Background: In an attempt to improve patient care, a perioperative complex spine surgery management protocol was developed through collaboration between spine surgeons and neuroanesthesiologists. The aim of this study was to investigate whether implementation of the protocol in 2015 decreased total hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) and complication rates after elective complex spine surgery. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted by review of the medical charts of patients who underwent elective complex spine surgery at an academic medical center between 2012 and 2017. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the date of their spine surgery in relation to implementation of the spine surgery protocol; before-protocol (January 2012 to March 2015) and protocol (April 2015 to March 2017) groups. Outcomes in the 2 groups were compared, focusing on hospital and ICU LOS, and complication rates. Results: A total of 201 patients were included in the study; 107 and 94 in the before-protocol and protocol groups, respectively. Mean (SD) hospital LOS was 14.8±10.8 days in the before-protocol group compared with 10±10.7 days in the protocol group ( P <0.001). The spine surgery protocol was the primary factor decreasing hospital LOS; incidence rate ratio 0.78 ( P <0.001). Similarly, mean ICU LOS was lower in the protocol compared with before-protocol group (4.2±6.3 vs. 6.3±7.3 d, respectively; P =0.011). There were no significant differences in the rate of postoperative complications between the 2 groups ( P =0.231). Conclusion: Implementation of a spine protocol reduced ICU and total hospital LOS stay in high-risk spine surgery patients.
Background: Point-of-care blood testing for multiple parameters (POCT) during cardiac arrests is routinely practiced at many hospitals, though it is not included in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) guidelines. Objective: We aimed to study the perceived utility of POCT to ACLS team leaders. Methods: An electronic survey was administered to ACLS team leaders at two teaching hospitals – Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (MCR), where POCT is routinely used, and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s-Roosevelt, New York, NY (SLR), where POCT is not used. Questions included participants’ current role, experience as ACLS leaders and prior experience with POCT, as well as questions on perceived positive and negative aspects of POCT use during ACLS. For SLR providers, questions were framed as hypothetical situations if POCT results were provided two minutes after drawing blood. Results: Complete responses were received from 45 and 27 respondents at MCR and SLR, respectively. Mean number of ACLS events led were similar (48.2 vs 64.6, p=0.29), prior experience with POCT was higher at MCR (58% vs 19%, p=0.001). Out of all 11 POCT results, MCR providers perceived more parameters to be useful (6.2 vs 4.8, p=0.047). MCR providers felt POCT changed management more often and improved patient care overall (p<0.001 for both), and POCT would not cause distraction (p=0.001) or information overload (p<0.001). Conclusions: ACLS providers differed significantly in their perceived utility of POCT during cardiac arrests. The bias introduced by the practice setting and prevalent culture regarding POCT likely explains the differences between the two groups.