471 Assessing the Accuracy and Bias of Digital Symptom Checkers with Myocardial Infarction Patients

Aim

The accuracy and safety of symptom checkers in diagnosing and triaging patients is of concern; especially those with life-threatening conditions. The study's aims were to: 1. assess the accuracy of symptom checkers in diagnosing and triaging myocardial infarctions (MI) and, 2. determine whether differences in gender or presentation type exist.

Method

This prospective diagnostic accuracy study assessed 8 symptom checkers using 100 MI patients of various presentations: typical or atypical. The ability of a symptom checker in providing MI as the first diagnosis (D1) and the first 3 (D3) diagnoses were diagnostic accuracy measures. Triage advice was deemed correct if the symptom checker recommended seeking emergency treatment.

Results

Symptom checkers correctly diagnosed 48.0±31.4% of cases with MI first. D3 accuracy was 72.6±20.2%. Mean triage accuracy was 82.6±12.6%.

24.0±16.2% of atypical cases had a correct primary diagnosis. D3 accuracy for atypical MI was 43.8±20.6%, significantly lower than that of typical MI (p<0.01). Atypical case triage accuracy was 52.7±20.0%, significantly lower than typical cases (84.2±14.7%, p<0.01).

10.0% of the atypical female cases were diagnosed correctly with MI as the first diagnosis. Female atypical cases had significantly lower accuracy than typical female cases for all accuracy measures (p<0.01).

Conclusions

Symptom checkers generally provide low accuracy for diagnosing MI. Approximately 20% of cases were under-triaged. Results varied between symptom checkers: patients who presented with atypical symptoms tended to be under-diagnosed and under-triaged, especially those who were female. This demonstrated potential gender bias and therefore raises questions regarding symptom checker regulation and safety.

O41 Quantifying the burden of survivorship associated with infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a systematic review

Introduction

Survivorship encompasses the physical, psychological, social, functional and economic experience of living with a chronic condition for both patients and their caregivers. It comprises 9 distinct domains and remains understudied in non-oncological pathologies, including infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysmal disease (IRAAA). This review aims to quantify the extent to which existing IRAAA literature addresses the burden of survivorship in patients following surgical intervention.

Method

The databases; MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsychINFO, were searched from 1989 through to July 2020. Randomised controlled trials, observational studies and case series studies were included. Eligible studies had to detail outcomes related to survivorship following IRAAA surgery. Due to heterogeneity between studies and outcomes, no meta-analysis was conducted. Study quality was assessed with specific risk of bias tools.

Result

112 studies were included and only 4 of the 9 domains of survivorship have been previously studied—treatment complications, physical functioning, co-morbidities and caregivers. The available evidence is of variable quality; the majority of studies display a moderate to high risk of bias, are of an observational study design, are based within a limited number of countries and consist of an insufficient follow up period.

Conclusion

This review highlights the absence of robust evidence regarding survivorship following IRAAA surgery, regardless of repair modality. Consequently, contemporary treatment guidelines are reliant upon historic quality of life data that is narrow in scope and non-representative of contemporary clinical practice. As such, there is an urgent need to re-evaluate the scope and methodology associated with this research theme moving forwards.

Take-home Message

There is an urgent need to re-evaluate the scope and methodology associated with traditional quality of life centred IRAAA studies moving forwards in order to better empower patient decision making as well as inform treatment guidelines and health policy initiatives.

Patient-reported outcomes after oesophagectomy in the multicentre LASER study

BACKGROUND

Data on the long-term symptom burden in patients surviving oesophageal cancer surgery are scarce. The aim of this study was to identify the most prevalent symptoms and their interactions with health-related quality of life.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional cohort study of patients who underwent oesophageal cancer surgery in 20 European centres between 2010 and 2016. Patients had to be disease-free for at least 1 year. They were asked to complete a 28-symptom questionnaire at a single time point, at least 1 year after surgery. Principal component analysis was used to assess for clustering and association of symptoms. Risk factors associated with the development of severe symptoms were identified by multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Of 1081 invited patients, 876 (81.0 per cent) responded. Symptoms in the preceding 6 months associated with previous surgery were experienced by 586 patients (66.9 per cent). The most common severe symptoms included reduced energy or activity tolerance (30.7 per cent), feeling of early fullness after eating (30.0 per cent), tiredness (28.7 per cent), and heartburn/acid or bile regurgitation (19.6 per cent). Clustering analysis showed that symptoms clustered into six domains: lethargy, musculoskeletal pain, dumping, lower gastrointestinal symptoms, regurgitation/reflux, and swallowing/conduit problems; the latter two were the most closely associated. Surgical approach, neoadjuvant therapy, patient age, and sex were factors associated with severe symptoms.

CONCLUSION

A long-term symptom burden is common after oesophageal cancer surgery.

Achieving good-quality consent: review of literature, case law and guidance

Background

Informed consent is an integral part of clinical practice. There is widespread agreement amongst health professionals that obtaining procedural consent needs to move away from a unidirectional transfer of information to a process of supporting patients in making informed, self‐determined decisions. This review aimed to identify processes and measures that warrant consideration when engaging in consent‐based discussions with competent patients undergoing elective procedures.

Methods

Formal written guidance from the General Medical Council and Royal College of Surgeons of England, in addition to peer‐reviewed literature and case law, was considered in the formulation of this review.

Results

A framework for obtaining consent is presented that is informed by the key tenets of shared decision‐making (SDM), a model that advocates the contribution of both the clinician and patient to the decision‐making process through emphasis on patient participation, analysis of empirical evidence, and effective information exchange. Moreover, areas of contention are highlighted in which further guidance and research are necessary for improved enhancement of the consent process.

Conclusion

This SDM‐centric framework provides structure, detail and suggestions for achieving meaningful consent.

Avoidable 30-day readmissions in patients undergoing vascular surgery

BACKGROUND

Vascular surgery has one of the highest unplanned 30-day readmission rates of all surgical specialties. The degree to which these may be avoidable and the optimal strategies to reduce their occurrence are unknown. The aim of this study was to identify and classify avoidable 30-day readmissions in patients undergoing vascular surgery in order to plan targeted interventions to reduce their occurrence, improve outcomes and reduce cost.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of discharges over a 12-month period from a single tertiary vascular unit was performed. A multidisciplinary panel conducted a manual case-note review to identify and classify those 30-day unplanned emergency readmissions deemed avoidable.

RESULTS

An unplanned 30-day readmission occurred in 72 of 885 admissions (8·1 per cent). These unplanned readmissions were deemed avoidable in 36 (50 per cent) of these 72 patients, and were most frequently due to unresolved medical issues (19 of 36, 53 per cent) and inappropriate admission with the potential for outpatient management (7 of 36, 19 per cent). A smaller number were due to inadequate social care provision (4 of 36, 11 per cent) and the occurrence of other avoidable adverse events (4 of 36, 11 per cent).

CONCLUSION

Half of all 30-day readmissions following vascular surgery are potentially avoidable. Multidisciplinary coordination of inpatient care and the transition from hospital to community care after discharge need to be improved.

Acoustic reflectors are visible in the right heart during radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins

Objective

Cerebrovascular events have been noted after foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins. One hypothesis is migration of microemboli to the brain through a cardiac septal defect. The aim of this study was to identify whether acoustic reflectors are found in the right side of the heart during radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins, as neurological events are not reported during these procedures.

Methods

Transthoracic echocardiography was performed during local anaesthetic radiofrequency ablation (VNUS ClosureFast) of the great saphenous vein in 14 patients. An apical view was captured at the start of the procedure, during each cycle of heating and at 1 min post-treatment. Patients were monitored for 1 h. Video loops were read by an independent cardiologist. The presence of acoustic reflectors was classified as: 0 = absent, 1 = occasional, 2 = stream, 3 = complete opacification.

Results

Loops were of diagnostic quality in 11/14 (79%) patients. After the second cycle of heating, acoustic reflectors moving through the right heart were seen in 5/11 (45%) patients. These were classified as grade 1 in four patients and grade 2 in one patient. No acoustic reflectors were seen in the left heart. No neurological symptoms were reported.

Conclusion

Acoustic reflectors in the right heart are a common finding during radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins. Considering the prevalence of cardiac septal defects (17%), more neurological events would be expected if these particles were indeed responsible for these events. Further work is required to elicit the mechanisms underlying neurological complications following sclerotherapy.

Aging techniques for deep vein thrombosis: a systematic review

Deep vein thrombosis is common with an incidence of 1 in 1000. Acute thrombus removal for extensive proximal deep vein thrombosis using catheter-directed techniques highlights the need for accurate assessment of thrombus age. This systematic review summarises experimental and clinical evidence of imaging techniques for aging deep vein thrombosis. Ultrasound elastography and magnetic resonance imaging were highlighted as the most studied imaging modalities. Elastography was shown to distinguish between acute and chronic clots, despite demonstrating difficulty in accurate aging of clots older than 10 days in rat models. Elastography is noted as a feasible adjunct to current first-line imaging for deep vein thrombosis using duplex ultrasonography. Combinations of magnetic resonance imaging techniques can identify acute, sub-acute and chronic thrombi using endogenous contrast agents and provide objective standardisation of the diagnostic process, with reduced onus upon operator dependency. Further validation is required of these novel imaging techniques prior to clinical implementation for deep vein thrombosis aging.