Abstract Background There is an increased desire of patients and families to be involved in the surgical decision making process. A surgeon’s ability to provide patients and families with ...patient-specific estimates of postoperative complications is critical for shared decision making and informed consent. Surgeons can also use patient-specific risk estimates to decide whether or not to operate and what options to give to patients. Our objective was to develop and evaluate a publicly available risk estimation tool that would cover many common pediatric surgical procedures across all specialties. Study Design ACS NSQIP Pediatric standardized data from 67 hospitals were used to develop a risk estimation tool. Surgeons enter 18 preoperative variables (demographics, comorbidities, procedure) that are used in a logistic regression model to predict nine postoperative outcomes. A surgeon adjustment score is also incorporated to adjust for any additional risk not accounted for in the 18 risk factors. Results A pediatric surgical risk calculator was developed based on 181,353 cases covering 382 CPT codes across all specialties. It had excellent discrimination for mortality (c-statistic=0.98), morbidity (c-statistic=0.81), and 7 additional complications (c-statistics>0.77). The HL statistic and graphical representations also showed excellent calibration. Conclusions The ACS NSQIP Pediatric Surgical Risk Calculator was developed using standardized and audited, multi-institutional data from the ACS NSQIP Pediatric and provides empirically derived, patient-specific postoperative risks. It can be used as a tool in the shared decision making process by providing clinicians, families, and patients with useful information for many of the most common operations performed on pediatric patients in the U.S.
IMPORTANCE: Nonoperative management with antibiotics alone has the potential to treat uncomplicated pediatric appendicitis with fewer disability days than surgery. OBJECTIVE: To determine the success ...rate of nonoperative management and compare differences in treatment-related disability, satisfaction, health-related quality of life, and complications between nonoperative management and surgery in children with uncomplicated appendicitis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Multi-institutional nonrandomized controlled intervention study of 1068 children aged 7 through 17 years with uncomplicated appendicitis treated at 10 tertiary children’s hospitals across 7 US states between May 2015 and October 2018 with 1-year follow-up through October 2019. Of the 1209 eligible patients approached, 1068 enrolled in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Patient and family selection of nonoperative management with antibiotics alone (nonoperative group, n = 370) or urgent (≤12 hours of admission) laparoscopic appendectomy (surgery group, n = 698). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The 2 primary outcomes assessed at 1 year were disability days, defined as the total number of days the child was not able to participate in all of his/her normal activities secondary to appendicitis-related care (expected difference, 5 days), and success rate of nonoperative management, defined as the proportion of patients initially managed nonoperatively who did not undergo appendectomy by 1 year (lowest acceptable success rate, ≥70%). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for differences between treatment groups for all outcome assessments. RESULTS: Among 1068 patients who were enrolled (median age, 12.4 years; 38% girls), 370 (35%) chose nonoperative management and 698 (65%) chose surgery. A total of 806 (75%) had complete follow-up: 284 (77%) in the nonoperative group; 522 (75%) in the surgery group. Patients in the nonoperative group were more often younger (median age, 12.3 years vs 12.5 years), Black (9.6% vs 4.9%) or other race (14.6% vs 8.7%), had caregivers with a bachelor’s degree (29.8% vs 23.5%), and underwent diagnostic ultrasound (79.7% vs 74.5%). After IPTW, the success rate of nonoperative management at 1 year was 67.1% (96% CI, 61.5%-72.31%; P = .86). Nonoperative management was associated with significantly fewer patient disability days at 1 year than did surgery (adjusted mean, 6.6 vs 10.9 days; mean difference, −4.3 days (99% CI, −6.17 to −2.43; P < .001). Of 16 other prespecified secondary end points, 10 showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Among children with uncomplicated appendicitis, an initial nonoperative management strategy with antibiotics alone had a success rate of 67.1% and, compared with urgent surgery, was associated with statistically significantly fewer disability days at 1 year. However, there was substantial loss to follow-up, the comparison with the prespecified threshold for an acceptable success rate of nonoperative management was not statistically significant, and the hypothesized difference in disability days was not met. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02271932
OBJECTIVE:To characterize the influence of intraoperative findings on complications and resource utilization as a means to establish an evidence-based and public health-relevant definition for ...complicated appendicitis.
SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:Consensus is lacking surrounding the definition of complicated appendicitis in children. Establishment of a consensus definition may have implications for standardizing the reporting of clinical research data and for refining reimbursement guidelines.
METHODS:This was a retrospective cohort study of patients ages 3 to 18 years who underwent appendectomy from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014 across 22 childrenʼs hospitals (n = 5002). Intraoperative findings and clinical data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric Appendectomy Pilot Database were merged with cost data from the Pediatric Health Information System Database. Multivariable regression was used to examine the influence of 4 intraoperative findings visible hole (VH), diffuse fibrinopurulent exudate (DFE) extending outside the right lower quadrant (RLQ)/pelvis, abscess, and extra-luminal fecalith on complication rates and resource utilization after controlling for patient and hospital-level characteristics.
RESULTS:At least 1 of the 4 intraoperative findings was reported in 26.6% (1333/5002) of all cases. Following adjustment, each of the 4 findings was independently associated with higher rates of adverse events compared with cases where the findings were absent (VHOR 5.57 95% CI 3.48–8.93, DFEOR 4.6595% CI 2.91–7.42, abscessOR 8.9695% CI 5.33–15.08, P < 0.0001, fecalithOR 5.0195% CI 2.02–12.43, P = 0.001), and higher rates of revisits (VHOR 2.02 95% CI 1.34–3.04, P = 0.001, DFEOR 1.5995% CI 1.07–2.37, P = 0.02, abscessOR 2.0495% CI 1.2–3.49, P = 0.01, fecalithOR 2.3195% CI 1.06–5.02, P = 0.04). Each of the 4 findings was also independently associated with increased resource utilization, including longer cumulative length of stay (VHRate ratio RR 3.1595% CI 2.86–3.46, DFERR 3.06 95% CI 2.83–3.13, abscessRR 3.94 95% CI 3.55–4.37, fecalithRR 2.35 95% CI 1.87–2.96, P = < 0.0001) and higher cumulative hospital cost (VHRR 1.9795% CI 1.64–2.37, P < 0.0001, DFERR 1.895% CI 1.55–2.08, P = < 0.0001, abscessRR 2.0295% CI 1.61–2.53, P < 0.0001, fecalithRR 1.4995% CI 0.98–2.28, P = 0.06) compared with cases where the findings were absent.
CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE:The presence of a visible hole, diffuse fibrinopurulent exudate, intra-abdominal abscess, and extraluminal fecalith were independently associated with markedly worse outcomes and higher cost in children with appendicitis. The results of this study provide an evidence-based and public health-relevant framework for defining complicated appendicitis in children.
Importance A standardized severity assessment approach is needed in children with appendicitis for postoperative adverse event estimation and severity adjustment for hospital-level comparative ...performance reporting. Objective To examine the association between the presence and number of National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Pediatric–defined intraoperative criteria for complicated appendicitis and outcomes in a population-based sample of children. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used data from the American College of Surgeons NSQIP Pediatric Appendectomy Procedure Targeted Participant Use Data File and General Participant Use Data File for children younger than 18 years who underwent appendectomy from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2022, at 148 hospitals participating in NSQIP Pediatric. Exposure The presence of NSQIP Pediatric intraoperative criteria for complicated appendicitis (ie, visible perforation, intraperitoneal abscess, extraluminal fecalith, and diffuse fibrinopurulent exudate). Main Outcomes and Measures Adverse event outcomes included postoperative rates of any surgical site infection (incisional or organ space), percutaneous drainage, sepsis, and reoperation. Resource use outcomes included operative duration and hospital length of stay, and rates of postoperative imaging, parenteral nutrition use, and revisits. Multivariable regression was used to explore the influence of individual and combinations of intraoperative criteria on outcomes after adjusting for patient characteristics. Results Of 82 950 patients included, 23 221 (27.9%) had at least 1 finding of complicated appendicitis. Compared with cases without any criteria present, the presence of each finding of complicated appendicitis was independently associated with higher rates of any adverse events; adjusted odds ratios (AORs) by finding were 5.57 (95% CI, 5.04-6.15) for visible hole, 4.83 (95% CI, 4.17-5.59) for diffuse fibrinopurulent exudate, 7.06 (95% CI, 5.77-8.63) for abscess, and 6.62 (95% CI, 4.78-9.15) for fecalith. An increasing number of criteria was associated with a stepwise increase in risk of any adverse events; AOR by number of criteria met were 5.55 (95% CI, 5.09-6.05) for 1 criterion, 8.86 (95% CI, 8.16-9.62) for 2 criteria, and 16.65 (95% CI, 15.10-18.35) for ≥3 criteria. Similar patterns in criteria-specific and cumulative implications for outcomes were observed with each individual adverse event and resource use measure. Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study found that postoperative complications and increased resource use are associated with the presence and number of NSQIP Pediatric criteria for complicated appendicitis. These criteria should be considered the gold standard, evidence-based severity assessment framework for estimating risk of adverse events and resource use in children with appendicitis.
IMPORTANCE: The influence of disease severity on outcomes and use of health care resources in children with complicated appendicitis is poorly characterized. Adjustment for variation in disease ...severity may have implications for ensuring fair reimbursement and comparative performance reporting among hospitals. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of intraoperative findings as a measure of disease severity with complication rates and resource use in children with complicated appendicitis. DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study used clinical data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program pediatric appendectomy pilot database (NSQIP-P database) and cost data from the Pediatric Health Information System database. Twenty-two children’s hospitals participated in the NSQIP Pediatric Appendectomy Collaborative Pilot Project. Patients aged 3 to 18 years with complicated appendicitis who underwent an appendectomy from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2014, were included in the study. Appendicitis was categorized in the NSQIP-P database as complicated if any of the following 4 intraoperative findings occurred in the operative report: visible hole, fibropurulent exudate in more than 2 quadrants, abscess, or extraluminal fecalith. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2014. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Thirty-day postoperative adverse event rate, revisit rate, hospital cost, and length of stay. Multivariable regression was used to estimate event rates and outcomes for all observed combinations of intraoperative findings, with adjusting for patient characteristics and clustering within hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 1333 patients (58.7% boys; median age, 10 years; interquartile range, 7-12 years) were included; multiple intraoperative findings of complicated appendicitis were reported in 589 (44.2%). Compared with single findings, the presence of multiple findings was associated with higher rates of surgical site infection (odds ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.95-2.06; P = .09), higher revisit rates (odds ratio, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.15-2.21; P = .005), longer length of stay (rate ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.36-1.55; P < .001), and higher hospital cost (rate ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.19-1.53; P < .001). Significant differences were found among different combinations of intraoperative findings for all outcomes, including a 3.6-fold difference in rates of surgical site infection (range, 7.5% for fecalith alone to 27.2% for all 4 findings; P = .002), a 2.6-fold difference in revisit rates (range, 8.9% for exudate alone to 22.9% for all 4 findings; P = .001), a 2.2-fold difference in length of stay (range, 4.0 days for exudate alone to 8.9 days for all 4 findings; P < .001), and a 2.4-fold difference in mean cumulative cost (range, $13 296 for exudate alone to $32 282 for all 4 findings; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: More severe presentations of complicated appendicitis are associated with worse outcomes and greater resource use. Severity adjustment may be needed to ensure fair reimbursement and comparative performance reporting, particularly at hospitals treating underserved populations where more severe presentations are common.
Accurate, timely diagnosis of pediatric appendicitis minimizes unnecessary operations and treatment delays. Preoperative abdominal-pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan is sensitive and specific for ...appendicitis; however, concerns regarding radiation exposure in children obligate scrutiny of CT use. Here, we characterize recent preoperative imaging use and accuracy among pediatric appendectomy subjects.
We retrospectively reviewed children who underwent operations for presumed appendicitis at a single tertiary-care children's hospital and examined preoperative CT and ultrasound use with subject characteristics. Preoperative imaging accuracy was compared with postoperative and histologic diagnosis as the reference standard.
Most children (395/423, 93.4%) who underwent an operation for appendicitis during 2009-2010 had preoperative imaging. Final diagnoses included normal appendix (7.3%) and perforated appendicitis (23.6%). In multivariable analysis, initial evaluation at a community hospital versus the children's hospital was associated with 4.4-fold higher odds of obtaining a preoperative CT scan (P = .002), whereas preoperative ultrasound was less likely (odds ratio 0.20; P = .003). Ultrasound and CT sensitivities for appendicitis were diminished for studies performed at community hospitals compared with the children's hospital. Girls were 4.5-fold more likely to undergo both ultrasound and CT scans and were associated with lower ultrasound sensitivity for appendicitis.
Widespread preoperative imaging did not eliminate unnecessary pediatric appendectomies. Controlling for factors potentially associated with referral bias, a CT scan was more likely to be performed in children initially evaluated at community hospitals compared with the children's hospital. Broadly-applicable strategies to systematically maximize diagnostic accuracy for childhood appendicitis, while minimizing ionizing radiation exposure, are urgently needed.
Abstract Background/Purpose Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is a rare congenital anomaly lacking contemporary data detailing patient demographics, medical/surgical management ...and outcomes. Substantial variation in the care of infants with EA/TEF may affect both shortand long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to characterize the demographics, management strategies and outcomes in a contemporary multi-institutional cohort of infants diagnosed with EA/TEF to identify potential areas for standardization of care. Methods A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study of infants with EA/TEF treated at 11 children's hospitals between 2009 and 2014 was performed. Over the 5 year period, 396 cases were identified in the 11 centers (9 ± 5 per center per year). All infants with a diagnosis of EA/TEF made within 30 days of life had surgical repair of their defect defined as esophageal reconstruction with or without ligation of TEF within the first six months of life. Demographic, operative, and outcome data were collected and analyzed to detect associations between variables. Results Prenatal suspicion or diagnosis of EA/TEF was present in 53 (13%). The most common anatomy was proximal EA with distal TEF (n = 335; 85%) followed by pure EA (n = 27; 7%). Clinically significant congenital heart disease (CHD) was present in 137 (35%). Mortality was 7.5% and significantly associated with CHD (p < 0.0001). Post-operative morbidity occurred in 62% of the population, including 165 (42%) cases with anastomotic stricture requiring intervention, anastomotic leak in 89 (23%), vocal cord paresis/paralysis in 26 (7%), recurrent fistula in 19 (5%), and anastomotic dehiscence in 9 (2%). Substantial variation in practice across our institutions existed: bronchoscopy prior to repair was performed in 64% of cases (range: 0%–100%); proximal pouch contrast study in 21% (0%–69%); use of interposing material between the esophageal and tracheal suture lines in 38% (0%–69%); perioperative antibiotics ≥ 24 h in 69% (36%–97%); transanastomotic tubes in 73% (21%–100%). Conclusion Contemporary treatment of EA/TEF is characterized by substantial variation in perioperative management and considerable post-operative morbidity and mortality. Future studies are planned to establish best practices and clinical care guidelines for infants with EA/TEF. Level of Evidence Type of study: Treatment Study. Level IV
OBJECTIVE:To assess current clinical outcomes in children with prenatally diagnosed congenital lung malformations (CLMs) and to identify prenatal characteristics associated with adverse outcomes.
...SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA:Despite a wide spectrum of clinical disease, the identification of fetal CLM subgroups at increased risk for hydrops and respiratory compromise at delivery have not been well defined.
METHODS:A retrospective cohort study was conducted using an operative database of prenatally diagnosed CLMs managed at eleven childrenʼs hospitals from 2009–2016. Statistical analyses were performed using non-parametric bivariate or multivariable logistic regression.
RESULTS:Three hundred forty-four children were analyzed. Fifteen (5.5%) fetuses were managed with maternal steroids in the setting of hydrops, and prenatal surgical intervention was uncommon (1.7%). Seventy-five (21.8%) had respiratory symptoms at birth, and 34 (10.0%) required neonatal lung resection. Congenital pulmonary airway malformation volume ratio (CVR) measurements were recorded in 169 (49.1%) cases and were significantly associated with perinatal outcome, including hydrops, respiratory distress at birth, need for supplemental oxygen, neonatal ventilator use, and neonatal resection (p < 0.001). An initial CVR ≤ 1.4 was significantly correlated with a reduced risk for hydrops area under the curve (AUC), 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87–1.00. A maximum CVR < 0.9 (AUC, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.67–0.85) was associated with a low risk for respiratory symptoms at birth.
CONCLUSION:In this large, multi-institutional study, an initial CVR ≤ 1.4 identifies fetuses at very low risk for hydrops, and a maximum CVR < 0.9 is associated with asymptomatic disease at birth. These findings represent an opportunity for standardization and quality improvement for prenatal counseling and delivery planning.
To establish surgical site infection (SSI) performance benchmarks in pediatric surgery and to develop a prioritization framework for SSI prevention based on procedure-level SSI burden.
Contemporary ...epidemiology of SSI rates and event burden in elective pediatric surgery remain poorly characterized.
Multicenter analysis using sampled SSI data from 90 hospitals participating in NSQIP-Pediatric and procedural volume data from the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database. Procedure-level incisional and organ space SSI (OSI) rates for 17 elective procedure groups were calculated from NSQIP-Pediatric data and estimates of procedure-level SSI burden were extrapolated using procedural volume data. The relative contribution of each procedure to the cumulative sum of SSI events from all procedures was used as a prioritization framework.
A total of 11,689 nonemergent procedures were included. The highest incisional SSI rates were associated with gastrostomy closure (4.1%), small bowel procedures (4.0%), and gastrostomy (3.7%), while the highest OSI rates were associated with esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula repair (8.1%), colorectal procedures (1.8%), and small bowel procedures (1.5%). 66.1% of the cumulative incisional SSI burden from all procedures were attributable to 3 procedure groups (gastrostomy: 27.5%, small bowel: 22.9%, colorectal: 15.7%), and 72.8% of all OSI events were similarly attributable to 3 procedure groups (small bowel: 28.5%, colorectal: 26.0%, esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula repair: 18.4%).
A small number of procedures account for a disproportionate burden of SSIs in pediatric surgery. The results of this analysis can be used as a prioritization framework for refocusing SSI prevention efforts where they are needed most.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Previous studies have suggested that hospital volume is an independent predictor of in-hospital ...mortality. We sought to validate this effect using a large national database incorporating 37 free-standing children's hospitals in the United States.
Infants who underwent repair of CDH from 2000 to 2008 at Pediatric Health Information Systems-member hospitals were evaluated. Hospitals were categorized by tertiles into low-volume (≤6 cases/yr), medium-volume (6-10 cases/yr), and high-volume (>10 cases/yr). Using generalized linear mixed models with random effects, we computed the risk-adjusted odds ratio of mortality by yearly hospital volume of CDH repair, after adjustment for salient patient and hospital characteristics.
There were 2203 infants who underwent repair with an overall survival of 82%. Average yearly hospital volume of CDH repair varied from 1.4 to 17.5 cases per year. Smaller birthweight (adjusted odds ratio aOR: 0.56 per kg, P < 0.001), year of birth (P < 0.001), chromosomal abnormalities (aOR: 3.83, P < 0.01), longer time to repair (aOR: 1.12 per week, P < 0.05), the thoracic approach for repair (P < 0.02), and requirement for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (aOR: 10.31, P < 0.0001), or inhaled nitric oxide (aOR: 5.25, P < 0.0001) were each independently associated with mortality. Compared with low-volume hospitals, medium-volume (aOR: 0.56, P < 0.05) and high-volume (aOR: 0.44, P < 0.01) hospitals had a significantly lower mortality. The rate of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use at each facility was not independently associated with mortality.
This large study suggests that hospitals which perform high volumes of CDH repair achieve lower in-hospital mortality. These data support the paradigm of regionalized centers of excellence for the management of infants with this morbid condition.
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