Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification Score Research Articles

Clinical outcome of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression in treatment of elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a matched retrospective study.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression (PELD) in elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). A matched retrospective study. The research was conducted in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, China. This study included patients treated with PELD for LSS from September 2016 to September 2020. Patients with LSS aged ≥ 80years were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria as the study group, and then the same number of patients with LSS aged 50-80years were matched according to gender, stenosis type, and surgical segment as the control group. Preoperative patient status was assessed using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification score. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, modified Macnab criteria, radiological parameters and complication rates. A total of 624 LSS patients met the screening criteria between September 2016 and September 2020, with 47 LSS patients ≥ 80years old serving as the study group. Forty-seven LSS patients aged 50-80years were matched to the study group according to gender, stenosis type, and stenosis segment. The CCI score (1.77 ± 1.67) and ASA classification (2.62 ± 0.74) of the study group were significantly higher than the CCI score (0.66 ± 0.96) and ASA classification (1.28 ± 0.54) of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. Compared with preoperative data, postoperative ODI, leg pain VAS scores and back pain VAS scores were significantly improved in both groups (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found between two groups in preoperative and postoperative ODI, leg pain VAS scores and back pain VAS scores (p > 0.05). The operation time and postoperative hospital stay in control group were significantly lower than those in study (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in blood loss between the two groups (p > 0.05). Besides, overall radiological parameters were comparable in elder and younger patients (p > 0.05), and disc height (DH), lumbar lordosis and segmental lordosis decreased after twoyear follow-up in both groups (p < 0.05). In addition, complication rates were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05), and no serious complications and deaths were found. Single-centre retrospective design, non-randomized sample, small sample size. Although elderly LSS patients (≥ 80years old) are less fit and have more comorbidities, satisfactory outcomes can be achieved with PELD, comparable to those of LSS patients < 80years old, and without increased complications.

Mid- to Long-Term Survival of Geriatric Patients with Primary Septic Arthritis of the Shoulder: A Retrospective Study over a Period of 20 Years.

Septic arthritis of the shoulder is an urgent medical emergency that often occurs in elderly patients and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Retrospectively, 56 patients aged ≥60 years, treated for primary septic monoarthritis of the shoulder at a maximum care hospital between 1 July 2001, and 30 July 2022, were included in this study. The primary aim of the study was analyzing survival rates and different bacteria in these patients. For statistical analysis, Kaplan-Meier curves were used for survival probability and the log-rank test was used to compare a survival probability of 5 years. The mean patient age was 78.7 years and a mean follow-up time of 3011.8 days. The mean survival of the entire study population was 920.3 days or 2.5 years. Significantly impaired 5-year survival was found only with increasing age and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status (PS) classification scores. Eight different types of bacteria were detected in the synovial fluid cultures. A total of 42 of 48 overall pathogens was Gram-positive and 6 were Gram-negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the most frequent variant. We conclude that the mean survival is significantly shortened within the first 5 years with increasing age and ASA PS classification.

Safety and effectiveness of vocal fold injection laryngoplasty in infants less than one year of age

Injection laryngoplasty (IL) is commonly performed for unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI). However, the safety and efficacy in patients <1 year of age are not widely recognized. This study analyzes the safety and swallow outcomes in a cohort of patients <1 year who underwent IL. This retrospective analysis evaluated patients at a tertiary children's institution between 2015 and 2022. Patients were eligible if they underwent IL for UVFI and were <1 year at time of injection. Baseline characteristics, perioperative data, oral diet tolerance, and preoperative and postoperative swallow data were collected. 49 patients were included, 12 (24%) of whom were premature. The average age at injection was 3.9 months (SD 3.8), time from UVFI onset to injection 1.3 months (2.0), and weight at injection 4.8kg (2.1). The baseline American Association of Anesthesiologists physical status classification scores were 2 (14%), 3 (61%), and 4 (24%). 89% of patients had improvements in objective swallow function postoperatively. Of the 35 patients who were preoperatively enterally-dependent and did not have medical circumstances precluding advancement to oral feeds, 32 (n=91%) tolerated an oral diet postoperatively. There were no long-term sequelae. Two patients had intraoperative laryngospasm, one intraoperative bronchospasm, and one with subglottic and posterior glottic stenosis was intubated for <12h for increased work of breathing. IL is a safe and effective intervention that can reduce aspiration and improve diet in patients <1 year old. This procedure can be considered at institutions with the appropriate personnel, resources, and infrastructure.

Increased Risk of Postoperative Mortality Associated With Prior COVID-19 Infection

IntroductionThe impact of COVID-19 infection on surgical patients is largely described by small-cohort studies. This study characterized the risk factors for postoperative mortality among patients with preoperative COVID-19 infection.MethodsData were abstracted from the electronic medical record for patients who tested positive for COVID-19 before surgery, excluding procedures related to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (case, March 2020–April 2021). Mortality was compared with that for patients from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (control, January 2018‒February 2020) with chi-square, t test, and multivariable regression.ResultsThere were 5,209 patients in the control cohort. Among 1,072 patients with positive COVID-19 testing before surgery, 589 had surgeries with specialties tracked by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (General Surgery, Gynecology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Thoracic, Vascular). Patients with previous COVID-19 infection were younger (age 48 vs 59 years, p<0.001), were more likely to be Black (42% vs 28%, p<0.001), and underwent fewer elective surgeries (55% vs 83%, p<0.001). Postoperative mortality was greater among the case cohort (4.4% vs 1%, p<0.001). On multivariable logistic regression, postoperative mortality increased with age (OR=1.02), emergent surgeries (OR=2.6), and previous COVID-19 infection (OR=3.8). Among patients with previous COVID-19 infection, postoperative mortality was associated with male sex (OR=2.7), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification Score (OR=4.8), and smoking history (OR=3.7).ConclusionsAlthough data abstraction was limited by the electronic medical record, postoperative mortality is nearly 6 times higher for patients infected with COVID-19 within 2 weeks before surgery when adjusting for patient- and procedure-level factors. Among those with previous COVID-19 infection, postoperative mortality is associated with male sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification Score, and smoking history.

Prevalence and risk factors of preoperative anemia in patients undergoing hysterectomy for gynecologic cancer.

e18800 Background: Anemia is a common preoperative finding that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with gynecologic cancers. This study identified the prevalence and risk factors associated with anemia in women undergoing hysterectomy for gynecologic cancer. Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried from 2014 to 2020 for women above the age of 18 who underwent an open or minimally invasive hysterectomy and had a postoperative diagnosis of endometrial, cervical, ovarian, or fallopian tube cancer. Prevalence rates of anemia (hematocrit less than 30%) were calculated, and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated from logistic regression models adjusted for comorbidities. Results: A total of 62,708 patients were included in the analysis and 3351 (5.3%) had anemia. Mean hematocrit was 38.9 (SD 4.9). Overall, endometrial cancer was the most common diagnosis (73.1%) and mean age for all patients was 61.2 years (SD 12.1). Patients were predominantly non-Hispanic White (74.4%). Non-Hispanic Black patients were 1.98 (95% CI, 1.76 – 2.22) times at increased odds of anemia compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Similarly, Hispanic ethnicity was associated with increased odds of anemia compared to non-Hispanic White women (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.14 – 1.50). Underweight patients had 1.64 (95% CI, 1.27 – 2.12) increased odds of anemia compared to normal weight patients. Compared to patients that underwent minimally invasive surgery, those that had an open abdominal hysterectomy were at over 2.7-fold increased odds (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 2.53 – 3.04) of anemia. Those who reported greater than 10% loss of body weight in the last 6 months were 2.33 (95% CI, 5.06 – 6.81) times at increased odds of anemia. Other clinical factors associated with increased odds of anemia included metastatic cancer, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification score of 3 or more, and 2 or more comorbid conditions. Conclusions: There are multiple risk factors associated with preoperative anemia in patients undergoing hysterectomy for cancer. Identification of high-risk patients may help clinicians appropriately screen for and treat anemia prior to surgery.

Intraoperative blood loss in oncological spine surgery.

Intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing oncological spine surgery poses a major challenge for vulnerable patients. The goal of this study was to assess how the surgical procedure, tumor type, and tumor anatomy, as well as anesthesiological parameters, affect intraoperative blood loss in oncological spine surgery and to use this information to generate a short preoperative checklist for spine surgeons and anesthesiologists to identify patients at risk for increased intraoperative blood loss. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 430 oncological patients who underwent spine surgery between 2013 and 2018 at the university medical spine center. Enrolled patients had metastatic tumor of the spine requiring surgical decompression of neural structures and/or stabilization including tumor biopsy using an open, percutaneous, and/or combined dorsoventral approach. Patients requiring vertebro- and kyphoplasty or biopsy only were excluded. Statistical analyses performed included a multiple linear regression analysis. The mean intraoperative blood loss in the study patient cohort was 1176 ± 1209 ml. In total, 33.8% of patients received intraoperative red blood cell transfusions. The statistical analyses showed that tumor histology indicating myeloma, operative procedure length, epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) score, tumor localization, BMI, and surgical strategy were significantly associated with increased intraoperative blood loss or risk of needing allogeneic blood transfusions. Anesthesiological parameters such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status classification score were not associated with blood loss. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated good predictive value (r = 0.437) for a five-item preoperative checklist to identify patients at risk for high intraoperative blood loss. The analyses performed in this study demonstrated key factors affecting intraoperative blood loss and showed that a simple preoperative checklist including these factors can be used to identify patients undergoing surgery for metastatic spine tumors who are at risk for increased intraoperative blood loss. ABT = allogeneic blood transfusion; ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists; ESCC = epidural spinal cord compression; KW = Kruskal-Wallis; MET = metabolic equivalent of task; RBC = red blood cell.

Safety of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis in the Elderly: A Multivariate Analysis of Risk Factors for Intra and Postoperative Complications.

Background and Objectives: This study investigates the impact of age upon the safety and outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed for acute cholecystitis, by a multivariate approach. Materials and Methods: A 2-year retrospective study was performed on 333 patients admitted for acute cholecystitis who underwent emergency cholecystectomy. The patients included in the study group were divided into four age subgroups: A ≤49 years; B: 50–64 years; C: 65–79 years; D ≥80 years. Results: Surgery after 72 h from onset (p = 0.007), severe forms, and higher American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification and Charlson comorbidity index scores (p < 0.001) are well correlated with older age. Both cardiovascular and surgical related complications were significantly higher in patients over 50 years (p = 0.045), which also proved to be a turning point for increasing the rate of conversion and open surgery. However, the comparative incidence did not differ significantly between patients aged from 50–64 years, 65–79 years and over 80 years (6.03%, 9.09% and 5.8%, respectively). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was the most frequently used surgical approach in the treatment of acute cholecystitis in all age groups, with better outcomes than open cholecystectomy in terms of decreased overall and postoperative hospital stay, reduced surgery related complications, and the incidence of acute cardiovascular events in the early postoperative period (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The degree of systemic inflammation was the main factor that influenced the adverse outcome of LC in the elderly. Among comorbidities, diabetes was associated with increased surgical and systemic postoperative morbidity, while stroke and chronic renal insufficiency were correlated with a high risk of cardiovascular complications. With adequate perioperative care, the elderly has much to gain from the benefits of a minimally invasive approach, which allows a decreased rate of postoperative complications and a reduced hospital stay.

Comparing the Effects of General Versus Regional Anesthesia on Postoperative Mortality in Total and Partial Hip Arthroplasty.

PurposeTotal hip arthroplasty (THA) and partial hip arthroplasty (PHA) are performed in patients with hip joint dysfunction such as osteoarthritis or hip fractures and are associated with complications including mortality. There is a lack of evidence in the literature regarding whether the type of anesthesia (regional vs. general) is associated with increased postoperative mortality in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty. The present study compares early postoperative mortality between general or regional anesthesia administered to patients undergoing either THA or PHA.MethodsA retrospective cohort was assembled using the 2015-2016 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Adult patients undergoing hip arthroplasty under general or regional anesthesia were included. Patients were excluded if receiving any other type of anesthesia, as well as having an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification score ≥ 4, preoperative acute renal failure, severe congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or ascites. Adjusted odds of 30 days all-cause postoperative mortality according to the type of anesthesia were estimated by fitting multiple logistic regression models that included potential confounders and effect modifiers.ResultsA total of 60,897 patients were included in the study. Given that the interaction between the type of anesthesia and the type of arthroplasty was statistically significant, separated models were fitted for each type of arthroplasty. There was no evidence of an association between type of anesthesia and postoperative mortality in hip arthroplasty patients regardless of whether the arthroplasty was partial (odds ratio {OR} = 0.85; confidence interval {CI} 0.59-1.22) or total (OR = 0.68; CI 0.43-1.08).ConclusionThe overall early postoperative mortality in adult hip arthroplasty patients is low in the absence of risk factors such as severe CHF, COPD, ascites, acute renal failure, and ASA score of 4 or higher. Our findings suggest there is no association between the type of anesthesia received (general vs. regional) and early postoperative mortality rates in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty, regardless of type (total vs. partial).

The comparison of the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation ii, sequential organ failure assessment and american society of anesthesiologists physical status classification scores in the prediction of morbidity and mortality after lung surgery

The comparison of the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation ii, sequential organ failure assessment and american society of anesthesiologists physical status classification scores in the prediction of morbidity and mortality after lung surgery

The role of frailty index in predicting readmission risk following total joint replacement using light gradient boosting machines

Total joint replacement (TJR) is a costly and prevalent surgery among older persons. Readmission is the most commonly experienced postoperative adverse event and is an important component to consider before surgery. A preoperative evaluation of postsurgical complications can assist with appropriate postoperative discharge decisions and can improve informed consent. Our goal was to compare and use American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Physical Status Classification (ASA) versus modified frailty index (mFI-5) in readmission risk following TJR. We implemented light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) as the main machine learning technique on data from American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) between 2011 and 2017 to preoperatively predict risk of postoperative readmission. We also compared results to extreme gradient boosting (XGB), logistic regression and random forests machine learning techniques. We included 22 presurgical diagnoses and symptoms as well as ASA and mFI-5 scores. However, we randomly split our cohort into 80% training and 20% hold out test data, performing 5-fold cross validation on the 80% training dataset. Model comparisons were based on area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) obtained on the hold out data. A variable importance analysis was performed on the best modelling technique. Our analytic sample included 477, 616 surgeries. The readmission rate was 3.6% (n = 17 430). ASA class as a standalone predictor yielded an AUC of 0.607 and mFI-5 yielded an AUC of 0.585. LightGBM models using all the defined predictors resulted in an AUC of 0.67. Variable importance analysis on the final LightGBM model showed that ASA, age and mFI-5 are amongst the most important predictors. However, the frailty index can provide more detailed information on the requirement of care post-surgery. There is value in measuring not only the diagnoses and symptoms, but also patient frailty. As standalone variables, both ASA and mFI-5 are moderately associated with post TJR readmission. The LightGBM model predicted post-TJR readmission with moderate accuracy. Future studies should also include socioeconomic and behavioral factors as potential predictors of readmission.

Proof of concept: digital clock drawing behaviors prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement may predict length of hospital stay and cost of care.

Aims:Reduced pre-operative cognitive functioning in older adults is a risk factor for postoperative complications, but it is unknown if preoperative digitally-acquired clock drawing test (CDT) cognitive screening variables, which allow for more nuanced examination of patient performance, may predict lengthier hospital stay and greater cost of hospital care. This issue is particularly relevant for older adults undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), as this surgical procedure is chosen for intermediate-risk older adults needing aortic replacement. This proof of concept research explored if specific latency and graphomotor variables indicative of planning from digitally-acquired command and copy clock drawing would predict post-TAVR duration and cost of hospitalization, over and above age, education, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification score, and frailty.Methods:Form January 2018 to December 2019, 162 out of 190 individuals electing TAVR completed digital clock drawing as part of a hospital wide cognitive screening program. Separate hierarchical regressions were computed for the command and copy conditions of the CDT and assessed how a-priori selected clock drawing metrics (total time to completion, ideal digit placement difference, and hour hand distance from center; included within the same block) incrementally predicted outcome, as measured by R2 change significance values.Results:Above and beyond age, education, ASA physical status classification score, and frailty, only digitally-acquired CDT copy performance explained significant variance for length of hospital stay (9.5%) and cost of care (8.9%).Conclusions:Digital variables from clock copy condition provided predictive value over common demographic and comorbidity variables. We hypothesize this is due to the sensitivity of the copy condition to executive dysfunction, as has been shown in previous studies for subtypes of cognitive impairment. Individuals undergoing TAVR procedures are often frail and executively compromised due to their cerebrovascular disease. We encourage additional research on the value of digitally-acquired clock drawing within different surgery types. Type of cognitive impairment and the value of digitally-acquired CDT command and copy parameters in other surgeries remain unknown.

A Point-Based Risk Calculator Predicting Mortality in Patients That Developed Postoperative Sepsis.

Predicting the mortality from post-operative sepsis remains a continuing problem. We built a statistical model using national data to predict mortality in patients who developed post-operative sepsis. This is a retrospective study using the American College of Surgeons National Quality Surgical Improvement Program database, in which we gathered data from adult patients between 2011 and 2016 who experienced postoperative sepsis. We designed a predictive model using multivariable logistic regression on a training set and validated the model on a separate test set. There were 128,325 patients included in the final dataset, in which 18,499 (14.4%) died within 30-days of surgery. The model consisted of 10 covariates: American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification score, preoperative sepsis, age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, postoperative myocardial infarction, postoperative stroke, postoperative acute renal failure, transfusion requirement, and infection type. A point-based risk calculator was developed, which had an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.819 (95% confidence interval 0.814-0.823). Although further work is needed to confirm and validate our model on external datasets, our scoring system provides a novel way to measure mortality in septic post-operative patients.

Deep sedation using propofol target-controlled infusion for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundPropofol sedation is effective for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures, but its narrow therapeutic window highlights the importance of identifying an optimal administration technique regarding effectiveness and safety. This study aimed to determine the incidence of significant adverse events in adult patients scheduled for gastrointestinal endoscopy under anaesthetist-performed sedation using propofol target-controlled infusion and determine the existence of associations between these events and potentially related variables.MethodsThis single-centre, retrospective cohort study took place in a tertiary referral university hospital. Medical records of 823 patients (age > 18 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification scores I–III) who had undergone elective gastrointestinal endoscopy under propofol target-controlled infusion sedation during September 2018 were reviewed. Outcomes included hypoxia, hypotension, and bradycardia events, requirement of vasoactive drugs, unplanned tracheal intubation or supraglottic device insertion, and need for advanced cardiac life support.ResultsThe most frequently encountered adverse event was oxygen desaturation < 95% with an incidence of 22.35%. Vasoactive drug administration, hypotension, and oxygen desaturation < 90% followed, with incidences of 19.2, 12.64, and 9.92%, respectively. Only 0.5% of patients required advanced airway management. Multivariate analysis revealed an association between hypotension events, colonoscopic procedures, and propofol doses (odds ratio: 3.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.43 to 6.61; P = 0.004 and odds ratio: 1.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.00 to 1.29; P = 0.046). A strong dose-effect relationship was found between hypoxia and obesity; patients with body mass index ≥40 were nine times (odds ratio: 10.22, 95% confidence interval: 2.83 to 36.99) more likely to experience oxygen desaturation < 90% events.ConclusionsPropofol sedation using target-controlled infusion appears to be a safe and effective anaesthetic technique for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures with acceptable rates of adverse events and could be more widely adopted in clinical practice.

Are Intoxicated Trauma Patients at an Increased Risk for Intraoperative Anesthetic Complications? A Retrospective Study

Background The purpose of this study was to correlate intraoperative anesthetic complications of trauma patients with their respective urine toxicology results. Methods This retrospective, single-center cohort study at a Level 1 trauma center included patients with the following criteria: (1) trauma admission between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016, (2) required surgical intervention, (3) are age 18 and older, and (4) urine toxicology screening was completed. Anesthetic records were evaluated for intraoperative complications. Results The final analysis included 847 patients. The mean anesthesia time, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification scores, change in body temperature, anesthetic complication rate, and mortality were not significantly different between urine toxicology positive and negative patients. Of note, a significantly lower proportion of the urine toxicology positive patients were extubated postoperatively in comparison to urine toxicology negative patients (57.32% vs 63.83%). Conclusions Trauma patients who presented with a positive urine toxicology screening are not at an increased risk for intraoperative anesthetic complications compared to those with a negative urine toxicology screening. However, our results indicated that the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation increased in the acutely intoxicated trauma patients when compared to those without preinjury intoxication.

D2 Lymph Node Dissections during Reduced-port Robotic Distal Subtotal Gastrectomy and Conventional Laparoscopic Surgery Performed by a Single Surgeon in a High-volume Center: a Propensity Score-matched Analysis.

PurposeVarious studies have indicated that reduced-port robotic gastrectomies are safe and feasible for treating patients with early gastric cancer. However, there have not been any comparative studies conducted that have evaluated patients with clinically advanced gastric cancer. Therefore, we aimed to compare the perioperative outcomes of D2 lymph node dissections during reduced-port robotic distal subtotal gastrectomies (RRDGs) and conventional 5-port laparoscopic distal subtotal gastrectomies (CLDGs).Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 118 patients with clinically advanced gastric cancer who underwent minimally invasive distal subtotal gastrectomies with D2 lymph node dissections between February 2016 and November 2019. To evaluate the patient data, we performed a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) according to age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification score, and clinical T status. The short-term surgical outcomes were also compared between the two groups.ResultsThe PSM identified 40 pairs of patients who underwent RRDG or CLDG. The RRDG group experienced a significantly longer operation time than the CLDG group (P<0.001), although the RRDG group had significantly less estimated blood loss (P=0.034). The number of retrieved extraperigastric lymph nodes in the RRDG group was significantly higher than that of the CLDG group (P=0.008). The rate of postoperative complications was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.115).ConclusionsD2 lymph node dissections can be safely performed during RRDGs and the perioperative outcomes appear to be comparable to those of conventional laparoscopic surgeries. Further studies are needed to compare long-term survival outcomes.

Comparison of the Effects of Desflurane and Sevoflurane on Cerebral Oxygen Saturation in Patients Undergoing Thyroidectomy: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Study.

The commonly performed sitting position with head extended during thyroidectomy has been shown to cause adverse effects on cerebral regional oxygen saturation (CrSO2). Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of two well-known anaesthetic agents, desflurane and sevoflurane, on CrSO2 in patients undergoing thyroidectomy in the semi-sitting position by near-infra-red spectroscopy monitoring. The study included 60 patients aged 18-65 years, with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification score I-III, who underwent elective thyroidectomy in the semi-sitting position. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, depending on the anaesthetic agent administered: (1) sevoflurane group (Group S; n=30) and (2) desflurane group (Group D; n=30). After intubation, the patients were placed in a 45-degree semi-sitting position. Vital signs and the CrSO2 levels in both hemispheres were recorded both pre-induction and at the induction minute 1, post-intubation, post-positioning, every 5 minutes intraoperatively and in the case of sudden changes. No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of age, height, body weight, the ASA score, operative time and left- and right-hemisphere CrSO2 (p>0.05). Moreover, the two groups were statistically similar to each other with regard to peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean artery pressure and end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) levels. Desflurane and sevoflurane had similar effects in the preservation of CrSO2 in patients undergoing thyroidectomy in the semi-sitting position.

The impact of dementia on surgical outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis: A retrospective study.

The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of dementia on surgical outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis. We reviewed medical data of 96 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholecystitis and acute cholecystitis. The patients were divided into the dementia group (n = 18) and non-dementia group (n = 78). Clinical features of the patients and surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Mean age and rates of The American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification score > 2 in the dementia group were significantly higher than those of the non-dementia group (P < .001, P = .008, respectively). Incidences of acute cholecystitis and the rate of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage in the dementia group were significantly higher than those of the non-dementia group (P = .009, P = .01, respectively). The rates of conversion to laparotomy and non-surgical complications in the dementia group were higher than those in the non-dementia group (P = .02, P = .03, respectively). Postoperative hospital stay in the dementia group was significantly longer than that in the non-dementia group (15.2 ± 9.3 vs 8.2 ± 3.2 days, P = .009). Subgroup analysis of patients with acute cholecystitis showed postoperative hospital stay in the dementia group to be significantly longer than that in the non-dementia group (18.7 ± 10.7 vs 10.3 ± 4.2 days, P = .03). Patients with dementia who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy have a high incidence of acute cholecystitis and a high rate of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage, which may result in increased rates of conversion to laparotomy and prolong the postoperative hospital stay.

Efficacy of Oscillation and Lung Expansion in Reducing Postoperative Pulmonary Complication

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) cause high morbidity and mortality. Targeted treatment for patients at risk for PPCs can improve outcomes. This multicenter prospective trial examined the impact of oscillation and lung expansion (OLE) therapy, using continuous high-frequency oscillation and continuous positive expiratory pressure on PPCs in high-risk patients. In stage I, CPT and ICD codes were queried for patients (n= 210) undergoing thoracic, upper abdominal, or aortic open procedures at 3 institutions from December 2014 to April 2016. Patients were selected randomly. Age, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification scores, and PPC rates were determined. In stage II, 209 subjects were enrolled prospectively from October 2016 to July 2017 using the same criteria. Stage II subjects received OLE treatment and standard respiratory care. The PPCs rate (prolonged ventilation, high-level respiratory support, pneumonia, ICU readmission) werecompared. We also compared ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and mortality using t-tests and analysis of covariance. Data are mean ± SD. There were 419 subjects. Stage II patients were older (61.1 ± 13.7 years vs 57.4 ± 15.5 years; p < 0.05) and had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists scores. Treatment with OLE decreased PPCs from 22.9% (stage I) to 15.8% (stage II) (p < 0.01 adjusted for age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, and operation time). Similarly, OLE treatment reduced ventilator time (23.7 ± 107.5 hours to 8.5 ± 27.5 hours; p < 0.05) and hospital LOS (8.4 ± 7.9 days to 6.8 ± 5.0 days; p < 0.05). No differences in ICU LOS, pneumonia, or mortality were observed. Aggressive treatment with OLE reduces PPCs and resource use in high-risk surgical patients.

Strabismus surgery for Medicare-aged patients: more than a decade of insights

The psychosocial and functional impact of strabismus among the elderly is increasingly important as life expectancy increases and factors that enhance the quality of life become more significant. The purpose of this study was to characterize the demographics, presenting complaints, health status, underlying etiology, and outcomes of strabismus surgery in three age cohorts of Medicare-aged patients. The medical records of patients at least 65years of age who underwent strabismus surgery between 2004 and 2015 in a university-based strabismus practice were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 110 patients were identified and divided into three age cohorts for analysis: young-old (age 65-74), middle-old (age 75-84), and old-old (age 85+). At least 75% of patients in all cohorts cited diplopia as their chief complaint (P=0.87). There was no difference in sex distribution, type of deviation, underlying etiology, or preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification scores between the cohorts (P=0.68, P=0.53, P=0.71, P=0.93, resp.). By the 6- to 8-week postoperative visit, 63% of all patients reported complete resolution of their presenting chief complaint, 23% reported some improvement, and 11% reported no improvement, with no difference between the cohorts (P=0.12). Given the functional and psychosocial impact of strabismus in the elderly, this study lends support to consideration of surgery as a viable option to successfully treat strabismus among the oldest age cohorts.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in the elderly: results of a retrospective study and a geriatricians\u2019 point of view

BackgroundThe incidence of biliary tract pathology is growing with an age-related trend, and progresses as the population ages. Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) represents the gold standard for treatment in these cases, but evidence about its safety in the elderly is still debated.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of all patients aged ≥65 undergoing ERCP between July 2013 and July 2015. Of 387 ERCP cases, 363 (~ 94%) were completed entirely. The mean age of the study population (n = 363) was 79.9 years old (range 70–95), with 190 subjects aged 70–79 and 173 older than 80. We recorded demographics, Charlson Comorbidity index (CCI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification score, indication for the use of the ERCP procedure, and clinical outcomes. Then, we tested all variables to identify the potential risk factors for complications associated with the procedure.ResultsThe older group (those ≥80 years old) showed significantly more patients with ASA Classes III-IV than the younger one (those ≤79 years old). Interestingly, the CCI was higher in the younger group (p = 0.009). The overall complication rate was 17.3% without inter-group differences. Older age, sex, CCI and intra-ERCP procedures were not related to a higher risk of complications, and the multivariate regression did not identify any of the considered variables to be an independent risk factor for complications.ConclusionERCP appears as safe in the patients aged 80 years and older, as it is in those aged 70–79 years old in our study, however, a selection bias may affect these findings. A study including a comprehensive geriatric assessment will contribute to shedding light on this issue.