Utilization trends for MR arthrography of the hip and shoulder: a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 20-year data from a tertiary care academic medical center.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze changes in the utilization of MRA of the hip and shoulder at a large tertiary care academic medical center during a period of significant technological advancements over the last 20 years.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional analysis identified MRA of the hip and shoulder performed at our institution over a 20-year period (2/2003-2/2023) in relation to the total number of MR hip and shoulder examinations during the same period. Patient characteristics and referring provider demographic information were extracted.

Perspectives From the RadDiscord Annual Survey: Overview of the Top Study Tools and Evaluation of Study Time and Various Resources.

Rationale And Objectives: Each year, senior radiology residents take the American Board of Radiology Qualifying (Core) exam to evaluate competency. Approximately 10% of first-time examinees will fail this exam (1). Understanding factors that contribute to success will help residency program directors and trainees prepare for future exams.

A Vascular Quality Initiative frailty assessment predicts postdischarge mortality in patients undergoing arterial reconstruction.

Background: Frailty assessment adds important prognostic information during preoperative decision-making but can be cumbersome to implement into routine clinical care. We developed and tested an abbreviated method of frailty assessment using variables routinely collected by the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) registry.

Methods: An abbreviated frailty score (the simple Vascular Quality Initiative-Frailty Score [VQI-FS]) was developed using 11 or fewer VQI variables (hypertension, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal impairment, anemia, underweight, nonhome residence, and nonambulatory status) that map to recognized frailty domains in the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and the literature.

Paracentesis: Faster and easier using the RenovaRP® pump.

PURPOSE Paracentesis is commonly performed in interventional radiology practice, and large volume paracentesis (LVP) using wall suction can take up to an hour to complete, placing significant stress on room and resource time. As the number of LVP procedures performed by Interventional Radiologists continue to increase, this study was undertaken to analyze the impact of the RenovaRP® Paracentesis Management System (GI Supply) on procedure time and patient satisfaction. METHODS Between March 9, 2020 and May 29, 2020, procedural data and patient satisfaction was collected as part of a practice quality improvement project and retrospectively analyzed on 39 sequential paracenteses performed with wall suction prior to acquiring the RenovaRP® system and subsequently on 42 paracenteses performed with use of the device.

Revisiting racial disparities in ED CT utilization during the Affordable Care Act era: 2009-2018 data from the NHAMCS.

Objective: To examine the trends in CT utilization in the emergency department (ED) for different racial and ethnic groups, factors that may affect utilization, and the effects of increased insurance coverage since passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

Materials And Methods: Data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) for the years 2009-2018 were used for the analysis. The NHAMCS is a cross-sectional survey which has random and systematical samples of more than 200,000 visits to over 250 hospital EDs in the USA.

SPECT/CT in the Evaluation of Suspected Skeletal Pathology.

Dedicated multi-slice single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) cameras have become widely available and are becoming a mainstay of clinical practice. The integration of SPECT and CT allow for precise anatomic location of scintigraphic findings. Fusion imaging with SPECT/CT can improve both sensitivity and specificity by reducing equivocal interpretation in comparison to planar scintigraphy or SPECT alone.

Perceptions Regarding Optimal Breast Imaging Education for Radiology Residents: Results of a National Survey.

Objectives: To assess perceptions among breast radiologists regarding optimal breast imaging rotation organization and educational activities for radiology residents.

Methods: An IRB-exempt anonymous questionnaire was developed in REDCap and distributed as a member survey email by the Society of Breast imaging to 2188 members June 2019. A form with 33 questions asked questions about opinions related to resident rotation composition, read-out strategies, study/procedure volume, simulation and educational materials specific to breast imaging.

HGNChelper: identification and correction of invalid gene symbols for human and mouse.

Gene symbols are recognizable identifiers for gene names but are unstable and error-prone due to aliasing, manual entry, and unintentional conversion by spreadsheets to date format. Official gene symbol resources such as HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) for human genes and the Mouse Genome Informatics project (MGI) for mouse genes provide authoritative sources of valid, aliased, and outdated symbols, but lack a programmatic interface and correction of symbols converted by spreadsheets. We present HGNChelper, an R package that identifies known aliases and outdated gene symbols based on the HGNC human and MGI mouse gene symbol databases, in addition to common mislabeling introduced by spreadsheets, and provides corrections where possible.

Understanding the means of communication between nurses and resident physicians in the modern world: A community-based university hospital survey results.

In a hospital setting, nurses and physicians are the two main caregivers for admitted patients. Their communication is an important driver of positive teamwork and ensures proper patient safety and a high level of patient care. In a hospital with a large internal medicine residency program, where the main communication between nurses and residents is by phone calls, the excess number of phone calls received, especially for non-urgent patient-related matters, can be disruptive and cause fatigue and burnout.

Failure on a Vascular Surgery Board-American Board of Surgery Examination does not predict cardiovascular outcomes in the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative.

Objective: The Vascular Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery (VSB-ABS) Qualifying and Certifying examinations are meant to assess qualifications to independently practice vascular surgery, but it is unclear whether examination performance correlates with clinical outcomes. We assessed this relationship using clinical outcomes data for VSB-ABS diplomates from the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS-VQI).

Methods: VSB-ABS examination performance for vascular surgeons participating in the SVS-VQI registry was characterized according to pass/fail status.

Peripheral hypervascularity of the corpus luteum with ovarian edema (CLOE) may decrease false positive diagnoses of ovarian torsion.

Introduction: In patients with pelvic pain, corpus luteum with associated ovarian edema (CLOE) may be mistaken for ovarian torsion on ultrasound or CECT.

Methods: This was a multi-reader, blinded, retrospective review performed at a single academic center from 2012 to 2018. Cases of CLOE that were misdiagnosed as torsion and cases of ovarian torsion without a lead-point mass were analyzed.

Acute effects of air pollutants on spontaneous pregnancy loss: a case-crossover study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between acute exposure to air pollutants and spontaneous pregnancy loss.

Design: Case-crossover study from 2007 to 2015.

Setting: An academic emergency department in the Wasatch Front area of Utah.

Corpus luteum with ovarian stromal edema is associated with pelvic pain and confusion for ovarian torsion.

Purpose: To distinguish the corpus luteum with adjacent ovarian stromal edema as an entity associated with pelvic pain, with confounding ultrasound features that may lead to false-positive diagnosis of ovarian torsion.

Methods: This is a blinded, retrospective study of 243 corpora lutea on transvaginal ultrasound. Imaging parameters included ovarian and corpus luteum volumes, central cystic space within the corpus luteum, vascularity around the corpus luteum, peripherally displaced follicles, and complex free fluid.

Predicting ICU readmission among surgical ICU patients: Development and validation of a clinical nomogram.

Background: Unplanned intensive care unit readmission within 72 hours is an established metric of hospital care quality. However, it is unclear what factors commonly increase the risk of intensive care unit readmission in surgical patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate predictors of readmission among a diverse sample of surgical patients and develop an accurate and clinically applicable nomogram for prospective risk prediction.

Clinical effectiveness of open thrombectomy for thrombosed autogenous arteriovenous fistulas and grafts.

Objective: Arteriovenous (AV) fistulas are the preferred hemodialysis access for patients with end-stage renal disease, although multiple interventions are typically needed to maintain patency. When AV fistulas thrombose, however, there is debate as to whether open thrombectomy should be attempted, particularly for salvage of upper arm fistulas. This study was designed to evaluate outcomes after open thrombectomy of upper arm and forearm AV fistulas compared with AV grafts.

Delayed puberty and abnormal anthropometry and its associations with quality of life in young Fontan survivors: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Introduction: We sought to evaluate the prevalence of delayed puberty and abnormal anthropometry and its association with quality of life (QoL) in young Fontan survivors.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study at 11 Pediatric Heart Network centers. Demographic and clinical data, anthropomety, and Tanner stage were collected.

Differences in clinical outcomes and cost between complex and simple arterial switches.

Background: This study evaluates the morbidity, mortality, and cost differences between patients who underwent either a simple or a complex arterial switch operation.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients undergoing an arterial switch operation at a single institution was performed. Simple cases were defined as patients with d-transposition of the great arteries with usual coronary anatomy or circumflex artery originating from the right with either intact ventricular septum or ventricular septal defect.

Rapid Methods for Routine Frailty Assessment during Vascular Surgery Clinic Visits.

Background: Frailty assessment can help vascular surgeons predict perioperative risk and long-term mortality for their patients. Unfortunately, comprehensive frailty assessments take too long to integrate into clinic workflow. This study was designed to evaluate 2 rapid methods for assessing frailty during vascular clinics-a short patient-reported survey and a provider-reported frailty scale.

Safety Analysis of Bariatric Patients Undergoing Outpatient Upper Endoscopy with Non-Anesthesia Administered Propofol Sedation.

Background: Non-anesthesia administered propofol (NAAP) has been shown to be a safe and effective method of sedation for patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy. Bariatric surgery patients are potentially at a higher risk for sedation-related complications due to co-morbidities including obstructive sleep apnea. The outcomes of NAAP in bariatric patients have not been previously reported.

Enterocolitis and bowel function in children with Hirschsprung disease and trisomy 21.

Background/purpose: The purpose of this study was to study the effect of trisomy 21 (T21) on enterocolitis rates and bowel function among children with Hirschsprung disease (HD).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with HD treated at our tertiary children's hospital (2000-2015) and a cohort of patients with HD treated in our pediatric colorectal center (CRC) (2011-2015) were performed.

Results: 26/207 (13%) patients with HD had T21.