BACKGROUND
There exists a long established but not validated practice of placing temporary intravascular shunts (TIVS) in cases of combined vascular and orthopedic extremity trauma. Though logical to prioritize blood flow, large-scale data to support this practice is lacking. We hypothesize that the order of repair yields no difference in outcomes in combined vascular and orthopedic extremity trauma and offer a larger-scale analysis than is previously available.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was conducted at six Level I trauma centers from 2004 to 2015 comparing patients who received a TIVS during their initial surgery versus those who did not. Nonshunted patients were further divided into initial definitive vascular repair versus initial orthopedic fixation groups. Metrics were used to control for sampling bias while revision rate, amputation, hospital length of stay (HLOS), and development of thrombosis and compartment syndrome were used to assess outcomes.
RESULTS
Of 291 total patients, 72 had TIVS placement, 97 had initial definitive vascular repair, and 122 had initial orthopedic fixation. The shunted group had a higher Abbreviated Injury Scale (3.0 vs. 2.8 p = 0.04) and Mangled Extremity Severity Score (6.1 vs. 5.7 p = 0.006) and a significantly lower rate of compartment syndrome (15% vs. 34% p = 0.002). Among patients who developed compartment syndrome, those who were shunted were younger (23 vs. 35 yrs, p = 0.03) and were more likely sustain a penetrating injury (p = 0.007). Those receiving initial orthopedic fixation had a longer HLOS (HLOS >15 days in 61% vs. 38%, p = 0.049) and a higher amputation rate (20% vs. 7%, p = 0.006) when compared with those undergoing initial definitive vascular repair.
CONCLUSION
Lack of TIVS was associated with a significant increase in the development of compartment syndrome. Though it seems to have become common practice to proceed directly to vascular repair during the initial surgery, morbidity is improved with the placement of a TIVS.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Therapeutic cohort, level III.
Over the last 3 years a shift at our institution has taken place in which patients who would have been offered nasoalveolar molding (NAM) as an adjunct to cleft lip repair (repair after 3 months) have instead undergone early cleft lip repair (ECLR) (2–5 weeks of life) without NAM. This study sought to examine the financial and social impact of the transition away from NAM to ECLR. The efficacy of NAM is limited by patient compliance to a rigorous treatment schedule requiring weekly visits for appliance adjustments. Nasoalveolar molding patients required an average of 11 dental visits, accounting for $2132 in indirect lost income per family. Average direct charges for NAM totaled $12,290 for the hospital, physician, and appliance costs. Over the entire study period, the cumulative direct cost of NAM separate from the surgical repair of the lip was $970,910. Following the introduction of ECLR as an alternative to NAM with standard lip repair, NAM usage decreased by 48% and unilateral cleft lip patients undergoing NAM decreased by 86%. Those diverted from NAM to ECLR resulted in a decreased healthcare cost burden of $368,700 ($111,727 per year). In addition to the time burden, the financial burden of NAM is significant. Early cleft lip repair without NAM is more cost effective. Nasoalveolar molding has significantly decreased utilization since the implementation of ECLR. We believe that ECLR, with increased experience, long-term data, and increased awareness, has the potential to decrease the burden of health care costs in the United States.
Objective This study compares patients undergoing early cleft lip repair (ECLR) (<3-months) and traditional lip repair (TLR) (3-6 months) with/without nasoalveolar molding (NAM) to evaluate the effects of surgical timing on weight gain in hopes of guiding future treatment paradigms. Design Retrospective review. Setting Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, California. Patient, Participants A retrospective chart review evaluated patients who underwent ECLR or TLR ± NAM from November 2009 through January 2020. Interventions No intervention was performed. Main Outcome Measure(s) Patient demographics, birth and medical history, perioperative variables, and complications were collected. Infant weights and age-based percentiles were recorded at birth, surgery, 8-weeks, 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months postoperatively. The main outcomes were weight change and weight percentile amongst ECLR and TLR ± NAM groups. Results 107 patients met inclusion criteria: ECLR, n = 51 (47.6%); TLR + NAM, n = 35 (32.7%); and TLR-NAM, n = 21 (19.6%). ECLR patients had significantly greater changes in weight from surgery to 8-weeks and from surgery to 24-months postoperatively compared with both TLR ± NAM ( P < .05). Age-matched weights in the ECLR group were significantly greater than TLR ± NAM at multiple time points postoperatively ( P < .05). Conclusions ECLR significantly increased patient weights 24-months postoperatively when compared to TLR ± NAM. Specifically compared to TLR-NAM, ECLR weights were significantly greater at all time points past 6-months postoperatively. The results of this study demonstrate that ECLR can mitigate feeding difficulties and malnutrition traditionally seen in patients with cleft lip.
Background: Mobile phones are known to carry pathogenic bacteria and viruses on their surfaces, posing a risk to healthcare providers (HCPs) and hospital infection prevention efforts. We utilize an Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) device to provide an effective method for mobile phone disinfection and survey HCPs about infection risk. Methods: Environmental swabs were used to culture HCPs' personal mobile phone surfaces. Four cultures were obtained per phone: before and after the UV-C device's 30-second disinfecting cycle, at the beginning and end of a 12-hour shift. Surveys were administered to participants pre-and poststudy. Results: Total bacterial colony forming units were reduced by 90.5% (P = .006) after one UV-C disinfection cycle, and by 99.9% (P = .004) after 2 cycles. Total pathogenic bacterial colony forming units were decreased by 98.2% (P = .038) after one and >99.99% (P = .037) after 2 disinfection cycles. All survey respondents were willing to use the UV-C device daily to weekly, finding it convenient and beneficial. Discussion: This novel UV-C disinfecting device is effective in reducing pathogenic bacteria on mobile phones. HCPs would frequently use a phone disinfecting device to reduce infection risk. Conclusions: In light of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a standardized approach to phone disinfection may be valuable in preventing healthcare-associated infections.
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