Association of preoperative antifibrinolytics with reduced blood transfusions after vascular surgery procedures.

Remote ischemic preconditioning does not affect the incidence of acute kidney injury after elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Analysis of Early Death after Elective Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

MISC 15. Trends in Survival of Women Younger and Older Than 55 Years After Major Vascular Intervention: A Sex and Age Comparison

Barriers to Antiplatelet and Statin Adherence Following Major Vascular Intervention

Background:Antifibrinolytic agents have been successfully used to reduce blood transfusion demand in patients undergoing elective knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to investigate different antifibrinolytic agents for patients undergoing total-knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:We searched the randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of antifibrinolytic agents on TKA in MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Participants are divided into antifibrinolytic agent group and control group under TKA. Double extraction technology is used and the quality of its methodology is evaluated before analysis. Outcomes analyzed included blood loss, number of blood transfusions, rates of blood transfusion, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).Results:A total of 28 randomized controlled trials involving 1899 patients were included in this study. Compared with the control group, the antifibrinolytic agents group exhibited significantly reduced the amounts of total blood loss (weighted mean difference [WMD] with 95% confidence interval [CI]: −272.19, −338.25 to −206.4), postoperative blood loss (WMD with 95% CI: −102.83, −157.64 to −46.02), average units of blood transfusion (risk ratio with 95% CI: 0.7, 0.12 to 0.24), and average blood transfusion volumes (WMD with 95% CI: −1.34, −1.47 to −1,21). Antifibrinolytic agents significantly reduced the rate of blood transfusions and did not increase the occurrence risk of intraoperative blood loss and DVT. Several limitations should also be acknowledged such as the heterogeneity among the studies.Conclusion:The application of antifibrinolytic agents can significantly reduce blood loss and blood transfusion requirements. Additionally, these agents did not increase the risk of DVT in patients undergoing TKAs.

BackgroundHemolytic transfusion reactions and transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) are life-threatening complications associated with the transfusion of blood products. Hemorrhage is one of the most common surgical complications and the risk of bleeding is particularly acute in patients with hematologic deficiencies. Management of surgical bleeding can be divided into two phases. The first phase centers on immediate control of acute bleeding and the second phase focuses on keeping the patient stable and on reducing the sequelae associated with blood transfusions and blood loss.Case presentationWe present the case of a 53-year-old woman with long-standing immune thrombocytopenia who underwent repair of a symptomatic ventral hernia. On post-operative day one the patient developed hemoperitoneum, requiring exploratory laparotomy and massive transfusion of blood products. The patient’s recovery was complicated by consistently low hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets, prompting frequent transfusion of additional blood products. Shortly after activation of the massive transfusion protocol, the patient developed TRALI. Compounding the situation, on post-operative day sixteen the patient’s serum started to show hemolysis: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels rose to 1,845 IU/L, with haptoglobin at less than 5.8 mg/dL and with a high reticulocyte count (4.38%). Previous testing had shown that the patient was positive for most major antigens implicated in antibody formation and was only producing anti-E and anti-K antibodies (considered for all transfusions). Initial pre- and post-transfusion direct antiglobulin tests (DAT) were indeed negative. However, repeat DATs in the days following the noted serum changes were consistent with new allo-antibody formation. These findings prompted immediate withholding of all blood products and a thorough blood bank work up. Despite strong evidence for new allo-antibody formation, no specific known antibody could be identified. The patient recover well when blood products were withheld.DiscussionWe present the case of a 53-year-old woman with long-standing immune thrombocytopenia who underwent repair of a symptomatic ventral hernia. On post-operative day one the patient developed hemoperitoneum, requiring exploratory laparotomy and massive transfusion of blood products. The patient’s recovery was complicated by consistently low hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets, prompting frequent transfusion of additional blood products. Shortly after activation of the massive transfusion protocol, the patient developed TRALI. Compounding the situation, on post-operative day sixteen the patient’s serum started to show hemolysis: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels rose to 1,845 IU/L, with haptoglobin at less than 5.8 mg/dL and with a high reticulocyte count (4.38%). Previous testing had shown that the patient was positive for most major antigens implicated in antibody formation and was only producing anti-E and anti-K antibodies (considered for all transfusions). Initial pre- and post-transfusion direct antiglobulin tests (DAT) were indeed negative. However, repeat DATs in the days following the noted serum changes were consistent with new allo-antibody formation. These findings prompted immediate withholding of all blood products and a thorough blood bank work up. Despite strong evidence for new allo-antibody formation, no specific known antibody could be identified. The patient recover well when blood products were withheld. Suspicion for hemolytic transfusion reactions should be high in patients with prior allo-antibody formation; these may present as acute hemolysis or as a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction. Withholding blood products from these patients until compatible products have been identified is recommended. Moreover, TRALI is the leading cause of transfusion-related fatalities and should always be considered in transfusion settings.ConclusionsSuspicion for hemolytic transfusion reactions should be high in patients with prior allo-antibody formation; these may present as acute hemolysis or as a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction. Withholding blood products from these patients until compatible products have been identified is recommended. Moreover, TRALI is the leading cause of transfusion-related fatalities and should always be considered in transfusion settings.

Background/Objectives: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are exceedingly rare in pediatric patients but carry a significant risk of rupture, necessitating urgent surgical repair. Postoperative pain management following open AAA repair is particularly challenging and ultrasound-guided rectus sheath blocks (RSBs) offer a targeted and lower-risk alternative for midline abdominal incisions. Methods: We present an 8-year-old male who underwent open infrarenal AAA repair. Multilevel bilateral ultrasound-guided RSBs were performed at T7, the umbilicus and T12 using a mixture of liposomal bupivacaine, bupivacaine, and dexamethasone preservative free (PF). Results: Postoperative pain scores remained consistently low through postoperative day (POD) 6, with minimal opioid requirements. Functional recovery was rapid, with sitting achieved by POD 1 and ambulation by POD 2. Plasma bupivacaine concentrations remained within safe limits throughout hospitalization. Conclusions: Multilevel bilateral RSBs with liposomal bupivacaine, bupivacaine, and dexamethasone PF provided prolonged opioid-sparing analgesia, facilitated early mobilization, and supported enhanced recovery in this complex pediatric surgical case.

Surgically positioned paravertebral catheters and postoperative analgesia after open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

The Readmission Event after Vascular Surgery: Causes and Costs

Effect of postoperative anemia and baseline cardiac risk on serious adverse outcomes after major vascular interventions

Complications of epidural catheterisation can cause significant morbidity. Epidural abscess following epidural catheterisation is rare and the reported incidence is variable. The purpose of this study was to review the incidence of epidural abscess in patients undergoing open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. A retrospective case note review of all patients having open AAA repair over a 5-year period. A total of 415 patients underwent open AAA repair between January 2003 and March 2008. Of these, 290 were elective procedures and 125 were for ruptured aneurysms. Six patients underwent postoperative magnetic resonance imaging of the spine for clinical suspicion of an epidural abscess. Two of these (0.48%) had confirmed epidural abscess and two superficial infection at the epidural site. The incidence of epidural abscess following epidural analgesia in patients undergoing open AAA repair within our department was 0.48%. Although a rare complication, epidural abscess can cause significant morbidity. Epidural abscesses rarely develop before the third postoperative day.

Positive Fluid Balance is Associated with Complications after Elective Open Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Positive Fluid Balance is Associated with Complications after Elective Open Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

The inflammatory response during elective open infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and its impact on outcome is investigated. Twenty high-risk patients were enrolled, and blood samples were obtained at 8 perioperative time points. Endotoxin, cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta, and interleukin-6), CD11b expression, and nitric oxide were measured. Peak endotoxin levels occurred within 30 minutes of reperfusion and were higher among patients developing complications. Interleukin-6 levels increased during reperfusion, reaching a peak on the first postoperative day. Interleukin-6 increase correlated with aortic clamp time and morbidity. CD11b expression increased 30 minutes after reperfusion, and this effect was greater among patients who developed complications. Endotoxin may be important in the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Activated neutrophils may have a central role in tissue injury after reperfusion. Intraoperative CD11b upregulation may be an early marker for postoperative complications after infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Postoperative Pulmonary Function After Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Epidural Versus Intravenous Analgesia