The immediate impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on burn-out, work-engagement, and surgical training in the Netherlands

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The immediate impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on burn-out, work-engagement, and surgical training in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to major changes in health care and education options for all health care employees. The aim of this study is to achieve insight into coronavirus disease-care participation of surgical residents in the Netherlands, the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on the experienced quality of surgical training, and the influence on Burn-out and Work Engagement compared with the non-coronavirus disease 2019 period in January 2020.METHODS: In this study, we have conducted 2 digital surveys immediately before and 2 months after the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We surveyed a validated Dutch questionnaire 'Utrecht Burn-out Scale,' derived from the Maslach Burn-out Inventory, and also collected the 'Utrecht Work Engagement Scale' measuring work engagement. Additionally, we describe the coronavirus disease-care participation of surgical residents, the impact on how they experienced the quality of their surgical training, and the influence on 'Burn-out and Work Engagement' compared with the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 period for surgical residents in the Netherlands.RESULTS: In January 2020, a total of 317 residents completed the online survey, and in April 2020, a total of 313 residents completed the online survey. Of the responders, 48.6%, in April, participated in coronavirus disease-care in both the coronavirus disease ward as well as the coronavirus disease intensive care unit. Residents experienced that the coronavirus disease 2019 influenced their surgical training in 85.2% of responders. In only 5% of the residents did the pandemic not affect the exposure to surgical training in the operating theater. More burn-out symptoms were noted amongst coronavirus disease ward deployed residents versus no coronavirus disease ward deployment, (16.0% vs 7.6%, P = .06). The Work-Engagement questionnaire showed a significantly lower work engagement score of 4.2 for residents who were deployed in a coronavirus disease-care intensive care unit versus a score of 4.6 for residents scheduled in a coronavirus disease ward (P = .02).CONCLUSION: This study shows a significant impact of the first months of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the Dutch surgical trainee program, with a major redistribution of residents with a decrease of surgical exposure and education. We emphasize the need for adequate guidance of all surgical residents and potentially lengthening the surgical training program.</p

Prognosis after surgery for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-related pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors:Functionality matters

Background: Metastasized pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are the leading cause of death in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Aside from tumor size, prognostic factors of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors are largely unknown. The present study aimed to assess whether the prognosis of patients with resected multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-related nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors differs from those with resected multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-related insulinomas and assessed factors associated with prognosis.Methods: Patients who underwent resection of a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-related pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors between 1990 and 2016 were identified in 2 databases: the DutchMEN Study Group and the International MEN1 Insulinoma Study Group databases. Cox regression was performed to compare liver metastases-free survival of patients with a nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors versus those with an insulinoma and to identify factors associated with liver metastases-free survival.Results: Out of 153 patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, 61 underwent resection for a nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor and 92 for an insulinoma. Of the patients with resected lymph nodes, 56% (18/32) of nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors had lymph node metastases compared to 10% (4/41) of insulinomas (P =.001). Estimated 10-year liver metastases-free survival was 63% (95% confidence interval 42%–76%) for nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and 87% (72%–91%) for insulinomas. After adjustment for size, World Health Organization tumor grade, and age, nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors had an increased risk for liver metastases or death (hazard ratio 3.04 [1.47–6.30]). In pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors ≥2 cm, nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (2.99 [1.22–7.33]) and World Health Organization grade 2 (2.95 [1.02–8.50]) were associated with liver metastases-free survival.Conclusion: Patients with resected multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-related nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors had a significantly lower liver metastases-free survival than patients with insulinomas. Postoperative counseling and follow-up regimens should be tumor type specific and at least consider size and World Health Organization grade.</p

A simplified primary aldosteronism surgical outcome score is a useful prediction model when target organ damage is unknown – Retrospective cohort study

Background: Cure of hypertension after adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism is no certainty and therefore preoperative patient counseling is essential. The Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcome (PASO) Score is a useful prediction model with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.839. The PASO Score includes ‘Target Organ Damage’ (TOD) (i.e., left ventricular hypertrophy and/or microalbuminuria), which is often unavailable during preoperative counseling and might therefore limit its use in clinical practice. We hypothesized that the PASO score would still be useful if TOD is unknown at time of counseling. Therefore, we aimed to examine the predictive performance of the simplified PASO Score, without taking TOD into account. Materials and methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy between 2010 and 2016 in 16 medical centers from North America, Europe and Australia were included. TOD was unknown in our database and therefore assigned as absent. Patients were classified as complete, partial or absent clinical success using the PASO consensus criteria. Results: A total of 380 (73.9%) patients were eligible for analysis. Complete, partial and absent clinical success were observed in 29.5%, 55.8% and 14.7% of patients, respectively. The simplified PASO Score had an AUC of 0.730 (95% confidence interval 0.674–0.785) in our total cohort. Conclusion: Without taking TOD into account, the simplified PASO Score had a lower predictive value as compared to the original derivation cohort. Ideally, the complete PASO Score should be used, but when data on TOD are not readily available, the simplified PASO Score is a useful and reasonable alternative

‘Quality in, quality out’, a stepwise approach to evidence-based medicine for rare diseases promoted by multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

Rare diseases pose specific challenges in the field of medical research to provide physicians with evidence-based guidelines derived from studies with sufficient quality. An example of these rare diseases is multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), which is an autosomal dominant endocrine tumor syndrome with an estimated occurrence rate of 2–3 per 100,000. For this complex disease, characterized by multiple endocrine tumors, it proves difficult to perform both adequate and feasible studies. The opinion of patients themselves is of utmost importance to identify the gaps in the evidence-based medicine regarding clinical care. In the search for scientific answers to clinical research questions, the aim for best available evidence is obvious. Observational studies within patient cohorts, although prone to bias, seem the most feasible study design regarding the disease prevalence. Knowledge and adaptation to all types of bias is demanded in the strive for answers. Guided by our research on MEN1 patients, we elaborate on strategies to identify sufficient patients, to maximize and maintain patient enrolment and to standardize the data collection process. Preferably, data collection is performed prospectively, however, under certain conditions, data storage in a longitudinal retrospective database with a disease-specific framework is suitable. Considering the global challenges on observational research on rare diseases, we propose a stepwise approach from clinical research questions to scientific answers

Adrenalectomy for Primary Aldosteronism:Significant Variability in Work-Up Strategies and Low Guideline Adherence in Worldwide Daily Clinical Practice

Background Various diagnostic tests are available to establish the primary aldosteronism (PA) diagnosis and to determine the disease laterality. Combined with the controversies in the literature, unawareness of guidelines and technical demands and high costs of some of these diagnostics, this could lead to significant differences in work-up strategies worldwide. Therefore, we investigated the work-up before surgery for PA in daily clinical practice within a multicenter study. Methods Patients who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy for PA within 16 centers in Europe, Canada, Australia and the USA between 2010 and 2016 were included. We did not exclude patients based on the performed diagnostic tests during work-up to make our data representative for current clinical practice. Adherence to the Endocrine Society Guideline and variables associated with not performing adrenal venous sampling (AVS) were analyzed. Results In total, 435 patients were eligible. An aldosterone-to-renin ratio, confirmatory test, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging and AVS were performed in 82.9%, 32.9%, 86.9%, 17.0% and 65.3% of patients, respectively. A complete work-up, as recommended by the guideline, was performed in 13.1% of patients. Bilateral disease or normal adrenal anatomy on CT (OR 16.19; CI 3.50-74.99), smaller tumor size on CT (OR 0.06; CI 0.04-0.08) and presence of hypokalemia (OR 2.00; CI 1.19-3.32) were independently associated with performing AVS. Conclusions This study is the first to examine the daily clinical practice work-up of PA within a worldwide cohort of surgical patients. The results demonstrate significant variability in work-up strategies and low adherence to The Endocrine Society guideline

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1

Introduction: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a hereditary endocrine tumor syndrome characterized by the triad of primary hyperparathyroidism, duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs), and pituitary tumors. Patients are confronted with substantial morbidity and are consequently at risk for an impaired quality of life (QOL). Meticulous assessment of QOL and associated factors in a representative population is needed to understand the full spectrum of the burden of the disease. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using the national Dutch MEN1 cohort. Patients with a confirmed MEN1 mutation received the SF-36 Health Related Quality of Life questionnaire and questions regarding sociodemographic and medical history. Results: A total of 227 of 285 (80%) eligible MEN1 patients returned the questionnaires. Health-related QOL scores (HRQOL) in MEN1 patients were significantly lower for the majority of subscales of the SF-36 in comparison with the general Dutch population. The most consistent predictor for HRQOL was employment status, followed by the presence of a pituitary tumor. 16% of patients harboring a pNET and 29% of patients with a pituitary tumor according to the medical records, reported that they were unaware of such a tumor. These subgroups of patients had several significant better QOL scores than patients who were aware of their pNET or pituitary tumors. Conclusion: Patients with MEN1 have an impaired QOL in comparison with the general Dutch population warranting special attention within routine care. For daily practice, physicians should be aware of their patients' impaired QOL and of the impact of unemployment on QOL

A Novel and Generic Workflow of Indocyanine Green Perfusion Assessment Integrating Standardization and Quantification Towards Clinical Implementation

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to generate a reproducible and generalizable Workflow model of ICG-angiography integrating Standardization and Quantification (WISQ) that can be applied uniformly within the surgical innovation realm independent of the user. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Tissue perfusion based on indocyanine green (ICG)-angiography is a rapidly growing application in surgical innovation. Interpretation of have been subjective and error-prone due to the lack of a standardized and quantitative ICG-workflow and analytical methodology. There is a clinical need for a more generic, reproducible, and quantitative ICG perfusion model for objective assessment of tissue perfusion. METHODS: In this multicenter, proof-of-concept study, we present a generic and reproducible ICG-workflow integrating standardization and quantification for perfusion assessment. To evaluate our model's clinical feasibility and reproducibility, we assessed the viability of parathyroid glands after performing thyroidectomy. Biochemical hypoparathyroidism was used as the postoperative endpoint and its correlation with ICG quantification intraoperatively. Parathyroid gland are an ideal model as parathyroid function post-surgery is only affected by perfusion. RESULTS: We show that visual -subjective- interpretation of ICG-angiography by experienced surgeons on parathyroid perfusion cannot reliably predict organ function impairment postoperatively, emphasizing the importance of an ICG quantification model. WISQ was able to standardize and quantify ICG-angiography and provided a robust and reproducible perfusion curve analysis. A low ingress slope of the perfusion curve combined with a compromised egress slope was indicative for parathyroid organ dysfunction in 100% of the cases. CONCLUSION: WISQ needs prospective validation in larger series and may eventually support clinical decision-making to predict and prevent postoperative organ function impairment in a large and varied surgical population

MEN1 redefined, a clinical comparison of mutation-positive and mutation-negative patients

Contains fulltext : 170909.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is diagnosed when two out of the three primary MEN1-associated endocrine tumors occur in a patient. Up to 10-30 % of those patients have no mutation in the MEN1 gene. It is unclear if the phenotype and course of the disease of mutation-negative patients is comparable with mutation-positive patients and if these patients have true MEN1. The present study aims to describe and compare the clinical course of MEN1 mutation-negative patients with two out of the three main MEN1 manifestations and mutation-positive patients during long-term follow-up. METHODS: This is a cohort study performed using the Dutch MEN1 database, including > 90 % of the Dutch MEN1 population. RESULTS: A total of 293 (90.7 %) mutation-positive and 30 (9.3 %) mutation-negative MEN1 patients were included. Median age of developing the first main MEN1 manifestation was higher in mutation-negative patients (46 vs. 33 years) (P = 0.007). Mutation-negative patients did not develop a third main MEN1 manifestation in the course of follow-up compared to 48.3 % of mutation-positive patients (P < 0.001). Median survival in mutation-positive patients was estimated at 73.0 years (95 % CI, 69.5-76.5) compared to 87.0 years (95 % CI not available) in mutation-negative patients (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mutation-positive and mutation-negative MEN1 patients have a different phenotype and clinical course. Mutation-negative patients develop MEN1 manifestations at higher age and have a life expectancy comparable with the general population. The apparent differences in clinical course suggest that MEN1 mutation-negative patients do not have true MEN1, but another MEN1-like syndrome or sporadic co-incidence of two neuro-endocrine tumors