Impact of "Defensive Medicine" on the Costs of Diabetes and Associated Conditions.

Background: Geographic variation in health care spending is typically attributed to differences in patient health status and provider practice patterns. While medicolegal considerations (i.e.

"Large Diameter" Aortic Endografts are Associated With Aneurysm Sac Expansion.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between aortic endograft diameter and long-term outcomes following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) performed in accordance with manufacturer instructions for use (IFU).

Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing on-IFU EVAR (2000-2018) was performed to facilitate a comparative analysis of long-term patient outcomes based on device diameter. "Large diameter" devices were defined as >34 mm.

Formative Feedback with In-Class Question Bank Utilization Improves Resident Satisfaction with General Surgery Didactics.

Background: Formative feedback provides low-stakes opportunities for educational improvement. To enrich our basic science didactics, formative feedback measures were incorporated into our didactics using mobile devices.

Materials And Methods: Lecture changes included institutional paid access to a commercial question bank, a 5-item in-class pre-didactic quiz curated from the question bank and taken on the resident's mobile device, and group discussion of quiz topics.

Surgical and reconstructive outcomes in primary venous leiomyosarcoma.

Objective: Primary venous leiomyosarcomas (PVL) are rare and pose challenges in surgical management. This study evaluates the clinical outcomes and identifies predictors of survival in our surgical series of PVL.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of patients who had resection of PVL at three centers between 1990 and 2018.

Carotid endarterectomy surgeon volumes in contemporary practice: A comparison to randomized trial inclusion criteria.

Background: Clinical decisions regarding the utility of carotid revascularization are informed by randomized controlled trial (RCT) results. However, RCTs generally require participating surgeons to meet strict inclusion criteria with respect to procedure volume. The purpose of this study was to compare annual surgeon volume for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in contemporary practice to RCT inclusion thresholds.

Practice Patterns of Vascular Surgery's "1%".

Background: Public focus on health care spending has increased attention on variation in practice patterns and overutilization of high-cost services. Mainstream news reports have revealed that a small number of providers account for a disproportionate amount of total Medicare payments. Here, we explore variation in Medicare payments among vascular surgeons and compare practice patterns of the most highly reimbursed surgeons to the rest of the workforce.

The Opioid Crisis and Surgeons: National Survey of Prescribing Patterns and the Influence of Motivators, Experience, and Gender.

Background: Surgeons are the fifth largest prescribers of opioids in the US. Few studies exist to describe surgeon prescribing practices.

Methods: A survey was conducted of surgical providers at all ACGME-accredited surgical residency programs.

The diagnostic value of splenectomy in patients without a definitive preoperative diagnosis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe the diagnostic value and therapeutic benefit of diagnostic splenectomy.

Methods: Retrospective review was performed of patients undergoing splenectomy with an unknown diagnosis (UD), a hematologic malignancy (HM) or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Surgical indications and postoperative outcomes were evaluated.

Minimally Invasive Limited Ligation Endoluminal-Assisted Revision (MILLER): A Review of the Available Literature and Brief Overview of Alternate Therapies in Dialysis Associated Steal Syndrome.

Dialysis associated steal syndrome (DASS) is a relatively rare but debilitating complication of arteriovenous fistulas. While mild symptoms can be observed, if severe symptoms are left untreated, DASS can result in ulcerations and limb threatening ischemia. High-flow with resultant heart failure is another documented complication following dialysis access procedures.