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High-volume Centers (high-volume + center)
Selected AbstractsEffect of hospital volume and teaching status on outcomes of acute liver failureLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 9 2008Ashwin N. Ananthakrishnan Acute liver failure (ALF) often requires multidisciplinary support. Higher hospital volumes have been associated with better outcomes for surgical procedures, but whether such a relationship exists for ALF has not been explored previously. In this study, our aim was to examine if hospital volume affects mortality from ALF. Using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2001 to 2004, we identified cases by the presence of a primary discharge diagnosis of ALF (International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification code 570.x). Hospitals were divided into low-, medium-, and high-volume hospitals on the basis of 1 to 5, 6 to 20, and more than 20 annual ALF discharges. There were 17,361, 6756, and 1790 discharges with ALF from low-, medium-, and high-volume hospitals, respectively. There was no difference in adjusted mortality between low- and high-volume hospitals (odds ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.68-1.28). Teaching hospitals had a trend toward lower mortality among patients with hepatic encephalopathy (odds ratio 0.69, 95% confidence interval 0.47-1.01). High-volume centers had a higher rate of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) primarily because they were transplant centers, had better in-hospital post-OLT survival, and showed a trend toward a shorter time to OLT. In conclusion, patients with ALF receiving care at teaching hospitals and high-volume centers tend to be sicker. However, teaching hospitals and high-volume centers have equivalent in-hospital survival despite caring for this more severely ill cohort. Liver Transpl 14:1347,1356, 2008. © 2008 AASLD. [source] Comparison of Different Methods of ST Segment Resolution Analysis for Prediction of 1-Year Mortality after Primary Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial InfarctionANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007Jakub Przyluski M.D. Background: Resolution of ST segment elevation corresponds with myocardial tissue reperfusion and correlates with clinical outcome after ST elevation myocardial infarction. Simpler method evaluating the extent of maximal deviation persisting in a single ECG lead was an even stronger mortality predictor. Our aim was to evaluate and compare prognostic accuracy of different methods of ST segment elevation resolution analysis after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a real-life setting. Methods: Paired 12-lead ECGs were analyzed in 324 consecutive and unselected patients treated routinely with primary PCI in a single high-volume center. ST segment resolution was quantified and categorized into complete, partial, or none, upon the (1) sum of multilead ST elevations (sumSTE) and (2) sum of ST elevations plus reciprocal depressions (sumSTE+D); or into the low-, medium-, and high-risk groups by (3) the single-lead extent of maximal postprocedural ST deviation (maxSTE). Results: Complete, partial, and nonresolution groups by sumSTE constituted 39%, 40%, and 21% of patients, respective groups by sumSTE+D comprised 40%, 39%, and 21%. The low-, medium-, and high-risk groups constituted 43%, 32%, and 25%. One-year mortality rates for rising risk groups by sumSTE were 4.7%, 10.2%, and 14.5% (P = 0.049), for sumSTE+D 3.8%, 9.6%, and 17.6% (P = 0.004) and for maxSTE 5.1%, 6.7%, and 18.5% (P = 0.001), respectively. After adjustment for multiple covariates only maxSTE (high vs low-risk, odds ratio [OR] 3.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11,8.63; P = 0.030) and age (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.02,1.11; P = 0.002) remained independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions: In unselected population risk stratifications based on the postprocedural ST resolution analysis correlate with 1-year mortality after primary PCI. However, only the single-lead ST deviation analysis allows an independent mortality prediction. [source] Contemporary Results of Total Aortic Arch ReplacementJOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 3 2004Thoralf M. Sundt M.D. The results of surgical intervention reported from large centers are improving; however, the degree to which these results are reproducible by other surgeons is less clear. We therefore reviewed our recent experience with total aortic arch replacement. Methods: Between July 1, 1997 and July 1, 2001 19 patients underwent complete aortic arch replacement, with or without concomitant procedures. We retrospectively reviewed perioperative results retrieved from the computerized database and clinical records. Results: The mean age of the study population was 68 ± 8.3 years (range 52 to 82), with women predominating (11 women, 8 men). All patients had hypertension. Patient history indicated active or past tobacco abuse in 16 patients (80%); cerebrovascular disease in 3, and peripheral vascular disease in 7 patients. Associated procedures included an elephant trunk in 12 (63%), replacement of the upper descending thoracic aorta in 5 (26%), concomitant coronary artery bypass in 5 (26%), and aortic root replacement in 3 (16%). One patient underwent replacement of the entire aorta from sinotubular ridge to iliac bifurcation in a single procedure. Brachiocephalic reconstruction with a "Y-graft" permitting early antegrade cerebral perfusion was performed in 12 patients. Retrograde cerebral perfusion was performed in ten patients (53%). Perioperatively, death occurred in two patients (11%) and stroke in two (11%). Conclusions: With cautious application, techniques developed in high-volume centers can also achieve satisfactory results when used at centers with a more modest case volume. (J Card Surg 2004;19:235-239) [source] Effect of hospital volume and teaching status on outcomes of acute liver failureLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 9 2008Ashwin N. Ananthakrishnan Acute liver failure (ALF) often requires multidisciplinary support. Higher hospital volumes have been associated with better outcomes for surgical procedures, but whether such a relationship exists for ALF has not been explored previously. In this study, our aim was to examine if hospital volume affects mortality from ALF. Using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for the years 2001 to 2004, we identified cases by the presence of a primary discharge diagnosis of ALF (International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification code 570.x). Hospitals were divided into low-, medium-, and high-volume hospitals on the basis of 1 to 5, 6 to 20, and more than 20 annual ALF discharges. There were 17,361, 6756, and 1790 discharges with ALF from low-, medium-, and high-volume hospitals, respectively. There was no difference in adjusted mortality between low- and high-volume hospitals (odds ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.68-1.28). Teaching hospitals had a trend toward lower mortality among patients with hepatic encephalopathy (odds ratio 0.69, 95% confidence interval 0.47-1.01). High-volume centers had a higher rate of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) primarily because they were transplant centers, had better in-hospital post-OLT survival, and showed a trend toward a shorter time to OLT. In conclusion, patients with ALF receiving care at teaching hospitals and high-volume centers tend to be sicker. However, teaching hospitals and high-volume centers have equivalent in-hospital survival despite caring for this more severely ill cohort. Liver Transpl 14:1347,1356, 2008. © 2008 AASLD. [source] Transplant Center Volume and Outcomes After Liver RetransplantationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 2 2009P. P. Reese Liver retransplantation surgery has a high rate of allograft failure due to patient comorbidities and technical demands of the procedure. Success of liver retransplantation could depend on surgeon experience and processes of care that relate to center volume. We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult liver retransplantation procedures performed from January 1, 1996 through December 31, 2005 using registry data from the Organ Procurement Transplantation Network. The primary outcome was 1-year allograft failure. Liver transplant centers were categorized as small, intermediate or high volume by dividing overall liver transplants into three tertiles of approximately equal size. Mean annual volume of overall liver transplants was <50 for low-volume centers, 50,88 for intermediate-volume centers and >88 for high-volume centers. The primary analysis consisted of 3977 liver retransplantation patients. The unadjusted risk of 1-year allograft failure was 37.8%. In multivariable logistic regression, the risk of 1-year allograft failure was not significantly different between low- (reference), intermediate- (OR 0.86, CI 0.72,1.03, p = 0.11) and high-volume centers (OR 0.88, CI 0.74,1.04, p = 0.14). Results were similar when the analysis was limited to retransplantation performed >160 days after initial transplantation. Center volume is an imprecise surrogate measure for 1-year outcomes after liver retransplantation. [source] Safety and efficacy of carotid stenting in the very elderly,CATHETERIZATION AND CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS, Issue 5 2010Arthur Grant MD Abstract Background: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has emerged as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients at high risk for complications from surgery. The very elderly (,80-year-old) are one subgroup of patients identified as being at increased risk for carotid surgery. However, there is concern that the very elderly are also at increased risk for complications of CAS. A stroke and death rate of 12% was reported in very elderly patients during the roll-in phase of Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stent Trial (CREST). We are reporting on a large clinical series of CAS with independent neurological assessment in the very elderly. Methods: Between 1994 and 2008, a consecutive series of 418 CAS patients (,80-year-old) were treated at four high-volume centers with extensive CAS experience. Independent neurologic assessment was performed after CAS procedures. Thirty-day follow-up information was available in 389 patients. Results: The average age was 83.2 ± 2.8 years. Most patients were male (63.2%), and the target lesion carotid stenosis was asymptomatic in two-thirds (68.2%) of patients. The majority of patients treated with CAS had a history of coronary artery disease (74.4%), hypertension (87.8%), and dyslipidemia (71.1%). One third (30.1%) were diabetic and more than half (56.5%) were current or former smokers. Embolic protection devices (EPD) were used in 78.7% of cases with the CAS procedure being performed before EPD availability being the most common reason for not using them. The overall 30-day incidence of stroke and death was 2.8% (11/389). The cumulative incidence of major cardiovascular events (stroke, death, or myocardial infarction) during that time period was 3.3% (13/389). Conclusions: This large series of CAS with independent neurologic assessment is convincing evidence that the very elderly (,80 years) can safely undergo CAS with stroke and death rates comparable to younger patients. The key to obtaining these excellent results is that CAS be performed by high volume, experienced operators who exercise restraint regarding patient selection. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Factors affecting outcome in liver resectionHPB, Issue 3 2005CEDRIC S. F. LORENZO Abstract Background. Studies demonstrate an inverse relationship between institution/surgeon procedural volumes and patient outcomes. Similar studies exist for liver resections, which recommend referral of patients for liver resections to ,high-volume' centers. These studies did not elucidate the factors that underlie such outcomes. We believe there exists a complex interaction of patient-related and perioperative factors that determine patient outcomes after liver resection. We sought to delineate these factors. Methods. Retrospective review of 114 liver resections by a single surgeon from 1993,2003: Records were reviewed for demographics; diagnosis; type/year of surgery; American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score; preoperative albumin, creatinine, and bilirubin; operative time; intraoperative blood transfusions; epidural use; and intraoperative hypotension. Main outcome measurements were postoperative morbidities, mortalities and length of stay (LOS). Data were analyzed using a multivariate linear regression model (SPSS v10.1 statistical analysis program). Results. Primary indications for resections were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (N=57), metastatic colorectal cancer (N=25), and benign disease (N=18). There were no intraoperative mortalities and 4 perioperative (30-day) mortalities (3.5%). Mortality occurred in patients with malignancies who were older than 50 years. Morbidity was higher in malignant (15.6%) versus benign (5.5%) disease. Complications included bile leak/stricture (N=6), liver insufficiency (N=3), postoperative bleeding (N=2), myocardial infarction (N=2), aspiration pneumonia (N=1), renal insufficiency (N=1), and cancer implantation into the wound (N=1). Average LOS for all resections was 8.6 days. Longer operative time (p=0.04), lower albumin (p<0.001), higher ASA score (p<0.001), no epidural use (p=0.04), and higher creatinine (p<0.001) all correlated positively with longer LOS. ASA score and creatinine were the strongest predictors of LOS. LOS was not affected by patient age, sex, diagnosis, presence of malignancy, intraoperative transfusion requirements, intraoperative hypotension, preoperative bilirubin, case volume per year or year of surgery. Conclusions. Liver resections can be performed with low mortality/morbidity and with acceptable LOS by an experienced liver surgeon. Outcome as measured by LOS is most influenced by patient comorbidities entering into surgery. Annual case volume did not influence LOS and had no impact on patient safety. Length of stay may not reflect surgeon/institution performance, as LOS is multifactorial and likely related to patient population, patient selection and increased high-risk cases with a surgeon's experience. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||