Surrogate Preferences on the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Form.

Background And Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare treatment preferences of patients to those of surrogates on the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms.

Research Design And Methods: Data were collected from a sequential selection of 606 Massachusetts POLST (MOLST) forms at 3 hospitals, and corresponding electronic patient health records. Selections on the MOLST forms were categorized into All versus Limit Life-Sustaining Treatment.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria Colorectal Cancer Screening.

This review summarizes the relevant literature regarding colorectal screening with imaging. For individuals at average or moderate risk for colorectal cancer, CT colonography is usually appropriate for colorectal cancer screening. After positive results on a fecal occult blood test or immunohistochemical test, CT colonography is usually appropriate for colorectal cancer detection.

Ulnar Nerve Complications After Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction of the Elbow: A Systematic Review.

Background: While ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) of the elbow is an increasingly commonly performed procedure with excellent results reported in the published literature, less attention has been paid to specifically on the characterization of postoperative ulnar nerve complications, and it is unclear what operative strategies may influence the likelihood of these complications.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and type of ulnar nerve complications after UCLR of the elbow based on the entirety of previously published outcomes in the English literature. In addition, this study examined how the rate of ulnar nerve complications varied as a function of surgical exposures, graft fixation techniques, and ulnar nerve management strategies.

Quantitative analysis of T2 relaxation times of the patellofemoral joint cartilage 3 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Objective: To evaluate patient-specific patellofemoral joint (PFJ) cartilage 3 years postoperatively using T2 mapping magnetic resonance imaging and the uninjured contralateral side as control.

Hypothesis: The cartilage of the PFJ in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed knees would show increased T2 values compared to the uninjured contralateral knees at 3-year follow-up, and the femoral (trochlear) cartilage would be more susceptible than the patella in degeneration in ACL-reconstructed knees.

Methods: Ten patients with clinically successful ACL-reconstructed knees were prospectively enrolled 3 years postoperatively.

White Paper: Movement System Diagnoses in Neurologic Physical Therapy.

Background And Purpose: The APTA recently established a vision for physical therapists to transform society by optimizing movement to promote health and wellness, mitigate impairments, and prevent disability. An important element of this vision entails the integration of the movement system into the profession, and necessitates the development of movement system diagnoses by physical therapists. At this point in time, the profession as a whole has not agreed upon diagnostic classifications or guidelines to assist in developing movement system diagnoses that will consistently capture an individual's movement problems.

Long-term clinical and quality of life outcomes after stenting of femoropopliteal artery stenosis: 3-year results from the STROLL study.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical and health status outcomes of patients undergoing superficial femoral artery (SFA) revascularization using the Shape Memory Alloy Recoverable Technology (S.M.A.

Public Health Impact of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Decision on Pass-Through Add-On Payments for Drug-Coated Balloons: A Call to Action.

On Wednesday, November 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made a public decision to end the transitional pass-through add-on payment for drug-coated balloons beginning January 1, 2018, without creating a new ambulatory payment classification rate for these devices. In this Viewpoint, the authors highlight the disconnect between the CMS's decision not to create a new ambulatory payment classification category for drug-coated balloons despite demonstrated clinical superiority. The authors believe this decision is more in line with a rigid fee-for-service payment system than a value-based system that encourages quality over quantity, and disadvantages both the elderly and the poor.

Posterior Condyle Offset and Maximum Knee Flexion Following a Cruciate Retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Inconsistent data has been reported on the effect of the femoral posterior condyle offset (PCO) on the maximal knee flexion after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study investigated the relationship between the postoperative changes of the PCO and the changes of maximal knee flexion after a cruciate retaining (CR) TKA. Nine patients with medial osteoarthritis (OA) in one knee were investigated.

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients Following Massive and Submassive Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: Little data exist regarding the functional capacity of patients following acute pulmonary embolism. We sought to characterize the natural history of symptom burden, right ventricular (RV) structure and function, and exercise capacity among survivors of massive and submassive pulmonary embolism.

Methods And Results: Survivors of submassive or massive pulmonary embolism (n=20, age 57±13.

Venous Thromboembolism Disease Prophylaxis in Foot and Ankle Surgery.

There are limited data to guide the use of venous thromboembolism disease (VTED) prophylaxis after foot and ankle surgery. Although there is general consensus that the overall risk is lower than after hip or knee replacement, subpopulations of patients may be at relatively heightened risk. Furthermore, existing data are often conflicting regarding the efficacy of prophylaxis, with little acknowledgment of the tradeoffs between VTED prophylaxis and potential complications associated with the use of such medications.

Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitor Therapy for Pulmonary Hypertension in the United States. Actual versus Recommended Use.

Rationale: Care of patients with pulmonary hypertension is complex. Although pulmonary vasodilators are effective for Group 1 pulmonary hypertension, clinical guidelines and the Choosing Wisely Campaign recommend against routine use for Groups 2 and 3 pulmonary hypertension (the most common types of pulmonary hypertension) because of a lack of benefit, potential for harm, and high cost ($10,000-$13,000 per patient per year treated). Little is known about how these medications are used in practice.

Chronic Total Occlusion Crossing Approach Based on Plaque Cap Morphology: The CTOP Classification.

Purpose: To present the chronic total occlusion (CTO) crossing approach based on plaque cap morphology (CTOP) classification system and assess its ability to predict successful lesion crossing.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of imaging and procedure data from 114 consecutive symptomatic patients (mean age 69±11 years; 84 men) with claudication (Rutherford category 3) or critical limb ischemia (Rutherford category 4-6) who underwent endovascular interventions for 142 CTOs. CTO cap morphology was determined from a review of angiography and duplex ultrasonography and classified into 4 types (I, II, III, or IV) based on the concave or convex shape of the proximal and distal caps.

Closing the loop with an enhanced referral management system.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a referral manager tool on primary care practices.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated a referral manager module in a locally developed electronic health record (EHR) that was enhanced to improve the referral management process in primary care practices. Baseline (n = 61) and follow-up (n = 35) provider and staff surveys focused on the ease of performing various steps in the referral process, confidence in completing those steps, and user satisfaction.

Trends in the Incidence of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death in the Newborn: 1995-2014.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiology of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) over a 20-year period in the US, to assess the potential frequency of sudden unexpected postnatal collapse in the early days of life, and to determine if SUID rates in the neonatal period (0-27 days) have changed in parallel with rates in the postneonatal periods, including the percentages attributed to codes that include accidental suffocation.

Study Design: Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Linked Birth/Infant Death Records for 1995-2014 were analyzed for the first hour, day, week, and month of life. A comparison of neonatal and postneonatal data related to SUID, including accidental suffocation, was carried out.

CTC technique: methods to ensure an optimal exam.

CT colonography (CTC) has demonstrated equivalent accuracy to optical colonoscopy in the detection of clinically relevant polyps and tumors but this is only possible when technique is optimized. The two most important features of a high-quality CTC are a well-prepared colon and a distended colon. This article will discuss the dietary, bowel preparation, and fecal/fluid tagging options to best prepare the colon.

Nipple-Invasive Primary Carcinomas: Clinical, Imaging, and Pathologic Features of Breast Carcinomas Originating in the Nipple.

Context Patients choosing to retain the nipple when undergoing therapeutic or prophylactic mastectomy are at risk for cancers arising at that site. Objective To identify cases of invasive carcinoma arising within the nipple and to investigate their clinical, imaging, biologic, and staging features. Design Carcinomas were identified by prospective review of surgical and consult cases at 4 hospitals.

An In Vivo Prediction of Anisometry and Strain in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction - A Combined Magnetic Resonance and Dual Fluoroscopic Imaging Analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the in vivo anisometry and strain of theoretical anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts in the healthy knee using various socket locations on both the femur and tibia.

Methods: Eighteen healthy knees were imaged using magnetic resonance imaging and dual fluoroscopic imaging techniques during a step-up and sit-to-stand motion. The anisometry of the medial aspect of the lateral femoral condyle was mapped using 144 theoretical socket positions connected to an anteromedial, central, and posterolateral attachment site on the tibia.

Registry Assessment of Peripheral Interventional Devices (RAPID): Registry assessment of peripheral interventional devices core data elements.

Objective: The current state of evaluating patients with peripheral artery disease and more specifically of evaluating medical devices used for peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) remains challenging because of the heterogeneity of the disease process, the multiple physician specialties that perform PVI, the multitude of devices available to treat peripheral artery disease, and the lack of consensus about the best treatment approaches. Because PVI core data elements are not standardized across clinical care, clinical trials, and registries, aggregation of data across different data sources and physician specialties is currently not feasible.

Methods: Under the auspices of the U.

Simulation-based Assessment to Reliably Identify Key Resident Performance Attributes.

Background: Obtaining reliable and valid information on resident performance is critical to patient safety and training program improvement. The goals were to characterize important anesthesia resident performance gaps that are not typically evaluated, and to further validate scores from a multiscenario simulation-based assessment.

Methods: Seven high-fidelity scenarios reflecting core anesthesiology skills were administered to 51 first-year residents (CA-1s) and 16 third-year residents (CA-3s) from three residency programs.

Registry Assessment of Peripheral Interventional Devices (RAPID) - Registry Assessment of Peripheral Interventional Devices Core Data Elements.

Background: The current state of evaluating patients with peripheral artery disease and more specifically of evaluating medical devices used for peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) remains challenging because of the heterogeneity of the disease process, the multiple physician specialties that perform PVI, the multitude of devices available to treat peripheral artery disease, and the lack of consensus about the best treatment approaches. Because PVI core data elements are not standardized across clinical care, clinical trials, and registries, aggregation of data across different data sources and physician specialties is currently not feasible.Methods and Results:Under the auspices of the U.