Dental Surgical Activity in Hospitals during COVID-19: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

The number of surgical extractions performed in hospitals in England remains unclear. This study reports the volume of surgical extractions conducted in hospitals and change in activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide observational cohort study using Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) in England for patients undergoing surgical removal of a tooth (defined using OPSC-4 code F09) between April 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020. Procedures were stratified by age, gender, and urgency (elective or nonelective), reported using descriptive statistics, number, and percentage. We conducted post hoc modeling to predict surgical activity to December 2023. In addition, we contrasted this with aggregate national data on simple dental extraction procedures and drainage of dental abscesses in hospital as well as dental activity in general practice.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 569,938 episodes for the surgical removal of a tooth (females 57%). Of these, 493,056/569,938 (87%) were for adults and 76,882/569,938 (13%) children ≤18 years. Surgical extractions were most frequent in adult females. Elective cases accounted for 96% (n = 548,805/569,938) of procedures. The median number of procedures carried out per quarter was 27,256, dropping to 12,003 during the COVID-19 pandemic, representing a 56% reduction in activity. This amounted to around 61,058 cancelled procedures. Modeling predicts that this activity has not returned to prepandemic levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The number of surgical extractions taking place in hospitals during the pandemic fell by 56%. The true impact of this reduction is unknown, but delayed treatment increases the risk of complications, including life-threatening infections.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

The result of this study provides an evidence-based overview of the trends relating to surgical extractions of teeth in England taking place in hospitals. This information can be used to inform service and workforce planning to meet the needs of patients requiring surgical extractions. The data also provide an insight into the oral health needs of the population in England.

Health Resource Utilisation and Disparities: an Ecological Study of Admission Patterns Across Ethnicity in England Between 2017 and 2020

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted adverse outcomes in Asian, Black, and ethnic minority groups. More research is required to explore underlying ethnic health inequalities. In this study, we aim to examine pre-COVID ethnic inequalities more generally through healthcare utilisation to contextualise underlying inequalities that were present before the pandemic.

DESIGN

This was an ecological study exploring all admissions to NHS hospitals in England from 2017 to 2020.

METHODS

The primary outcomes were admission rates within ethnic groups. Secondary outcomes included age-specific and age-standardised admission rates. Sub-analysis of admission rates across an index of multiple deprivation (IMD) deciles was also performed to contextualise the impact of socioeconomic differences amongst ethnic categories. Results were presented as a relative ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Age-standardised admission rates were higher in Asian (RR 1.40 [1.38-1.41] in 2019) and Black (RR 1.37 [1.37-1.38]) and lower in Mixed groups (RR 0.91 [0.90-0.91]) relative to White. There was significant missingness or misassignment of ethnicity in NHS admissions: with 11.7% of admissions having an unknown/not-stated ethnicity assignment and 'other' ethnicity being significantly over-represented. Admission rates did not mirror the degree of deprivation across all ethnic categories.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows Black and Asian ethnic groups have higher admission rates compared to White across all age groups and when standardised for age. There is evidence of incomplete and misidentification of ethnicity assignment in NHS admission records, which may introduce bias to work on these datasets. Differences in admission rates across individual ethnic categories cannot solely be explained by socioeconomic status. Further work is needed to identify ethnicity-specific factors of these inequalities to allow targeted interventions at the local level.

Hypoxemia Trajectory of Non-COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Patients. An Observational Study Focusing on Hypoxemia Resolver Status

IMPORTANCE

Most studies on acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) group patients by severity based on their initial degree of hypoxemia. However, this grouping has limitations, including inconsistent hypoxemia trajectories and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

This study explores the benefits of grouping patients by resolver status based on their hypoxemia progression over the first 7 days.

DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This is an observational study from a large single-center database. Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV and MIMIC Chest X-ray JPEG databases were used. Mechanically ventilated patients that met the Berlin ARDS criteria were included.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was the proportion of hypoxemia resolvers vs. nonresolvers in non-COVID-19 ARDS patients. Nonresolvers were defined as those whose hypoxemia worsened or remained moderate or severe over the first 7 days. Secondary outcomes included baseline admission characteristics, initial blood gases and ventilation settings, length of invasive mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and ICU survival rates across resolver groups.

RESULTS

A total of 894 ICU admissions were included in the study. Of these, 33.9% were hypoxemia nonresolvers. The resolver groups showed no significant difference in age, body mass index, comorbidities, or Charlson score. There was no significant difference in the percentage of those with initial severe hypoxemia between the two groups (8.1% vs. 9.2%; p = 0.126). The initial Pao2/Fio2 ratio did not significantly increase the odds ratio (OR) of being a nonresolver (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.65-1.10). Nonresolver mortality was 61.4%, comparable to the survival rates seen in nonresolvers in a previous large COVID-19 ARDS study.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Our study shows that resolver status is a valuable grouping in ARDS. It has significant advantages over grouping by initial degree of hypoxemia, including better mapping of trajectory and comparable outcomes across other studies. While it may offer insights into disease-specific associations, future studies should include resolver status analysis for more definitive conclusions.

Long-term healthcare use after postoperative complications: an analysis of linked primary and secondary care routine data

Background

Postoperative complications are associated with reduced long-term survival. We characterise healthcare use changes after sentinel postoperative complications.

Methods

We linked primary and secondary care records of patients undergoing elective surgery at four East London hospitals (2012-7) with at least 90 days follow-up. Complication codes (wound infection, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, new stroke, and new myocardial infarction) recorded within 90 days of surgery were identified from primary or secondary care. Outcomes were change in healthcare contact days in the 2 yr before and after surgery, and 2 yr mortality. We report rate ratios (RaR) with 95% confidence intervals and adjusted for baseline healthcare use and confounders using negative binomial regression.

Results

We included 49 913 patients (median age 49 yr [inter-quartile range {IQR}: 34-64]), 27 958 (56.0%) were female. Amongst 3883 (7.8%) patients with complications (median age 58 [IQR: 43-72]), there were 18.4 days per year in contact with healthcare before surgery and 25.3 days after surgery (RaR: 1.38 [1.37-1.39]). Patients without complications (median age 48 [IQR: 33-63]) had 12.3 days per year in contact with healthcare before surgery and 14.0 days after surgery (RaR: 1.14 [1.14-1.15]). The adjusted incidence rate ratio of days in contact with healthcare associated with complications was 1.67 (1.49-1.87). More patients (391; 10.1%) with complications died within 2 yr than those without (1428; 3.1%).

Conclusions

Patients with postoperative complications are older with greater healthcare use before surgery. However, their absolute and relative increases in healthcare use after surgery are greater than patients without complications.

Long-term disease interactions amongst surgical patients: a population cohort study

BACKGROUND

The average age of the surgical population continues to increase, as does prevalence of long-term diseases. However, outcomes amongst multi-morbid surgical patients are not well described.

METHODS

We included adults undergoing non-obstetric surgical procedures in the English National Health Service between January 2010 and December 2015. Patients could be included multiple times in sequential 90-day procedure spells. Multi-morbidity was defined as presence of two or more long-term diseases identified using a modified Charlson comorbidity index. The primary outcome was 90-day postoperative death. Secondary outcomes included emergency hospital readmission within 90 days. We calculated age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using logistic regression. We compared the outcomes associated with different disease combinations.

RESULTS

We identified 20 193 659 procedure spells among 13 062 715 individuals aged 57 (standard deviation 19) yr. Multi-morbidity was present among 2 577 049 (12.8%) spells with 195 965 deaths (7.6%), compared with 17 616 610 (88.2%) spells without multi-morbidity with 163 529 deaths (0.9%). Multi-morbidity was present in 1 902 859/16 946 808 (11.2%) elective spells, with 57 663 deaths (2.7%, OR 4.9 [95% CI: 4.9-4.9]), and 674 190/3 246 851 (20.7%) non-elective spells, with 138 302 deaths (20.5%, OR 3.0 [95% CI: 3.0-3.1]). Emergency readmission followed 547 399 (22.0%) spells with multi-morbidity compared with 1 255 526 (7.2%) without. Multi-morbid patients accounted for 57 663/114 783 (50.2%) deaths after elective spells, and 138 302/244 711 (56.5%) after non-elective spells. The rate of death varied five-fold from lowest to highest risk disease pairs.

CONCLUSION

One in eight patients undergoing surgery have multi-morbidity, accounting for more than half of all postoperative deaths. Disease interactions amongst multi-morbid patients is an important determinant of patient outcome.

Can pioglitazone be used for optimization of nutrition in critical illness? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Skeletal muscle wasting is a determinant of physical disability in survivors of critical illness. Intramuscular bioenergetic failure, altered substrate metabolim, and inflammation are likely underpinning mechanisms. We examined the effect of pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist, on muscle-related outcomes in adults.

METHODS

We included randomized controlled trials in which pioglitazone was administered (no dose/dosage restrictions) and muscle-related outcomes were reported. We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, and trial registries. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2. Primary outcomes were physical function and symptoms, muscle mass and function, or body composition and muscular compositional change. Secondary outcomes included muscle insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial effects, and intramuscular inflammation.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies over 19 publications (n = 474 patients) were included. Lean body mass was unaffected in three studies (n = 126) and increased by 1.8-1.92 kg in two studies (P = 0.02 and 0.003, respectively; n = 48). Pioglitazone was associated with increased peripheral insulin sensitivity (+23%-72%, standardized mean difference of 0.97 from trial start point to end point [95% CI, 0.36-1.58; n = 213]). Treatment reduced intramuscular tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels (-30%; P = 0.02; n = 29), with mixed effects on serum TNF-α and intramyocellular lipid concentrations. Treatment increased intramuscular markers of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) biosynthesis (ATP5A [+33%, P ≤ 0.05], ETFA [+60%, P ≤ 0.05], and CX6B1 [+ 33%, P = 0.01] [n = 24]), PGC1α and PGC1β messenger RNA expression (P < 0.05; n = 26), and AMPK phosphorylation (+38%, P < 0.05; n = 26). These data have low-quality evidence profiles owing to risk of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Pioglitazone therapy increases skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and can decrease intramuscular inflammation.

Long-term mortality following complications after elective surgery: a secondary analysis of pooled data from two prospective cohort studies

BACKGROUND

Complications after surgery affect survival and quality of life. We aimed to confirm the relationship between postoperative complications and death within 1 yr after surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of pooled data from two prospective cohort studies of patients undergoing surgery in five high-income countries between 2012 and 2014. Exposure was any complication within 30 days after surgery. Primary outcome was death within 1 yr after surgery, ascertained by direct follow-up or linkage to national registers. We adjusted for clinically important covariates using a mixed-effect multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model. We conducted a planned subgroup analysis by type of complication. Data are presented as mean with standard deviation (sd), n (%), and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The pooled cohort included 10 132 patients. After excluding 399 (3.9%) patients with missing data or incomplete follow-up, 9733 patients were analysed. The mean age was 59 [sd 16.8] yr, and 5362 (55.1%) were female. Of 9733 patients, 1841 (18.9%) had complications within 30 days after surgery, and 319 (3.3%) died within 1 yr after surgery. Of 1841 patients with complications, 138 (7.5%) died within 1 yr after surgery compared with 181 (2.3%) of 7892 patients without complications (aHR 1.94 [95% CI: 1.53-2.46]). Respiratory failure was associated with the highest risk of death, resulting in six deaths amongst 28 patients (21.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative complications are associated with increased mortality at 1 yr. Further research is needed to identify patients at risk of complications and to reduce mortality.

Change in healthcare utilisation after surgical treatment: observational study of routinely collected patient data from primary and secondary care

BACKGROUND

Most patients fully recover after surgery. However, high-risk patients may experience an increased burden of medical disease.

METHODS

We performed a prospectively planned analysis of linked routine primary and secondary care data describing adult patients undergoing non-obstetric surgery at four hospitals in East London between January 2012 and January 2017. We categorised patients by 90-day mortality risk using logistic regression modelling. We calculated healthcare contact days per patient year during the 2 yr before and after surgery, and express change using rate ratios (RaR) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

We included 70 021 patients, aged (mean [standard deviation, sd]) 49.8 (19) yr, with 1238 deaths within 2 yr after surgery (1.8%). Most procedures were elective (51 693, 74.0%), and 20 441 patients (29.1%) were in the most deprived national quintile for social deprivation. Elective patients had 12.7 healthcare contact days per patient year before surgery, increasing to 15.5 days in the 2 yr after surgery (RaR, 1.22 [1.21-1.22]), and those at high-risk of 90-day mortality (11% of population accounting for 80% of all deaths) had the largest increase (37.0 days per patient year before vs 60.8 days after surgery; RaR, 1.64 [1.63-1.65]). Emergency patients had greater increases in healthcare burden (13.8 days per patient year before vs 24.8 days after surgery; RaR, 1.8 [1.8-1.8]), particularly in high-risk patients (28% of patients accounting for 80% of all deaths by day 90), with 21.6 days per patient year before vs 49.2 days after surgery; RaR, 2.28 [2.26-2.29].

DISCUSSION

High-risk patients who survive the immediate perioperative period experience large and persistent increases in healthcare utilisation in the years after surgery. The full implications of this require further study.

Death after surgery among patients with chronic disease: prospective study of routinely collected data in the English NHS

BACKGROUND

Five million surgeries take place in the NHS each year. Little is known about the prevalence of chronic diseases among these patients, and the association with postoperative outcomes.

METHODS

Analysis of routine data from all NHS hospitals in England including patients aged ≥18 yr undergoing non-obstetric surgery between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2015. The primary outcome was death within 90 days after surgery. For each chronic disease, we adjusted for age, sex, presence of other diseases, emergency surgery, and year using logistic regression models. We defined high-risk diseases as those with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) for death ≥2 and report associated 2-yr survival.

RESULTS

We included 8 624 611 patients (median age, 53 [36-68] yr), of whom 6 913 451 (80.2%) underwent elective surgery and 1 711 160 (19.8%) emergency surgery. Overall, 2 311 600 (26.8%) patients had a chronic disease, of whom 109 686 (4.7%) died within 90 days compared with 24 136 (0.4%) of 6 313 011 without chronic disease. Respiratory disease (1 002 281 [11.6%]), diabetes mellitus (662 706 [7.7%]), and cancer (310 363; 3.6%) were the most common. Four chronic diseases accounted for 7.7% of patients but 59.0% of deaths: cancer (37 693 deaths [12.1%]; OR=8.3 [8.2-8.5]), liver disease (8638 deaths [10.3%]; OR=4.5 [4.4-4.7]), cardiac failure (26 604 deaths [12.6%]; OR=2.4 [2.4-2.5]), and dementia (19 912 deaths [17.9%]; OR=2.0 [1.9-2.0]). Two-year survival was 67.7% among patients with high-risk chronic disease, compared with 97.1% without.

CONCLUSION

One in four surgical patients has a chronic disease with an associated 10-fold increase in risk of postoperative death. Two-thirds of all deaths after surgery occur among patients with high-risk diseases (cancer, cardiac failure, liver disease, dementia).

Routine postoperative noninvasive respiratory support and pneumonia after elective surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pulmonary complications, including pneumonia, are a substantial cause of morbidity. We hypothesised that routine noninvasive respiratory support was associated with a lower incidence of pneumonia after surgery.

METHODS

Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs comparing the routine use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), noninvasive ventilation (NIV), or high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) against standard postoperative care in the adult population. We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and CENTRAL from the start of indexing to July 27, 2021. Articles were reviewed and data extracted in duplicate, with discrepancies resolved by a senior investigator. The primary outcome was pneumonia, and the secondary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications. We calculated risk difference (RD) with 95% confidence intervals using DerSimonian and Laird random effects models. We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

RESULTS

From 18 513 records, we included 38 trials consisting of 9782 patients. Pneumonia occurred in 214/4403 (4.9%) patients receiving noninvasive respiratory support compared with 216/3937 (5.5%) receiving standard care (RD -0.01 [95% confidence interval: -0.02 to 0.00]; I²=8%; P=0.23). Postoperative pulmonary complications occurred in 393/1379 (28%) patients receiving noninvasive respiratory support compared with 280/902 (31%) receiving standard care (RD -0.11 [-0.23 to 0.01]; I²=79%; P=0.07). Subgroup analyses did not identify a benefit of CPAP, NIV, or HFNO in preventing pneumonia. Tests for publication bias suggest six unreported trials.

CONCLUSION

The results of this evidence synthesis do not support the routine use of postoperative CPAP, NIV, or HFNO to prevent pneumonia after surgery in adults.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO: CRD42019156741.

Mortality after surgery with SARS-CoV-2 infection in England: a population-wide epidemiological study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily impacted elective and emergency surgery around the world. We aimed to confirm the incidence of perioperative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and associated mortality after surgery.

METHODS

Analysis of routine electronic health record data from NHS hospitals in England. We extracted data from Hospital Episode Statistics in England describing adult patients undergoing surgery between January 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021. The exposure was SARS-CoV-2 infection defined by International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes. The primary outcome measure was 90 day in-hospital mortality. Data were analysed using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Index of Multiple Deprivation, presence of cancer, surgical procedure type and admission acuity. Results are presented as n (%) and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

We identified 2 666 978 patients undergoing surgery of whom 28 777 (1.1%) had SARS-CoV-2 infection. In total, 26 364 (1.0%) patients died in hospital. SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a much greater risk of death (SARS-CoV-2: 6153/28 777 [21.4%] vs no SARS-CoV-2: 20 211/2 638 201 [0.8%]; OR=5.7 [95% CI, 5.5-5.9]; P<0.001). Amongst patients undergoing elective surgery, 2412/1 857 586 (0.1%) had SARS-CoV-2, of whom 172/2412 (7.1%) died, compared with 1414/1 857 586 (0.1%) patients without SARS-CoV-2 (OR=25.8 [95% CI, 21.7-30.9]; P<0.001). Amongst patients undergoing emergency surgery, 22 918/582 292 (3.9%) patients had SARS-CoV-2, of whom 5752/22 918 (25.1%) died, compared with 18 060/559 374 (3.4%) patients without SARS-CoV-2 (OR=5.5 [95% CI, 5.3-5.7]; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The low incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in NHS surgical pathways suggests current infection prevention and control policies are highly effective. However, the high mortality amongst patients with SARS-CoV-2 suggests these precautions cannot be safely relaxed.

Resource requirements for reintroducing elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: modelling study

Background

The COVID-19 response required the cancellation of all but the most urgent surgical procedures. The number of cancelled surgical procedures owing to Covid-19, and the reintroduction of surgical acivirt, was modelled.

Methods

This was a modelling study using Hospital Episode Statistics data (2014–2019). Surgical procedures were grouped into four urgency classes. Expected numbers of surgical procedures performed between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021 were modelled. Procedure deficit was estimated using conservative assumptions and the gradual reintroduction of elective surgery from the 1 June 2020. Costs were calculated using NHS reference costs and are reported as millions or billions of euros. Estimates are reported with 95 per cent confidence intervals.

Results

A total of 547 534 (95 per cent c.i. 3 318 195 to 6 250 771) patients with a pooled mean age of 53.5 years were expected to undergo surgery between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021. By 31 May 2020, 749 247 (513 564 to 1 077 448) surgical procedures had been cancelled. Assuming that elective surgery is reintroduced gradually, 2 328 193 (1 483 834 – 3 450 043) patients will be awaiting surgery by 28 February 2021. The cost of delayed procedures is €5.3 (3.1 to 8.0) billion. Safe delivery of surgery during the pandemic will require substantial extra resources costing €526.8 (449.3 to 633.9) million.

Conclusion

As a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, provision of elective surgery will be delayed and associated with increased healthcare costs.

Socioeconomic deprivation and long-term outcomes after elective surgery: analysis of prospective data from two observational studies

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with health inequalities. We explored relationships between socioeconomic group and outcomes after elective surgery in the UK National Health Service (NHS).

METHODS

We combined data from two observational studies in 115 NHS hospitals and determined socioeconomic group using the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintiles based on place of residence. Postoperative complications and 3-yr survival were assessed using logistic and Cox regression. Univariate analyses were adjusted for age differences between IMD quintiles. Multivariable analyses were used to account for other baseline risk factors including sex and comorbid disease. Results are reported as n (%), hazard ratios (HR) or odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Postoperative complications developed in 971/9051 patients (10.7%) and 1597/9043 patients (17.7%) died within 3 yr. Complication rates increased with deprivation (reference group least-deprived IMD5): IMD1 (OR=1.44 [1.17-1.78]; P<0.001), IMD2 (OR=1.38 [1.12-1.70]; P<0.01), IMD3 (OR=1.09 [0.88-1.35]: P=0.44), IMD4 (OR=0.89 [0.71-1.11]; P=0.30). More patients from the most deprived quintile died (IMD1) (n=349, 18.8%) compared with the least deprived (IMD5) (n=297, 15.9%) with a trend across the socioeconomic spectrum (P=0.01). After age adjustment, patients in the most deprived areas experienced reduced 3-yr survival: IMD1 (HR=1.43 [1.23-1.67]; P<0.0001), IMD2 (HR=1.35 [1.15-1.57]; P<0.001), IMD3 (HR=1.04 [0.89-1.23]; P=0.60), and IMD4 (HR=1.11 [0.95-1.30]; P=0.19). This finding persisted in risk-adjusted analyses. Increased complication rates only partially explained this reduced survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with worse long-term outcomes after elective surgery. This risk factor should be considered when planning perioperative care for patients from deprived areas.

Perioperative intravenous contrast administration and the incidence of acute kidney injury after major gastrointestinal surgery: prospective, multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the impact of preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast for CT and the risk of developing postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, multicentre cohort study included adults undergoing gastrointestinal resection, stoma reversal or liver resection. Both elective and emergency procedures were included. Preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast was defined as exposure to contrast administered for the purposes of CT up to 7 days before surgery. The primary endpoint was the rate of AKI within 7 days. Propensity score-matched models were adjusted for patient, disease and operative variables. In a sensitivity analysis, a propensity score-matched model explored the association between preoperative exposure to contrast and AKI in the first 48 h after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 5378 patients were included across 173 centres. Overall, 1249 patients (23·2 per cent) received intravenous contrast. The overall rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery was 13·4 per cent (718 of 5378). In the propensity score-matched model, preoperative exposure to contrast was not associated with AKI within 7 days (odds ratio (OR) 0·95, 95 per cent c.i. 0·73 to 1·21; P = 0·669). The sensitivity analysis showed no association between preoperative contrast administration and AKI within 48 h after operation (OR 1·09, 0·84 to 1·41; P = 0·498).

CONCLUSION

There was no association between preoperative intravenous contrast administered for CT up to 7 days before surgery and postoperative AKI. Risk of contrast-induced nephropathy should not be used as a reason to avoid contrast-enhanced CT.

Age of patients undergoing surgery

Background

Advancing age is independently associated with poor postoperative outcomes. The ageing of the general population is a major concern for healthcare providers. Trends in age were studied among patients undergoing surgery in the National Health Service in England.

Methods

Time trend ecological analysis was undertaken of Hospital Episode Statistics and Office for National Statistics data for England from 1999 to 2015. The proportion of patients undergoing surgery in different age groupings, their pooled mean age, and change in age profile over time were calculated. Growth in the surgical population was estimated, with associated costs, to the year 2030 by use of linear regression modelling.

Results

Some 68 205 695 surgical patient episodes (31 220 341 men, 45·8 per cent) were identified. The mean duration of hospital stay was 5·3 days. The surgical population was older than the general population of England; this gap increased over time (1999: 47·5 versus 38·3 years; 2015: 54·2 versus 39·7 years). The number of people aged 75 years or more undergoing surgery increased from 544 998 (14·9 per cent of that age group) in 1999 to 1 012 517 (22·9 per cent) in 2015. By 2030, it is estimated that one-fifth of the 75 years and older age category will undergo surgery each year (1·49 (95 per cent c.i. 1·43 to 1·55) million people), at a cost of €3·2 (3·1 to 3·5) billion.

Conclusion

The population having surgery in England is ageing at a faster rate than the general population. Healthcare policies must adapt to ensure that provision of surgical treatments remains safe and sustainable.

The SCARE 2018 statement: Updating consensus Surgical CAse REport (SCARE) guidelines

INTRODUCTION

The SCARE Guidelines were published in 2016 to provide a structure for reporting surgical case reports. Since their publication, SCARE guidelines have been widely endorsed by authors, journal editors, and reviewers, and have helped to improve reporting transparency of case reports across a range of surgical specialties. In order to encourage further progress in reporting quality, the SCARE guidelines must themselves be kept up to date. We completed a Delphi consensus exercise to update the SCARE guidelines.

METHODS

A Delphi consensus exercise was undertaken. All members of the previous Delphi group were invited to participate, in addition to researchers who have previously studied case reports, and editors from the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. The expert group was sent an online questionnaire where they were asked to rate their agreement with proposed changes to each of the 24 items.

RESULTS

56 people agreed to participate and 45 (80%) invitees completed the survey which put forward modifications to the original guideline. The collated responses resulted in modifications. There was high agreement amongst the expert group.

CONCLUSION

A modified and improved SCARE checklist is presented, after a Delphi consensus exercise was completed. The SCARE 2018 Statement: Updating Consensus Surgical CAse REport (SCARE) Guidelines.

The surgical safety checklist and patient outcomes after surgery: a prospective observational cohort study, systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The surgical safety checklist is widely used to improve the quality of perioperative care. However, clinicians continue to debate the clinical effectiveness of this tool.

METHODS

Prospective analysis of data from the International Surgical Outcomes Study (ISOS), an international observational study of elective in-patient surgery, accompanied by a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature. The exposure was surgical safety checklist use. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome was postoperative complications. In the ISOS cohort, a multivariable multi-level generalized linear model was used to test associations. To further contextualise these findings, we included the results from the ISOS cohort in a meta-analysis. Results are reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

We included 44 814 patients from 497 hospitals in 27 countries in the ISOS analysis. There were 40 245 (89.8%) patients exposed to the checklist, whilst 7508 (16.8%) sustained ≥1 postoperative complications and 207 (0.5%) died before hospital discharge. Checklist exposure was associated with reduced mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.49 (0.32-0.77); P<0.01], but no difference in complication rates [OR 1.02 (0.88-1.19); P=0.75]. In a systematic review, we screened 3732 records and identified 11 eligible studies of 453 292 patients including the ISOS cohort. Checklist exposure was associated with both reduced postoperative mortality [OR 0.75 (0.62-0.92); P<0.01; I²=87%] and reduced complication rates [OR 0.73 (0.61-0.88); P<0.01; I²=89%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients exposed to a surgical safety checklist experience better postoperative outcomes, but this could simply reflect wider quality of care in hospitals where checklist use is routine.

Support for reporting guidelines in surgical journals needs improvement: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Evidence-based medicine works best if the evidence is reported well. Past studies have shown reporting quality to be lacking in the field of surgery. Reporting guidelines are an important tool for authors to optimize the reporting of their research. The objective of this study was to analyse the frequency and strength of recommendation for such reporting guidelines within surgical journals.

METHODS

A systematic review of the 198 journals within the Journal Citation Report 2014 (surgery category) published by Thomson Reuters was undertaken. The online guide for authors for each journal was screened by two independent groups and results compared. Data regarding the presence and strength of recommendation to use reporting guidelines was extracted.

RESULTS

193 journals were included (as five appeared twice having changed their name). These had a median impact factor of 1.526 (range 0.047-8.327), with a median of 145 articles published per journal (range 29-659), with 34,036 articles published in total over the two-year window 2012-2013. The majority (62%) of surgical journals made no mention of reporting guidelines within their guidelines for authors. Of the 73 (38%) that did mention them, only 14% (10/73) required the use of all relevant reporting guidelines. The most frequently mentioned reporting guideline was CONSORT (46 journals).

CONCLUSIONS

The mention of reporting guidelines within the guide for authors of surgical journals needs improvement. Authors, reviewers and editors should work to ensure that research is reported in line with the relevant reporting guidelines. Journals should consider hard-wiring adherence to them.

Describing the first 2000 registrations to the Research Registry®: A study protocol

•

Research Registry offers a venue for the registration of research involving human participants;

•

It is now imperative to register all studies (not just trials) involving human participants;

•

This protocol outlines the analysis to examine the first 2000 registrations received.

Background

In 2013, the Declaration of Helsinki was updated and required the registration of all research studies involving human participants. Prior registries focussed on the registration of clinical trials and systematic reviews, and we estimate that only 10% of observational research is registered in a publically accessible registry. The Research Registry® was established to provide a venue of registration for any study, prospectively or retrospectively, involving human participants. This protocol describes the analysis for the first 2000 registrations received to the Research Registry®.

Methods and analysis

Data for each registration to the Research Registry® (www.researchregistry.com), adapted from the World Health Organisation minimum data set, has been collected since the launch of the registry in 2015. A weekly curation process ensures that inappropriate registrations, such as duplicate studies or those not involving human participants, are removed from the registry. We will present the characteristics of the first 2000 registrations and how they have changed overtime. A quality score will be calculated for each registration by two independent teams, and inter-rater reliability will be calculated. Funding sources of work registered will also be presented. This process will also be performed for the systematic review portion of the registry (‘The Review Registry’), which will be considered separately.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required for this study as it involves no human participants. The findings will be presented at international conferences and published in a peer reviewed journal.

The use of study registration and protocols in plastic surgery research: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

In 2013, the Declaration of Helsinki changed to mandate that all research studies involving human subjects, rather than just clinical trials alone, must have a protocol registered in a publicly accessible database prior to the enrolment of the first patient. The objective of this work was to assess the number of research studies involving human participants published in leading journals of plastic surgery that had either published a protocol or registered a protocol with a publicly accessible database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This systematic review examined all research articles involving human participants published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Journal of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and The Annals of Plastic Surgery from 1st April 2014-31st March 2015. The primary outcome measure was whether each study had either published or registered a protocol with any mainstream registry database. ClinicalTrials.gov, the International Standard Randomized Control Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry, the WHO (World Health Organisation) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, The Cochrane Collaboration, the Research Registry, PROSPERO and PubMed were all reviewed.

RESULTS

Of 595 included articles, the most common study designs were case series (n = 185, 31.1%). There were 24 randomized controlled trials (RCTs, 4.0%). A total of 24 studies had a protocol registered (4.0%). The most common database to register a protocol was with ClinicalTrials.gov (n = 17). The study design that most commonly had a registered protocol was the RCT (n = 8 of 24, 33.3% of RCTs). Three studies published a protocol in a journal (0.6%).

CONCLUSION

Publication or registration of protocols for recent studies involving human participants in major plastic surgery journals is low. There is considerable scope to improve this and guidance is provided.

Surveying opinions of 149 registrants to the Research Registry: Awareness of and attitudes towards research registration

BACKGROUND

Research registration is an important ethical principle in the Declaration of Helsinki, however, progress to increase registration has been slow. Understanding the attitudes of users towards registries may provide insights into increase research registration. In this survey-based study, we sought to gain insight from users of a single global research registry, the Research Registry^® (www.researchregistry.com).

METHODS

A Google Forms survey was created and emailed to all users of the Research Registry^® (n = 1432). Multiple choice and free-text answers were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis respectively.

RESULTS

From 925 contactable registrations, 149 (16.1%) completed the survey. The most commonly registered study type was retrospective cohort (32.2%). 23 registrations (15.4%) were made during the planning or conception of the study, whereas 67 (45.0%) registered at the time of journal submission, or during the peer review process. Of those that declared whether they had performed unregistered research or not, 51 (45.5%) participants had previously performed unregistered research. Registrants were most commonly made aware of the Research Registry^® through submission to the International Journal of Surgery (IJS) family of journals (n = 57, 47.5%). Survey participants identified the most important features of registration to be its convenience, including the ease, time and cost of registration. Thematic analysis revealed the most common motive for registration to be as a mandatory requirement of journal submission, and that registration can be improved by simplification of the registration process.

CONCLUSION

Registries must focus on engaging their network of users to ensure that research registration is a dynamic process. They need to adopt a user-centered and agile approach to their development, with a strong focus on "customer service". Moreover, by working in partnership with journals, it is possible to improve compliance with registration.

Preferred reporting of case series in surgery; the PROCESS guidelines

INTRODUCTION

Case series have been a long held tradition within the surgical literature and are still frequently published. Reporting guidelines can improve transparency and reporting quality. No guideline exists for reporting case series, and our recent systematic review highlights the fact that key data are being missed from such reports. Our objective was to develop reporting guidelines for surgical case series.

METHODS

A Delphi consensus exercise was conducted to determine items to include in the reporting guideline. Items included those identified from a previous systematic review on case series and those included in the SCARE Guidelines for case reports. The Delphi questionnaire was administered via Google Forms and conducted using standard Delphi methodology. Surgeons and others with expertise in the reporting of case series were invited to participate. In round one, participants voted to define case series and also what elements should be included in them. In round two, participants voted on what items to include in the PROCESS guideline using a nine-point Likert scale to assess agreement as proposed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) working group.

RESULTS

In round one, there was a 49% (29/59) response rate. Following adjustment of the guideline with incorporation of recommended changes, round two commenced and there was an 81% (48/59) response rate. All but one of the items were approved by the participants and Likert scores 7-9 were awarded by >70% of respondents. The final guideline consists of an eight item checklist.

CONCLUSION

We present the PROCESS Guideline, consisting of an eight item checklist that will improve the reporting quality of surgical case series. We encourage authors, reviewers, editors, journals, publishers and the wider surgical and scholarly community to adopt these.

The First 500 Registrations to the Research Registry®: Advancing Registration of Under-Registered Study Types

Introduction

The Declaration of Helsinki 2013 encourages the registration of all research studies involving human participants. However, emphasis has been placed on prospective clinical trials, and it is estimated that only 10% of observational studies are registered. In response, Research Registry^®1 was launched in February 2015; a retrospectively curated registry that is free and easy to use. Research Registry^® enables prospective or retrospective registration of studies, including those study types that cannot be registered on existing registries. In this study, we describe the first 500 registrations on Research Registry^®.

Methods

Since the launch of Research Registry^® in February 2015, data of registrations have been collected, including type of studies registered, country of origin, and data curation activity. Inappropriate registrations, such as duplicates, were identified by the data curation process. These were removed from the database or modified as required. A quality score was assigned for each registration, based on Sir Austin Bradford Hill’s criteria on what research studies should convey. Changes in quality scores over time were assessed.

Results

A total of 500 studies were registered on Research Registry^® from February 2015 to October 2015, with a total of 1.7 million patients enrolled. The most common study types were retrospective cohort studies (37.2%), case series (14.8%), and first-in-man case reports (10.4%). Registrations were received from 57 different countries; the most submissions were received from Turkey, followed by China and the United Kingdom. Retrospective data curation identified 80 studies that were initially registered as the incorrect study type, and were subsequently correct. The Kruskal–Wallis test identified a significant improvement in quality scores for registrations from February 2015 to October 2015 (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Since its conception in February 2015, Research Registry^® has established itself as a new registry that is free, easy to use, and enables the registration of various study types, including observational studies and first-in-man case reports. Going forward, our plan is to continue developing Research Registry^® in line with user feedback and usability studies. We plan to further promote Research Registry^® to advance the cause of registration of research, to increase compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki 2013.

The SCARE Statement: Consensus-based surgical case report guidelines

INTRODUCTION

Case reports have been a long held tradition within the surgical literature. Reporting guidelines can improve transparency and reporting quality. However, recent consensus-based guidelines for case reports (CARE) are not surgically focused. Our objective was to develop surgical case report guidelines.

METHODS

The CARE statement was used as the basis for a Delphi consensus. The Delphi questionnaire was administered via Google Forms and conducted using standard Delphi methodology. A multidisciplinary group of surgeons and others with expertise in the reporting of case reports were invited to participate. In round one, participants stated how each item of the CARE statement should be changed and what additional items were needed. Revised and additional items from round one were put forward into a further round, where participants voted on the extent of their agreement with each item, using a nine-point Likert scale, as proposed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) working group.

RESULTS

In round one, there was a 64% (38/59) response rate. Following adjustment of the guideline with the incorporation of recommended changes, round two commenced and there was an 83% (49/59) response rate. All but one of the items were approved by the participants, with Likert scores 7-9 awarded by >70% of respondents. The final guideline consists of a 14-item checklist.

CONCLUSION

We present the SCARE Guideline, consisting of a 14-item checklist that will improve the reporting quality of surgical case reports.

Systematic review of the methodological and reporting quality of case series in surgery

BACKGROUND

Case series are an important and common study type. No guideline exists for reporting case series and there is evidence of key data being missed from such reports. The first step in the process of developing a methodologically sound reporting guideline is a systematic review of literature relevant to the reporting deficiencies of case series.

METHODS

A systematic review of methodological and reporting quality in surgical case series was performed. The electronic search strategy was developed by an information specialist and included MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Methods Register, Science Citation Index and Conference Proceedings Citation index, from the start of indexing to 5 November 2014. Independent screening, eligibility assessments and data extraction were performed. Included articles were then analysed for five areas of deficiency: failure to use standardized definitions, missing or selective data (including the omission of whole cases or important variables), transparency or incomplete reporting, whether alternative study designs were considered, and other issues.

RESULTS

Database searching identified 2205 records. Through the process of screening and eligibility assessments, 92 articles met inclusion criteria. Frequencies of methodological and reporting issues identified were: failure to use standardized definitions (57 per cent), missing or selective data (66 per cent), transparency or incomplete reporting (70 per cent), whether alternative study designs were considered (11 per cent) and other issues (52 per cent).

CONCLUSION

The methodological and reporting quality of surgical case series needs improvement. The data indicate that evidence-based guidelines for the conduct and reporting of case series may be useful.

An assessment of the compliance of systematic review articles published in craniofacial surgery with the PRISMA statement guidelines: A systematic review

CONTEXT

Systematic review evidence is increasing within craniofacial surgery. Compliance with recognised reporting guidelines for systematic review evidence has not been assessed.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the compliance of systematic reviews published in craniofacial journals with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting criteria.

DATA SOURCES, SEARCH TERMS AND STUDY SELECTION

Thomson Reuters impact factor was used to identify three top craniofacial journals. A search for all systematic review articles published in these journals from 1st May 2010 to 30th April 2015 was conducted using MEDLINE PubMed.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two independent researchers assessed each study for inclusion and performed the data extraction. Data included the article reference information; the pathology and interventions examined and compliance of each review article with the PRISMA checklist.

DATA SYNTHESIS AND RESULTS

97 studies were returned by the search. 62 studies proceeded to data extraction. The mean percentage of applicable PRISMA items that were met across all studies was 72.5% (range 28.6-96.2%). The area of poorest compliance was with the declaration of a study protocol (19.4% of studies). Only 37.1% of studies declared their source of funding.

CONCLUSIONS

Compliance of systematic review articles within craniofacial surgery with areas of the PRISMA checklist could be improved.

Compliance of Systematic Reviews in Plastic Surgery With the PRISMA Statement

IMPORTANCE

Systematic reviews attempt to answer research questions by synthesizing the data in primary articles. They are an increasingly important tool within evidence-based medicine, guiding clinical practice, future research, and health care policy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the reporting quality of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses in plastic surgery with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement.

METHODS

MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for systematic reviews published between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014, in 5 major plastic surgery journals. Screening, identification, and data extraction were performed independently by 2 teams. Articles were reviewed for compliance with reporting of 27 items in the PRISMA checklist. Data analysis was conducted from January 1 to July 30, 2015.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The sum of PRISMA checklist items (1-27) per systematic review.

RESULTS

From an initial set of 163 articles, 79 met the inclusion criteria. The median PRISMA score was 16 of 27 items (59%) (range, 6%-26%; 95% CI, 14%-17%). Compliance varied between individual PRISMA items. It was poorest for items related to the use of review protocol (item 5; 4 articles [5%]) and presentation of data on the risk of bias of each study (item 19; 14 articles [18%]). Compliance was the highest for description of rationale (item 3; 78 articles [99%]), sources of funding and other support (item 27; 75 articles [95%]), and inclusion of a structured summary in the abstract (item 2; 75 articles [95%]).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The reporting quality of systematic reviews in plastic surgery requires improvement. Enforcement of compliance through journal submission systems, as well as improved education, awareness, and a cohesive strategy among all stakeholders, is called for.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA.

Protocol for the development of a core outcome set for autologous fat grafting to the breast

INTRODUCTION

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Reconstruction is routinely offered to patients and can be autologous and/or implant based. One area of growing interest in autologous fat grafting (AFG). Our group recently published a systematic review and meta-analysis of this topic which showed 51 different outcomes were being utilized in the published literature, with substantial heterogeneity in their definitions.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A Delphi consensus exercise amongst key stakeholders will be conducted using the long list of 51 outcomes generated through our previous work. We will first group these according to the six domains previously identified; oncological, clinical, aesthetic and functional, patient-reported, process and radiological. Through sequential rounds of voting, the long list of outcomes will be narrowed down using predefined rules of agreement.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

No patients will be involved in this study and ethical approval is not required. The research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. It will also be presented at national and international conferences in the fields of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery as well as breast surgery and at more general surgical and methodological conferences. It will be disseminated electronically and in print. Brief reports of the review findings will be disseminated directly to the appropriate audiences of surgeons and societies through email and other modes of communication.

Nipple sparing versus skin sparing mastectomy: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer has a lifetime incidence of one in eight women. Over the past three decades there has been a move towards breast conservation and a focus on aesthetic outcomes while maintaining oncological safety. For some patients, mastectomy is the preferred option. There is growing interest in the potential use of nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM). However, oncological safety remains unproven, and the benefits and indications have not been clearly identified. The objective of this systematic review will be to determine the safety and efficacy of NSM as compared with skin sparing mastectomy (SSM).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

All original comparative studies including; randomised controlled trials, cohort studies and case-control studies involving women undergoing either NSM or SSM for breast cancer will be included. Outcomes are primary-relating to oncological outcomes and secondary-relating to clinical, aesthetic, patient reported and quality of life outcomes. A comprehensive electronic literature search, designed by a search specialist, will be undertaken. Grey literature searches will also be conducted. Eligibility assessment will occur in two stages; title and abstract screening and then full text assessment. Each step will be conducted by two trained teams acting independently. Data will then be extracted and stored in a database with standardised extraction fields to facilitate easy and consistent data entry. Data analysis will be undertaken to explore the relationship between NSM or SSM and preselected outcomes, heterogeneity will be assessed using the Cochrane tests.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This systematic review requires no ethical approval. It will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. It will also be presented at national and international conferences. Updates of the review will be conducted to inform and guide healthcare practice and policy.

Meta-analysis of the association between preoperative anaemia and mortality after surgery

BACKGROUND

Numerous published studies have explored associations between anaemia and adverse outcomes after surgery. However, there are no evidence syntheses describing the impact of preoperative anaemia on postoperative outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies exploring associations between preoperative anaemia and postoperative outcomes was performed. Studies investigating trauma, burns, transplant, paediatric and obstetric populations were excluded. The primary outcome was 30-day or in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were acute kidney injury, stroke and myocardial infarction. Predefined analyses were performed for the cardiac and non-cardiac surgery subgroups. A post hoc analysis was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between anaemia and infection. Data are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95 per cent c.i.

RESULTS

From 8973 records, 24 eligible studies including 949 445 patients were identified. Some 371 594 patients (39·1 per cent) were anaemic. Anaemia was associated with increased mortality (OR 2·90, 2·30 to 3·68; I(2)  = 97 per cent; P < 0·001), acute kidney injury (OR 3·75, 2·95 to 4·76; I(2)  = 60 per cent; P < 0·001) and infection (OR 1·93, 1·17 to 3·18; I(2)  = 99 per cent; P = 0·01). Among cardiac surgical patients, anaemia was associated with stroke (OR 1·28, 1·06 to 1·55; I(2)  = 0 per cent; P = 0·009) but not myocardial infarction (OR 1·11, 0·68 to 1·82; I(2)  = 13 per cent; P = 0·67). Anaemia was associated with an increased incidence of red cell transfusion (OR 5·04, 4·12 to 6·17; I(2)  = 96 per cent; P < 0·001). Similar findings were observed in the cardiac and non-cardiac subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative anaemia is associated with poor outcomes after surgery, although heterogeneity between studies was significant. It remains unclear whether anaemia is an independent risk factor for poor outcome or simply a marker of underlying chronic disease. However, red cell transfusion is much more frequent amongst anaemic patients.

The role of non-technical skills in surgery

Non-technical skills are of increasing importance in surgery and surgical training. A traditional focus on technical skills acquisition and competence is no longer enough for the delivery of a modern, safe surgical practice. This review discusses the importance of non-technical skills and the values that underpin successful modern surgical practice. This narrative review used a number of sources including written and online, there was no specific search strategy of defined databases. Modern surgical practice requires; technical and non-technical skills, evidence-based practice, an emphasis on lifelong learning, monitoring of outcomes and a supportive institutional and health service framework. Finally these requirements need to be combined with a number of personal and professional values including integrity, professionalism and compassionate, patient-centred care.

A systematic review protocol for reporting deficiencies within surgical case series

INTRODUCTION

Case series are an important and common study type in surgical literature. There is evidence that key data are excluded from published case series, and currently no reporting guideline exists for case series. There is, therefore, the potential to change practices and improve the reporting of case series. Reporting guidelines have been shown to be efficacious in raising the bar for reporting quality. We present our protocol for the first stage of guideline development--a systematic review of previously identified deficiencies in how surgical case series are reported.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Electronic searches will be conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Methods Register, Science Citation Index and Conference Proceedings Citation Index, from the start of indexing until 5 November 2014. The electronic search strategy was developed with an information specialist. Two independent researchers will identify articles for inclusion, specifically those that describe reporting deficiencies within surgical case series. Data will be extracted to specifically focus on the deficiencies of reporting. These will be categorised according to their type, and other identified issues will also be presented. Data will be presented with descriptive statistics to determine frequently missing types of data, and the commonest reporting issues tabulated.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The authors hope to disseminate the findings as widely as possible, irrespective of results, as these will add to the wider corpora of information on this subject. The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will be presented at a wide range of national and international conferences. Ultimately, this will inform a Delphi process for the development of a surgical case series reporting guideline.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

CRD42015016145.

The role and validity of surgical simulation

In the last three decades, simulation has become a key tool in the training of doctors and the maintenance of patient safety. Simulation offers an immersive, realistic way of learning technical skills. Recent changes to the training schemes in many surgical specialities mean that the hours spent working between senior house officer and consultant have been reduced. This, combined with other pressures (such as reduced operating hours), means that surgery has moved away from its traditional apprenticeship model and toward a competency-based one. Simulation can be a standardized and safe method for training and assessing surgeons. Use of simulation for training has become significant alongside the development of laparoscopic techniques, and evidence suggests that skills obtained in simulation are applicable in real clinical scenarios. Simulation allows trainees to make mistakes, to ask the "what if?" questions, and to learn and reflect on such situations without risking patient safety. Virtual reality simulators have been used to allow experts to plan complicated operations and assess perioperative risks. Most recently, fully immersive simulations, such as those with whole theater teams involved, and patient-centered simulations allow development of other key skills aside from purely technical ones. Use of simulation in isolation from traditional teaching methods will furnish the surgeon in training with skills, but the best time and place to use such skills comes only with experience. In this article we examine the role of simulation in surgical training and its impact in the context of reduced training time.

The validity of surgical simulation

Simulation is playing an increasingly important role in training surgeons. As hours between registrar and consultant grades have decreased, trainees are required to train smarter. While the majority of simulation is limited, advances in computing and design are enabling ever more realistic, varied simulation.

The efficacy of the Cook-Swartz implantable Doppler in the detection of free-flap compromise: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

The Cook-Swartz implantable Doppler monitors venous or arterial blood flow from free flaps and can detect free-flap compromise. Previous studies have shown that the use of this Doppler can improve detection and salvage rates as it provides an earlier warning than the current method of clinical assessment. Such studies assert that the implantable Doppler is of great value in monitoring free flaps in current microsurgical units. This systematic review aims to compare the efficacy of the Cook-Swartz implantable Doppler in monitoring free-flap compromise against conventional clinical free-flap monitoring techniques.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Various electronic databases will be systematically searched for studies that compare the use of Cook-Swartz implantable Doppler with clinical assessment. The selected studies will then have their titles and abstracts screened by two authors. Articles selected after title and abstract screen will have full text downloaded and the complete article will be assessed for suitability. Once the articles have been selected for inclusion, data extraction will take place. For data analysis, the outcomes of the studies will be tabulated, with descriptive statistics performed as appropriate and the detection rate of the Doppler and clinical assessment will be compared and synthesised where possible.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The authors hope to disseminate the findings as widely as possible. This systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and include a number of recommendations as its conclusion based on the evidence contained within. Given the wide range of specialties now utilising flaps, it will be presented at a wide range of national and international conferences.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION IN PROSPERO

CRD42013005818 The literature search and data extraction went on until 28 January 2014. These steps were revised in line with peer review comments.

The UK Freedom of Information Act (2000) in healthcare research: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To assess the use and utility of the Freedom of Information Act (2000) in healthcare research since 2005 and to determine if any particular feature of studies found led to greater data acquisition.

DESIGN

PRISMA compliant systematic review.

PARTICIPANTS

An extensive literature search was performed of EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, psychINFO, BNI, AMED, HMIC and Health business elite databases from January 2005 to January 2013 using terms 'Freedom of information', 'Freedom of information act' and 'Freedom of information act 2000'. Papers were considered for publication if they described utilising the UK Freedom of information act to gather data for healthcare research. 16 articles met these criteria.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome was the number and characteristics of studies utilising the Freedom of Information Act to collect the data for healthcare research. Secondary outcome measures were any features that improved data acquisition rates (including to whom the request was made, the number of questions asked per request, etc.)

RESULTS

16 articles described utilising the Freedom of Information Act for healthcare research, and these investigated a broad range of topics. The median number of requests made was 86 (range 1-172), the total number of requests was 1732. A total of 15 817 pieces of data were retrieved by all studies. The amount of data collected was defined as the number of questions asked multiplied by the number of full responses. A median of five questions were asked per study (range 5-6.5) and the overall response rate was 86%. The National Health Service litigation authority responded to 100% of requests, while Primary Care Trusts had the lowest response rate of 81% for healthcare bodies. A positive correlation between number of requests made and data obtained (0.508, p<0.05) and number of requests made and increased response rate (0.737, p<0.01), both reached the statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Researchers should make greater use of the Act to access the information they need that is not otherwise disclosed. We discuss the issues with the research utilising the Act and how future research of this type could be optimised.