Association of transplant recipient status with clinical and financial outcomes among patients undergoing major surgery.

Background: Transplant recipients undergoing surgery may represent a vulnerable population because of transplant-related comorbidities as well as reliance on immunosuppressive medications. We sought to characterize the association of prior transplant status on postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing major non-transplant-related surgical procedures.

Methods: Data on patients who underwent a major surgical procedure (pneumonectomy, coronary artery bypass graft, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, Whipple, colectomy) between 2016 and 2020 were obtained from the Nationwide Readmission Database.

Uncemented versus cemented humeral fixation during reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humerus fracture.

Introduction: Over time, the use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) treating proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) and fracture sequelae has grown significantly due to its demonstrated effectiveness over open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and hemiarthroplasty (HA). Cemented humeral stems have been widely utilized in RTSA for PHF, however cementless alternatives have become increasingly popular. This study seeks to analyze outcomes and complications in patients undergoing RTSA for fracture with uncemented and cemented stems at mid-term follow-up.

Open versus minimally invasive hepatic and pancreatic surgery: 1-year costs, healthcare utilization and days of work lost.

Background: Utilization of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become increasingly popular due to its potential benefits such as earlier recovery and reduced morbidity. We sought to characterize differences in 1-year healthcare costs and missed workdays among patients undergoing MIS and open surgery for a hepatic or pancreatic indication.

Methods: Data on patients who underwent hepatic and pancreatic resection were obtained from the IBM Marketscan database.

Cost effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors for treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A systematic review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently been introduced into the treatment algorithm of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the cost effectiveness of ICIs compared with pre-existing therapies for HCC has not been assessed. We performed a meta-analysis to understand the incremental cost effectiveness of ICIs compared with sorafenib.

Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities With Worse Outcomes After Surgical Treatment of Cancer.

Background: Patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face unique challenges resulting in disparities in their health care. We sought to define the effect that IDD had on achievement of a "textbook outcome" (TO) following a cancer operation among a nationally representative cohort of patients.

Methods: Data on patients who underwent surgery for a malignant indication, including lung, breast, liver, biliary tract, pancreas, and colorectal, between 2014 and 2020 were extracted from the 100% Medicare Standard Analytical Files database.

Impact of Spousal Mental Illness on Healthcare Utilization Among Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer.

Background: Informal caregiving involves increased responsibilities, with financial and emotional challenges, thereby affecting the well-being of the caregiver. We aimed to investigate the effect of spousal mental illness on hospital visits and medical spending among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer.

Methods: Patients who underwent GI cancer surgery between 2013 and 2020 were identified from the IBM Marketscan database.

Clinical Outcomes Affecting Return to Play Following Latarjet Procedure in Young Contact and Limited Contact Athletes.

Background: Several studies have examined return to play (RTP) and outcomes following the Latarjet procedure in contact athletes.

Purpose: To investigate clinical outcomes affecting RTP following the Latarjet procedure in contact athletes.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

The Association of Established Primary Care with Postoperative Outcomes Among Medicare Patients with Digestive Tract Cancer.

Background: Primary care (PC) is essential to overall wellness and management of comorbidities. In turn, patients without adequate access to PC may face healthcare disparities. We sought to characterize the impact of established PC on postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing a surgical procedure for a digestive tract cancer.

Functional outcomes and survivorship following aseptic revision shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Revision shoulder arthroplasty (SA) is a surgical procedure performed to address complications or failures of primary total SA. However, limited evidence exists regarding the functional outcomes and longevity of implants following revision.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent revision SA for failed primary arthroplasty at a single institution between 2009 and 2021 with a minimum of 2-years follow-up.

Solid organ transplant patients do well after shoulder arthroplasty: a propensity matched analysis.

Background: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are commonly prescribed immunosuppressive therapies which may predispose patients to higher infection and complication rates following total shoulder arthroplasty. This article aims to analyze the effects SOT and subsequent immunosuppressive regimens have on the functional and patient-reported outcomes of total shoulder arthroplasties.

Methods: A single institution, multisurgeon retrospective case-control study investigating the functional and patient-reported outcomes of shoulder arthroplasty after SOT was conducted between the years of 2010 and 2020.

Postoperative Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Cancer Surgery: United States versus International Medical Graduates.

Objective: We sought to characterize postoperative outcomes among patients who underwent an oncologic operation relative to whether the treating surgeon was an international medical graduate (IMG) versus a United States medical graduate (USMG).

Background: IMGs comprise approximately one quarter of the physician workforce in the United States.

Methods: The 100% Medicare Standard Analytic Files were utilized to extract data on patients with breast, lung, hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB), and colorectal cancer who underwent surgical resection between 2014 and 2020.

A phantom human chorionic gonadotropin in the case of molar pregnancy.

Accurately interpreting persistent, low human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels is essential for managing gestational trophoblastic disease. Erroneous interpretation can lead to inappropriate interventions, including unnecessary chemotherapy or hysterectomy, or unjustified changes in chemotherapeutic regimens due to misidentification of a false-positive hCG as a true positive. The predominant etiology of phantom hCG is the presence of heterophilic antibodies.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism array and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis to decode the cytogenetic profile of atypical partial hydatidiform moles diagnosed by short tandem repeat polymorphism analysis.

Accurate diagnosis of partial hydatidiform moles (PHMs) is crucial for improving outcomes of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. The use of short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphism analysis to distinguish between PHM and hydropic abortuses is instrumental; however, its diagnostic power has not been comprehensively assessed. Herein, we evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of STR in differentiating between PHM and hydropic abortus, thus providing an opportunity for early measurement of human chorionic gonadotropin for PHMs.

Long-term Health Outcomes of New Persistent Opioid Use After Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery.

Background: New persistent opioid use (NPOU) after surgery has been identified as a common complication. This study sought to assess the long-term health outcomes among patients who experienced NPOU after gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery.

Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for hepato-pancreato-biliary and colorectal cancer between 2007 and 2019 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare-linked database.

Practice Patterns and Outcomes Among Surgical Oncology Fellowship Graduates Performing Complex Cancer Surgery in the United States Across Different Career Stages.

Background: Practice patterns and potential quality differences among surgical oncology fellowship graduates relative to years of independent practice have not been defined.

Methods: Medicare claims were used to identify patients who underwent esophagectomy, pancreatectomy, hepatectomy, or rectal resection for cancer between 2016 and 2021. Surgical oncology fellowship graduates were identified, and the association between years of independent practice, serious complications, and 90-day mortality was examined.

Association of preoperative cholangitis with outcomes and expenditures among patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background: This study aimed to characterize the association of preoperative acute cholangitis (PAC) with surgical outcomes and healthcare costs.

Methods: Patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) between 2013 and 2021 were identified using 100% Medicare Standard Analytic Files. PAC was defined as the occurrence of at least 1 episode of acute cholangitis within the year preceding surgery.

Healthcare utilization and expenditures among patients with venous thromboembolism following gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

Background: We sought to assess healthcare utilization and expenditures among patients who developed venous thromboembolism (VTE) after gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for esophageal, gastric, hepatic, biliary duct, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer between 2013 and 2020 were identified using the MarketScan database. Entropy balancing was performed to obtain a cohort that was well balanced relative to different clinical covariates.

Association of county-level provider density and social vulnerability with colorectal cancer-related mortality.

Background: Health care providers play a crucial role in increasing overall awareness, screening, and treatment of cancer, leading to reduced cancer mortality. We sought to characterize the impact of provider density on colorectal cancer population-level mortality.

Methods: County-level provider data, obtained from the Area Health Resource File between 2016 and 2018, were used to calculate provider density per county.