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OBJECTIVES: To examine changes in the 30-day surgical mortality rate after common surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate whether its impact varies by urgency of surgery or patient race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. DESIGN: We used a quasi-experimental event study design to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical mortality rate, using patients who received the same procedure in the prepandemic years (2016-2019) as the control, adjusting for patient characteristics and hospital fixed effects (effectively comparing patients treated at the same hospital). We conducted stratified analyses by procedure urgency, patient race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status (dual-Medicaid status and median household income). SETTING: Acute care hospitals in the USA. PARTICIPANTS: Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65-99 years who underwent one of 14 common surgical procedures from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 30-day postoperative mortality rate. RESULTS: Our sample included 3 620 689 patients. Surgical mortality was higher during the pandemic, with peak mortality observed in April 2020 (adjusted risk difference (aRD) +0.95 percentage points (pp); 95% CI +0.76 to +1.26 pp; p

IntroductionPast research has demonstrated a "reopening phenomenon" of increased firearm violence associated with the initial lifting of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-related restrictions after the first wave. Now, with widespread societal reemergence from stay-at-home measures, we hypothesize another spike in firearm violence in the United States (US). Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the trends in firearm violence before and after extensive community reopenings during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe Gun Violence Archive was utilized to collect data on daily firearm violence incidents, injuries, and deaths as well as on types of firearm violence. Mann-Whitney U-tests were performed for trends and types of firearm violence "before" (12/14/20-4/9/21) versus "after" (4/10/21-7/31/21) widespread societal reopening in the US. Additional analyses also sought to compare the after reopening time-period to historical data (2017-2020) of similar calendar dates, to better control for possible annual/seasonal variation.ResultsMedian daily firearm violence incidents (153 versus 176, P

BackgroundFrailty is a known risk factor for adverse outcomes following surgery and affects at least 3 of every 10 US Veterans aged 65 years and older. We designed a study to characterize the association between frailty and complications after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) compared to open aneurysm repair (OAR) at our regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center.MethodsVeterans who underwent either OAR or EVAR at our institution between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2020 were identified. We examined medical history, procedure characteristics, perioperative complications, and frailty as measured by the 5-factor modified frailty index (mFI-5). Frailty was defined as an mFI-5 score ≥2. Primary endpoints were postoperative complications, duration of surgery, and length of hospital stay. Tests of association were performed with t-test and chi-squared analysis.ResultsOver the 21-year period, we identified 314 patients that underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair with 115 (36.6%) OAR and 199 EVAR (63.4%) procedures. Patients undergoing EVAR were older on average (72.1 years vs. 70.2 years) and had a higher average mFI-5 compared to the open repair group (1.49 vs. 1.23, P = 0.036). When comparing EVAR and OAR cohorts, patients undergoing OAR had a larger AAA diameter (6.5 cm, standard deviation [SD]: 1.5) compared to EVAR (5.5 cm, SD: 1.1 P

BackgroundVeterans are disproportionately affected by housing insecurity (HI), which can lead to adverse health outcomes and reduced life expectancy. We sought to examine the impact of HI on the outcomes of veterans who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair at our regional Veterans Affairs medical center.MethodsRetrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent AAA repair at our institution between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2020. We examined medical history, procedure details, hospitalization course, and postoperative outcomes. Primary endpoints were a 30-day mortality and median survival. Secondary endpoints were hospital length of stay, readmission rate, and perioperative complications. Hypothesis testing was performed with t-test and chi-squared analysis. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier estimation.ResultsOf the 314 veterans that underwent AAA repair (mean age of 71.4 ± 7.8 years, 99.7% male) over the 21-year period, we identified 39 (12.4%) patients with a history of HI. The HI was associated with a positive smoking history (100% vs. 88.0%, P = 0.022), lower rate of hypertension diagnosis (69.2% vs. 84.0%, P = 0.024), and increased rate of surgical site infections (SSI) (10.3% vs. 1.8%, P = 0.016). The median postoperative survival was lower in the HI group (7.6 years [CI 6.0-11.2] vs. 8.9 [CI 6.9-10.3]).ConclusionsHI was associated with reduced median postoperative survival, greater readmission rate, and increased risk of SSI following AAA repair.

BackgroundWe hypothesize among patients undergoing lower extremity amputation, access to pre-, and post operative rehabilitation services; as well as improved medical care, have led to higher rates of postoperative ambulation, and improved survival.MethodsRetrospective single center review of all major lower extremity amputations performed at the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System from 2000-2020 stratified into multiyear cohorts. We abstracted demographics, operative indication, comorbidities, preoperative medical management, perioperative complications, discharge location, and pre and postoperative ambulatory status. Odds of ambulation after amputation were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Survival was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Multivariate logistic predictors were selected based on prior literature and clinical experience.ResultsWe identified 654 operations in our study, noting fewer amputations performed in the latest 3 cohort years as compared to the initial cohort (2000-2004). Patients undergoing below-knee amputations (BKA) had 2.7 times (P

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data examining the impact of advancing chronic kidney disease stages on outcomes following revascularization for acute limb ischemia. The present study examined the association of chronic kidney disease with in-hospital mortality, amputation, and resource utilization following revascularization for acute limb ischemia using a nationally representative cohort. METHODS: The 2016-2018 National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify all adult hospitalizations with lower extremity acute limb ischemia requiring surgical and/or endovascular interventions. Patients were grouped according to the presence of chronic kidney disease and its severity: no chronic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease 1-3 (chronic kidney disease stages 1 through 3), chronic kidney disease 4-5 (chronic kidney disease stages 4 through 5), and end-stage renal disease. Multivariable logistic and linear models were used to evaluate association of chronic kidney disease stage with outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Of an estimated 82,610 patients meeting study criteria, 14.8% had chronic kidney disease (chronic kidney disease 1-3: 63.4%, chronic kidney disease 4-5: 12.1%, end-stage renal disease: 24.5%). Compared to those with chronic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease patients were on average older, were more frequently female, and had a higher median Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. Increasing severity of chronic kidney disease was associated with a stepwise increase in unadjusted mortality rates (4.7% in no chronic kidney disease to 12.6% in end-stage renal disease, P

BackgroundEndovenous ablation techniques have replaced greater saphenous vein (GSV) ligation and stripping for treatment of venous insufficiency. Our objective was to investigate our initial procedural experience and clinical presentation of patients undergoing mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) at a single institution. We hypothesized that closure level and success rate improved over time and were comparable to other endovenous ablation techniques.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed all MOCA procedures performed at the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital from 2015 - 2020. Variables included CEAP and VCSS scores, patient symptoms, post procedure duplex ultrasound, closure level, and need for anticoagulation. Success was defined as GSV thrombosis on initial post procedure duplex ultrasound. Procedure associated extension of thrombus into the deep veins was defined using the American Venous Forum (AVF) endothermal heat induced thrombosis (EHIT) classification.Results104 venous ablation procedures were performed on 86 patients. Eleven (12.8%) patients received bilateral interventions, and six (7%) patients had asynchronous interventions on the same leg. The average age was 58.4 years (SD 12) and 93% were male. Pre-procedural symptoms included pain (102, 98.1%), varicose veins (87, 83.7%), edema (58, 55.8%), and active ulcers (19, 18.3%). A CEAP category of C2 was the most common indication (34.6%), followed by C3 (22.1%) and C6 (21.2%). Forty-five (43.2%) patients had deep system reflux, and 53% had concomitant phlebectomies. Average VCSS score was 7.5 (SD 3.5).We observed a GSV ablation rate of 92.7% (n = 89) in the 96 procedures which had post-procedure follow up, with no temporal evidence of a learning curve. On post procedure duplex of the 89 technically successful ablations, 77 (86.5%) patients had AVF EHIT level 1 closure, three (3.4%) had level 2 closure, eight (8.9%) had level 3 closure, and one had a level 4 closure. Fourteen (15.7%) patients were newly started on anticoagulation for an average of 33.2 days (SD 34.1). Of the 19 legs treated for active venous ulcers, 13 (68.4%) had improvement or resolution of their venous ulcers. No pulmonary embolic complications were reported.ConclusionsWe observed a successful GSV thrombosis rate of 92.7% using MOCA without evidence of a learning curve and comparable to that reported in the literature. The rate of thrombus extension into the deep veins was 14.6%, with no adverse effects associated with anticoagulation or clinically significant sequelae of AVF EHIT level 2 or greater. Comparisons with MOCA associated thrombus extension into deep veins in the literature are limited as post procedure screening duplex are not standard of care. However, we demonstrated that MOCA ablation of the GSV is a safe procedure that may be performed with good technical success.

The 2020-2021 General Surgery Residency Match presents unique challenges in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights pre-existing concerns. In order to move toward an equitable and manageable surgical residency application process for both programs and applicants, systemic change is warranted.

BackgroundFrailty has been increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for vascular procedures. To assess the impact of frailty on clinical outcomes and resource utilization in patients undergoing carotid revascularization using a national cohort.MethodsThe 2005-2017 National Inpatient Sample was used to identify patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid stenting (CAS). Patients were classified as frail using diagnosis codes defined by the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups frailty indicator. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate associations between frailty and in-hospital mortality, postoperative stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), hospitalization costs, and length of stay (LOS).ResultsOf 1,426,343 patients undergoing carotid revascularization, 59,158 (4.2%) were identified as frail. Among frail patients, 79.4% underwent CEA and 20.6% underwent CAS. Compared to CEA, a greater proportion of patients undergoing CAS were frail (6.0% vs. 3.8%, P < 0.001). Compared to the nonfrail cohort, frail patients had higher rates of mortality (2.2% vs. 0.5%, P < 0.001), postoperative stroke (2.6% vs. 1.0%, P < 0.001), MI (2.2% vs. 0.8%, P < 0.001), and stroke/death (4.4% vs. 1.4%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, frailty was associated with increased odds of mortality (AOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.30-1.80, P < 0.001), stroke (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.38-1.83 P < 0.001), MI (AOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.29-1.72, P < 0.001), and stroke/death (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.45-1.81, P < 0.001). Furthermore, frailty was associated with increased hospitalization costs (β = +$5,980, 95% CI: $5,490-$6,470, P < 0.001) and LOS (β = +2.6 days, 95% CI: 2.4-2.8, P < 0.001).ConclusionsFrailty is associated with adverse outcomes and greater resource use for those undergoing carotid revascularization. Risk models should include an assessment of frailty to guide management and improve outcomes for these high-risk patients.

Neurological and vascular complications associated with creation of arteriovenous access need to be recognized promptly to deliver appropriate interventions for relief of symptoms and avoid loss of function of the involved extremity. We present here a 55-year-old female with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis secondary to diabetic nephropathy who had a surgical creation of first stage of the brachial artery-basilic vein fistula in the left arm. She subsequently developed pain and weakness of the left arm which was diagnosed as median and ulnar nerve entrapment. She was treated with surgical nerve release and neurolysis and her symptoms improved.

BackgroundSuperficialization, the second stage of a two-stage brachiobasilic arteriovenous fistula (BB-AVF), can be performed under local (LA), regional (RA), or general anesthesia (GA). Given the numerous comorbidities in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), our preference is to use RA or LA when feasible. Our goal was to review the success rate of RA and LA, need for conversion to GA, and cardiac morbidity and mortality for BB-AVF superficialization.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients who underwent BB-AVF creation with second-stage superficialization over a 4-year period. The primary outcome measures included need for conversion to GA, myocardial infarction (MI), and 30-day mortality. A secondary outcome was total operative time (time from preoperative briefing to the time the patient left the operating room). We analyzed the data using Fisher Exact test for categorical data and nonparametric analysis for continuous data.ResultsThere were 42 patients who underwent BB-AVF superficialization. The median age was 56 years, with a mean body mass index of 29. Most patients were male (55%) and predominantly Hispanic/Latino (60%). RA was utilized in 35 patients (83%), LA in 5 (12%), and GA in 2 (5%). The conversion rate from RA to GA was 0% and was 20% (n = 1) from LA to GA. There were no postoperative MI or deaths. There was no significant difference in total operative time (219.6 min for RA, 234.5 min for LA, and 278 min for GA, (P = 0.37)).ConclusionsLocal and/or regional anesthesia can be successfully used in the majority of patients undergoing BB-AVF superficialization. LA and RA are associated with negligible cardiac morbidity and mortality. Conversion from RA to GA is rare. Use of RA does not result in a longer total operative time.

ObjectivesThe influence of race or ethnicity on limb loss after traumatic vascular injury is unclear. We sought to determine whether there were racial differences in rates of amputation between American Indians, blacks, Asians, and Hispanics compared to white patients following arterial axillosubclavian vessel injury (ASVI), femoral artery injury (FAI), or popliteal artery injury (PAI). As black race has been identified as an independent prognostic factor for postsurgical complication in trauma-associated lower extremity amputation, we further hypothesized that black race would be associated with a higher risk for limb loss after arterial ASVI, FAI, and PAI injury in a large national database.MethodsThe National Trauma Data Bank was queried for patients ≥16-years-old with arterial ASVI, FAI, or PAI to determine the risk of arm, above knee amputation (AKA), and below knee amputation (BKA), respectively. Covariates were included in separate multivariable logistic regression models for analysis. The reference group included white trauma patients.ResultsFrom 5,683,057 patients, 21,843 were identified with arterial ASVI, FAI, or PAI (