Intraoperative Transfusion Research Articles

A retrospective study of anesthesia management in patients operated for neuromuscular scoliosis

Objective: Scoliosis frequently develops as a complication of neuromuscular diseases, often progressing and necessitating surgical intervention. Although complications can arise in spinal fusion surgery for all types of scoliosis, they are more frequent during and after the procedure in cases of neuromuscular scoliosis. This retrospective study aims to explore the preoperative characteristics, anesthesia protocols, as well as intra- and postoperative complications and associated conditions in patients who underwent surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis at our hospital.Material and Methods: After receiving approval from the ethics committee of our hospital, this study conducted a retrospective review of patient files from individuals who underwent surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis at Ankara Training and Research Hospital between 2008 and 2012. A total of 26 patient files were analyzed. Patient parameters including age (years), gender (female (F), male (M)), weight (kg), presence of neuromuscular disease, concomitant cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, as well as other systemic anomalies and diseases, spirometry findings (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC), nutritional status (total protein, albumin), pre-operative hemoglobin (Hg) and hematocrit (Htc) levels, Cobb angle index, angle direction, type of surgical approach (anterior or posterior), muscle relaxants utilized, additional dosage requirements, operation duration, intraoperative bleeding volume (ml), transfusion volume (ml), and intraoperative complications were documented. Results: As the Cobb angle increased, several factors were affected: the duration of the operation was extended (p < 0.05), there was an increase in blood loss (p = 0.012), and more blood transfusions were required (p = 0.32). Furthermore, there was a correlation between increasing age and the amount of blood transfused (p = 0.035). Conclusion: It has been concluded that a comprehensive preoperative assessment is crucial, as it can offer valuable insights into anesthesia management both before and after surgery for scoliosis. Therefore, conducting a detailed preoperative evaluation is essential for patients undergoing these procedures

Experiences in the use of intraoperative blood-saving techniques and transfusion requirements in cardiovascular surgery: a study in a high complexity center in Bogotá (2019- 2021).

Experiences in the use of intraoperative blood-saving techniques and transfusion requirements in cardiovascular surgery: a study in a high complexity center in Bogotá (2019- 2021).

Development and Validation of a Predictive Risk Score for Blood Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Curative-Intent Surgery for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Among patients undergoing liver resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), perioperative bleeding requiring blood transfusion is a common complication, yet preoperative identification of patients at risk for transfusion remains challenging. The objective of this study was to develop a preoperative risk score for blood transfusion requirement during surgery for ICC. Patients undergoing curative-intent liver surgery for ICC (1990-2020) were identified from a multi-institutional database. A predictive model was developed and validated. An easy-to-use risk calculator was made available online. Among 1420 patients, 300 (21.1%) received an intraoperative transfusion. Independent predictors of transfusion included severe preoperative anemia (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.10-2.47), T2 category or higher (OR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.36-3.02), positive lymph nodes (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.32-2.32) and major resection (OR = 2.56, 95%CI 1.85-3.58). Receipt of blood transfusion significantly correlated with worse outcomes. The model showed good discriminative ability in both training (AUC = 0.68, 95% CI 0.66-0.72) and bootstrapping validation (C-index = 0.67, 95% CI 0.65-0.70) cohorts. An online risk calculator of blood transfusion requirement was developed (https://catalano-giovanni.shinyapps.io/TransfusionRisk). Intraoperative blood transfusion was significantly associated with poor postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing surgery for ICC. The identification of patients at high risk of transfusion could improve perioperative patient care and blood resources allocation.

Determinants of Neurological Outcome Following Elective and Emergency Open Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair-A Retrospective Multi-Center Study.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and establish the incidence of all types of neurological complications at our high-volume reference center for open TAAA repair in the Netherlands and Germany. Additionally, we sought to identify predictors for various neurological complications. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in accordance with the STROBE guidelines, with the aim of reporting neurological outcomes for all patients who underwent open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair at two centers (Maastricht-Aachen) from 2000 to 2023, and to examine the association between these outcomes and pre- and perioperative parameters. The primary endpoints of the study were all-cause mortality, spinal cord ischemia (SCI), stroke, intracerebral bleeding (ICB), critical illness polyneuropathy/myopathy (CIP/CIM), and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Results: A total of 577 patients were operated on for open TAAA repair in two centers. The total in-hospital mortality rate was 20.6%, while the elective cases in-hospital mortality rate was 14.6%. In all, 28.2% of patients experienced neurological complications. The spinal cord ischemia rate was 7.5%, intracerebral bleeding 3.6%, stroke 5.9%, critical illness polyneuropathy 3.5%, and laryngeal nerve paresis 5.7%. Crawford extent II was significantly associated with increased neurological complications (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.39-3.03, p = 0.003), while Crawford extent III and IV were significantly associated with fewer postoperative neurological complications (OR 0.61 (0.38-0.98) p = 0.04) (OR 0.52 (0.30-0.92) p = 0.02). Preoperative ASA score > 3 (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.16-2.67, p = 0.007), COPD (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.19-2.78, p = 0.006), massive intraoperative transfusion (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.01-2.17, p = 0.04), and reinterventions during hospital stay (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.36-2.89, p < 0.001) and surgery time (p =< 0.001) were significantly associated with neurological complications. Patients with neurological complications had higher rates of other postoperative morbidities. Conclusions: Neurological complications after open TAAA repair remain a significant concern, with identified risk factors associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and resource utilization. Identifying at-risk patients could potentially lead to a reduction in neurological complications.

The relationship between anesthesia, surgery and postoperative immune function in cancer patients: a review.

This review comprehensively examines the impact of anesthesia and surgical interventions on the immune function of cancer patients postoperatively. Recent studies have shown that surgery and its accompanying anesthesia management can significantly influence immune function in cancer patients, potentially affecting their prognosis. This review synthesizes clinical studies and basic research to summarize the specific effects of anesthesia methods, drugs, postoperative analgesia, intraoperative transfusion, surgical techniques, and trauma extent on the immune function of cancer patients post-surgery. Additionally, this review discusses optimization strategies based on current research, aiming to refine anesthesia and surgical management to maximize the preservation and enhancement of postoperative immune function in cancer patients, with the potential to improve clinical outcomes.

Factors associated with and outcomes of respiratory adverse events following thoracic endovascular aortic repair

ObjectiveRespiratory adverse events (RAEs) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) remain poorly characterized owing to the lack of comprehensive studies that identify individuals prone to these complications. This study aims to determine the incidence, factors associated with, and outcomes of RAEs after TEVAR. MethodsWe identified patients in the Vascular Quality Initiative undergoing TEVAR isolated to zones 0 to 5 from 2010 to 2023 for nontraumatic pathologies. After determining the incidence of postoperative RAEs, we assessed baseline characteristics, pathology, procedural details, and postoperative complications stratified by respiratory complication status: none, pneumonia only, reintubation only, or both. We then examined preoperative and intraoperative variables independently associated with the development of postoperative RAEs using multivariable modified Poisson regression. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine associations between postoperative RAEs and 5-year survival adjusting for preoperative variables and other nonrespiratory postoperative complications in a separate model. ResultsOf 10,708 patients, 8.3% had any RAE (pneumonia only, 2.1%; reintubation only, 4.8%; both, 1.4%). Patients with any RAE were more likely to present with aortic dissection (any respiratory complication, 46% vs no respiratory complication, 35%; P < .001), and be symptomatic (58% vs 48%; P < .001). Developing RAEs after TEVAR was associated with male sex (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.41; P = .037), obesity (aRR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.07-1.61; P = .009), morbid obesity (aRR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.20-2.32; P = .002), renal dysfunction (aRR, estimated glomerular filtration rate 30-45, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.15-1.82; P = .002; estimated glomerular filtration rate <30/hemodialysis, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.37-2.11; P < .001), anemia (aRR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09-1.58; P = .003), aortic diameter >65 mm (aRR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.25-1.89; P < .001), proximal disease in the aortic arch (aRR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.03-1.48; P = .025) or ascending aorta (aRR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.19-2.14; P = .002), acute aortic dissection (aRR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.72-2.63; P < .001), ruptured presentation (aRR, 3.07; 95% CI, 2.43-3.87; P < .001), same-day surgical thoracic branch treatment (aRR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.25-1.82; P < .001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on home oxygen (aRR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.08-2.25; P = .014), limited self-care or bed-bound status (aRR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.45-3.03; P < .001), and intraoperative transfusion (aRR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.47-2.40; P < .001). Patients who developed postoperative RAEs had higher 30-day mortality (27% vs 4%; P < .001) and 5-year mortality than patients without respiratory complications (46% vs 20%; P < .001). After adjusting for preoperative and postoperative variables, the 5-year mortality was higher in patients who developed any postoperative RAE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.8; 95% CI, 1.6, 2.1; P < .001), postoperative pneumonia only (aHR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0, 1.8; P = .046), reintubation only (aHR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.8, 2.6; P < .001) or both (aHR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1, 2.0; P = .008). ConclusionsRAEs after TEVAR are common, more likely to occur in male patients with obesity, renal dysfunction, anemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on home oxygen, acute aortic dissection, ruptured presentation, same-day surgical thoracic branch treatment, who received intraoperative transfusion, and are associated with a two-fold increase in 5-year mortality regardless of the development of other postoperative complications. Considering these factors in assessing the risks and benefits of TEVAR procedures, along with implementing customized postoperative care, can potentially improve clinical outcomes.

Thromboelastography-guided Intraoperative Platelet Transfusion in Pediatric Heart Surgery

BackgroundPostoperative bleeding is associated with significant resource use and is an important contributor to other major adverse events in pediatric patients undergoing complex cardiac surgical procedures. Thromboelastography (TEG; TEG 6S, Haemonetics) can guide perioperative blood product transfusions to reduce the risk of postoperative bleeding. This study validated the use of a previously developed TEG 6S maximum amplitude (TEG-MA)–based platelet transfusion calculator used during cardiac surgical procedures to minimize the risk of postoperative bleeding. MethodsIn this single-center retrospective study of pediatric patients (aged ≤18 years) who underwent cardiac surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass at Boston Children’s Hospital (Boston, MA) (N = 1000), the volume of platelet transfusion administered at surgical team discretion was compared with the platelet calculator–recommended platelet transfusion volume by using linear regression analysis. Associations between the adequacy of perioperative platelet transfusion and postoperative bleeding or thrombotic complications within the first 24 hours postoperatively (bleeding) and until hospital discharge (thrombosis) were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. ResultsLower TEG-MA (≤45 mm) measurements after transfusion were associated with a higher risk for postoperative bleeding (odds ratio, 4.4; 95% CI, 2.6-7.4; P < .01 [significant P value <.05]). The platelet transfusion calculator–recommended platelet transfusion volume (on the basis of TEG-MA measured at the time of rewarming) demonstrated moderate correlation with the measured TEG-MA value after platelet transfusion (Pearson r = 0.7). Intraoperative volumes of platelet transfusion that failed to increase a postoperative TEG-MA of at least 45 mm significantly increased the risk for postoperative bleeding in the first 24 hours after surgical procedures (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.9-5.4; P < .01 [significant P value <.05]). The posttransfusion TEG-MA was not independently associated with thrombosis. ConclusionsCustomizing perioperative platelet transfusion therapy by using quantitative diagnostic tests can help reduce postoperative bleeding complications.

Surgical complications in hepatitis C patients undergoing cholecystectomy

BackgroundHepatitis C (HCV) infection affects more than 2.2 million people in the United States and is associated with liver cirrhosis and gallstone formation. However, cholecystectomy outcomes of patients with and without HCV infection are not well studied. This study aimed to examine the differences in cholecystectomy outcomes among patients with untreated, treated, and no HCV infection history. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single institution that included data of more than 12 years. Patients were excluded if they had a previous chronic hepatitis B or HIV diagnosis. Patients without HCV infection were matched to patients with HCV infection based on age, sex (male or female), and race/ethnicity. ResultsThis study identified 66 patients with untreated HCV infection and 33 patients with treated HCV infection. Furthermore, 324 patients without HCV infection were matched to the cohort HCV infection. The overall postoperative complication rate was 10.9%. There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative complication rates between the groups (P = .71). There was no significant difference in the level of intervention required to treat these complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification (P = .97), postoperative intensive care unit admission (P = .43), or reoperation rate (P = .45). ConclusionDespite having a longer mean length of stay and increased risk of intraoperative blood product transfusion, both patients with untreated HCV infection and those with treated HCV infection had similar rates of postoperative complications and complication severity compared with controls. Our findings suggest that patients with HCV infection tolerate cholecystectomy at a comparable level to patients without HCV infection. The lack of difference in postoperative complication rates between patients with untreated and treated HCV infection indicates that lack of antiviral treatment should not delay cholecystectomy.

Huaxi integrated blood management reduces the red blood cell transfusion for on-pump cardiac surgery: A quasi-experimental study

ObjectiveAs many as half of patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery require red blood cell transfusion, emphasizing the need for effective strategies that can reduce this need. We conducted this analysis to assess the effectiveness of Huaxi Integrated Blood Management strategy at our medical center. DesignBefore and after study. ParticipantsPatients who underwent on-pump cardiac surgery were included from January 2019 to December 2021. Two cohorts were compared, one before implementation of the strategy (1 January 2019 until 31 May 2020) and one after implementation (1 June 2020 until 31 December 2021). MeasurementsWe evaluated temporal trends in blood transfusion, safety, and efficacy of this strategy. Primary outcomes were the incidence and volume of intra- and postoperative blood transfusions of packed red blood cells. Secondary outcomes are intraoperative and postoperative transfusion of other blood products, all-cause mortality during hospitalization, and incidence of new-onset complications. Main resultsOur results demonstrated that this integrated strategy effectively decreased both the perioperative packed red blood cell transfusion volume and incidence for patients who underwent the on-pump cardiac surgery. Following the implementation, the incidence of packed red blood cell transfusions decreased by 8.1% during the intraoperative period and by 12.3% during the postoperative period. The mean volume of such transfusions decreased by 0.28 units during the intraoperative period and by 0.49 units during the postoperative period. Hemoglobin concentrations were significantly higher after implementation, and the maximal mean increase was 4.72 g/l on postoperative day 1. Similar benefit of the strategy was observed across subgroups of patients who underwent different types of surgery. ConclusionsThe Huaxi Integrated Blood Management strategy may be effective at reducing the need for packed red blood cell transfusion and enhancing patient care.

Tranexamic Acid Administration During Liver Transplantation Is Not Associated With Lower Blood Loss or With Reduced Utilization of Red Blood Cell Transfusion.

Current clinical guidelines recommend antifibrinolytic treatment for liver transplantation to reduce blood loss and transfusion utilization. However, the clinical relevance of fibrinolysis during liver transplantation is questionable, a benefit of tranexamic acid (TXA) in this context is not supported by sufficient evidence, and adverse effects are also conceivable. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that use of TXA is associated with reduced blood loss. We performed a retrospective cohort study on patients who underwent liver transplantation between 2004 and 2017 at Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to determine the association between TXA administration and the primary end point intraoperative blood loss and the secondary end point intra- and postoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. For further secondary outcome analyses, the time to the first occurrence of a composite end point of hepatic artery thrombosis, portal vein thrombosis, and thrombosis of the inferior vena cava were analyzed using a univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Data from 779 transplantations were included in the final analysis. The median intraoperative blood loss was 3000 mL (1600-5500 mL). Intraoperative TXA administration occurred in 262 patients (33.6%) with an average dose of 1.4 ± 0.7 g and was not associated with intraoperative blood loss (regression coefficient B, -0.020 [-0.051 to 0.012], P = .226) or any of the secondary end points (intraoperative RBC transfusion; regression coefficient B, 0.023 [-0.006 to 0.053], P = .116), postoperative RBC transfusion (regression coefficient B, 0.007 [-0.032 to 0.046], P = .717), and occurrence of thrombosis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.110 [0.903-1.365], P = .321). Our data do not support the use of TXA during liver transplantation. Physicians should exercise caution and consider individual factors when deciding whether or not to administer TXA.

Use of Low-Dose Platelets in Actively Bleeding Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of a Cardiac Surgery Cohort.

During platelet shortages, many hospitals produce low-dose platelets by splitting a standard platelet unit (>3 × 1011 platelets in the United States) in 2, then providing these low-dose units to patients. While low-dose units were previously found to be effective for prophylactic purposes in patients undergoing chemotherapy in the Prophylactic Platelet Dose (PLADO) trial, their use in actively bleeding patients has not yet been assessed. To assess the use and safety of low-dose platelets in actively bleeding patients. We performed a retrospective review of cardiac surgery cases receiving platelet units for 18 months at 1 hospital. Two cohorts, those receiving only whole-dose platelets (37 cases) and those receiving only low-dose platelets (38 cases), were compared during the intraoperative and the 24-hour perioperative period. Mean number of platelet transfusions, dose of other blood products, estimated blood loss, bleeding complications in index cases, and all-cause mortality within 30 days of discharge were compared. There was no significant difference in mean number of intraoperative platelet transfusions between the cohorts (1.61 versus 1.53, P = .57). There was no significant increase in the transfusion of other blood products, estimated blood loss, bleeding complications in index cases, or all-cause mortality within 30 days of discharge in the low-dose platelet cohort, apart from a small increase in requirement for fresh frozen plasma in the perioperative period. These results suggest that low-dose platelets are tentatively equivalent to whole-dose platelets in cardiac surgery during shortages, with similar transfusion requirements and clinical outcomes between groups. Future multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Pre-transplant Anemia as a Marker of Short-term Outcomes in Lung Transplant Recipients

BackgroundAnemia is a risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in multiple medical conditions, yet the impact of pretransplant anemia in patients with advanced lung disease on post-transplant outcomes remains under-explored. We sought to determine whether pretransplant anemia serves as a marker of altered inflammation in the host and associates with short-term outcomes following lung transplantation. Study Design and MethodsWe performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of 238 lung transplant recipients. We assessed for risk factors of pretransplant anemia and identified associations with short-term post-transplant outcomes. ResultsPretransplant anemia was associated with increased intraoperative transfusion of packed red blood cells and a trend towards increased index hospital length of stay and 1-year mortality. Conversely, pretransplant anemia was associated with a decreased incidence of acute cellular rejection. ConclusionThese preliminary data suggest that anemia may be a biomarker of altered inflammation in the host recipient and influences post-transplant outcomes.

Tranexamic acid reduces perioperative blood transfusions following open radical cystectomy – a propensity-score matched analysis

PurposeRadical cystectomy is associated with bleeding and high transfusion rates, presenting challenges in patient management. This study investigated the prophylactic use of tranexamic acid during radical cystectomy.MethodsAll consecutive patients treated with radical cystectomy at a tertiary care university center were included from a prospectively maintained database. After an institutional change in the cystectomy protocol patients received 1 g of intravenous bolus of tranexamic acid as prophylaxis. To prevent bias, propensity score matching was applied, accounting for differences in preoperative hemoglobin, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, tumor stage, and surgeon experience. Key outcomes included transfusion rates, complications, and occurrence of venous thromboembolism.ResultsIn total, 420 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 35 received tranexamic acid. After propensity score matching, 32 patients and 32 controls were matched with regard to clinicopathologic characteristics. Tranexamic acid significantly reduced the number of patients who received transfusions compared to controls (19% [95%-Confidence interval = 8.3; 37.1] vs. 47% [29.8; 64.8]; p = 0.033). Intraoperative and postoperative transfusion rates were lower with tranexamic acid, though not statistically significant (6% [1.5; 23.2] vs. 19% [8.3; 37.1], and 16% [6.3; 33.7] vs. 38% [21.9; 56.1]; p = 0.257 and p = 0.089, respectively). The occurrence of venous thromboembolism did not differ significantly between the groups (9% [2.9; 26.7] vs. 3% [0.4; 20.9]; p = 0.606).ConclusionProphylactic tranexamic administration, using a simplified preoperative dosing regimen of 1 g as a bolus, significantly lowered the rate of blood transfusion after cystectomy. This exploratory study indicates the potential of tranexamic acid in enhancing outcomes of open radical cystectomy.

Timing of onset of intraoperative transfusion anaphylaxis: a literature review.

Clinical diagnosis of intraoperative transfusion anaphylaxis using clinical symptoms is challenging and should be made carefully, as an incorrect clinical diagnosis can exacerbate surgical bleeding secondary to stopping a clinically indicated blood transfusion. The timing of onset of anaphylaxis to start of transfusion may be the key to correctly diagnosing intraoperative transfusion anaphylaxis clinically. However, the reliability of this measure remains unknown. A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to June 29, 2021. No language restriction was applied. Two pairs of review authors independently reviewed intraoperative transfusion anaphylaxis cases and extracted data on the timing of onset of anaphylaxis to start of transfusion. A total of 8,918 articles were reviewed, the full texts of 186 articles were assessed, and 20 intraoperative transfusion anaphylaxis cases were included in this study. The 20 intraoperative transfusion anaphylaxis cases included a precise timing of onset. With nine cases, cardiovascular surgery was the most prevalent, and one case was fatal. Fifteen cases had a timing of onset in minutes, and of those, 14 reported timeframes within 30 minutes of initiation of transfusion (median: 15.5, 5-30 minutes). Almost all cases of intraoperative transfusion anaphylaxis occurred within 30 minutes of the transfusion initiation. This timeframe may be helpful in the clinical diagnosis of intraoperative transfusion anaphylaxis.

Effectiveness of vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction in open abdomen management.

To determine the effectiveness of vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) in patients undergoing open abdomen management (OAM). Data from cases with OAM for at least five days who were admitted to our institution between January 2011 and December 2020 were included. We compared the patient's age, sex, medical history, indication for initial surgery, APACHE II scores, indication for OAM, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative transfusion, success of primary fascial closure (rectus fascial closure and bilateral anterior rectus abdominis sheath turnover flap method), success of planned ventral hernia, duration of OAM, and in-hospital mortality between patients undergoing VAWCM (VAWCM cases, n = 27) and vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAWC) alone (VAWC cases, n = 25). VAWCM cases had a significantly higher success rate of primary fascial closure (70% vs. 36%, p = 0.030) and lower in-hospital mortality (26% vs. 72%, p = 0.002) than VAWC cases. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that VAWCM was an independent factor influencing in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.14; 95% confidence interval: 0.04-0.53; p = 0.004). VAWCM is associated with an increased rate of successful primary fascial closure and may reduce in-hospital mortality.

Development of a machine learning approach for prediction of red blood cell transfusion in patients undergoing Cesarean section at a single institution

Despite recent advances in surgical techniques and perinatal management in obstetrics for reducing intraoperative bleeding, blood transfusion may occur during a cesarean section (CS). This study aims to identify machine learning models with an optimal diagnostic performance for intraoperative transfusion prediction in parturients undergoing a CS. Additionally, to address model performance degradation due to data imbalance, this study further investigated the variation in predictive model performance depending on the ratio of event to non-event data (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 model datasets and raw data).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC) were evaluated to compare the predictive accuracy of different machine learning algorithms, including XGBoost, K-nearest neighbor, decision tree, support vector machine, multilayer perceptron, logistic regression, random forest, and deep neural network. We compared the predictive performance of eight prediction algorithms that were applied to five types of datasets. The intraoperative transfusion in maternal CS was 7.2% (1020/14,254). XGBoost showed the highest AUROC (0.8257) and AUPRC (0.4825) among the models. The most significant predictors for transfusion in maternal CS as per machine learning models were placenta previa totalis, haemoglobin, placenta previa partialis, and platelets. In all eight prediction algorithms, the change in predictive performance based on the AUROC and AUPRC according to the resampling ratio was insignificant. The XGBoost algorithm exhibited optimal performance for predicting intraoperative transfusion. Data balancing techniques employed to alter the event data composition ratio of the training data failed to improve the performance of the prediction model.

The incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of acute kidney injury in patients after cardiac surgery.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a significant complication following cardiac surgery, associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. Despite its clinical importance, there is a lack of universally applicable and reliable methods for the early identification and diagnosis of AKI. This study aimed to examine the incidence of AKI after cardiac surgery, identify associated risk factors, and evaluate the prognosis of patients with AKI. This retrospective study included adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery at Changhai Hospital between January 7, 2021, and December 31, 2021. AKI was defined according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Perioperative data were retrospectively obtained from electronic health records. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for AKI. The 30-day survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences between survival curves for different AKI severity levels were compared using the log-rank test. Postoperative AKI occurred in 257 patients (29.6%), categorized as stage 1 (179 patients, 20.6%), stage 2 (39 patients, 4.5%), and stage 3 (39 patients, 4.5%). The key independent risk factors for AKI included increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and the volume of intraoperative cryoprecipitate transfusions. The 30-day mortality rate was 3.2%. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a lower survival rate in the AKI group (89.1%) compared to the non-AKI group (100%, P < 0.001). AKI was notably prevalent following cardiac surgery in this study, significantly impacting survival rates. Notably, MPV and administration of cryoprecipitate may have new considerable predictive significance. Proactive identification and management of high-risk individuals are essential for reducing postoperative complications and mortality.

Effects of Fibrinogen Concentrate Supplementation on Postoperative Bleeding in Infants Undergoing Complex Cardiac Surgery.

The use of allogeneic blood products to restore hemostasis during pediatric cardiac surgery is associated with major risks. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in new patient blood management strategies, such as those based on the use of fibrinogen concentrate (FC). Accumulating evidence has shown FC supplementation to be safe and effective. Nevertheless, no guidelines are available on using FC in the pediatric setting, and few objective evaluations have been provided in clinical practice. The endpoint of this monocenterretrospective study was the hemostatic effect of additional FC in infants undergoing complex cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypassto manage persistent clinically relevant bleeding. After weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass and after protamine administration, patients were transfused with conventional allogeneic products such as packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and platelets. In the case of redo surgery, according to the institutional protocol, patients also received tranexamic acid. In case of clinically persistent relevant bleeding, according to the anesthesiologist's judgment and thromboelastography, patients received FC supplementation (group with FC) or further FFP transfusions without receiving FC supplementation (group without FC). The primary endpoint was the hemostatic effects of FC. Secondary endpoints were the functional hypofibrinogenemia threshold value (expressed as maximum amplitude fibrinogen, MA-Fib) and postoperative MA-Fib, fibrinogenemia, intraoperative transfusions, and adverse events (AEs). In total, 139 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB and aged less than 2 years were enrolled: 70 patients received allogeneic blood products and FC supplementation (group FC); 69 patients received allogeneic products without FC supplementation (group without FC). Patients that received FC supplementation were characterized by a significantly longer time of extracorporeal circulation (p < 0.001) and aortic cross-clamping (p < 0.001), a significantly lower minimum temperature (p = 0.011), increased use of concentrated prothrombin complex (p = 0.016) and tranexamic acid (p = 0.010), and a significantly higher amount of packed red blood cells, platelets (p < 0.001) and fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.03). Postoperative bleeding and severe bleeding were not statistically different between patients treated with FC and those not treated with FC supplementation (p = 0.786 and p = 0.695, respectively); after adjustment, a trend toward reduced bleeding can be observed with FC (p = 0.064). Overall, 88% of patients with severe bleeding had MA-Fib < 10 mm; a moderate association between severe bleeding and MA-Fib (odds ratio 1.7, 95% CI 0.5-6.5, p = 0.425) was found. Increased MA-Fib and postoperative fibrinogen were higher in the FC group (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively) than in FFP. AEs in the FC group were comparable to those observed in less complicated surgeries. Our results suggest a potential role of FC in complex surgery in maintaining postoperative bleeding at a level comparable to less complicated surgical procedures and favoring the increase in postoperative MA-Fib and fibrinogen.

Clinical features and prediction of long-term survival after surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

The treatment of perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) poses specific challenges not only due to its high perioperative complication rates but also due its dismal long-term prognosis with only a few long-term survivors (LTS) among the patients. Therefore, in this analysis characteristics and predictors of LTS in pCCA patients are investigated. In this single center analysis, patients undergoing curative-intent liver resection for pCCA between 2010 and 2022 were categorized into long-term and short-term survivors (STS) excluding perioperative mortality. Binary logistic regression was used to determine key differences between the groups and to develop a prognostic composite variable. This composite variable was subsequently tested in the whole cohort of surgically treated pCCA patients using Cox Regression analysis for cancer-specific survival (CSS). Within a cohort of 209 individuals, 27 patients were identified as LTS (median CSS = 125 months) and 55 patients as STS (median CSS = 16 months). Multivariable analysis identified preoperative portal vein infiltration (OR = 5.85, p = 0.018) and intraoperative packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions (OR = 10.29, p = 0.002) as key differences between the groups. A prognostic composite variable based on these two features was created and transferred into a Cox regression model of the whole cohort. Here, the composite variable (HR = 0.35, p<0.001), lymph node metastases (HR = 2.15, p = 0.001) and postoperative complications (HR = 3.06, p<0.001) were identified as independent predictors of CSS. Long-term survival after surgery for pCCA is possible and is strongly negatively associated with preoperative portal vein infiltration and intraoperative PRBC transfusion. As these variables are part of preoperative staging or can be modulated by intraoperative technique, the proposed prognostic composite variable can easily be transferred into clinical management to predict the oncological outcome of patients undergoing surgery for pCCA.

A novel single-port robotic system in urology: a prospective multicenter single-arm clinical trial evaluating feasibility and efficacy of first 50 cases

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of the SHURUI single-port robotic surgical system for a range of major urological surgeries. MethodsIn this prospective, multicenter clinical trial, we examined the effectiveness of the SHURUI surgical system in urological interventions. The first 50 patients from four centers in China underwent single-port surgeries including partial nephrectomy, radical prostatectomy, partial adrenalectomy, and pyeloureteroplasty, exclusively by the SHURUI system. The study's primary endpoints focused on the success of surgeries, gauging this by the absence of deviations from planned procedures, the need for additional ports, or re-operations within a 24-hour period post-surgery. Secondary endpoints encompassed a range of surgical metrics, functional outcomes, and patient demographic data. Clinical assessments were conducted before surgery, before discharge, and 1-month following discharge. ResultsThe surgical procedures were executed successfully without requiring intraoperative conversions or transfusions. Both estimated blood loss and operation durations were maintained within satisfactory limits. For each type of surgery, the mean console times and estimated blood loss were 179.8 (SD 39.4) min and 125.6 (SD 126.0) mL for radical prostatectomy, 126.7 (SD 47.8) min and 39.2 (SD 54.4) mL for partial nephrectomy, 112.6 (SD 37.4) min and 20.0 (SD 13.2) mL for partial adrenalectomy, and 148.0 (SD 18.2) min and 18.0 (SD 17.9) mL for pyeloureteroplasty, respectively. Across the cohort, 17 patients experienced a total of 25 adverse events, while 10 postoperative complications, all rated as Clavien–Dindo Grade I, were encountered by eight patients. All patients had shown recovery or improvement from these events before the end of this trial. ConclusionThe SHURUI single-port robotic system demonstrated feasibility and safety in the performance of major urological surgeries. These initial findings highlight the system's potential, though further research and longer follow-up are required to assess long-term outcomes.