Browsing by Author "Murphy, Patrick B."

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The EGS Grading Scale For Skin And Soft Tissue Infections Is Predictive Of Poor Outcomes : A Multicenter Validation Study
    (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2020-04-01) Savage, Stephanie A.; Li, Shi Wen; Utter, Garth H.; Cox, Jessica A.; Wydo, Salina M.; Cahill, Kevin; Sarani, Babak; Holzmacher, Jeremy; Duane, Therese M.; Gandhi, Rajesh R.; Zielinski, Martin D.; Ray-Zack, Mohamed; Tierney, Joshua; Chapin, Trinette; Murphy, Patrick B.; Vogt, Kelly N.; Schroeppel, Thomas J.; Callaghan, Emma; Kobayashi, Leslie; Coimbra, Raul; Schuster, Kevin M.; Gillaspie, Devin; Timsina, Lava; Louis, Alvancin; Crandall, Marie; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction: Over the last five years, the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) has developed grading scales for Emergency General Surgery (EGS) diseases. In a prior validation study using diverticulitis, the grading scales were predictive of complications and length of stay. As EGS encompasses diverse diseases, the purpose of this study was to validate the grading scale concept against a different disease process with a higher associated mortality. We hypothesized that the grading scale would be predictive of complications, length of stay and mortality in skin and soft tissue infections (STI). Methods: This multi-institutional trial encompassed 12 centers. Data collected included demographic variables, disease characteristics and outcomes such as mortality, overall complications, hospital and ICU length of stay. The EGS scale for STI was used to grade each infection and two surgeons graded each case to evaluate inter-rater reliability. Results: 1170 patients were included in this study. Inter-rater reliability was moderate (kappa coefficient 0.472-0.642, with 64-76% agreement). Higher grades (IV and V) corresponded to significantly higher LRINEC scores when compared with lower EGS grades. Patients with grade IV and V STI had significantly increased odds of all complications, as well as ICU and overall length of stay. These associations remained significant in logistic regression controlling for age, gender, comorbidities, mental status and hospital-level volume. Grade V disease was significantly associated with mortality as well. Conclusion: This validation effort demonstrates that Grade IV and V STI are significantly predictive of complications, hospital length of stay and mortality. Though predictive ability does not improve linearly with STI grade, this is consistent with the clinical disease process, in which lower grades represent cellulitis and abscess and higher grades are invasive infections. This second validation study confirms the EGS grading scale as predictive, and easily used, in disparate disease processes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Failure to rescue in emergency general surgery in Canada
    (Canadian Medical Association, 2022-03-22) Minor, Samuel; Allen, Laura; Meschino, Michael T.; Nenshi, Rahima; van Heest, Rardi; Saleh, Fady; Widder, Sandy; Engels, Paul T.; Joos, Emilie; Parry, Neil G.; Murphy, Patrick B.; Ball, Chad G.; Hameed, Morad; Vogt, Kelly N.; Canadian Collaborative on Urgent Care Surgery; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Background: The risk of death after a postoperative complication - known as failure to rescue (FTR) - has been proposed to be superior to traditional benchmarking outcomes, such as complication and mortality rates, as a measure of system quality. The purpose of this study was to identify the current FTR rate in emergency general surgery (EGS) centres across Canada. We hypothesized that substantial variability exists in FTR rates across centres. Methods: In this multicentre retrospective cohort study, we performed a secondary analysis of data from a previous study designed to evaluate operative intervention for nonappendiceal, nonbiliary disease by 6 EGS services across Canada (1 in British Columbia, 1 in Alberta, 3 in Ontario and 1 in Nova Scotia). Patients underwent surgery between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2014. We conducted univariate analyses to compare patients with and without complications. We performed a sensitivity analysis examining the mortality rate after serious complications (Clavien-Dindo score 3 or 4) that required a surgical intervention or specialized care (e.g., admission to intensive care unit). Results: A total of 2595 patients were included in the study cohort. Of the 206 patients who died within 30 days, 145 (70.4%) experienced a complication before their death. Overall, the mortality rate after any surgical complication (i.e., FTR) was 16.0%. Ranking of sites by the traditional outcomes of complication and mortality rates differed from the ranking when FTR rate was included in the assessment. Conclusion: There was variability in FTR rates across EGS services in Canada, which suggests that there is opportunity for ongoing quality-improvement efforts. This study provides FTR benchmarking data for Canadian EGS services.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Financial Toxicity Is Associated With Worse Physical and Emotional Long-term Outcomes After Traumatic Injury
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2019-11) Murphy, Patrick B.; Severance, Sarah; Savage, Stephanie; Obeng-Gyasi, Samilia; Timsina, Lava R.; Zarzaur, Ben L.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Background Increasing healthcare costs and high deductible insurance plans have shifted more responsibility for medical costs to patients. After serious illnesses, financial responsibilities may result in lost wages, forced unemployment, and other financial burdens, collectively described as financial toxicity. Following cancer treatments, financial toxicity is associated with worse long-term health related quality of life outcomes (HRQOL). The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of financial toxicity following injury, factors associated with financial toxicity, and the impact of financial toxicity on long-term HRQOL. Methods Adult patients with an injury severity score of 10 or greater and without head or spinal cord injury were prospectively followed for 1 year. The Short-Form-36 was used to determine overall quality of life at 1, 2, 4 and 12 months. Screens for depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) were administered. The primary outcome was any financial toxicity. A multivariable generalized estimating equation was used to account for variability over time. Results 500 patients were enrolled and 88% suffered financial toxicity during the year following injury (64% reduced income, 58% unemployment, 85% experienced stress due to financial burden). Financial toxicity remained stable over follow-up (80–85%). Factors independently associated with financial toxicity were lower age (OR 0.96 [0.94–0.98]), and lack of health insurance (OR 0.28 [0.14–0.56]) and larger household size (OR 1.37 [1.06–1.77]). After risk adjustment, patients with financial toxicity had worse HRQOL, and more depression and PTSD in a step-wise fashion based on severity of financial toxicity. Conclusions Financial toxicity following injury is extremely common and is associated with worse psychological and physical outcomes. Age, lack of insurance, and large household size are associated with financial toxicity. Patients at risk for financial toxicity can be identified and interventions to counteract the negative effects should be developed to improve long-term outcomes. Level of Evidence Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Handover Practices in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery: A Multicenter Survey Study
    (Elsevier, 2020-10) Puzio, Thaddeus J.; Murphy, Patrick B.; Virtanen, Piiamaria; Harvin, John A.; Hartwell, Jennifer L.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    BACKGROUND: The handover period has been identified as a particularly vulnerable period for communication breakdown leading to patient safety events. Clear and concise handover is especially critical in high-acuity care settings such as trauma, emergency general surgery, and surgical critical care. There is no consensus for the most effective and efficient means of evaluating or performing handover in this population. We aimed to characterize the current handover practices and perceptions in trauma and acute care surgery. METHODS: A survey was sent to 2265 members of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma via email regarding handoff practices at their institution. Respondents were queried regarding their practice setting, average census, level of trauma center, and patients (trauma, emergency general surgery, and/or intensive care). Data regarding handover practices were gathered including frequency of handover, attendees, duration, timing, and formality. Finally, perceptions of handover including provider satisfaction, desire for improvement, and effectiveness were collected. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty surveys (17.1%) were completed. The majority (73.4%) of respondents practiced at level 1 trauma centers (58.9%) and were trauma/emergency general surgeons (86.5%). Thirty-five percent of respondents reported a formalized handover and 52% used a standardized tool for handover. Only 18% of respondents had ever received formal training, but most (51.6%) thought this training would be helpful. Eighty-one percent of all providers felt handover was essential for patient care, and 77% felt it prevented harm. Seventy-two percent thought their handover practice needed improvement, and this was more common as the average patient census increased. The most common suggestions for improvement were shorter and more concise handover (41.6%), different handover medium (24.5%), and adding verbal communication (13.9%). CONCLUSION: Trauma and emergency general surgeons perceive handover as essential for patient care and the majority desire improvement of their current handover practices. Methods identified to improve the handover process include standardization, simplification, and verbal interaction, which allows for shared understanding. Formal education and best practice guidelines should be developed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Optimal timing of venous thromboembolic chemoprophylaxis initiation following blunt solid organ injury: meta-analysis and systematic review
    (Springer, 2022-09-18) Murphy, Patrick B.; de Moya, Marc; Karam , Basil; Menard, Laura; Holder, Erik; Inaba, Kenji; Schellenberg, Morgan; Library and Information Science, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
    Purpose: The need to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) following blunt solid organ injury must be balanced against the concern for exacerbation of hemorrhage. The optimal timing for initiation of VTE chemoprophylaxis is not known. The objective was to determine the safety and efficacy of early (≤ 48 h) VTE chemoprophylaxis initiation following blunt solid organ injury. Methods: An electronic search was performed of medical libraries for English language studies on timing of VTE chemoprophylaxis initiation following blunt solid organ injury published from inception to April 2020. Included studies compared early (≤ 48 h) versus late (> 48 h) initiation of VTE chemoprophylaxis in adults with blunt splenic, liver, and/or kidney injury. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Odds ratios were utilized to quantify differences in failure of nonoperative management, need for blood transfusion and rates of VTE. Results: The search identified 2,111 studies. Of these, ten studies comprising 14,675 patients were included. All studies were non-randomized and only one was prospective. The overall odds of failure of nonoperative management were no different between early and late groups, OR 1.09 (95%CI 0.92-1.29). Similarly, there was no difference in the need for blood transfusion either during overall hospital stay, OR 0.91 (95%CI 0.70-1.18), or post prophylaxis initiation, OR 1.23 (95%CI 0.55-2.73). There were significantly lower odds of VTE when patients received early VTE chemoprophylaxis, OR 0.51 (95%CI 0.33-0.81). Conclusions: Patients undergoing nonoperative management for blunt solid organ injury can be safely and effectively prescribed early VTE chemoprophylaxis. This results in significantly lower VTE rates without demonstrable harm.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Treatment of asymptomatic blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI): a systematic review
    (BMJ, 2021-04-26) Murphy, Patrick B.; Severance, Sarah; Holler, Emma; Menard, Laura; Savage, Stephanie; Zarzaur, Ben L.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Background: The management of asymptomatic blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) with respect to stroke prevention and vessel healing is challenging. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to determine if a specific treatment results in lower stroke rates and/or improved vessel healing in asymptomatic BCVI. Data sources: An electronic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov performed from inception to March 2020. Study eligibility criteria: Studies were included if they reported on a comparison of any treatment for BCVI and stroke and/or vessel healing rates. Participants and interventions: Adult patients diagnosed with asymptomatic BCVI(s) who were treated with any preventive medication or procedure. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: All studies were systematically reviewed and bias was evaluated by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. No meta-analysis was performed secondary to significant heterogeneity across studies in patient population, screening protocols, and treatment selection. The main outcomes were stroke and healing rate. Results: Of 8781 studies reviewed, 19 reported on treatment effects for asymptomatic BCVI and were included for review. Any choice of medical management was better than no treatment, but no specific differences between choice of medical management and stroke outcomes were found. Vessel healing was rare and the majority of healed vessels were following low-grade injuries. Limitations: Majority of the included studies were retrospective and at high risk of bias. Conclusions or implications of key findings: Asymptomatic BCVI should be treated medically using a consistent, local protocol. High-quality studies on the effect of individual antithrombotic agents on stroke rates and vessel healing for asymptomatic BCVI are required.