Common Surgical Complication Research Articles

Preoperative leptin levels were associated with postoperative acute kidney injury in patients with acute type A aortic dissection

Objective Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common surgical complication of acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) and strongly associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Although elevated leptin levels have been identified as a potential risk factor for chronic kidney disease in middle-aged and elderly individuals, their association with AKI following AAAD surgery remains unknown. This study investigated the association between preoperative leptin levels and postoperative AKI in patients with AAAD. Methods This study included 159 patients with AAAD at Fujian Heart Medical Center. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes standards were used to define and classify AKI. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the ability of leptin levels to predict AKI. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between leptin level and AKI. Results The incidence of AKI was 33.96%. Leptin levels in the AKI group and stage 1, 2, and 3 AKI groups were higher than those in the non-AKI group (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that elevated leptin levels were an independent risk factor for AKI (p < 0.001). ROC analysis of leptin detection for AKI showed an area under the curve of 0.71. The risk of AKI in the high-level group (leptin levels ≥3.62 ng/mL) was 3.87 times to the low-level group (leptin levels < 3.62 ng/mL). Conclusion Elevated leptin levels are associated with AKI, and plasma leptin may serve as a potential early blood biomarker for AKI in patients with AAAD.

Risk Factors and Pain Management in the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common surgical complication that increases hospital stay duration, hospitalization costs, readmission rates and mortality. This study aims to describe the incidence of POD in an elderly patient population and to investigate pain assessment as a risk factor for postoperative confusion. Additionally, we aim to determine a predictive model for POD. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational, single-center study at La Timone Hospital between September 2020 and September 2021. We included patients aged 65 or older, admitted for scheduled or emergency surgical care, with an expected postoperative stay of three days or more and no history of dementia. Data were collected in three stages of hospitalization: preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative. Preoperative data included medical history and lifestyle; perioperative data included surgical and anesthesia characteristics, and postoperative data were collected. Results: Of the 531 patients admitted for surgical care, we analyzed 109 patients. Among these, 24 (22%) experienced a POD episode within the first three postoperative days. Age, preoperative cognitive impairments, preoperative sensory deficits, and long-term benzodiazepine use were identified as risk factors for POD. A significant difference in pain levels was also observed for all NRS scores during the first three postoperative days. After multivariate analysis, we retained two predictive models for POD. Conclusions: This study identified risk factors for POD and proposed predictive models based on these factors. Two models were particularly notable for their potential use in anesthesia consultations and patient follow-up services to quickly detect patients at risk of POD.

Salvage Total Hip Replacement for Failed Proximal Femoral Fracture Fixation.

Salvage arthroplasty for failed proximal femoral fracture fixation is a complex procedure. This involves the removal of the primary failed or broken implant followed by a hip joint replacement procedure. The complications and technical difficulties associated with these surgeries are often difficult to anticipate. Initially, to further understand the position in the literature with regardto salvage arthroplasty, we completed an informative scoping review. Search terms were selected, and databases Embase and PubMed were utilised to form a literature search. Relevant articles were selected by two independent researchers, with a final list of nine studies reviewed and tabulated for themes to be identified and analysed. Subsequently, we retrospectively studied the notes of all the patients who underwent complex conversion arthroplasty in the same district hospitals in a span of 16 years (August 2002 to August 2018) and presented the results. Seventy-one patients underwent complex salvage arthroplasty following a failed fixation of proximal femoral fracture under the care of three different surgeons. All surgeries were carried out by the posterior approach. The demographics, intraoperative events, and postoperative follow-up have been presented through clinical and radiological assessments. With a mean age being 73.6, female patients were almost twice the number of male patients. The left hip was the more common surgical site. Implant cutout was the most common cause of failure of the primary implant. Most of these surgeries were either uncemented (31 cases, 43.66%) or hybrid (29 cases, 40.84%). The most common acetabular size to be used was 50 mm, and the most common head size used was 32 mm. A majority of the surgeries were metal on poly bearings (64 cases, 90.14%). The mean surgical time, including anesthetic,was four hours and 13 minutes. A total of 31 (44%)patients needed blood transfusion postoperatively. The infection rate was 21.13% (15 cases), being the most common surgical complication. The mean follow-up of the patients was 27.2months with the maximum follow-up being 125 months. The one-year mortality was found to be 14% (10 cases). The mean limb length discrepancy was shortening by an average of 3.84 mm. A total of 66.2% (47 cases) of patientswere shortened postoperatively. The average cup abduction and anteversion angles were 35° and 24.25°, respectively. The average position of the femoral stem was 0.31° in the varus with 40.85% (29 cases) of patients having a slightly varus stem. Upon drawing comparisons with primary hip arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis through data available in the literature, it is obvious that salvage arthroplasty is a complex procedure with longer surgical times and onerous rehabilitation. Whilst it is not the same as revision arthroplasty, many of the characteristics in terms of surgical planning and outcomes are similar. Therefore, it is our recommendation that salvage hip arthroplasty procedures should be categorised, listed, and studied separately from primary arthroplasty in the National Joint Registry database.

Abstract 365: Peri‐Procedural Complications, Clinical Outcomes and Recurrence/Retreatment Rates After Endovascular versus Microsurgical Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Real‐World Assessment from the NQVI‐QOD Cerebral Aneurysm Registry

Introduction Improved outcomes after endovascular treatment of ruptured aneurysms were shown in ISAT (N=2143), with improved functional independence over surgical clipping. Many acknowledge these data have been extrapolated to non‐ISAT and unruptured aneurysm populations in clinical practice, though some trials (e.g., BRAT) suggested that this may not be appropriate. Some studies do suggest fewer peri‐procedural complications with endovascular versus microsurgical treatment, although discrepancies exist in this literature. On the other hand, despite increasing adoption of endovascular treatments, there appear to be higher recurrence/retreatment rates compared to microsurgery. We report peri‐procedural complications, clinical outcomes, and retreatment rates from the NQVI‐QOD Cerebral Aneurysm Registry (N=6149) to demonstrate the real‐world practice of intracranial aneurysm treatment, providing important quality and performance benchmarks. Methods We analyzed 6149 aneurysm cases from the 2015‐2022 NQVI‐QOD database for demographic/risk factors, presentations, aneurysm characteristics, treatment types, peri‐procedural complications, angiographic and clinical outcomes at discharge and follow‐up, and recurrence/retreatment rates across 4 subsets: Ruptured‐Endovascular (N= 2087), Ruptured‐Surgical (N=348), Unruptured‐Endovascular (N=3220), and Unruptured‐Surgical (N=494). We performed descriptive analyses and inferential test of ordinal and categorical variables comparing endovascular and surgical treatment for unruptured and ruptured aneurysms. Results Intra‐operative complications occurred in 5.9% endovascular vs 4.5% surgical patients (p&amp;lt0.05), with thrombus formation and aneurysm rupture the most common endovascular and surgical complications, respectively. Post‐operative complications occurred in 21.4% endovascular vs 27.3% surgical patients (p&amp;lt0.01), with infection and ischemic stroke the most common among ruptured and unruptured aneurysms respectively, stroke being lower in endovascular patients compared to surgical (p&amp;lt0.01). Although there was no difference for in‐hospital mortality, for ruptured aneurysms, 64% endovascular vs 49% surgical patients (p&amp;lt0.01) were functionally independent at discharge, with 78% endovascular vs 76% surgical patients (p=0.4) discharged to home/rehab. For unruptured aneurysms, 94% endovascular vs 81% surgical patients (p&amp;lt0.01) were functionally independent at discharge, with 97% endovascular vs 95% surgical patients (p=0.4) discharged to home/rehab. At follow‐up of patients with ruptured aneurysms, 87% endovascular vs 81% surgical patients (p=0.02) were functionally independent, with 94% endovascular vs 86% surgical (p=0.01) living at home. For unruptured aneurysms, 95% of endovascular vs 91% surgical patients (p=0.047) were functionally independent with 97% endovascular vs 97% surgical living at home. Post‐procedure angiographic outcomes were similar for ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. However, recurrence/retreatment occurred in 15% endovascular (21% ruptured, 11% unruptured) vs 7% surgical patients (p&amp;lt0.01). Conclusion In our study, endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms was associated with better short term clinical outcomes than microsurgical clipping across both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. Intraoperative complications were similar across techniques. Post‐operative complications were lower for the endovascular cohort regardless of presentation. Long term outcomes were similar, but there was higher recurrence/retreatment in the endovascular group. Overall, these data suggest pros and cons of various treatments of both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms, with likely more challenging recoveries but perhaps more durable results from microsurgery.

Early surgical outcomes of children with mechanical intestinal obstruction at Moi teaching and referral hospital, Kenya

Background: Intestinal obstruction constitutes the largest proportion of abdominal surgical emergencies in the paediatric and adult patients in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya. It is associated with high postoperative surgical complication and mortality rate in low resource healthcare systems. Methods: A prospective mixed methods study with consecutive sampling procedure was carried out from September 2021 to June 2023. Pediatric patients from birth to 14 years, with mechanical intestinal obstruction were included in the study. Categorical data was analyzed in frequencies and percentages and continuous data was analyzed using measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion. Bivariate and multivariate associations between the dependent and independent variables were assessed with a p value of less than 0.05 being statistically significant. Results: The final study population was 318 participants. Majority of participants were male with neonates comprising almost one third of participants. Classical symptoms were present in a majority of patients at initial presentation. Intussusception (34.6%) was the leading acquired aetiology of paediatric mechanical intestinal obstruction. Operative surgical management was in 94.6% of participants. Surgical complications were present in 61.1% of participants. The commonest surgical complication was surgical site infection in 16.9%. Overall mortality rate was 10.2% with 23.3% among neonates and 4.9% in older children. Referral status was statistically associated with mortality (p&lt;0.001). Intestinal atresia had the highest case-specific mortality rate. Age, presence of comorbidity were factors associated to postoperative complications and mortality (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: The overall mortality rate was 10.2%. A higher mortality was seen among neonates compared to older children.

The brain–heart-immune axis: a vago-centric framework for predicting and enhancing resilient recovery in older surgery patients

Nearly all geriatric surgical complications are studied in the context of a single organ system, e.g., cardiac complications and the heart; delirium and the brain; infections and the immune system. Yet, we know that advanced age, physiological stress, and infection all increase sympathetic and decrease parasympathetic nervous system function. Parasympathetic function is mediated through the vagus nerve, which connects the heart, brain, and immune system to form, what we have termed, the brain–heart-immune axis. We hypothesize that this brain–heart-immune axis plays a critical role in surgical recovery among older adults. In particular, we hypothesize that the brain–heart-immune axis plays a critical role in the most common surgical complication among older adults: postoperative delirium. Further, we present heart rate variability as a measure that may eventually become a multi-system vital sign evaluating brain–heart-immune axis function. Finally, we suggest the brain–heart-immune axis as a potential interventional target for bio-electronic neuro-immune modulation to enhance resilient surgical recovery among older adults.

Complications after primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty: a matched cohort study

BackgroundPatients who undergo total shoulder arthroplasty typically have excellent clinical outcomes, though some patients require revision shoulder arthroplasty to address complications such as infection, instability, and persistent pain. The purpose of this study was to compare the rates and types of complications, as well as patient-reported outcomes, following primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty. MethodsRetrospective chart review was conducted for patients who underwent revision anatomic or reverse shoulder arthroplasty between January 2015 and May 2021 (N = 152). A cohort of patients who underwent primary shoulder arthroplasty in the same period was generated by matching 1:1 for implant type (anatomic/reverse), age, and surgery date. Demographic data, patient-reported outcomes, surgical details, surgical complications, and reoperations were collected for both cohorts (N = 304). Chi-square, t-test, Fisher’s exact test, and Mann-Whitney test were used as appropriate. ResultsThe revision cohort had a significantly higher rate of surgical complications than the primary cohort (N = 58, 38.2% vs. N = 22, 14.5%; P < .0001). The distribution of complication types differed significantly between the primary and revision cohorts (P = .018). Revision patients reported less improvement in Single-Assessment Numeric Evaluation score from baseline to 2-year follow-up compared to primary patients (postoperative and preoperative scores 33.9 ± 35.9 vs. 52.3 ± 32.5; P = .036). Patients in the primary cohort who underwent a previous shoulder surgery before their shoulder arthroplasty were more likely to experience complications than those who did not (P < .001). The most common surgical complications in the revision cohort were persistent pain (N = 20) and periprosthetic joint infection (N = 10), while the most common complications in the primary cohort were persistent pain (N = 6) and instability (N = 4). 63.6% of complications in primary patients and 55.2% of complications in revision patients necessitated reoperation. Total procedure time was higher on average in revision patients (120 ± 68 min) than primary patients (94 ± 31 min; P < .0001). Revision patients were more likely than primary patients to have had cemented humeral stems in their primary arthroplasty (P = .043). ConclusionPatients undergoing revision shoulder arthroplasty are at an increased risk for subsequent surgical complications and worse clinical improvement compared to primary shoulder arthroplasty patients. The differing profiles of postoperative complication types following primary and revision shoulder arthroplasty should be considered when advising patients on the risks of surgery and creating preoperative surgical plans to minimize these risks.

Incisional negative pressure wound therapy for the prevention of surgical site complications in Paediatric patients with non-idiopathic scoliosis: A randomized clinical trial.

Surgical wound complications are adverse events with important repercussions for the health of patients and health system. Surgical site infections and wound dehiscences are among the most important surgical wound complications, with a high incidence in paediatric patients undergoing surgery for non-idiopathic scoliosis. Incisional negative pressure wound therapy for surgical incisions is used as a preventive measure against surgical wound complications in adults; however, there has been scant evidence for using it in children. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of incisional negative pressure wound therapy in preventing surgical wound complications in paediatric patients undergoing surgery to treat non-idiopathic scoliosis. Randomized clinical trial. Children younger than 18 years of age undergoing surgery for non-idiopathic scoliosis were randomly assigned into two groups to receive one of two different types of dressings for the first 7 days after surgery. One group were treated with a postoperative hydrofibre and hydrocolloid dressing with silver for wounds (control group), and the other group received a single-use incisional negative pressure wound therapy system (intervention group). The wounds were assessed after removal of the dressings at 7 days after surgery and again at 30, 90, and 180 days after surgery. Surgical wound complications, sociodemographic variables, variables related to the procedure and postoperative period, economic costs of treatment of surgical wound complications, and time to healing of the surgical wound were recorded. Per protocol and per intention to treat analysis was made. The per protocol incidence of surgical wound complications was 7.7% in the intervention group versus 38.5% in the control group (p = 0.009; Fisher exact test. RR = 0.20 IC95%: 0.05-0.83). Surgical wound dehiscence, surgical site infections, seroma, and fibrin were the most common surgical wound complications. The type of surgery, duration of surgery, and patients' age were associated with a higher risk for surgical wound complications. Postoperative hydrofibre and hydrocolloid dressing with silver for wounds were found to be associated with a longer time to healing. Initial costs for dressings in the group receiving incisional negative pressure wound therapy were higher, but the total postoperative costs were higher for those receiving postoperative hydrofibre and hydrocolloid dressing with silver for wounds. It was found that for each US$1.00 of extra costs for using incisional negative pressure wound therapy, there was a benefit of US$12.93 in relation to the cost of complications prevented. Incisional negative pressure wound therapy is cost-effective in the prevention of surgical wound complications in children undergoing surgery for non-idiopathic scoliosis.

The classification of sacral foramina in a South African sample using cadaveric and osteological remains

Sacroiliac (SI) joint fixation is a technique used for SI joint fractures, SI joint dislocations and sacral fractures. Sacral screws can be placed either into the S1 or the S2 vertebrae if S1 is insufficient. Malpositioning of the screws is a common surgical complication as sacral variations exists amongst populations. Complications associated with the misposition of screws can lead to injury of the sacral venous plexus, iliac vessels, or sacral nerve roots. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate sacral variations in a South African sample by determining distances between the first and second sacral foramina and classifying the common types of sacra found.A quantitative cross-sectional comparative study was conducted. One hundred and twenty (n = 120) dry human sacra and 11 formalin-fixed cadavers were measured to determine the linear distances between the first two anterior and posterior sacral foramina. Additionally, the dry human sacra were classified according to Mahato's classification system. A cadaver SI joint fixation simulation was performed by an orthopaedic surgeon.The mean sacral promontory height was found to be 31.81 mm and 37.52 mm in osteological and cadaver specimens, respectively. The mean anterior pedicle height was significantly different for the left (18.81 mm) and right (21.67 mm) side measurements. A statistically significant difference was found between cadavers and osteological samples for all measurements taken. In the osteological sample, ancestry and age mostly influenced the variations noted.Using Mahato's classification system, sacra with five sacral segments, auricular surfaces extending from the superior part of S1 to the middle of S3 and no accessory L5/S1 articulations had the highest prevalence of 59.17 %.The South African sample exhibited similarities but did not fully compare to other populations. The results in this study should be considered as a reference for surgeries involving the SI joint and sacral foramina. However, where possible, the exact anatomy with possible variations of the patient should be evaluated preoperatively using X-rays and angiograms.

Incidence and related risk factors for postoperative delirium following revision total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective nationwide inpatient sample database study.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common surgical complication. However, the incidence and risk factors associated with postoperative delirium after revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) have not been comprehensively explored through extensive national databases. Utilizing the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), the largest comprehensive U.S. hospital healthcare database, we undertook a retrospective investigation involving 127,400 patients who underwent rTKA between 2010 and 2019. We assessed various aspects, including patient demographics, hospital characteristics, pre-existing medical conditions, and perioperative complications. The overall incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) in patients undergoing rTKA between 2010 and 2019 was 0.97%. The highest incidence rate of 1.31% was recorded in 2013. Notably, this patient cohort demonstrated advanced age, increased burden of co-morbidities, prolonged hospital stays, increased hospitalization costs, and elevated in-hospital mortality rates (P < 0.001). Moreover, non-elective admissions, non-private insurance payments, and a preference for teaching hospitals were commonly observed among these patients. During their hospitalization, individuals who developed delirium subsequent to rTKA were more prone to experiencing certain perioperative complications. These complications encompassed medical issues like acute myocardial infarction, continuous invasive mechanical ventilation, postoperative shock, sepsis, stroke and other medical problems. Additionally, surgical complications including hemorrhage / seroma / hematoma, irrigation and debridement, prosthetic joint infection, periprosthetic fracture, and wound dehiscence / nonunion were noted. Several risk factors were found to be linked with the development of POD. These included advanced age (≥ 75years), alcohol abuse, coagulation disorders, congestive heart failure, depression, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, and more. Conversely, female sex, having private insurance, and undergoing elective hospitalization emerged as protective factors against POD. Our findings suggest that the general prevalence of POD in rTKA is relatively low according to NIS. There was a significant connection between the POD of rTKA and advanced age, prolonged length of stay (LOS), more in-patients' costs, higher in-hospital mortality rate, increased comorbidities, postoperative medical complications and postoperative surgical complications. This study helps to understand the risk factors associated with POD to improve poor outcomes.

Diagnosis and Management of Unexplained Conductive Hearing Loss With Intact Tympanic Membrane: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To analyze the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of unexplained conductive hearing loss (UCHL) with intact tympanic membrane. Methods: A systematic review was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 642 articles were retrieved from databases such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Fifty-four research articles and 21 case reports were screened out according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria for analysis of the etiology of UCHL. Seven research articles with UCHL who underwent exploratory tympanotomy were selected for data extraction and analysis of clinical characteristics. Results: UCHL is a common manifestation of various diseases, including congenital ossicular anomalies (COA), otosclerosis (OTS), congenital middle ear cholesteatoma (CMEC), oval window atresia, superior semicircular-canal dehiscence, congenital stapedial footplate fixation, middle ear osteoma or adenoma, congenital ossification of stapedial tendon, and so on. A total of 522 patients were included in the 7 articles; among whom OTS showed a tendency to increase with age. The main symptoms were hearing loss, followed by tinnitus, dizziness, ear fullness, ear pain, facial paralysis. A total of 87.5% to 93.0% patients with COA manifested as nonprogressive deafness that occurred since childhood, with tinnitus incidence of 15.6% to 30.2%, and 86.4% to 96.4% patients with OTS presented with progressive hearing loss, with tinnitus incidence of 60.1% to 90.9%. The diagnosis positive rate of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was 33.8% to 87.1%, and CMEC was higher than that of COA (83.3%-100% vs 28.6%-64%). All the articles reported good hearing recovery. The most common surgical complications included taste abnormalities, tinnitus, and dizziness. Conclusion: UCHL presents with similar clinical manifestations and poses challenges in preoperative diagnosis. Exploratory tympanotomy is the primary method for diagnosis and treatment, with good prognosis after removing the lesion and reconstructing hearing during the operation. Children can also safely undergo the surgery.

Microbial Colonization of Explants after Osteosynthesis in Small Animals: Incidence and Influencing Factors.

Despite recent advancements in antibiotics, hygienic measures, and peri-operative systemic antibiotics, post-operative infections in osteosynthesis remain prevalent and continue to be among the most common surgical complications, leading to delayed fracture healing, osteomyelitis, implant loosening, and loss of function. Osteosynthesis implants are routinely utilized in veterinary medicine and the current study investigates the microbial colonization of implants following osteosynthesis in small animals, along with its incidence and influencing factors. The results are analyzed in regard to correlations between infection, patient, disease progression, and radiographic images, as well as other factors that may promote infection. Seventy-one explants from sixty-five patients were examined and evaluated for microbial colonization. Factors like body weight and age, location and type of plate and additional injuries like lung lesions, the surgeon's experience, or the number of people present during the surgical procedure seem to influence the development of an infection. Of the animals, 60% showed osteolytic changes and 73.3% of those with dysfunctional mobility had an implant infection. Microorganisms were detected in almost 50% of the explants, but a clinically relevant infection was only present in five patients (7.3%), suggesting that the presence of microorganisms on an implant does not necessarily lead to treatment complications.

Prevention of post-operative adhesions: Model development and pilot outcomes of human placental stem cell-based interventions.

Abdominal adhesions are the most common surgical complication and without reliable prophylactics. This study presents a novel rat model for abdominal adhesions and reports pilot results of human placental stem cell (hPSC)-based therapies. Forty-four (n = 44) male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-350 g) were used in the experiment. Of these, thirty-eight (n = 38) were included in a preliminary data set to determine a minimum treatment effect. Adhesions were created in a reproducible model to the abdominal wall and between organs. Experimental groups included the control group (Model No Treatment, MNT), Plasmalyte A (Media Alone, MA, 10 mL), hPSC (5 × 106 cells/10 mL Plasmalyte A), hPSC-CM (hPSC secretome, conditioned media) in 10 mL Plasmalyte A, Seprafilm™ (Baxter, Deerfield, IL), and sham animals (laparotomy only). Treatments were inserted intraperitoneally (IP) and the study period was 14 days post-operation. Results are reported as the difference between means of an index statistic (AIS, Animal Index Score) and compared by ANOVA with pairwise comparison. The overall mean AIS was 23 (SD 6.16) for the MNT group with an average of 75% of ischemic buttons involved in abdominal adhesions. Treatment groups MA (mean overall AIS 17.33 SD 6.4), hPSC (mean overall AIS 13.86 SD 5.01), hPSC-CM (mean overall AIS 13.13 SD 6.15), and Seprafilm (mean overall AIS 13.43 SD 9.11) generated effect sizes of 5.67, 9.14, 9.87, and 9.57 decrease in mean overall AIS, respectively, versus the MNT. The presented rat model and scoring system represent the clinical adhesion disease process. hPSC-based interventions significantly reduce abdominal adhesions in this pilot dataset.

Risk factors for postoperative complications in preterm infants with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis and associated outcomes.

We aim to determine clinical risk factors for postoperative complications in preterm infants with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP). A retrospective cohort study of preterm infants with surgical NEC or SIP to compare clinical factors between those with and without postoperative complications. 78/109 (71.5%) infants had any complication following surgical NEC. Adhesions (20/35, 57.1%) and wound infection (6/35, 17.1%) were the most common single surgical complications. Patients with a single surgical complication (35/66, 53%) were significantly less likely to be exposed to antenatal steroids, more frequently had a jejunostomy, needed a central line longer, and had a longer length of stay than those without any surgical complication. Infants with > 1 surgical complication (43/71, 60.5%) included mainly females, and had AKI more frequently at NEC onset, lower weight z-scores and lower weight for length z- scores at 36 weeks PMA than those without any complications.On multinomial logistic regression, antenatal steroids exposure (OR 0.23 [CI 0.06, 0.84]; p = 0.027) was independently associated with lower risk and jejunostomy 4.81 (1.29, 17.9) was independently associated with higher risk of developing a single complication. AKI following disease onset (OR 5.33 (1.38, 20.6), P = 0.015) was independently associated with > 1 complication in surgical NEC/SIP infants. Infants with postoperative complications following surgical NEC were more likely to be female, have additional morbidities, and demonstrate growth failure at 36 weeks PMA than those without surgical complications. There was no difference in mortality between those with and without surgical complications.

Gastrocnemius Release in the Treatment of Achilles Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of isolated gastrocnemius release in the treatment of Achilles tendinopathy. The primary outcome is the change in patient-reported pain outcomes. Secondary outcomes include the change in patient-reported foot and ankle function, ankle range of motion and strength, patient satisfaction and rate of surgical complications. A systematic review was undertaken of studies involving patients treated with an isolated gastrocnemius release for Achilles tendinopathy. Randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies and case series were eligible and identified from the following databases: MEDLINE and EMBASE. Isolated gastrocnemius release results in improved patient-reported outcome scores for pain and foot and ankle function. There is an increase in ankle range of motion but a reduction in ankle strength. Patients report a high rate of overall satisfaction. The most common surgical complications are sural nerve injury and wound infection. Isolated gastrocnemius release may offer maintained and clinically meaningful improvements in pain and foot and ankle function with an associated reduction in ankle strength.

Is extended venous thromboprophylaxis required in patients undergoing ileal pouch procedure for ulcerative colitis?

Venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are relatively common adverse surgical complications. Extended VTE prophylaxis for 4 weeks is recommended after colorectal cancer surgery, but its use in inflammatory bowel disease surgery lacks high-quality evidence. This retrospective study aimed to assess and characterize VTEs within the first 30 days after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) procedures and subtotal colectomies (STCs) for ulcerative colitis (UC). All patients who underwent IPAA for UC between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021 were included. VTE rates after IPAA, in-hospital or at-home occurrences, utilization of in-hospital thromboprophylaxis, and prescribed anticoagulant treatment were evaluated. Retrospectively, the same variables were analysed if patients of the cohort underwent STC before the IPAA construction. In all, 204 patients underwent IPAA (61.8% men, 73% laparoscopic), with an average hospital stay of 6.8 days. Among them, 116 patients underwent STC prior to IPAA. Thirteen patients (6.3%) experienced VTEs after IPAA, with 76.9% (10/13) of cases occurring during hospitalization and under adequate thromboprophylaxis. The VTE rate after STC was 10.3% (12/116), with 58.2% (7/12) occurring in hospital and under appropriate thromboprophylaxis. No reoperations or mortality were attributed to thrombotic events. The type and duration of anticoagulant treatment varied considerably. The VTE rate after IPAA for UC was 6.3%, with the majority of events occurring in hospital and under adequate thromboprophylaxis. These findings suggest that routine use of extended VTE prophylaxis in our cohort may not be supported. Further research is needed to clarify the optimal VTE prophylaxis strategy for inflammatory bowel disease surgery.

Impact of Peri-Operative Blood Transfusion on Post-Operative Complications in Colorectal Surgery

Aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is commonly associated with anaemia often requiring perioperative blood transfusions (BT). There is significant evidence to show poor long term outcomes following BT in CRC surgery due to the immunomodulatory effects of BT. This study aims to analyse the impact of BT on post-operative surgical complications in CRC surgery. Method: Data were collected retrospectively for patients undergoing emergency and elective colorectal cancer related surgery between January 2019 and December 2020 at Blacktown Hospital, Sydney. Data relating to transfusion and post-operative complications were collected through electronic medical records. R statistical software was utilised to calculate hazard ratio of common surgical complications in the blood transfusion group compared to the non-blood transfusion group. Results: There were a total of 130 patients with 26 patients (20%) receiving BT. This study shows that BT is associated with an increased risk of post-operative complication in CRC surgeries [HR 3.74 (95% CI: 1.31-10.68; P=0.0073)], after adjusting for preoperative haemoglobin. In particular, this study shows a statistically significant higher rates of intra-abdominal collection [HR 12.98 (95% CI: 1.52-111.15; P=0.0114)]. and pneumonia [HR 21.65 (95% CI: 1.77-265.01; P=0.007994)] associated with blood transfusion. Conclusion: This study shows that BT is associated with an increased risk of post-operative complication particularly intra-abdominal collection and pneumonia. However, a prospective randomised control trial is required to confirm these results.

Cystatin C or creatinine for pre-operative assessment of kidney function and risk of post-operative acute kidney injury: a secondary analysis of the METS cohort study.

Post-operative acute kidney injury (PO-AKI) is a common surgical complication consistently associated with subsequent morbidity and mortality. Prior kidney dysfunction is a major risk factor for PO-AKI, however it is unclear whether serum creatinine, the conventional kidney function marker, is optimal in this population. Serum cystatin C is a kidney function marker less affected by body composition and might provide better prognostic information in surgical patients. This was a pre-defined, secondary analysis of a multi-centre prospective cohort study of pre-operative functional capacity. Participants were aged ≥40years, undergoing non-cardiac surgery. We assessed the association of pre-operative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated using both serum creatinine and serum cystatin C with PO-AKI within 3days after surgery, defined by KDIGO creatinine changes. The adjusted analysis accounted for established AKI risk factors. A total of 1347 participants were included (median age 65years, interquartile range 56-71), of whom 775 (58%) were male. A total of 82/1347 (6%) patients developed PO-AKI. These patients were older, had higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and related medication, were more likely to have intra-abdominal procedures, had more intraoperative transfusion, and were more likely to be dead at 1year after surgery 6/82 (7.3%) vs 33/1265 (2.7%) (P=.038). Pre-operative eGFR was lower in AKI than non-AKI patients using both creatinine and cystatin C. When both measurements were considered in a single age- and sex-adjusted model, eGFR-Cysc was strongly associated with PO-AKI, with increasing risk of AKI as eGFR-Cysc decreased below 90, while eGFR-Cr was no longer significantly associated. Data from over 1000 prospectively recruited surgical patients confirms pre-operative kidney function as major risk factor for PO-AKI. Of the kidney function markers available, compared with creatinine, cystatin C had greater strength of association with PO-AKI and merits further assessment in pre-operative assessment of surgical risk.

Intraoperative hypotension associated with postoperative acute kidney injury in hypertension patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common surgical complication and is associated with intraoperative hypotension. However, the total duration and magnitude of intraoperative hypotension associated with AKI remains unknown. In this study, the causal relationship between the intraoperative arterial pressure and postoperative AKI was investigated among chronic hypertension patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. A retrospective cohort study of 6552 hypertension patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery (2011 to 2019) was conducted. The primary outcome was AKI as diagnosed with the Kidney Disease-Improving Global Outcomes criteria and the primary exposure was intraoperative hypotension. Patients' baseline demographics, pre- and post-operative data were harvested and then analyzed with multivariable logistic regression to assess the exposure-outcome relationship. Among 6552 hypertension patients, 579 (8.84%) had postoperative AKI after non-cardiac surgery. The proportions of patients admitted to ICU (3.97 vs. 1.24%, p < 0.001) and experiencing all-cause death (2.76 vs. 0.80%, p < 0.001) were higher in the patients with postoperative AKI. Moreover, the patients with postoperative AKI had longer hospital stays (13.50 vs. 12.00days, p < 0.001). Intraoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 60mmHg for >20min was an independent risk factor of postoperative AKI. Furthermore, MAP <60mmHg for >10min was also an independent risk factor of postoperative AKI in patients whose MAP was measured invasively in the subgroup analysis. Our work suggested that MAP < 60mmHg for >10min measured invasively or 20min measured non-invasively during non-cardiac surgery may be the threshold of postoperative AKI development in hypertension patients. This work may serve as a perioperative management guide for chronic hypertension patients. clinical trial number: ChiCTR2100050209 (8/22/2021). http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=132277.

Surgery for abdominal neuroblastoma in children

This review is devoted to surgical approach for neurogenic tumors in children. The authors discuss epidemiological data, history of surgical approaches, preoperative imaging and risk factors. A special attention is paid to the influence of surgical interventions for various neuroblastomas on overall and event-free survival in pediatric population, as well as the most common surgical complications and modern approaches to their treatment.