IMPORTANCE Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important complication of colorectal surgery, but its incidence is unclear in the era of VTE prophylaxis. OBJECTIVE To describe the incidence of and risk factors associated with thromboembolic complications and contemporary VTE prophylaxis patterns following colorectal surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective data from the Washington State Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program (SCOAP) linked to a statewide hospital discharge database. At 52 Washington State SCOAP hospitals, participants included consecutive patients undergoing colorectal surgery between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2011. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Venous thromboembolism complications in-hospital and up to 90 days after surgery. RESULTS Among 16 120 patients (mean age, 61.4 years; 54.5% female), the use of perioperative and in-hospital VTE chemoprophylaxis increased significantly from 31.6% to 86.4% and from 59.6% to 91.4%, respectively, by 2011 (P < .001 for trend for both). Overall, 10.6% (1399 of 13 230) were discharged on a chemoprophylaxis regimen. The incidence of VTE was 2.2% (360 of 16 120). Patients undergoing abdominal operations had higher rates of 90-day VTE compared with patients having pelvic operations (2.5% [246 of 9702] vs 1.8% [114 of 6413], P = .001). Those having an operation for cancer had a similar incidence of 90-day VTE compared with those having an operation for nonmalignant processes (2.1% [128 of 6213] vs 2.3% [232 of 9902], P = .24). On adjusted analysis, older age, nonelective surgery, history of VTE, and operations for inflammatory disease were associated with increased risk of 90-day VTE (P < .05 for all). There was no significant decrease in VTE over time. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Venous thromboembolism rates are low and largely unchanged despite increases in perioperative and postoperative prophylaxis. These data should be considered in developing future guidelines.

Background Randomized, controlled trials demonstrate the efficacy of arginine-enriched nutritional supplements (immunonutrition) in reducing complications after surgery. The effectiveness of preoperative immunonutrition has not been evaluated in a community setting. Objective Determine whether immunonutrition prior to elective colorectal surgery improves outcomes in the community at large. Design Prospective cohort study with a propensity score matched comparative effectiveness evaluation. Settings Washington State hospitals in the Surgical Care Outcomes Assessment Program from 2012–2015. Patients Adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Interventions Surgeons used a preoperative checklist that recommended patients take oral immunonutrition (237mL, three times daily) for five days prior to elective colorectal resection. Main outcome measures Serious adverse events (infection, anastomotic leak, reoperation, and death) and prolonged length of stay. Results 3,375 patients (mean age 59.9±15.2 years, 56% female) underwent elective colorectal surgery. Patients receiving immunonutrition more commonly were in a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class (III–V, 44% vs. 38%, p=0.01) or required an ostomy (18% vs. 14%, p=0.02). The rate of serious adverse events was 6.8% vs 8.3% (p=0.25) and prolonged length of stay was 13.8% vs 17.3% (p=0.04) in those who did and did not receive immunonutrition, respectively. After propensity score matching, covariates were similar among 960 patients. Although differences in serious adverse events were non-significant (RR 0.76, 95% CI:0.49–1.16), prolonged length of stay (RR=0.77, 95% CI:0.58–1.01 p=0.05) was lower in those receiving immunonutrition. Limitations Patient compliance with the intervention was not measured. Residual confounding including surgeon-level heterogeneity may influence estimates of the effect of immunonutrition. Conclusions Reductions in prolonged length of stay, likely related to fewer complications, support the use of immunonutrition in quality improvement initiatives related to elective colorectal surgery. This population-based study supports previous trials of immunonutrition, but shows a lower magnitude of benefit, perhaps related to compliance or a lower rate of adverse events, highlighting the value of community-based assessments of comparative effectiveness.

Objective To assess the reported indications for elective colon resection for diverticulitis and concordance with professional guidelines. Background Despite modern professional guidelines recommending delay in elective colon resection beyond 2 episodes of uncomplicated diverticulitis, the incidence of elective colectomy has increased dramatically in the last 2 decades. Whether surgeons have changed their threshold for recommending a surgical intervention is unknown. In 2010, Washington State’s Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program initiated a benchmarking and education initiative related to the indications for colon resection. Methods Prospective cohort study evaluating indications from chronic complications (fistula, stricture, bleeding) or the number of previously treated diverticulitis episodes for patients undergoing elective colectomy at 1 of 49 participating hospitals (2010–2013). Results Among 2724 patients (58.7 ± 13 years; 46% men), 29.4% had a chronic complication indication (15.6% fistula, 7.4% stricture, 3.0% bleeding, 5.8% other). For the 70.5% with an episode-based indication, 39.4% had 2 or fewer episodes, 56.5% had 3 to 10 episodes, and 4.1% had more than 10 episodes. Thirty-one percent of patients failed to meet indications for either a chronic complication or 3 or more episodes. Over the 4 years, the proportion of patients with an indication of 3 or more episodes increased from 36.6% to 52.7% (P < 0.001) whereas the proportion of those who failed to meet either clinical or episode-based indications decreased from 38.4% to 26.4% (P < 0.001). The annual rate of emergency resections did not increase significantly, varying from 5.6 to 5.9 per year (P = 0.81). Conclusions Adherence to a guideline based on 3 or more episodes for elective colectomy increased concurrently with a benchmarking and peer-to-peer messaging initiative. Improving adherence to professional guidelines related to appropriate care is critical and can be facilitated by quality improvement collaboratives.

Objective To determine the impact of elective colectomy on emergency diverticulitis surgery at the population level. Summary Background Data Current recommendations suggest avoiding elective colon resection for uncomplicated diverticulitis because of uncertain effectiveness at reducing recurrence and emergency surgery. The influence of these recommendations on use of elective colectomy or rates of emergency surgery remains undetermined. Methods A retrospective cohort study using a statewide hospital discharge database identified all patients admitted for diverticulitis in Washington State (1987–2012). Sex and age-adjusted rates (standardized to the 2000 state census) of admissions, elective and emergency/urgent surgical and percutaneous interventions for diverticulitis were calculated and temporal changes assessed. Results 84,313 patients (mean age 63.3 years and 58.9% female) were hospitalized for diverticulitis (72.2% emergent/urgent). Elective colectomy increased from 7.9 to 17.2/100,000 people (p<0.001), rising fastest since 2000. Emergency/urgent colectomy increased from 7.1 to 10.2 per 100,000 (p<0.001), non-elective percutaneous interventions increased from 0.1 to 3.7 per 100,000 (p=0.04) and the frequency of emergency/urgent admissions (with or without a resection) increased from 34.0 to 85.0 per 100,000 (p<0.001). In 2012, 47.5% of elective resections were performed laparoscopically compared to 17.5% in 2008 (when the code was introduced). Conclusions The elective colectomy rate for diverticulitis more than doubled, without a decrease in emergency surgery, percutaneous interventions or admissions for diverticulitis. This may reflect changes in thresholds for elective surgery and/or an increase in the frequency or severity of the disease. These trends do not support the practice of elective colectomy to prevent emergency surgery.

Routine preoperative colonoscopy has been recommended for those patients with the diagnosis of colorectal cancer to identify synchronous polyps and/or cancers which might otherwise be undetected on barium enema or at the time of operation. It has been suggested that this approach may alter surgical therapy or follow-up. The charts of 98 patients who underwent preoperative colonoscopy solely for the purpose of detecting additional polyps or cancers prior to open surgical resection for colorectal cancer were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had biopsy or barium-enema evidence of colorectal cancer. Patients with familial polyposis or chronic ulcerative colitis were excluded. Synchronous cancers were detected in 7.1 percent of patients, and synchronous neoplastic polyps in 29 percent. Forty-three percent of synchronous cancers and 73 percent of synchronous neoplastic polyps would not have been included in the standard surgical resection for the index cancer if the additional information provided by colonoscopy had not been available. Surgical treatment and/or follow-up were altered in 33 percent of patients as a consequence of the colonoscopic evaluation. Colonoscopy prior to surgery for colorectal carcinoma is highly desirable and may potentially improve long-term survival.