Background Frailty is a measure of physiologic reserve associated with increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes following surgery in older adults. The ‘accumulating deficits’ model of frailty has been applied to the NSQIP database, and an 11-item modified frailty index (mFI) has been validated. We developed a condensed 5-item frailty index and used this to assess the relationship between frailty and outcomes in patients undergoing paraesophageal hernia (PEH) repair. Methods The NSQIP database was queried for ICD-9 and CPT codes associated with PEH repair. Subjects ≥60 years who underwent PEH repair between 2011 and 2013 were included. Five of the 11 mFI items present in the NSQIP data on the most consistent basis were selected for the condensed index. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the validity of the 5-item mFI as a predictor of postoperative mortality, complications, readmission, and non-routine discharge. Results A total of 3711 patients had data for all variables in the 5-item index, while 885 patients had complete data to calculate the 11-item mFI. After controlling for competing risk factors, including age, ASA score, wound classification, surgical approach, and procedure timing (emergent vs non-emergent), we found the 5-item mFI remained predictive of 30-day mortality and patients being discharged to a location other than home (p < 0.05). A weighted Kappa was calculated to assess agreement between the 5-item and 11-item mFI and was found to be 0.8709 (p < 0.001). Conclusions Frailty, as assessed by the 5-item mFI, is a reasonable alternative to the 11-item mFI in patients undergoing PEH repair. Utilization of the 5-item mFI allows for a significantly increased sample size compared to the 11-item mFI. Further study is necessary to determine whether the condensed 5-item mFI is a valid measure to assess frailty for other types of surgery.

There are many benefits to utilizing VR simulation for robotic skills acquisition. Four commercially available simulators have been demonstrated to be capable of assessing robotic skill. Three of the four simulators demonstrate the ability of a VR training curriculum to improve basic robotic skills, with proficiency-based training being the most effective training style. The skills obtained on a VR training curriculum are comparable with those obtained on dry laboratory simulation. The future of VR simulation includes utilization in assessment for re-credentialing purposes, advanced procedural-based training, and as a warm-up tool prior to surgery.

We found a significantly increased cost of general surgery procedures for our health care system when cases commonly performed laparoscopically are instead performed robotically. Our analysis is limited by the fact that we only included costs associated with consumable surgical supplies. The initial acquisition cost (over $1 million for robotic surgical system), depreciation, and service contract for the robotic and laparoscopic systems were not included in this analysis.

Background Inguinal hernia repair, laparoscopic or open, is one of the most frequently performed operations in general surgery. Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) can occur in 0.2–35% of patients after inguinal hernia repair. The primary objective of this study was to determine the incidence of POUR after inguinal hernia repair. As a secondary goal, we sought to determine if perioperative and patient factors predicted urinary retention. Methods This study is a retrospective review of patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair with synthetic mesh at the Medical College of Wisconsin from January 2007 to June 2012. Procedures were performed by four surgeons. Clinical information and perioperative outcomes were collected up to hospital discharge. Urinary retention was defined as need for urinary catheterization post-operatively. Results A total of 192 patients were included in the study (88 bilateral, 46%) and (104 unilateral, 54%). The majority of subjects (76%) underwent laparoscopic repair. The overall POUR rate was 13%, with 25 of 192 patients requiring a Foley catheter prior to discharge POUR was significantly associated with bilateral hernia repairs (p=0.04), BMI≥35kg/m2 (p=0.05) and longer operative times (p=0.03). Based on odds ratio estimates, for every 10-minute increase in operative time, an 11% increase in the odds of urinary retention is expected (OR 1.11, CI 1.004 – 1.223; p=0.04). For every 10-minute increase in operative time, an 11% increase in POUR is expected. Conclusions Bilateral hernia repairs, BMI ≥ 35kg/m2, and operative time are significant predictors of POUR. These factors are important to determine potential risk to patients and interventions such as strict fluid administration, use of catheters, and potential premedication.

Background Frailty is a measure of physiologic reserve that has been used to predict outcomes following surgical procedures in the elderly. We hypothesized that frailty would be associated with outcomes following paraesophageal hernia (PEH) repair. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database (2011–2013) was queried for ICD-9 and CPT codes associated with PEH repair in patients ≥ 60 years old. A previously described modified frailty index (mFI), based on 11 clinical variables in NSQIP was used to quantify frailty. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between frailty, complications, and mortality. Results Of the 4434 PEH repairs that met inclusion criteria, 885 records were included in the final analysis (20%). Excluded patients were missing 1 or more variables in the mFI. The rate of complications that were Clavien-Dindo Grade ≥ 3 was 6.1%. Mortality was 0.9%. The readmission rate was 8.2%, and 10.9% of patients were discharged to a facility other than home. Relative to mFI scores of 0, 1, 2, and ≥3, the respective occurrence percentages were as follows; Grade ≥3 complication: 3.2%, 4.7%, 9.8%, and 23.3% (p<0.0001) [OR 3.51; CI 1.46–8.46]; mortality: 0.0%, 0.9%, 1.8%, and 2.3% (p 0.0974); discharge to facility other than home: 4.4%, 10.9%, 15.7%, and 31.7% (p<0.0001) [OR 4.07; CI 1.29–12.82]; and readmission: 8.9%, 6.8%, 8.5%, and 16.3% (p=0.1703) [OR 1.01; CI 0.36–2.84]. Complications and discharge destination were significantly correlated with the mFI. Conclusion Frailty, as assessed by the mFI, is correlated with postoperative complications and discharge to a facility other than home following paraesophageal hernia repair.