Noncardiac Surgery Research Articles

Pre-operative subjective functional capacity and postoperative outcomes in adult non-cardiac surgery: asystematic review and meta-analysis.

Assessment of functional capacity is an essential part of peri-operative risk stratification. Subjective functional capacity is easier to examine than objective tests of patient fitness. However, the association between subjective functional capacity and postoperative outcomes has not been established. Four databases were searched for studies describing the associations between subjective functional capacity and postoperative outcomes in adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Meta-analysis was conducted among studies where functional capacity was expressed in metabolic equivalents. The primary outcome was postoperative major adverse cardiovascular events. Secondary outcomes were mortality and postoperative overall complications. We estimated the ORs of the outcomes in patients with poor functional capacity (< 4 metabolic equivalents) as compared with those with good functional capacity (≥ 4 metabolic equivalents). Random-effects models were used for the meta-analysis. We identified 7835 abstracts. After screening and a full-text review, 23 studies were selected. Evaluation methods of functional capacity included: questionnaires (n = 7); specific questions (n = 6); and subjective assessment by anaesthetists (n = 5). The probability of major postoperative adverse cardiovascular events was significantly higher in patients with poor functional capacity (OR 1.84, 95%CI 1.62-2.08) than in those with good functional capacity. Patients with poor functional capacity also had higher odds of mortality (OR 2.48, 95%CI 1.45-4.25) and postoperative complications (OR 1.85, 95%CI 1.34-2.55). Subjective functional capacity of < 4 metabolic equivalents was associated with postoperative complications including cardiovascular events and other serious outcomes. The results need to be interpreted with caution due to the diverse measures used to assess functional capacity.

Implications of packed red bloods cells production and transfer on post transfusion hemoglobin increase.

Blood loss resulting in severe anemia is the most common indication for postoperative allogenic red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. In high-income countries, the majority of transfusions is received by elderly patients. Preservatives extend the storage of RBCs, though concerns exist about potential harm from transfusing older RBCs. This study tested the hypothesis that RBC storage duration effects hemoglobin increase in patients older than 70years who underwent non-cardiac surgery. Observations on surgical cohorts from two study sites of the LIBERAL-Trial were collected. Transfusion events and hemoglobin between 2018 and 2022 assessments in addition to manufacturing and product specific quality review information were evaluated. A total of 1626 transfusion events in 505 patients were analyzed. A linear mixed effects model was used to estimate the effect size of different predictors on hemoglobin increment upon red blood cell transfusion. No statistically significant effect of the RBC unit storage duration was found. Confounding variables resulting in higher hemoglobin increase included lower hemoglobin values prior to transfusion, the length of Hb measurement intervals before and after transfusion, as well as the method of RBC cell separation in line with different manufacturer hemoglobin values. The aspired increase in hemoglobin can be achieved with red blood cell concentrates of any storage duration. In general, elderly patients exhibit a sufficient hemoglobin rise following transfusion. However, if this is associated with improved outcomes cannot be answered.

Efficacy of Cerebral Oxygen Saturation Monitoring for Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorder in Adult Noncardiac Surgical Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Perioperative neurocognitive disorders are common perioperative complications associated with various poor outcomes. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) monitoring is a noninvasive technique based on near-infrared spectroscopy detection. Due to the considerable controversy among currently published studies on the application of intraoperative rSO2 monitoring in adult patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery, this study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide more comprehensive and robust evidence to support clinical decision-making. This study conducted a systematic literature search of databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science, from their inception to May 1, 2024. The eligible randomized controlled trials included adult patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia who received optimized anesthesia management guided by rSO2 monitoring and those in the control group who received routine anesthesia management under standard monitoring or blinded rSO2 monitoring. The primary outcomes were the incidence of perioperative neurocognitive disorders, including postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of intraoperative cerebral desaturation and length of hospital stay (LOS). The pooled results showed that compared to the control group, optimized anesthesia management guided by intraoperative rSO2 monitoring significantly reduced the incidence of POCD within 7days postoperatively and may reduce the incidence of POCD at 3months and longer periods postoperatively. However, it may not reduce the incidence of POD within 7days or longer periods postoperatively, improve MMSE scores, reduce the incidence of intraoperative cerebral desaturation, or shorten LOS. Given the substantial heterogeneity in the pooled results for MMSE scores within 7days postoperatively and LOS, and the limited number of studies reporting the incidence of POD, POCD, and MMSE scores after 7days postoperatively, the related results should be interpreted with caution. Despite the presence of heterogeneity and the inclusion of a limited number of studies for some outcomes, it is still recommended that clinical anesthesiologists routinely perform intraoperative rSO2 monitoring and optimize intraoperative anesthesia management based on the monitoring results to maximize rSO2 and improve cerebral perfusion, thereby improving patients' neurocognitive outcomes. Further large-scale, high-quality studies are needed to confirm the conclusions of this study.

Differences in Postoperative Disposition by Kidney Disease Severity: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

People with advanced kidney disease undergo more non-cardiac operations compared to the general population, with a higher risk of perioperative cardiac events and death. However, little is known about the associations between severity of preoperative kidney dysfunction with postoperative length of hospitalization and discharge disposition; these were the focus of this study. Population-based retrospective cohort. Adults from Alberta, Canada undergoing inpatient major noncardiac surgery between April 2005 and February 2019. Categorical preoperative outpatient estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or kidney failure status. Length of stay (LOS), days alive at home after surgery within 30 and 90 days, and discharge disposition location. Associations were estimated with unadjusted and adjusted generalized estimating equation models. 927,560 inpatient surgeries in 666,770 people (55.9% female, median age 57.4 years) were identified. People receiving dialysis had the longest LOS (11 days [95% CI 6, 29), 2 times greater than that among people with normal kidney function (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] 2.21 [95% CI 2.10, 2.32]). This group also had the fewest days alive at home within the first 30 days after surgery, with an IRR of 0.69 (95% CI 0.67, 0.70) compared to people with normal eGFR. The majority of people (82.8%) were discharged home without nursing support after surgery, though people receiving dialysis were discharged to a facility with 24-hour nursing care nearly 4 times more often. There were graded increases in risks of these outcomes with lower levels of kidney function. Many people did not have preoperative kidney function assessed, reflecting standard clinical practice in the general population. After major surgery, people with kidney disease spend more time recovering in hospital and have less independence from post-discharge nursing supports than otherwise similar patients who have normal or near normal kidney function. These differences were more pronounced for those with the most severe stages of kidney disease.

Adaption and validation of the Greek version of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III scale as a screening tool for perioperative cognitive impairment detection.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction constitutes an extremely prevalent implication in individuals subjected to cardiac or non-cardiac surgery. This study aims to assess the validity and reliability of a culturally adapted Greek version of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III) scale as a screening tool for perioperative neurocognitive status determination in elderly surgical patients. A cross-cultural adaptation and validation of instruments throughout the a cross-sectional study was conducted. The study sample consisted of 128 individuals over 55 years old scheduled for surgical intervention. All participants were screened twice; at the preadmission clinic and the day before surgery using the already established MoCA scale and the culturally adapted Greek version of the ACE-III scale. Subjects with a MoCA score of < 26 constituted the cognitively impaired group. Regarding construct validity, ACE-III's performance in detecting cognitive impairment was excellent (AUC =0.942; 95%CI 0.899-0.971). Convergent validity between ACE-III and MoCA scales was excellent (r= 0.876; 95%CI 0.839-0.905). Known group validity was confirmed since advanced age and lower educational attainment adversely impacted ACE-III's total score (p<0.001). Additionally, specialists suggested face validity (mean 8.7 out of 10, SD 1.1). In terms of reliability, ACE-III demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.786) and high inter-rater (ICC=0.936 [95%CI 0.921-0.941]) and test-retest reliability (ICC=0.972 (95%CI 0.958-0.981). The Greek version of ACE-III is a valid, and reliable screening tool that could be routinely employed perioperatively as a valid alternative to the MoCA test to distinguish the mild cognitively impaired from healthy elderly candidates for surgical interventions.

Association of Frailty with Intraoperative Complications in Older Patients Undergoing Elective Non-Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Frailty is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for adverse outcomes in older surgical patients undergoing surgery. We investigated the association between frailty and intraoperative complications using multiple frailty assessment tools in older patients undergoing elective intermediate- to high-risk non-cardiac surgery. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 637 older patients scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery. Frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), FRAIL scale, and modified Frailty Index-11 (mFI-11). The predictive ability of frailty tools was analyzed and compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Frailty was significantly associated with higher intraoperative complication rates (FRAIL scale: p = 0.01; mFI-11: p = 0.046). Patients considered frail using the mFI-11 were more likely to have unplanned intensive care unit admissions (p < 0.001). Those classified as frail by the FRAIL scale and mFI-11 had significantly higher rates of vasopressor/inotrope use (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively) and mechanical ventilation (p = 0.033 and p = 0.007, respectively). In the univariate analysis, frailty measured using the FRAIL scale was significantly associated with intraoperative complications (odds ratio [OR], 2.41; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33-4.38; p = 0.004); this association was not significant in the multivariate analysis (adjusted OR, 1.69; 95% CI: 0.83-3.43; p = 0.148; AUC = 0.550). Atrial fibrillation, hemoglobin levels, anesthesia type, and surgical subspecialty were stronger predictors of intraoperative complications. Conclusions: Frailty assessments demonstrate the limited predictive ability for intraoperative complications. Specific comorbidities, surgical techniques, and anesthesia types play more critical roles. Comprehensive preoperative evaluations integrating frailty with broader risk stratification methods are necessary to enhance patient outcomes and ensure safety.

Impact of physical and cognitive frailty on long-term mortality in older patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery

Impact of physical and cognitive frailty on long-term mortality in older patients undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery

Safety and Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid in General Surgery

Perioperative bleeding is common in general surgery. The POISE-3 (Perioperative Ischemic Evaluation-3) trial demonstrated efficacy of prophylactic tranexamic acid (TXA) compared with placebo in preventing major bleeding without increasing vascular outcomes in noncardiac surgery. To determine the safety and efficacy of prophylactic TXA, specifically in general surgery. Subgroup analyses were conducted that compared randomized treatment with TXA vs placebo according to whether patients underwent general surgery or nongeneral surgery in the POISE-3 blinded, international, multicenter randomized clinical trial. Participants were 45 years or older, were undergoing noncardiac surgery, had increased cardiovascular risk, and were expected to require at least an overnight hospital admission after surgery. Among 26 581 eligible patients identified, 17 046 were excluded, resulting in 9535 patients randomized to the POISE-3 trial. Participants were enrolled from June 2018 through July 2021. The data were analyzed during December 2023. Prophylactic, 1-g bolus of intravenous TXA or placebo at the start and end of surgery. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of life-threatening bleeding, major bleeding, or bleeding into a critical organ. The primary safety outcome was a composite of myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery, nonhemorrhagic stroke, peripheral arterial thrombosis, or symptomatic proximal venous thromboembolism at 30 days. Cox proportional hazards models were conducted, incorporating tests of interaction. Among 9535 POISE-3 participants, 3260 underwent a general surgery procedure. Mean age was 68.6 (SD, 9.6) years, 1740 were male (53.4%), and 1520 were female (46.6%). Among general surgery patients, 8.0% and 10.5% in the TXA and placebo groups, respectively, had the primary efficacy outcome (hazard ratio [HR], 0.74; 95% CI, 0.59-0.93; P = .01) and 11.9% and 12.5% in the TXA and placebo groups, respectively, had the primary safety outcome (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.78-1.16; P = .63). There was no significant interaction by type of surgery (general surgery vs nongeneral surgery) on the primary efficacy (P for interaction = .81) and safety (P for interaction = .37) outcomes. Across subtypes of general surgery, TXA decreased the composite bleeding outcome in hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.34-0.91 [n = 332]) and colorectal surgery (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45-0.98 [n = 940]). There was no significant interaction across subtypes of general surgery (P for interaction = .68). In this study, TXA significantly reduced the risk of perioperative bleeding without increasing cardiovascular risk in patients undergoing general surgery procedures. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03505723.

Perioperative Risk: Short Review of Current Approach in Non Cardiac Surgery.

The rate of major surgery is constantly increasing worldwide, and approximately 85% are non-cardiac surgery. More than half of patients over 45 years presenting for non-cardiac surgical interventions have cardiovascular risk factors, and the most common: chronic coronary syndrome and history of stroke. The preoperative cardiovascular risk is determined by the comorbidities, the clinical condition before the intervention, the urgency, duration or type. Cardiovascular risk scores are necessary tools to prevent perioperative cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and the most frequently used are Lee/RCRI (Revised Cardiac Risk Index), APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation), POSSUM (Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enumeration of Mortality and Morbidity), The American University of Beirut (AUB)-HAS2. To reduce the perioperative risk, there is a need for an appropriate preoperative risk assessment, as well as the choice of the type and timing of surgical intervention. Quantification of surgical risk as low, intermediate, and high is useful in identifying the group of patients who are at risk of complications such as myocardial infarction, thrombosis, arrhythmias, heart failure, stroke or even death. Currently there are not enough studies that can differentiate the risk according to gender, race, elective versus emergency procedure, the value of cardiac biomarkers.

ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INJURY AFTER SURGICAL LUNG RESECTION: INCIDENCE, CLINICAL FEATURES, PREDICTORS

HighlightsAcute perioperative myocardial injury develops in 38.5% of patients with non – small cell lung cancer and is associated with the ThRCRI major cardiac events risk index, preoperative hemoglobin level and postoperative heart rate. Aim. To determine the incidence and predictors of acute myocardial injury after surgical treatment of patients with non – small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods. The study included 104 men aged 63.0 [58–67] years who underwent lung resection for NSCLC. Blood levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were determined before and 24 and 48 hours after surgery. Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) was diagnosed when postoperative cTnI increased &gt; 99th percentile of the upper reference limit. Two patients with elevated cTnI of non-ischemic origin were excluded from the analysis. In groups with and without MINS, clinical parameters were compared and their relationships with the MINS development were assessed using univariate regression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent MINS predictors. ROC curves were constructed and threshold values of quantitative variables associated with the study outcome were determined.Results. MINS was diagnosed in 40 patients (38.5%). In 36 of them, the cTnI increase was asymptomatic. Among patients with MINS, in contrast to the group without MINS, the share of pneumonectomy, heart rate (HR) after surgery and the cardiac events risk index ThRCRI were higher, as well as hemoglobin level before surgery was lower. Using multiple logistic regression, a combination of factors that provides the greatest accuracy in predicting MINS was identified: ThRCRI index ≥ 1 (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 5.85, 95% confidence interval [1.41–24.28]), hemoglobin before surgery (OR 0.68 [0.5–0.91] for every 10 g/L), HR after surgery (OR 1.99 [1.26–3.13] for every 10 min–1). Threshold levels were established for hemoglobin before surgery (135 g/L), below which the OR for MINS was 2.54 [1.12–5.75], and postoperative HR (88 min–1), above which the OR for MINS was 2.64 [1.16–5.99].Conclusion. The incidence of acute myocardial injury after NSCLC surgery is 38.5%. In 90% of cases the MINS was asymptomatic. A mathematical model was created and following independent predictors of MINS were established: ThRCRI index ≥ 1, hemoglobin level before and heart rate after the surgery. At a threshold hemoglobin value &lt; 135 g/L and HR&gt;88 min–1, the risk of MINS increases significantly.

Prophylactic pharmacological interventions against perioperative respiratory adverse events in children undergoing noncardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Perioperative respiratory adverse event (PRAE) is one of the most common complications in pediatric anesthesia. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative pharmacological interventions to prevent the development of PRAE in children undergoing noncardiac surgery. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) of prophylactic pharmacological interventions for PRAE among surgical children from inception to 5 August 2024. Pairwise meta-analyses were conducted to compare the effects of an intervention with placebo or another intervention on overall PRAE and their subtypes, including laryngospasm, bronchospasm, oxygen desaturation, airway obstruction, coughing and stridor. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Seven categories of prophylactic interventions were identified. Twenty-nine RCTs with 4452 children were included. Compared with placebo, lidocaine reduced the odds ratio (OR) of overall PRAE ( 0.27 [95% CI] [0.17, 0.42]) and laryngospasm (0.38 [0.22, 0.67]); dexmedetomidine reduced the OR of PRAE (0.31 [0.12, 0.76]), laryngospasm (0.31 [0.10, 0.91]), coughing (0.24 [0.14, 0.41]) and oxygen desaturation (0.54 [0.35, 0.84]); β2-adrenoreceptor agonists reduced the OR of PRAE (0.45 [0.24, 0.83]), coughing (0.36 [0.13, 0.95]) and oxygen desaturation (0.66 [0.45, 0.98]). Compared with sevoflurane induction, intravenous propofol induction lowered the OR of PRAE (0.35 [0.16, 0.74]), laryngospasm (0.17 [0.06, 0.48]) and airway obstruction (0.32 [0.17, 0.63]). The meta-analysis demonstrated prophylactic potential of lidocaine, dexmedetomidine, β2-adrenoreceptor agonists and propofol induction technique against PRAE, but it should be interpreted cautiously due to inconsistent PRAE definition and correlation of subtypes within the composite outcome. PROSPERO (CRD42020220028). Registered 11 December 2020. Updated 3 September 2024.

Chronic kidney disease as a predictor of long-term adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with aortoiliac disease: a prospective cohort study.

Aortoiliac disease poses a significant cardiovascular (CV) risk, especially in individuals with chronic kidney disease. This study aimed to assess the predictive role of chronic kidney disease in long-term major adverse CV events in patients submitted to aortoiliac revascularization due to severe aortoiliac atherosclerotic disease. From 2013 to 2023, patients who underwent aortoiliac revascularization for TASC II type D lesions, including those with chronic kidney disease, were selected from a prospective cohort study. Demographic, clinical, and postoperative data were collected. Prognostic factors were evaluated for their independent impact on outcomes using survival analysis with a multivariate Cox regression model. The study included 135 patients, 93.3% male, with a mean age of 62.39±9.20 years. Chronic kidney disease was associated with higher prevalence of short-term myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (54.5%, P=0.014) and was a long-term predictor of acute heart failure (Hazard Ratio=4.884; 95% confidence interval 2.377-22.802; P=0.007), major adverse CV events (HR 2.992; 95% CI 1.498-5.975, P=0.002) and all-cause mortality (HR 3.296; 95% CI 1.626-6.682, P<0.001). The multivariable analysis revealed significant associations between major adverse CV events and the following predictors: chronic kidney disease (adjusted HR=2.416, 95% CI 1.171-4.984, P=0.017) and congestive heart failure (adjusted HR=2.633, 95% CI 1.233-5.623, P=0.012). Chronic kidney disease is a recognized CV risk factor and an independent predictor of long-term acute heart failure, major adverse CV events, and all-cause mortality. These findings underscore the importance of early identification of CV complications and stricter long-term follow-up for chronic kidney disease patients undergoing aortoiliac revascularization.

The association between preoperative anemia and postoperative mortality among non-cardiac surgical patients in Northwest Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study

IntroductionIn a low-income country, the impact of preoperative anemia on postoperative mortality among noncardiac surgery patients is little understood. As a result, we aim to investigate the association between preoperative anemia and postoperative mortality in noncardiac surgery patients in Northwest Ethiopia.MethodsThis is a prospective follow-up study of 3506 noncardiac surgery patients who were included in the final analysis between June 1, 2019, and July 1, 2021. We used a propensity score-match analysis to group anemic and non-anemic patients. The propensity score match analysis took into account age, gender, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, urgency of surgery, and trauma. Patients with and without preoperative anemia were divided into a 1:1 ratio in a propensity score balance. The association between preoperative anemia and postoperative mortality was determined using adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence interval.ResultsThis study included 3506 noncardiac surgery patients, of which 1532 (43.7%) had preoperative anemia. The propensity score-matching results reveal that one-to-one nearest neighbour propensity score matching without replacement was successful for 1351 pairs of surgical patients. The postoperative 28-day mortality rate for anemic patients was 53 (3.9%), with (OR:1.63; 95% CI: 1.05–2.54).ConclusionThe study found that patients undergoing noncardiac surgery in Northwest Ethiopia had a higher rate of preoperative anemia than those in high-income countries. Preoperative anemia had a significant association with 28-day mortality after surgery.

Noncardiac surgery for severe pulmonary hypertension: two surgeries in one patient and a review of the literature

Noncardiac surgery for severe pulmonary hypertension: two surgeries in one patient and a review of the literature

Mortality prediction after major surgery in a mixed population through machine learning: a multi-objective symbolic regression approach.

Understanding 1-year mortality following major surgery offers valuable insights into patient outcomes and the quality of peri-operative care. Few models exist that predict 1-year mortality accurately. This study aimed to develop a predictive model for 1-year mortality in patients undergoing complex non-cardiac surgery using a novel machine-learning technique called multi-objective symbolic regression. A single-institution database of patients undergoing major elective surgery with previous cardiopulmonary exercise testing was divided into three datasets: pre-operative clinical data; cardiorespiratory and physiological data; and combined. A multi-objective symbolic regression model was developed and compared against existing models. Model performance was evaluated using the F1 score. Shapley additive explanations analysis was used to identify the major contributors to model performance. From 2145 patients in the database, 1190 were included, with 952 in the training dataset and 238 in the test dataset. Median (IQR [range]) age was 71 (61-79 [45-89]) years and 825 (69%) were male. The multi-objective symbolic regression model demonstrated robust consistency with an F1 score of 0.712. Shapleyadditive explanations analysis indicated that ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide, oxygen at peakexercise and BMI influenced model performance most significantly, surpassing surgery type and named comorbidities. This study confirms the feasibility of developing a multi-objective symbolic regression-based model for predicting 1-year postoperative mortality in a mixed non-cardiac surgical population. The model's strong performance underscores the critical role of physiological data, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness, in surgical risk assessment and emphasises the importance of pre-operative optimisation to identify and manage high-risk patients. The multi-objective symbolic regression model demonstrated high sensitivity and a good F1 score, highlighting its potential as an effective tool for peri-operative risk prediction.

Comparative evaluation of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in infants after non-cardiac surgery: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Literature regarding the advantages of HFNC in infants for ensuring oxygen supply after non-cardiac surgery is insufficient. The purpose of our study is to compare COT vs. HFNC on postoperative outcomes in infants undergoing non-cardiac surgery. We hypothesize that prophylactic use of HFNC after non-cardiac surgery in infants would reduce the incidence of post-anesthesia hypoxemia and could also be adapted as first-line oxygen therapy after non-cardiac surgery. This is a superior, single-blind, randomized controlled study. A total of 394 infants undergoing general anesthesia will be randomly assigned to accept COT or HFNC in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is the rate of desaturation post-extubation. Secondary outcomes include the rate of mild upper airway obstruction, the rate of severe respiratory depression, the rate of transfer to PICU, duration of oxygen therapy, length of PACU stay, the time to reach full enteral feeding, and postoperative adverse events, including nasal injury, agitation, vomiting, and unplanned secondary surgery related to the initial surgery. This is the first randomized controlled trial to explore the advantages of HFNC in infants to ensure oxygen supply after non-cardiac surgery. If favorable evidence is obtained, HFNC could be adopted as first-line oxygen therapy for infants following non-cardiac surgery. The trial was registered at https://www.chictr.org.cn (Registration number: ChiCTR2400081600, Date: March 6, 2024).

Unlocking insights: Cardiac ultrasound's impact on non-cardiac surgery

Unlocking insights: Cardiac ultrasound's impact on non-cardiac surgery

Transfusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma and Coagulation Factors - Indications, Practice and Complications

After severe trauma, but also perioperatively, massive bleeding is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In severely injured patients, hemorrhagic shock remains to be the main cause of death in addition to traumatic brain hemorrhage. In non-cardiac surgery, a surgical bleeding complication increases perioperative morbidity (intensive care length of stay, acute renal failure, infections, thromboembolic complications) by a factor of three to four and mortality by a factor of six. In cardiac surgery, postoperative bleeding requiring surgical revision is associated with a 50% increase in mortality. One possible therapeutic approach is the transfusion of erythrocytes to plasma in a fixed ratio. This practice of untargeted coagulation therapy is mainly used in the USA and some Scandinavian countries. Mortality is significantly worse in the USA than in central Europe, particularly in the case of severe injuries. There is increasing evidence that targeted coagulation therapy with coagulation factor concentrates based on the results of point-of-care coagulation diagnostics is more effective and associated with fewer transfusion- and bleeding-related complications.

Different measures of ventilatory efficiency in preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing are useful for predicting postoperative complications in abdominal cancer surgery.

Ventilation as a function of elimination of CO2 during incremental exercise (VE/VCO2 slope) has been shown to be a valuable predictor of complications and death after major non-cardiac surgery. VE/VCO2 slope and partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2) are both affected by ventilation/perfusion mismatch, but research on the utility of PetCO2 for risk stratification in major abdominal surgery is limited. We aimed to determine the correlation between VE/VCO2 slope and PetCO2 measured during preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and its association with major cardiopulmonary complications (MCPCs) or death following oesophageal and other major abdominal cancer surgeries. In a retrospective cohort of 116 patients undergoing preoperative CPET 2008-2023, VE/VCO2 slope and PetCO2 (kPa) were recorded. The main outcome was MCPC during hospitalisation or death ≤90 days of surgery. We determined threshold values for each measure, corresponding to 90% specificity, using receiver operating characteristics analysis. A strong negative correlation was found between PetCO2 after a 5-minute warm-up and VE/VCO2 slope (Pearson r = -.88). In oesophagus cancer, VE/VCO2 slope >38 and PetCO2 < 4.1 kPa (30.8 mmHg) were both significant thresholds for the main outcome. For other major abdominal surgery patients, threshold analyses were non-significant. The area under the curve to predict outcome was similar using VE/VCO2 slope (0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.51-0.89) as compared to PetCO2 (0.71, 0.53-0-90). Both preoperative VE/VCO2 slope and PetCO2 could identify subjects with a very high risk of complications following oesophageal resection, with similar prognostic utility. PetCO2 can be measured with simpler equipment and could therefore be useful when CPET is not available.

Perioperative Challenges in a Multi Anomalous Child with Corrected Congenital Cyanotic Heart Disease Posted for Noncardiac Surgery – What We Need to Know?

Perioperative Challenges in a Multi Anomalous Child with Corrected Congenital Cyanotic Heart Disease Posted for Noncardiac Surgery – What We Need to Know?