Impact of weekday surgery on application of enhanced recovery pathway: a retrospective cohort study.

To compare the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol compliance and clinical outcomes depending on the weekday of surgery. Cohort of consecutive non-selected patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery from January 2012 to March 2015. This retrospective analysis of our prospective database compared patients operated early in the week (Monday and Tuesday) with patients operated in the second half (late: Thursday, Friday). Compliance with the ERAS protocol, functional recovery, complications and length of stay. Demographic and surgical details were similar between the early (n=352) and late groups (n=204). Overall compliance with the ERAS protocol was 78% vs 76% for the early and late groups, respectively (p=0.009). Significant differences were notably prolonged urinary drainage and intravenous fluid infusion in the late group. Complication rates and length of stay, however, were not different between surgery on Monday or Tuesday and surgery on Thursday or Friday. Application of the ERAS protocol showed only minor differences for patients operated on early or late during the week, and clinical outcomes were similar. A fully implemented ERAS programme appears to work also over the weekend

Impact of Variations in the Nursing Care Supply-Demand Ratio on Postoperative Outcomes and Costs.

Improving surgical outcomes is a priority during the last decades because of the rising economic health care burden. The adoption of enhanced recovery programs has been proven to be part of the solution. In this context, the impact of variations in the nursing care supply-demand ratio on postoperative complications and its economic consequences is still not well elucidated. Because patients require different amounts of care, the present study focused on the more accurate relationship between demand and supply of nursing care rather than the nurse-to-patient ratio. Through a 3-year period, 838 patients undergoing elective and emergent colorectal and pancreatic surgery within the institutional enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol were retrospectively investigated. Nursing demand and supply estimations were calculated using a validated program called the Projet de Recherche en Nursing (PRN), which assigns points to each patient according to the nursing care they need (estimated PRN) and the actual care they received (real PRN), respectively. The real/estimated PRN ratio was used to create 2 patient groups: one with a PRN ratio higher than the mean (PRN+) and a second with a PRN ratio below the mean (PRN-). These 2 groups were compared regarding their postoperative complication rates and cost-revenue characteristics. The mean PRN ratio was 0.81. A total of 710 patients (84.7%) had a PRN+ ratio, and 128 (15.3%) had a PRN- ratio. Multivariable analysis focusing on overall complications, severe complications, and prolonged length of stay revealed no significant impact of the PRN ratio for all outcomes (P > 0.2). The group PRN- had a mean margin per patient of U.S. dollars 1426 (95% confidence interval, 3 to 2903) compared with a margin of U.S. dollars 676 (95% confidence interval, -2213 to 3550) in the PRN+ group (P = 0.633). A PRN ratio of 0.8 may be sufficient for patients treated following enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines, pending the adoption of an accurate nursing planning system. This may contribute to better allocation of nursing resources and optimization of expenses on the long run

Correlation of postoperative fluid balance and weight and their impact on outcomes.

Normovolemia after major surgery is critical to avoid complications. The aim of the present study was to analyze correlation between fluid balance, weight gain, and postoperative outcomes. All consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency major abdominal surgery needing intermediate care unit (IMC) admission from September 2017 to January 2018 were included. Postoperative fluid balances and daily weight changes were calculated for postoperative days (PODs) 0-3. Risk factors for postoperative complications (30-day Clavien) and prolonged length of IMC and hospital stay were identified through uni- and multinominal logistic regression. One hundred eleven patients were included, of which 55% stayed in IMC beyond POD 1. Overall, 67% experienced any complication, while 30% presented a major complication (Clavien ≥ III). For the entire cohort, median cumulative fluid balance at the end of PODs 0-1-2-3 was 1850 (IQR 1020-2540) mL, 2890 (IQR 1610-4000) mL, 3890 (IQR 2570-5380) mL, and 4000 (IQR 1890-5760) mL respectively, and median weight gain was 2.2 (IQR 0.3-4.3) kg, 3 (1.5-4.7) kg, and 3.9 (2.5-5.4) kg, respectively. Fluid balance and weight course showed no significant correlation (r = 0.214, p = 0.19). Extent of surgery, analyzed through Δ albumin and duration of surgery, significantly correlated with POD 2 fluid balances (p = 0.04, p = 0.006, respectively), as did POD 3 weight gain (p = 0.042). Prolonged IMC stay of ≥ 3 days was related to weight gain ≥ 3 kg at POD 2 (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.01-8.9, p = 0.049). Fluid balance and weight course showed only modest correlation. POD 2 weight may represent an easy and pragmatic tool to optimize fluid management and help to prevent fluid-related postoperative complications

On the Matthew effect on Individual Investments into Skills in Arts, Sports and Science

The paper describes the process of capital accumulation subject to the following characteristics: (i) convex returns to (human) capital; (ii) the need to self _nance the investment. This set up is applicable to explain some peculiarities in arts, sports and science, inter alia, the \Matthew effect" coined in Merton (1968) to explain why prominent researchers get disproportional credit for their work. The potential young artist's (or sportsman's or even scientist's) optimal strategies include quitting, or continuing and even expanding one's human capital in a profession. Both outcomes are separated by a threshold level in human capital. In addition, it can be optimal to stay in business although consumption falls and stays at the subsistence level (we call this outcome a \Sisyphus point")

Risk factors for 90-day readmission and return to the operating room following abdominal operations for Crohn's disease.

This study aimed to determine timing and risk factors for 30- and 90-day unplanned hospital readmissions and return to the operating room. Retrospective case series, including consecutive adult patients with Crohn's disease, undergoing a major abdominal surgical procedure during a 3.5-year inclusion period was performed. The primary outcomes were 0- to 30-day and 30- to 90-day readmission and return to the operating room rates. Univariate and multivariable risk factors for both outcomes at 30 and 90 days were assessed through Cox regression analysis. Of 680 included patients with Crohn's disease, 89 (13.1%) were readmitted within 30 days, 55 (8.1%) within 30-90 days, and 11 (1.6%) in both follow-up periods for a combined 90-day readmission rate of 24.4% (n = 166). Multivariable risk factors for 30-day readmissions were type of procedure performed, corticosteroid use (hazard ratio [HR] 1.71, P = .01), younger age (HR 0.98 per year, P = .01), and prolonged disease duration (HR 1.03 per year, P = .03). No significant risk factors identified for 30- to 90-day readmissions. By 90 days, 76 patients (11.2%) had a return to the operating room (of which 8.8% was within 30 days). Risk factors for 30-day return to the operating room included tobacco use (HR 1.86, P = .04), diabetes (HR 3.30, P = .01), corticosteroid use (HR 3.51, P <.001), and preoperative immunomodulator therapy (HR 2.70, P < .001). Type of surgery, corticosteroid use, younger age, and prolonged disease duration were associated with 30-day hospital readmission, and tobacco use, diabetes, corticosteroid use, and preoperative immunomodulator therapy were risk factors for 30-day return to the operating room. Postoperative biologic therapy did not increase hospital readmission or return to operating room rates within 90 days of surgery

Advanced piezoresistance of extended metal/insulator core shell nanoparticle assemblies

Assembled metal/insulator nanoparticles with a core/shell geometry provide access to materials containing a large number (>106) of tunneling barriers. We demonstrate the production of ceramic coated metal nanoparticles exhibiting an exceptional pressure sensitive conductivity. We further show that graphene bi- and trilayers on 20 nm copper nanoparticles are insulating in such core/shell geometry and show a similar pressure dependent conductivity. This demonstrates that core/shell metal/insulator assemblies offer a route to alternative sensing materials.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, published in Physical Review Letter