Outcomes After Pectus Excavatum Repair: A Nationwide Comparison of Nuss Versus Ravitch Operations.

Introduction: Pectus excavatum is the most prevalent chest wall deformity. Repair may be offered via Nuss or Ravitch technique. This study aims to investigate the outcomes of these repairs using a national cohort.

Surgical Urgency, Patient Comorbidities, and Socioeconomic Factors in Surgical Site Infections in Pediatric Surgery.

Background: The rise of value-based purchasing has led to decreased compensation for hospital-acquired conditions, including surgical site infections (SSI). This study aims to assess the risk factors for SSI in children and teenagers undergoing gastrointestinal surgery across US hospitals.

Methods: The 2018-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried for patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery under the age of 18.

Resilience and Value: Pediatric Trauma Care in Safety Net Hospitals.

In the setting of limited funding and high expectations for quality care, safety net hospitals play a crucial role in treating pediatric trauma patients. This study aimed to compare outcomes and hospitalization costs of pediatric trauma patients in safety net hospitals across the United States. The Nationwide Readmissions Database for 2016-2020 was queried for all patients under the age of 18 years hospitalized for traumatic injury.

The Impact of Redosing Antibiotics for Pediatric Patients Undergoing Appendectomy for Complicated Appendicitis.

Currently, there is no universally accepted, standardized protocol for pre-operative antibiotic administration in the setting of appendectomy for complicated appendicitis among pediatric patients. Strategies to mitigate surgical site infections (SSIs) must be balanced with optimal antibiotic use and exposure. We conducted a retrospective chart review to compare outcomes between patients treated pre-operatively with a single pre-operative dose of antibiotics with those who received additional antibiotics prior to laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis between 2020 and 2022.

Impact of Language Congruence on Patient Outcomes Following Gastrostomy Tube Insertion.

Inadequate health literacy poses a significant public health challenge, influencing patient treatment adherence and outcomes. This study explores outcomes in the setting of language congruence at the time of discharge for pediatric patients following laparoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion. We conducted a retrospective chart review from 2019 to 2022 at a community children's hospital, including 168 patients categorized based on language congruence.

Venous Thromboembolism in Children and Teenagers Admitted for Trauma: A 5-Year Nationwide Perspective.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pediatric trauma patients is under-investigated. The purpose of this study was to perform an evaluation of the risk factors for VTE after pediatric trauma, including readmissions across the United States. The Nationwide Readmissions Database for 2016-2020 was queried for all patients under the age of 18 years admitted for trauma.

Optimizing Triage Practice in Pediatric Trauma: Lessons From Under-triage and Over-triage Rates and Risk Factors.

Background: Triage accuracy is essential for delivering effective trauma care, especially in the pediatric population where unique challenges exist. The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors contributing to under-triage and over-triage in an urban pediatric trauma center.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all trauma activations at an urban level 1 trauma center between January 1, 2021, and July 31, 2023 (patients <18 years old.

Outcomes After Pectus Excavatum Repair: Center Volume Matters.

Purpose: Pectus excavatum (Pectus) repair may be offered for those with significant cardiopulmonary compromise or severe cosmetic defects. The influence of hospital center volume on postoperative outcomes in children is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of children undergoing Pectus repair, stratified by hospital surgical volume.

Uncovering Risk Factors and Outcomes of Pulmonary Embolism in a Nationwide Cohort of Hospitalized Children.

Purpose: The incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in hospitalized children has increased in recent years. This study sought to characterize factors and outcomes associated with PE using a national pediatric cohort.

Methods: The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried (2016-2018) for patients (<18 years) with a diagnosis of PE.

Contemporary Trends in Laparoscopy and Ovarian Sparing Surgery for Ovarian Torsion in the Pediatric Population.

Purpose: Although total oophorectomy (TO) was historically performed in cases of nonviable-appearing ovaries, considerable evidence has demonstrated equivalent outcomes after ovarian sparing surgery (OSS) as well as long-term fertility preservation benefits. This study sought to compare outcomes of OSS and TO for patients with ovarian torsion.

Methods: Females <21 years old admitted for ovarian torsion were identified from the Nationwide Readmissions Database (2016-2018) and stratified by OSS or TO.

Immediate Versus Delayed Surgical Management of Infant Cryptorchidism With Inguinal Hernia.

Introduction: Cryptorchidism is commonly treated with orchiopexy at 6-12 months of age, often allowing time for undescended testicle(s) (UT) to descend spontaneously. However, when an inguinal hernia (IH) is also present, some surgeons perform orchiopexy and inguinal hernia repair (IHR) immediately rather than delaying surgery. We hypothesize that early surgical intervention provides no benefit for newborns with both IH and UT.

Outcomes of Incidental Appendectomy During Ovarian Operations in a National Pediatric Cohort.

Introduction: The utility of incidental appendectomy (IA) during many ovarian operations has not been evaluated in the pediatric population. This study sought to compare outcomes after ovarian surgery with IA in the pediatric population.

Methods: Females (≤20 y old) undergoing ovarian surgeries (oophorectomy, detorsion and/or drainage) were identified from the Nationwide Readmissions Database (2016-2018).

Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax Outcomes in Children: A National Analysis.

Objective: Considerable variation in primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) management exists in the pediatric population. This study aims to compare nationwide outcomes of children with PSP.

Methods: The Nationwide Readmissions Database (2016 to 2018) was used to identify patients 1 to 18 years old with PSP.

Nationwide Outcomes of Immediate Versus Staged Surgery for Newborns with Rectosigmoid Hirschsprung Disease.

Purpose: Debate exists on whether patients with Hirschsprung Disease (HD) should undergo immediate resection during their newborn hospitalization or undergo a staged procedure. This study sought to compare postoperative outcomes among newborns receiving immediate versus staged surgery for rectosigmoid HD.

Methods: The Nationwide Readmission Database was queried (2016-2018) for newborns with HD who underwent surgical resection during their newborn hospitalization (immediate) versus planned readmission (staged).

Outcomes After Ladd Procedures for Intestinal Malrotation in Newborns with Heterotaxy Syndrome.

Purpose: Intestinal malrotation may be asymptomatic in patients with heterotaxy syndrome (HS), and whether these newborns benefit from prophylactic Ladd procedures is unknown. This study sought to uncover nationwide outcomes of newborns with HS receiving Ladd procedures.

Methods: Newborns with malrotation were identified from the Nationwide Readmission Database (2010-2014) and stratified into those with and without HS utilizing ICD-9CM codes for situs inversus (759.

Comparing Severely Injured Trauma Patients Admitted to Investor-Owned versus Public and Not-For-Profit Hospitals Reveals Opportunities for Improvement in the US.

Background: Non-elderly trauma patients represent the largest portion of preventable years of life loss in the US. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes in patients admitted to investor-owned vs public and not-for-profit hospitals across the US.

Material And Methods: The Nationwide Readmissions Database 2018 was queried for trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score greater than 15 and age 18-65 years.

Comparing Payments to Surgeons From Drug and Medical Device Corporations Reveals Inequalities Between Genders and Specialties.

Introduction: Maintaining trust in the patient-doctor relationship requires transparency in the details of the financial relationships between physicians and drug and medical device corporations. These details are publicly available through the Open Payments database, and patients are encouraged to ask surgeons to interpret their implications. The purpose of this study was to better equip surgeons in responding to these inquiries and to compare the distribution of these payments by gender and specialty.

Operative versus percutaneous drainage with fibrinolysis for complicated pediatric pleural effusions: A nationwide analysis.

Purpose: Management of complicated pleural effusions and empyema using tube thoracostomy with intrapleural fibrinolysis versus surgical drainage has been debated for decades. However, there remains considerable variation in management with these approaches in the pediatric population. This study aims to compare the nationwide outcomes of pediatric patients with complicated pleural effusions.

Underutilization of laparoscopy for ovarian surgeries in the pediatric population: A nationwide analysis.

Purpose: Oophorectomy and ovarian detorsion are some of the most frequent operations performed in the female pediatric population. Despite the advent of laparoscopy, many surgeons continue to utilize open surgical approaches in these patients. This study sought to compare nationwide trends and postoperative outcomes in laparoscopic and open ovarian operations in the pediatric population.

Nationwide outcomes of newborns with rectosigmoid versus long-segment Hirschsprung disease.

Purpose: Hirschsprung Disease (HD) is a common congenital intestinal disorder. While aganglionosis most commonly affects the rectosigmoid colon (rectosigmoid HD), outcomes for patients in which aganglionosis extends to more proximal segments (long-segment HD) remain understudied. This study sought to compare postoperative outcomes among newborns with rectosigmoid and long-segment HD.

Financial Toxicity in Emergency General Surgery: Novel Propensity-Matched Outcome Comparison.

Background: Financial toxicity describes the harmful effect of individual treatment costs and fiscal burdens that have a compounding negative impact on outcomes in surgery. While this phenomenon has been widely studied in surgical oncology, the purpose of this study was to perform a novel exploration of the impact of financial toxicity in emergency general surgery (EGS) patients throughout the US.

Study Design: The Nationwide Readmissions Database for January and February 2018 was queried for all EGS patients aged 18 to 65 years.

Outcomes of laparoscopic versus open resection of pediatric choledochal cyst.

Background: Untreated pediatric choledochal cyst (CC) is associated with complications including cholangitis, pancreatitis, and risk of malignancy. Therefore, CC is typically treated by surgical excision with biliary reconstruction. Both open and laparoscopic (lap) surgical approaches are regularly used, but outcomes have not been compared on a national level.

Nationwide management of perforated pediatric appendicitis: Interval versus same-admission appendectomy.

Purpose: Although conservative management followed by readmission for interval appendectomy is commonly used to manage perforated appendicitis, many studies are limited to individual or noncompeting pediatric hospitals. This study sought to compare national outcomes following interval or same-admission appendectomy in children with perforated appendicitis.

Methods: The Nationwide Readmission Database was queried (2010-2014) for patients <18 years old with perforated appendicitis who underwent appendectomy using ICD9-CM Diagnosis codes.