expiration.SCI insertions increased annually among adolescents, with more than a sixfold increase over the 6-year study period, and more than half of the SCIs were retained through 2 years of use. The most common indication of SCI removal was completion of Food and Drug Administration-approved duration.

South Asian ethnicity has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk, in the context of a greater burden of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. We aimed to identify the 10-year incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in South Asians, as compared to other racial-ethnic groups, in a retrospective cohort study, using the Kaiser Permanente Northern California integrated health care system, and to understand whether traditional risk factors could explain differences in outcomes.A study cohort established in 2006, with 10-year follow-up, identified a total n = 341,309 patients, including 5149 South Asians, aged 30-70 years who underwent a screening lipid panel and had no prior history of CHD. There were a total of 460 (8.93%) patients with at least one cardiovascular event, including cardiovascular death, coronary artery revascularization, and myocardial infarction, in South Asians, as compared to 5.66% patients in the total population (p 0.0001). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, South Asian ethnicity, compared to White race, was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.04 (95%CI: 1.83, 2.28) in predicting the cardiovascular outcomes.South Asian ethnicity, even after adjustment for traditional risk factors, is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease outcomes. This risk was greater than other studied racial-ethnic groups and second only to diabetes in CHD risk prediction.

Intrauterine devices are effective instruments for contraception, and 1 levonorgestrel-releasing device is also indicated for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia).To compare the incidence of intrauterine device expulsion and uterine perforation in women with and without a diagnosis of menorrhagia within the first 12 months before device insertion STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in 3 integrated healthcare systems (Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Southern California, and Washington) and a healthcare information exchange (Regenstrief Institute) in the United States using electronic health records. Nonpostpartum women aged ≤50 years with intrauterine device (eg, levonorgestrel or copper) insertions from 2001 to 2018 and without a delivery in the previous 12 months were studied in this analysis. Recent menorrhagia diagnosis (ie, recorded ≤12 months before insertion) was ascertained from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. The study outcomes, viz, device expulsion and device-related uterine perforation (complete or partial), were ascertained from electronic medical records and validated in the data sources. The cumulative incidence and crude incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the crude and adjusted hazard ratios using propensity score overlap weighting (13-16 variables) and 95% confidence intervals.Among 228,834 nonpostpartum women, the mean age was 33.1 years, 44.4% of them were White, and 31,600 (13.8%) had a recent menorrhagia diagnosis. Most women had a levonorgestrel-releasing device (96.4% of those with and 78.2% of those without a menorrhagia diagnosis). Women with a menorrhagia diagnosis were likely to be older, obese, and have dysmenorrhea or fibroids. Women with a menorrhagia diagnosis had a higher intrauterine device-expulsion rate (40.01 vs 10.92 per 1000 person-years) than those without, especially evident in the first few months after insertion. Women with a menorrhagia diagnosis had a higher cumulative incidence (95% confidence interval) of expulsion (7.00% [6.70-7.32] at 1 year and 12.03% [11.52-12.55] at 5 years) vs those without (1.77% [1.70-1.84] at 1 year and 3.69% [3.56-3.83] at 5 years). The risk of expulsion was increased for women with a menorrhagia diagnosis vs for those without (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.84 [95% confidence interval, 2.66-3.03]). The perforation rate was low overall (1/1000 person-years) but higher in women with a diagnosis of menorrhagia vs in those without (0.98 vs 0.63 per 1000 person-years). The cumulative incidence (95% confidence interval) of uterine perforation was slightly higher for women with a menorrhagia diagnosis (0.09% [0.06-0.14] at 1 year and 0.39% [0.29-0.53] at 5 years) than those without it (0.07% [0.06-0.08] at 1 year and 0.28% [0.24-0.33] at 5 years). The risk of perforation was slightly increased in women with a menorrhagia diagnosis vs in those without (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.13).The risk of expulsion is significantly higher in women with a recent diagnosis of menorrhagia. Patient education and counseling regarding the potential expulsion risk is recommended at insertion. The absolute risk of perforation for women with a recent diagnosis of menorrhagia is very low. The increased expulsion and perforation rates observed are likely because of causal factors of menorrhagia.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the incidence of dementia and all-cause mortality up to 20 years post-treatment in an index non-demented cohort between antipsychotic (AP) medication treatment and non-AP treatment groups. Method: All patients in Kaiser Permanente Northern California with a major psychiatric diagnosis between 01/01/1996 and 12/31/2000, age ≥ 50 years, and without dementia diagnosis were included. The study cohort was divided into a “user group”, patients treated with AP for ≥ 365 days (n = 1,829), and a “non-user group”, propensity score-matched on age, sex, and race (n = 9,145). The association between AP exposure and dementia or mortality during the follow-up period (01/01/2001–12/31/2015) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for psychiatric diagnosis, comorbidities, and other medications. Result: The user group had a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.2 (CI 1.8–2.7) for dementia and 1.3 (CI 1.2- 1.5) for death. The onset of dementia in the user group was significantly higher in patients aged ≤ 65 years (p < 0.001). The user group was sub-grouped into atypical, typical, and both; HR for dementia was 1.7 (CI 1.2-2.4), 2.5 (CI 1.9-3.1), and 1.8 (CI 1.4–2.4), respectively. Dementia and mortality were significantly higher in patients concurrently treated with benzodiazepine (HR 1.3; CI 1.2-1.5 and HR 1.4; CI 1.3–1.5) or tricyclic antidepressants (HR 1.2; CI 1.1–1.4 and HR 1.1; CI 1.0-1.2), respectively. Conclusion: Our preliminary results reveal an association between AP treatment and increased rates of both dementia and mortality. Future research is needed to substantiate our current findings.

Study design Multicenter retrospective cohort study. Objective The aim of this study was to compare reoperation rates at 5-year follow-up of unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) versus posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (Fusion) for patients with low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in a multicenter database. Summary of background data Controversy exists regarding whether fusion should be used to augment decompression surgery in patients with LSS with DS. For years, the standard has been fusion with standard laminectomy to prevent postoperative instability. However, this strategy is not supported by Level 1 evidence. Instability and reoperations may be reduced or prevented using less invasive decompression techniques. Methods We identified 164 patients with DS and LSS who underwent ULBD between January 2007 and December 2011 in a multicenter database. These patients were propensity score-matched on age, sex, race, and smoking status with patients who underwent Fusion (n = 437). Each patient required a minimum of 5-year follow-up. The primary outcome was 5-year reoperation. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative complication rates, blood loss during surgery, and length of stay. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio of the 5-year reoperation rate between the two surgical groups. Results The reoperation rate at 5-year follow-up was 10.4% in the ULBD group and 17.2% in the Fusion group. ULBD reoperations were more frequent at the index surgical level; Fusion reoperations were more common at an adjacent level. The two types of operations had similar postoperative complication rates, and both groups tended to have fusion reoperations. Conclusion For patients with stable DS and LSS, ULBD is a viable, durable option compared to fusion with decreased blood loss and length stay, as well as a lower reoperation rate at 5-year follow-up. Further prospective studies are required to determine the optimal clinical scenario for ULBD in the setting of DS. Level of evidence 3.

Mary S Anthony,1 Mary Anne Armstrong,2 Darios Getahun,3 Delia Scholes,4 Jennifer Gatz,5 Renate Schulze-Rath,6 Debbie Postlethwaite,2 Maqdooda Merchant,2 Amy L Alabaster,2 Giulia Chillemi,2 Tina Raine-Bennett,2 Fagen Xie,3 Vicki Y Chiu,3 Theresa M Im,3 Harpreet S Takhar,3 Michael Fassett,3 Jane Grafton,4 David Cronkite,4 Laura Ichikawa,4 Susan D Reed,4,7 Siu Lui Hui,5 Mary E Ritchey,1 Catherine W Saltus,8 Elizabeth B Andrews,1 Kenneth J Rothman,8 Alex Asiimwe,6 Richard Lynen,9 Juliane Schoendorf101RTI Health Solutions, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; 2Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA; 3Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA; 4Kaiser Permanente Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; 5Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN, USA; 6Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany; 7University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; 8RTI Health Solutions, Waltham, MA, USA; 9Bayer HealthCare, Whippany, NJ, USA; 10Bayer OY, Espoo, FinlandObjective: To validate algorithms identifying uterine perforations and intrauterine device (IUD) expulsions and to ascertain availability of breastfeeding status at the time of IUD insertion.Study design and setting: Four health care systems with electronic health records (EHRs) participated: Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC), Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA), and Regenstrief Institute (RI). The study included women ≤50 years of age with an IUD insertion. Site-specific algorithms using structured and unstructured data were developed and a sample validated by EHR review. Positive predictive values (PPVs) of the algorithms were calculated. Breastfeeding status was assessed in a random sample of 125 women at each research site with IUD placement within 52 weeks postpartum.Results: The study population included 282,028 women with 325,582 IUD insertions. The PPVs for uterine perforation were KPNC 77%, KPSC 81%, KPWA 82%, and RI 47%; PPVs for IUD expulsion were KPNC 77%, KPSC 87%, KPWA 68%, and RI 37%. Across all research sites, breastfeeding status at the time of IUD insertion was determined for 94% of those sampled.Conclusions: Algorithms with a high PPV for uterine perforation and IUD expulsion were developed at 3 of the 4 research sites. Breastfeeding status at the time of IUD insertion could be determined at all research sites. Our findings suggest that a study to evaluate the associations of breastfeeding and postpartum IUD insertions with risk of uterine perforation and IUD expulsion can be successfully conducted retrospectively; however, automated application of algorithms must be supplemented with chart review for some outcomes at one research site due to low PPV.Keywords: electronic health records, intrauterine device, breastfeeding, validation study, algorithm, postpartum

To investigate rates of utilization of alternative treatments before hysterectomy for benign gynecologic indications within a large integrated health care system.Retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent hysterectomies for benign gynecologic conditions between 2012 and 2014 (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a community-based integrated health system.Women who underwent hysterectomy for a benign gynecologic condition between 2012 and 2014.From an eligible cohort of 6892 patients who underwent hysterectomy, a stratified random sample of 1050 patients were selected for chart review. Stratification was based on the proportion of indications for hysterectomy.The primary outcome was the use of alternative treatments before hysterectomy. Alternative treatments included oral hormone treatment, leuprolide, medroxyprogesterone intramuscular injections, a levonorgestrel intrauterine device, hormonal subdermal implants, endometrial ablation, uterine artery embolization, hysteroscopy, and myomectomy. Of the 1050 charts reviewed, 979 (93.2%) met the criteria for inclusion in this study. The predominant indication for hysterectomy was symptomatic myomas (54.4%), followed by abnormal uterine bleeding (29.0%), endometriosis (5.8%), pelvic pain (3.1%), dysmenorrhea (3.4%), and other (4.3%). The major routes of hysterectomy were laparoscopy (68.7%) and vaginal hysterectomy (13.4%). Before hysterectomy, 81.2% of patients tried at least 1 type of alternative treatment (33.8% with 1 treatment and 47.4% with at least 2 treatments), and 99.3% of patients were counseled regarding alternative treatments. Compared with younger women age40 years, women age 45 to 49 years were less likely to use alternative treatments before hysterectomy (adjusted odds ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.76). There were no variations in treatment rates by socioeconomic status or between major racial and ethnic groups. The final pathological analysis identified myomas as the most common pathology (n = 637; 65.1%); 96 patients (9.8%) had normal uterine pathology.More than 80% of patients received alternative treatments before undergoing hysterectomy for a benign gynecologic condition. Additional investigation is warranted to assess alternative treatment use as it relates to preventing unnecessary hysterectomies.

BACKGROUND Few studies have examined outcomes of high-resolution anoscopy (HRA)-based screening for people with HIV infection (PWH), a population at increased risk for anal cancer. SETTING Large integrated health care system. METHODS Cohort study of 13,552 people with HIV infection, comparing incidences of anal cancer and advanced anal cancer (higher stage, recurrence, death, or surgical salvage) before and after HRA became available (2008). Calendar time was divided as 1998-2007, 2008-2010, and 2011-2012. Rate ratios (RRs) were obtained from Poisson regression models with adjustment for baseline demographic and health variables. Cohort cases during 2008-2012 were included in a nested case-control study, evaluating association of screening with anal cancer (33 cases, 330 controls) and advanced anal cancer (19 cases, 190 controls). Odds ratios (ORs) for receipt of screening were obtained from conditional logistic regression models with adjustment for baseline demographic and health history variables. RESULTS Compared with 1998-2007 (pre-HRA), 2008-2010 adjusted RRs were 1.32 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.77 to 2.27; P = 0.31] for anal cancer and 2.11 (95% CI: 0.99 to 4.48; P = 0.053) for advanced anal cancer; and 2011-2012 adjusted RRs were 0.35 (95% CI: 0.12 to 0.99; P = 0.048) for anal cancer and 0.23 (95% CI: 0.03 to 1.77; P = 0.16) for advanced anal cancer. Individual history of screening did not reach statistical significance for anal cancer (OR 1.7; 0.6-4.6) or advanced anal cancer (OR 0.44; 0.1-3.8). CONCLUSIONS Despite the possible effect of secular trends, we found 2008-2012 incidence trends for anal cancer and advanced anal cancer that seem consistent with expected findings of a beneficial screening program.

Reports of perforation risk related to intrauterine devices (IUDs) inserted immediately post partum and among non-post-partum individuals are scarce, and previous studies with only 12-month follow-ups underestimate the risk. Breastfeeding at IUD insertion and insertion within 36 weeks post partum have been associated with increased risk of uterine perforation. The aim of these analyses was to compare the incidence and risks of IUD-related uterine perforations by non-post-partum and post-partum intervals at IUD insertion, and among post-partum individuals, to assess the impact of breastfeeding on these outcomes.We did a multisite cohort study in the USA, using electronic health records (EHR). Study sites were three health-care systems and a site that used data from a health-care information exchange. The study population included individuals who were aged 50 years or younger and had an IUD insertion between Jan 1, 2001, and April 30, 2018. Individuals were excluded if they had not been in the health-care system for at least 12 months before IUD insertion. The primary outcome for this analysis was any IUD-related uterine perforation diagnosis for the first IUD insertion in this time period. Both complete and partial IUD-related perforations were identified. Chart abstraction was done to validate EHR-based algorithms or confirm perforations. The crude rate and cumulative incidence of uterine perforation were evaluated by non-post-partum and post-partum intervals at IUD insertion in the full cohort, and by breastfeeding status in a subcohort of post-partum individuals. Cox models estimated crude and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs).Data from 326 658 individuals in the full cohort and 94 817 individuals in the post-partum subcohort were analysed. In the full cohort, we identified 1008 uterine perforations (51·2% complete), with the 5-year cumulative incidence being the lowest in the non-post-partum group (0·29%, 95% CI 0·26-0·34). The aHR for the post-partum interval relative to non-post partum ranged from 2·73 (95% CI 1·33-5·63; 0 to 3 days post partum) to 6·71 (4·80-9·38; 4 days to ≤6 weeks post partum). The post-partum subcohort of individuals with breastfeeding information had 673 uterine perforations (62% complete), with a 5-year cumulative incidence of 1·37% (95% CI 1·24-1·52) and an increased risk with breastfeeding (aHR 1·37, 95% CI 1·12-1·66).Although the risk for uterine perforation with IUD insertion 4 days to 6 weeks or less post partum is nearly seven times that of insertion non-post partum, perforation remains an incredibly rare event for all clinical time points. Despite a slight increased risk of perforation with breastfeeding at IUD insertion, the benefits of breastfeeding and effective contraception generally outweigh risks and should have little clinical impact. Therefore, IUD insertion timing should be based on individual desire for IUD contraception and patient convenience to assure an IUD insertion can occur. Careful follow-up of individuals at higher risk of uterine perforation is warranted.Bayer AG.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a common cause of pregnancy-associated myocardial infarction.This study compares the clinical course and longitudinal follow-up of 22 cases of pregnancy-associated SCAD (P-SCAD) with 285 cases of non-pregnancy SCAD (NP-SCAD) from Kaiser Permanente Northern California between September 2002 through June 2017.Age in the P-SCAD group was significantly lower than in the NP-SCAD group (37.1 ± 5.7 years vs 50.9 ± 9.9 years, respectively; P.001). Both cohorts were racially diverse, but the P-SCAD group had fewer whites (27.3% vs 50.7%; P=.03). The P-SCAD group had higher multigravidity (54.6% vs 31.4%; P=.03) and 68.2% were of advanced maternal age. The rates of ST-elevation myocardial infarction, ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, and left main coronary dissection were similar. Proximal vessel dissection (31.8% vs 7.7%; P.01), multiple vessel dissection (31.8% vs 9.5%; P.01), and reduced ejection fraction at presentation (49.6 ± 10.5% vs 55.7 ± 10.4%; P=.01) were more common in the P-SCAD group vs the NP-SCAD group, respectively. More P-SCAD patients had cardiogenic shock and/or required intra-aortic balloon pump support (9.1% vs 1.1%; P=.04). Medical management was the principal coronary treatment strategy in both groups. P-SCAD patients experienced more major adverse cardiovascular events (50.0% vs 26.0%; P=.02), driven by persistent reduced ejection fraction ≤45% at follow-up (18.2% vs 5.3%; P=.04). Recurrent SCAD (18.2% vs 11.2%; P=.31) and cardiovascular death (0% vs 0.4%; P.99) were similar in the P-SCAD group vs the NP-SCAD group, respectively. Seven patients had successful subsequent pregnancies without cardiac complications.P-SCAD has a higher-risk presentation, but similar long-term prognosis compared with NP-SCAD. In addition, subsequent pregnancy after SCAD may present acceptable risk.

Objective To determine if transdermal scopolamine is associated with decreased postoperative nausea and vomiting and shorter length of stay in the postoperative care unit among patients undergoing uterine aspiration for abortion or early pregnancy loss. Study design We conducted a retrospective cohort study at an integrated medical center that initiated a protocol to prescribe transdermal scopolamine to patients undergoing uterine aspiration under moderate sedation. We compared outcomes among patients who underwent uterine aspiration in 2017, before the institution enacted the protocol, with their counterparts in 2018, immediately after the institution instated the protocol. We reviewed patient charts for data on the postoperative length of stay, use of additional antiemetics, and a standardized clinician designated postoperative nausea and vomiting score. We analyzed outcomes by relevant demographic and clinical characteristics using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and t tests for continuous variables. Results The final sample included 386 patients; 228 who did not receive scopolamine and 158 who did. The cohorts were comparable in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. The cohort that received transdermal scopolamine had a similar mean postoperative length of stay (75.4 ± 54.1 vs 71.1 ± 50.8 minutes; p = 0.43). There were no differences in the proportions of patients who were provided additional antiemetics (26 ± 11.4 vs 17 ± 10.8; p = 0.84) or had transient vomiting and retching (3 ± 1.9 vs 3 ± 1.3; p = 0.69) between the cohorts. Conclusion We found no evidence that prophylactic transdermal scopolamine reduces postoperative nausea, vomiting, or length of stay among patients undergoing uterine aspiration. Implications Among patients who underwent uterine aspiration under moderate sedation, use of prophylactic transdermal scopolamine was not associated with shorter postoperative length of stay or lesser use of antiemetics. Prophylactic transdermal scopolamine is not likely to be useful for patients undergoing uterine aspiration and could be an unnecessary cost.

We sought to describe healthcare utilization (HU) following minimally invasive apical prolapse repair (MIAR) and its association with duration of hospital stay, patient characteristics, and perioperative factors. This retrospective study included women undergoing MIAR within a large managed care organization between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2018, and aimed to quantify HU within 30 days of surgery. HU was dichotomized into two groups: normal and high, based on typical postoperative utilization of healthcare resources. The primary outcome was the rate of normal versus high HU overall and by duration of hospital stay [discharge home on day of surgery versus postoperative day (POD) 1–2]. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors predictive of high HU. A p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Of the 4208 patients in our final cohort, 17% had high HU, while 83% were normal utilizers. High utilizers were more likely to have multiple comorbidities (p

Background/Purpose Approximately 0.7% of US adolescents identify as transgender or gender diverse (TGD). In recent years, TGD children have been presenting for treatment at increasing rates. While this population is at increased risk for mental health comorbidities, studies have demonstrated that TGD children supported in their gender identity have decreased risk. To date, few studies have described how many TGD patients are ultimately treated or the time-to-treatment (TTT) in this population. The aim of this study was to understand medication practices, TTT, and how they vary by different demographic and clinical factors. Methods Patients were identified using TGD-related …

Intrauterine devices, including levonorgestrel-releasing and copper devices, are highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptives. The potential risks associated with intrauterine devices are low and include uterine perforation and device expulsion.This study aimed to evaluate the risk of perforation and expulsion associated with levonorgestrel-releasing devices vs copper devices in clinical practice in the United States.The Association of Perforation and Expulsion of Intrauterine Device study was a retrospective cohort study of women aged ≤50 years with an intrauterine device insertion during 2001 to 2018 and information on intrauterine device type and patient and medical characteristics. Of note, 4 research sites with access to electronic health records contributed data for the study: 3 Kaiser Permanente-integrated healthcare systems (Northern California, Southern California, and Washington) and 1 healthcare system using data from a healthcare information exchange in Indiana (Regenstrief Institute). Perforation was classified as any extension of the device into or through the myometrium. Expulsion was classified as complete (not visible in the uterus or abdomen or patient reported) or partial (any portion in the cervix or malpositioned). We estimated the crude incidence rates and crude cumulative incidence by intrauterine device type. The risks of perforation and expulsion associated with levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices vs copper intrauterine devices were estimated using Cox proportional-hazards regression with propensity score overlap weighting to adjust for confounders.Among 322,898 women included in this analysis, the incidence rates of perforation per 1000 person-years were 1.64 (95% confidence interval, 1.53-1.76) for levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices and 1.27 (95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.48) for copper intrauterine devices; 1-year and 5-year crude cumulative incidence was 0.22% (95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.24) and 0.63% (95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.68) for levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices and 0.16% (95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.20) and 0.55% (95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.68) for copper intrauterine devices, respectively. The incidence rates of expulsion per 1000 person-years were 13.95 (95% confidence interval, 13.63-14.28) for levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices and 14.08 (95% confidence interval, 13.44-14.75) for copper intrauterine devices; 1-year and 5-year crude cumulative incidence was 2.30% (95% confidence interval, 2.24-2.36) and 4.52% (95% confidence interval, 4.40-4.65) for levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices and 2.30% (95% confidence interval, 2.18-2.44) and 4.82 (95% confidence interval, 4.56-5.10) for copper intrauterine devices, respectively. Comparing levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices with copper intrauterine devices, the adjusted hazard ratios were 1.49 (95% confidence intervals, 1.25-1.78) for perforation and 0.69 (95% confidence intervals, 0.65-0.73) for expulsion.After adjusting for potential confounders, levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices were associated with an increased risk of uterine perforation and a decreased risk of expulsion relative to copper intrauterine devices. Given that the absolute numbers of these events are low in both groups, these differences may not be clinically meaningful.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS To evaluate whether language of choice affects compliance with speech therapy for voice disorders. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. METHODS A retrospective study was performed at Kaiser Permanente Northern California to compare compliance with referrals to speech therapy for voice disorders between English- and non-English-speaking patients. Patients referred from January 2012 through December 2017 were included. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and to determine social and demographic factors affecting compliance. RESULTS Of 7,333 patients referred to speech therapy for a voice disorder, 7,171 were identified as English speaking and 162 as non-English speaking. The two cohorts were similar in terms of gender and proportion over 65 years of age, although non-English-speaking individuals were more likely to be Hispanic or Asian than English speakers, who were more likely to be White or African American. Overall compliance was lower among non-English-speaking patients than English speakers (63% vs 74%) (P = .0011). Logistic regression showed that the need for an interpreter was significantly associated with higher noncompliance (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.11-2.18), as was age less than 65 and income less than the study aggregate median income. Being multiracial or having a voice disorder of neurologic origin was associated with better compliance. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates significant noncompliance with speech therapy for a variety of voice disorders. This problem is exacerbated for patients who do not speak English and who are younger, of lower income, or are referred for functional voice disorders. In-person interpreters or multilingual speech therapists may help to improve compliance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV Laryngoscope, 131:E2298-E2302, 2021.

Introduction: South Asian ethnicity is associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and has been identified as a “risk enhancer” in the 2018 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol. Hypothesis: An increased use of statins has been recommended since implementation of the 2013 ACC/ AHA Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE); however, the impact of statins on ASCVD outcomes in South Asians is not well understood. We aim to identify the accuracy of 10-year ASCVD risk prediction by the PCE, based on statin use, in a South Asian cohort. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of members within Kaiser Permanente Northern California without existing ASCVD, age range 30-70, for whom lipid panel, ethnic data, and 10-year follow up were available. ASCVD events were defined as acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and cardiovascular death. The cohort was stratified by statin use: never, at baseline and follow-up and only during follow-up. Predicted probability of ASCVD, using the PCE were calculated and compared to the observed for each ASCVD risk category: low =20.0%. Results: A total of 1,835 South Asian patients were included. ASCVD risk was underestimated by the PCE across all risk categories and statin groups. The greatest disparity was seen in the low-risk ASCVD risk group; entire cohort: 1.8 vs 4.9%, p Conclusions: In a large, community-based South Asian cohort, the PCE underestimated risk in South Asians, who were taking statins, in the low ASCVD risk category.

OBJECTIVES The aims of the study were to estimate the rate of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation maintenance therapy (PTNS-MT) among women with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) and evaluate factors associated with long-term use of PTNS. METHODS Patients who completed 12 weekly sessions of PTNS (PTNS-IN) for OAB between 2009 and 2016 within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California were identified using Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases codes. Bivariate analysis was performed to compare demographic and clinical variables. A logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with PTNS-MT compared with the use of alternative treatments following PTNS-IN. RESULTS Of the 1331 patients who initiated PTNS for OAB, 347 (26%) completed PTNS-IN. Of these, 46% (n = 158) continued with long-term PTNS therapy, defined as completion of at least 8 additional PTNS sessions for a 32-week period. On bivariate analysis, those choosing PTNS-MT were more likely to be white (88%, P < 0.0001), nondiabetic (89%, P = 0.03), did not use anticholinergics before PTNS initiation (41%, P = 0.04), and had no prior surgery for stress incontinence (SUI; 84%, P = 0.01). In multivariable analysis, race was a significant factor with black, Hispanic, and Asian women less likely to continue with PTNS-MT. Women with prior use of first-line OAB therapy were 78% more likely to undergo PTNS-MT. Women with prior surgery for SUI were 53% less likely to continue PTNS-MT. CONCLUSIONS Almost half of patients who completed PTNS-IN continued with PTNS-MT. White race, prior use of first-line OAB therapy, and no prior surgery for SUI were associated with long-term therapy.

Intrauterine device (IUD) expulsion increases the risk of unintended pregnancy; how timing of postpartum IUD insertion and breastfeeding are associated with risk of expulsion is relevant to the benefit-risk profile.To evaluate the association of postpartum timing of IUD insertion and breastfeeding status with incidence and risk of IUD expulsion.The Association of Perforation and Expulsion of Intrauterine Devices (APEX-IUD) cohort study included women aged 50 years or younger with an IUD insertion between 2001 and 2018. The breastfeeding analysis focused on a subcohort of women at 52 or fewer weeks post partum with known breastfeeding status. The study was conducted using data from electronic health records (EHRs) at 4 research sites with access to EHR: 3 Kaiser Permanente sites (Northern California, Southern California, Washington) and the Regenstrief Institute (Indiana). Data analysis was conducted from June to November 2019.Timing of IUD insertion post partum was categorized into discrete time periods: 0 to 3 days, 4 days to 6 or fewer weeks, more than 6 weeks to 14 or fewer weeks, more than 14 weeks to 52 or fewer weeks, and non-post partum (52 weeks or no evidence of delivery). Breastfeeding status at the time of insertion was determined from clinical records, diagnostic codes, or questionnaires from well-baby visits.Incidence rates and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) were estimated using propensity scores to adjust for confounding.The full cohort included 326 658 women (mean [SD] age, 32.0 [8.3] years; 38 911 [11.9%] Asian or Pacific Islander; 696 [0.2%] Hispanic Black; 56 180 [17.2%] Hispanic other; 42 501 [13.0%] Hispanic White; 28 323 [8.7%] non-Hispanic Black; 137 102 [42.0%] non-Hispanic White), and the subcohort included 94 817 women. Most IUDs were levonorgestrel-releasing (259 234 [79.4%]). There were 8943 expulsions. The 5-year cumulative incidence of IUD expulsion was highest for insertions 0 to 3 days post partum (10.73%; 95% CI, 9.12%-12.61%) and lowest for insertions more than 6 weeks to 14 or fewer weeks post partum (3.18%; 95% CI, 2.95%-3.42%). Adjusted HRs using women with non-post partum IUD insertion as the referent were 5.34 (95% CI, 4.47-6.39) for those with postpartum insertion at 0 to 3 days; 1.22 (95% CI, 1.05-1.41) for those with postpartum insertion at 4 days to 6 or fewer weeks; 1.06 (95% CI, 0.95-1.18) for those with postpartum insertion at more than 6 to 14 or fewer weeks; and 1.43 (95% CI, 1.29-1.60) for those with postpartum insertion at more than 14 to 52 or fewer weeks. In the subcohort, 5-year cumulative incidence was 3.49% (95% CI, 3.25%-3.73%) for breastfeeding women and 4.57% (95% CI, 4.22%-4.95%) for nonbreastfeeding women; the adjusted HR for breastfeeding vs not breastfeeding was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.64-0.78).In this study of real-world data, IUD expulsion was rare but more common with immediate postpartum insertion. Breastfeeding was associated with lower expulsion risk.

Objectives HIV-infected individuals are at increased risk of anal cancer. Screening for anal cancer precursors using high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) may be clinically beneficial. In this study, we examined patient tolerability of this procedure. Methods The acceptability of HRA was evaluated among HIV-infected patients who completed a first-time HRA between July 2008 and December 2013 at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. We reviewed electronic medical records to identify lack of HRA acceptability, which was defined as receipt of HRA with sedation, dispensation of opioid analgaesia, and/or an urgent care visit following HRA, and to evaluate factors associated with patients not returning for a recommended repeat HRA (proxy for HRA acceptability). HRA acceptability was also assessed via a survey mailed to patients who completed HRA between January 2014 and August 2014. Logistic regression was used to model lack of acceptability of initial HRA and likelihood of not returning for a repeat HRA. Results Of 1857 HIV-infected patients, 94 were prescribed opioids and one had an urgent care visit. Lack of HRA acceptability was more likely in patients with pre-existing anal conditions [e.g. warts or fissure; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4-6.7], those who had ever smoked (aOR 1.6; 95% CI 1.0-2.5) and women (aOR 5.3; 95% CI 1.6-17.5). Fifty per cent of patients returned for a repeat HRA, with younger patients less likely to return (per 10-year age interval, aOR 0.8; 95% CI 0.7-0.9). Of 48 survey respondents, 91.7% reported acceptable pain levels and all reported willingness to return for a repeat HRA. Conclusions HRA was generally well tolerated and may be an acceptable screening approach for patients at high risk of anal cancer.

Objective To evaluate the voice outcomes of adults diagnosed with vocal fold nodules (VFNs) as children and to assess the impact of speech therapy on long-term voice outcomes. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Large health care system. Subjects and Methods Subjects diagnosed with VFNs as children between the years 1996 and 2008 were identified within a medical record database of a large health care system. Included subjects were 3 to 12 years old at the time of diagnosis, had a documented laryngeal examination within 90 days of diagnosis, and were ≥18 years as of December 31, 2014. Qualified subjects were contacted by telephone and administered the Vocal Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and a 15-item questionnaire inquiring for confounding factors. Results A total of 155 subjects were included, with a mean age of 21.4 years (range, 18-29). The male:female ratio was 2.3:1. Mean VHI-10 score for the entire cohort was 5.4. Mean VHI-10 scores did not differ between those who received speech therapy (6.1) and those who did not (4.5; P = .08). Both groups were similar with respect to confounding risk factors that can contribute to dysphonia, although the no-therapy group had a disproportionately higher number of subjects who consumed10 alcoholic drinks per week ( P = .01). Conclusion The majority of adults with VFNs as children will achieve a close-to-normal voice quality when they reach adulthood. In our cohort, speech therapy did not appear to have an impact on the long-term voice outcomes.

Context Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a cause of acute coronary syndrome, which predominantly affects healthy women; however, few data define this vulnerable population. Objective To identify demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with SCAD and determine outcomes in a community-based cohort. Design Retrospective cohort study of patients with SCAD at Kaiser Permanente Northern California during a 10-year period. We compared 111 SCAD cases with 333 healthy, matched controls. Main outcome measures Predisposing factors, treatment modalities, and inhospital and late outcomes. Results Patients with SCAD had a mean age (standard deviation) of 48.1 (11) years; 92.8% were women, and 49.5% were nonwhite. Of women, 9% were peripartum. Fibromuscular dysplasia was identified in 21.8% of femoral angiograms obtained. With conditional logistic regression, only pregnancy and hyperlipidemia were associated with SCAD compared with controls. Fifty-five patients (49.5%) were successfully treated without revascularization; of the 54 who had urgent percutaneous coronary intervention, 2 required coronary artery bypass grafting for SCAD extension. During a median follow-up of 2.6 years, major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 8.1% of patients. Pregnancy-related SCAD was not associated with worsened outcomes. However, Emergency Department visits or hospitalizations because of recurrent chest pain occurred frequently for 54% of patients with SCAD. Conclusion The study cohort is comparable to published SCAD cohorts, but notable for a racially and ethnically diverse population. Compared with the controls, only pregnancy and hyperlipidemia were associated with SCAD. For the SCAD cases, major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 8.1%, and race did not influence outcomes.

Background Intrauterine devices are effective and safe, long-acting reversible contraceptives, but the risk of uterine perforation occurs with an estimated incidence of 1 to 2 per 1000 insertions. The European Active Surveillance Study for Intrauterine Devices, a European prospective observational study that enrolled 61,448 participants (2006–2012), found that women breastfeeding at the time of device insertion or with the device inserted at ≤36 weeks after delivery had a higher risk of uterine perforation. The Association of Uterine Perforation and Expulsion of Intrauterine Device (APEX-IUD) study was a Food and Drug Administration–mandated study designed to reflect current United States clinical practice. The aims of the APEX-IUD study were to evaluate the risk of intrauterine device–related uterine perforation and device expulsion among women who were breastfeeding or within 12 months after delivery at insertion. Objective We aimed to describe the APEX-IUD study design, methodology, and analytical plan and present population characteristics, size of risk factor groups, and duration of follow-up. Study Design APEX-IUD study was a retrospective cohort study conducted in 4 organizations with access to electronic health records: Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Kaiser Permanente Washington, and Regenstrief Institute in Indiana. Variables were identified through structured data (eg, diagnostic, procedural, medication codes) and unstructured data (eg, clinical notes) via natural language processing. Outcomes include uterine perforation and device expulsion; potential risk factors were breastfeeding at insertion, postpartum timing of insertion, device type, and menorrhagia diagnosis in the year before insertion. Covariates include demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and procedure-related variables, such as difficult insertion. The first potential date of inclusion for eligible women varies by research site (from January 1, 2001 to January 1, 2010). Follow-up begins at insertion and ends at first occurrence of an outcome of interest, a censoring event (device removal or reinsertion, pregnancy, hysterectomy, sterilization, device expiration, death, disenrollment, last clinical encounter), or end of the study period (June 30, 2018). Comparisons of levels of exposure variables were made using Cox regression models with confounding adjusted by propensity score weighting using overlap weights. Results The study population includes 326,658 women with at least 1 device insertion during the study period (Kaiser Permanente Northern California, 161,442; Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 123,214; Kaiser Permanente Washington, 20,526; Regenstrief Institute, 21,476). The median duration of continuous enrollment was 90 (site medians 74–177) months. The mean age was 32 years, and the population was racially and ethnically diverse across the 4 sites. The mean body mass index was 28.5 kg/m2, and of the women included in the study, 10.0% had menorrhagia ≤12 months before insertion, 5.3% had uterine fibroids, and 10% were recent smokers; furthermore, among these women, 79.4% had levonorgestrel-releasing devices, and 19.5% had copper devices. Across sites, 97,824 women had an intrauterine device insertion at ≤52 weeks after delivery, of which 94,817 women (97%) had breastfeeding status at insertion determined; in addition, 228,834 women had intrauterine device insertion at >52 weeks after delivery or no evidence of a delivery in their health record. Conclusion Combining retrospective data from multiple sites allowed for a large and diverse study population. Collaboration with clinicians in the study design and validation of outcomes ensured that the APEX-IUD study results reflect current United States clinical practice. Results from this study will provide valuable information based on real-world evidence about risk factors for intrauterine devices perforation and expulsion for clinicians.

CONTEXT Optimizing access to effective contraception at the time of abortion can reduce repeated unintended pregnancies. OBJECTIVE To assess contraception initiation and repeated unintended pregnancies among women receiving abortions in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) facilities and through outside contracted facilities. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a randomized proportional sample of women aged 15 to 44 years having abortions in KPNC, to determine contraception initiation within 90 days. Demographic and clinical characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, gravidity, parity, contraceptive method initiated, and pregnancies within 12 months) were collected from electronic health records. Descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, t-tests, and logistic regression models assessed predictors of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) initiation and having another unintended pregnancy within 12 months of abortion. RESULTS Women having abortions from contracted facilities were significantly less likely to initiate LARC within 90 days compared with those receiving abortions in KPNC facilities (11.99% vs 19.10%, p = 0.012). Significant factors associated with 90-day LARC initiation included abortions in KPNC facilities (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.87, p = 0.007) and gravidity of 3 or more. Women initiating short-acting or no contraception were significantly more likely to have an unintended pregnancy within 12 months of the abortion than those initiating LARC (aOR = 3.66, p = 0.005; no contraception vs LARC, aOR = 3.75, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION In response to this study, KPNC now provides reimbursement for LARC in all outside abortion contracts, internalized more abortions in KPNC facilities, and strengthened clinical recommendations for immediate, effective postabortion contraception, especially LARC.

When assessing the lipid panel, practical physicians tend to focus on the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). However, an elevated triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) ratio, suggesting insulin resistance, also effectively predicts cardiovascular outcomes but requires different treatments than an elevated LDL-c. We tested whether high triglyceride/HDL-c ratios are associated with more risk than high LDL-c concentrations or other lipid markers of atherogenicity.We followed 103,646 members aged 50 to 75 years without cardiovascular disease or diabetes in a community health plan. Subjects were categorized as insulin sensitive or insulin resistant on the basis of triglyceride and HDL-c in the index year. The primary outcome was ischemic heart disease. The percentage of subjects with a primary outcome after 8 years was stratified by insulin category, lipid measures, and blood pressure. Hazard ratios (HR) for insulin resistance, LDL-c, age, sex, and the presence of hypertension were determined in a multivariate analysis.Subjects with insulin resistance but lipid measures healthier than the median had worse outcomes than those who were insulin sensitive but had unhealthier lipid measures such as non-HDL-c and the ratios of total cholesterol/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c. The HR for a 60 mg/dL increase in LDL-c was 1.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.18); the HR for an LDL-c greater than 160 mg/dL was 1.19 (95% CI, 1.12-1.28). In contrast, the hazard ratio for having an insulin-resistant triglyceride/HDL-c ratio was 1.68 (95% CI, 1.57-1.80), compared with an insulin-sensitive ratio. There was no difference in outcomes between insulin-resistant but normotensive patients and insulin-sensitive but hypertensive patients.Insulin resistance, as manifested by a high triglyceride/HDL-c ratio, was associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes more than other lipid metrics, including LDL-c, which had little concordance. Physicians and patients should not overlook the triglyceride/HDL-c ratio.

OBJECTIVE:: To assess the level of risk for adolescents and women who seek emergency contraception through various clinical routes and the opportunities for improved care provision. METHODS:: This study looked at a retrospective cohort to assess contraception and other reproductive health outcomes among adolescents and women aged 15-44 years who accessed oral levonorgestrel emergency contraception through an office visit or the call center at Kaiser Permanente Northern California from 2010 to 2011. RESULTS:: Of 21421 prescriptions 14531 (67.8%) were accessed through the call center. In the subsequent 12 months 12127 (56.6%) adolescents and women had short-acting contraception (pills patches rings depot medroxyprogesterone) dispensed and 2264 (10.6%) initiated very effective contraception (intrauterine contraception implants sterilization). Initiation of very effective contraception was similar for adolescents and women who accessed it through the call center-1569 (10.8%) and office visits-695 (10.1%) (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.02 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93-1.13). In the subsequent 6 months 2056 (9.6%) adolescents and women became pregnant. Adolescents and women who accessed emergency contraception through the call center were less likely to become pregnant within 3 months of accessing emergency contraception than woman who accessed it through office visits (adjusted OR 0.82 95% CI 0.72-0.94); however they were more likely to become pregnant within 4-6 months (adjusted OR 1.37 95% CI 1.16-1.60). Among adolescents and women who were tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea 689 (7.8%) and 928 (7.9%) were positive in the 12 months before and after accessing emergency contraception respectively. CONCLUSION:: Protocols to routinely address unmet needs for contraception at every call for emergency contraception and all office visits including visits with primary care providers should be investigated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: II.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Controversy exists regarding whether fusion should be used to augment decompression surgery in patients with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis with grade I/II (low-grade), stable degenerative spondylolisthesis. For years, the standard has been fusion with laminectomy in order to prevent postoperative instability. However, instability and reoperations may be reduced or prevented using less invasive, structure sparing decompression techniques without the need for fusion. PURPOSE To compare reoperation rates within a 5-year follow-up period of unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) versus posterior lumbar decompression with instrumented fusion (fusion) for patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis in a multicenter database. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE A final cohort of 601 Kaiser Permanente Northern California members with diagnoses of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and lumbar spinal stenosis of whom 164 patients underwent ULBD and 437 underwent fusion between January 2007 and December 2011. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was reoperation rate at 5-year postoperative follow-up. Secondary outcome measures included blood loss during surgery, length of stay, reoperation type, reoperation level, and 90-day postoperative complication rates. METHODS We identified 164 patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and lumbar stenosis who underwent ULBD between January 2007 and December 2011. These patients were propensity score matched on age at surgery, gender, race and smoking status with patients who underwent fusion (n=437). The primary outcome was 5-year reoperation rate and secondary outcome measures included postoperative complication rates, reoperation type, reoperation level, blood loss during surgery, and length of stay. RESULTS The reoperation rate within 5-year follow-up was significantly lower at 10.4% in the ULBD group compared to 17.2% in the fusion group (p=.0393). Type of reoperation was similar between the two groups. Reoperation at the index or adjacent level was not significant different between the two groups. Patients that underwent ULBD had significantly less mean estimated blood loss compared to fusion (82 vs. 445 ml, p CONCLUSIONS For patients with stable degenerative spondylolisthesis and lumbar stenosis, ULBD is a viable, durable option compared to fusion with a lower reoperation rate within a 5-year follow-up period, as well as decreased blood loss and length of stay. Further prospective studies are required to determine the optimal clinical scenario for ULBD in the setting of degenerative spondylolisthesis. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs

e16015 Background: Pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with improved outcome in patients (pts) with muscle invasive and/or lymph node positive (LN+) bladder cancer. Although molecular predictors are currently being evaluated, limited information is available regarding purely clinical parameters offering predictive information regarding pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: We identified 189 unique pts within Kaiser Permanente Northern California diagnosed with bladder cancer during 1/1/10 through 12/31/17 who underwent chemotherapy with neoadjuvant intent with a plan for subsequent radical cystectomy. All pts had disease that was ≥cT2 and/or ≥cN1 and M0. Fourteen variables were examined for their association with pCR at radical cystectomy, using bivariate analysis and multivariate models. Results: Of the 189 pts in our cohort, 141 (74.6%) were male, 162 (85.7%) were white and the mean age was 66.4 years. 76 (40.2%) pts achieved pCR; of these, 59 (77.6%) had pre-treatment hemoglobin (hg) ≥ 13 g/dL (p = 0.0087), 69 (90.8%) did not have hydronephrosis (p < 0.0001), 66 (86.8%) had no lymphovascular invasion (LVI) on transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) (p = 0.0506) and 69 (90.8%) had cT2 disease at time of diagnosis (p < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis showed that pCR was associated with hg ≥ 13 (OR 2.736, 95% CI 1.188-6.657), absence of hydronephrosis (OR 4.672, 95% CI 1.820-13.554), age ≤ 75 years (OR 3.410, 95% CI 1.263-10.057), absence of LVI on TURBT (OR 2.592, 95% CI 1.055-6.829), and clinical stage T2 vs. ≥T3 and/or N+ (OR 6.480, 95% CI 2.645-17.858). There was no statistically significant relationship between pCR and the following variables: cumulative cisplatin dose, split dose chemotherapy, chemotherapy regimen, history of tobacco use, race, gender, Charlson comorbidity score, baseline alkaline phosphatase, and percentage body weight loss during therapy. Conclusions: Pathologic CR was predicted by Hg < 13 g/dL, absence of hydronephrosis, age ≤ 75 yrs, absence of LVI on TURBT specimen, and stage at diagnosis. These factors may influence selection of pts with muscle invasive and/or LN+ bladder cancer for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Objectives Minimally invasive approaches to sacrocolpopexy have transformed it into a primary procedure for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. Certain modifications are commonly used to facilitate the laparoscopic approach, but have not yet been widely studied. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of titanium surgical tacks for the attachment of mesh to the anterior longitudinal ligament in laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. Methods This retrospective cohort study involved all patients within 1 health care system who underwent laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy between January 2009 and December 2012. Each medical record was reviewed and abstracted. Results Of the 231 patients included in our study, 190 (82%) had titanium surgical tacks, and 41 (18%) had suture for mesh attachment to the anterior longitudinal ligament. The demographics of the 2 subgroups as well as concomitantly performed procedures were comparable. There was no significant difference found between the 2 cohorts in regards to operative time, estimated blood loss, complication rates, rate of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse symptoms or the rate of reoperation for pelvic organ prolapse. Conclusions Surgical tacks are a safe alternative to suture for the attachment of mesh to the anterior longitudinal ligament in laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. Although we saw no advantage to using tacks over suture, tacking the mesh to the anterior longitudinal ligament may make the laparoscopic approach more accessible to a wider range of gynecologic surgeons. Further studies about the long-term impact of surgical tacks on bone and disk disease are needed.

Two decades since the advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the rate of bile duct injuries still remains higher than in the open cholecystectomy era.The rate and complexity of bile duct injuries was evaluated in 83,449 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 1995 and 2008 in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California system. Fifty-six surgeons who performed a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the past were surveyed to determine factors that predispose to bile duct injuries.The overall incidence of bile duct injuries was .10%; 59.5% of the 84 injuries were cystic duct leaks. Incidence varied slightly from .10% (1995-1998) to .08% (1999-2003) and .12% (2004-2008). There was a trend toward more proximal injuries (injury2 cm from the bifurcation: 14.3% to 44.4% to 50.0% of major injuries). The misinterpretation of anatomy was cited by 92.9% of surgeons as the primary cause of bile duct injuries; 70.9% cited a lack of experience as a contributing factor.Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has an overall low risk of bile duct injuries; the rate remains constant, but injury complexity may have increased over time.

e22550Background: The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma is controversial. Methods: We retrosectivly analyzed the database of Northern California Kaiser Permanente from 1981 t...

To evaluate the relationship between Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis screening strategies and risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) after intrauterine device (IUD) insertion.We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all IUD insertions at Kaiser Permanente Northern California from January 2005 to August 2009. The PID incidence within 90 days after insertion was compared among women who were and were not screened for N gonorrhea and C trachomatis. The study was powered for equivalence with a PID risk difference of -0.006 to 0.006 between two groups considered to be clinically insignificant. Risk difference was calculated by subtracting the proportion of females with PID in one screening group from the proportion of females with PID in the comparison screening group.Of 57,728 IUD insertions, 47% were unscreened within 1 year of insertion; of screened women, 19% were screened on the same day. The overall risk of PID was 0.54% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.48-0.60%). Nonscreening had an equivalent risk of PID as any screening (risk difference -0.0034, 95% CI -0.0045 to -0.0022), and same-day screening was equivalent to prescreening (risk difference -0.0031, 95% CI -0.0049 to -0.0008). The equivalence persisted when adjusted for age and race and when stratified by age younger than 26 years and older than 26 years.The risk of PID in women receiving IUDs was low. These results support IUD insertion protocols in which clinicians test women for N gonorrhea and C trachomatis based on risk factors and perform the test on the day of insertion. These findings have potential to reduce barriers to IUD use for women seeking highly effective, long-term, reversible contraception.

To investigate whether an interdisciplinary program for vestibular patients improved health outcomes and health care utilization.Case series with chart review.Outpatient neurotology clinic.Patients (N = 167) with dizziness attended an interdisciplinary neurotology clinic; 129 were offered group treatment. After an introductory session, group treatment included 5 sessions incorporating mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and vestibular rehabilitation. Physical and emotional functioning, depression,anxiety, dizziness, impairment, coping, skill use, and patient satisfaction were measured with rating scales pre- and post-group treatment. Data from 51 patients (male/female = 14/37; age range, 25-82 years) were analyzed with paired t tests or nonparametric tests. Logistic regression analyzed predictors of outcome and utilization for 116 patients (male/female = 81/35; age range, 11-86 years) attending the interdisciplinary clinic, introductory session, and/or group.After group treatment, patients reported better mood (P = .0482); better physical (P = .0006) and mental (P = .0183) health; better functionality, coping, and skill use (Ps.0001); less impairment (P.0001); and fewer limitations from dizziness (P.0001). Higher pretreatment levels of depression (P = .0216), poorer initial mental (P = .0164) or physical (P = .0059) health, and peripheral diagnosis (P = .0220) predicted better outcome. Group treatment decreased utilization more than the interdisciplinary clinic with (P = .0183) or without (P = .0196) the introductory session; 78% of patients with any level of participation showed less utilization. Clinic patients had fewer radiology procedures than group patients (P = .0365). Patients were highly satisfied with the program and found it more effective than previous treatment.Interdisciplinary treatment improves patient coping, functionality, and satisfaction and decreases overall health care utilization in vestibular patients.

Objective Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an increased risk for cardiovascular events and mortality. Elevated concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, are associated with increased subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. The objective of this study was to determine whether plasma ADMA levels are increased in patients infected with HIV and whether this is associated with cardiovascular risk factors, inflammatory/thrombotic biomarkers, and elevated coronary artery calcium scores (CACS). Methods HIV-infected patients and control patients were recruited in a case-control study. Medical history and laboratory measurements including plasma ADMA and biomarkers for inflammation and thrombosis such as C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and homocysteine were obtained in both cohorts. Using multidetector computed tomography, CACS were measured in Agatston Units (AU). Bivariate differences between HIV-infected and control patients were analyzed. Results HIV-infected patients ( n = 37, male = 27, age = 45 years) had significantly higher concentrations of ADMA (0.40 ± 0.10 μmol/l) compared to a similarly matched cohort of non-HIV-infected patients ( n = 43, male = 27, age = 45 years), (0.35 ± 0.07 μmol/l, p = 0.03). There were no significant differences in CRP, homocysteine, and fibrinogen between the two cohorts. However, HIV-infected patients had a higher CACS distribution compared to control patients [0.0 (8.5) vs. 0.0 (0.0) AU, p = 0.01]. In a multivariable regression analysis HIV-infected patients with a relative CACS of 75–90% for age and gender had the highest ADMA concentrations (0.48 ± 0.09 μmol/l, p = 0.04) among all CACS subgroups. Conclusion : HIV-infected patients have significantly higher ADMA concentrations compared to control patients. In addition, increased CACS was associated with elevated ADMA concentrations. Thus, increased ADMA levels appear to be associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV-infected patients.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare and poorly understood cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and sudden cardiac death. It occurs predominantly in young women who do not have risk factors for atherosclerosis, with an increased proportion occurring in the peripartum period. The