Occurrence Of Medical Complications Research Articles

GET-UP Trial 1-year results: long-term impact of an early mobilization protocol on functional performance after surgery for chronic subdural hematoma.

Evidence on timing for mobilization after chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) surgery is heterogeneous, and practices differ considerably among neurosurgical centers. The Impact of an Early Out-of-Bed Paradigm in Postoperative Outcomes of Chronic Subdural Hematomas: GET-UP Randomized Prospective Trial (GET-UP Trial) is a randomized clinical trial comparing a postoperative early mobilization protocol to bed rest. Previously reported results at clinical discharge and 1 month after surgery indicated a decreased risk of medical complications in the early mobilization group. Herein, the authors report outcomes at the 1-year follow-up. The GET-UP Trial is a prospective, randomized, unicentric, open-label study with an intention-to-treat primary analysis designed to evaluate the impact of an early mobilization protocol after burr hole craniostomy for cSDH on the occurrence of medical complications and functional outcomes. Between January 2019 and August 2021, a total of 208 patients were recruited and randomized to either an early mobilization group, in which patients began elevation of the head of the bed within the first 12 hours after surgery, or to a bed rest group, in which patients remained recumbent for 48 hours. Outcomes assessed at the 1-year follow-up included functional status as measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) and repeat surgery for hematoma recurrence (surgical recurrence). A total of 203 patients completed 1 year of follow-up: 101 in the bed rest group and 102 in the early mobilization group. No significant baseline pre-randomization clinical differences were observed between the two management groups. At 1 year after surgery, a favorable functional outcome, defined as a GOSE score ≥ 5, was observed in 59 patients (58.4%) in the bed rest group and 78 (76.5%) in the early mobilization group (p = 0.006). Death occurred in 25 patients (24.8%) in the bed rest group and 16 (15.7%) in the early mobilization group (p = 0.108). Surgical recurrence was noted in 6 patients (5.9%) in the bed rest group and 7 (6.9%) in the early mobilization group (p = 0.788). Multivariate analysis showed an independent association between early mobilization and an increase in favorable functional outcomes (OR 2.006, 95% CI 1.076-3.739, p = 0.028). The GET-UP Trial is the first randomized clinical trial assessing the impact of mobilization strategies on medical complications after burr hole craniostomy for cSDH. Regarding functional results 1 year after surgery, early mobilization was associated with an improvement in functional outcomes without an increase in surgical recurrence. These findings support the preference for an early mobilization protocol in cSDH patients over mandatory bed rest strategies.

238 Quality of Life After Chronic Subdural Hematoma Surgery—GET-UP Randomized Clinical Trial's 1 Year Results

INTRODUCTION: Timing for mobilization after chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) surgery is highly heterogeneous among neurosurgical centers around the world. Nonetheless, there is a scarcity of high-quality evidence addressing this question. METHODS: A total of 208 patients were randomized to either an early mobilization group (EMG), where mobilization is required within the first 12 hours post-op; or to a bed rest group (BRG) where they remain recumbent for 48 hours after surgery. All 208 patients were interviewed by telephone one year after surgery. A score of 16 or more in the Mini Mental State Examination was mandatory for study inclusion. Quality of life was assessed by applying the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: A total of 134 patients (73 in the EMG and 61 in the BRG) were included. EMG patients performed significantly better in six of the eight domains of SF-36 questionnaire. The mean scores obtained were, in the EMG and in the BRG, respectively, 73.4 and 61.7 in the Physical Functioning (p = 0.017); 88.6 and 75.8 in the Social Functioning (p = 0.004); 67.6 and 61.4 in Mental Health (p = 0.029); 87.4 and 78.6 in Emotional Performance (p = 0.036); 61.2 and 50.4 in Vitality (p = 0.011); and 58.5 and 47.1 in General Health (p = 0.007). In the two remaining dimensions, Physical Performance and Body Pain, results were also superior in the EMG but without statistical significance. Quality of life was negatively impacted by the occurrence of medical complications, with the Physical Performance domain reaching statistical significance (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: GET-UP trial’s results argue strongly towards an early mobilization protocol, as this strategy leads to a significant improvement in the quality of life of patients after cSDH surgery.

A Multicentre, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Phase 2b Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of MaaT033, an Oral, Pooled Microbiome Ecosystem Therapy in Patients Undergoing Allogenic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation to Improve Overall Survival: The Phoebus Trial

Background and significance: Allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is a well-established therapy for various life-threatening hematologic malignancies. The use of alloHCT is constantly increasing, with nearly 20 000 transplantations reported to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) per year. However, this treatment is limited by high morbidity and mortality, mainly related to relapse, infection, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), and conditioning-related toxicity. Several pioneering studies have shown that the diversity of the gut microbiota of patients not only correlates with the occurrence of medical complications after alloHCT, including GvHD (Jenq et al. 2012, Stein-Thoeringer et al. 2019) and bloodstream infections (Taur et al. 2012), but also with relapse of the underlying disease (Peled et al. 2017). Gut microbiota diversity restoration with fecal microbiotherapy could be an effective treatment to improve patients' clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS) after alloHCT, through the prevention and resolution of gut microbiota dysbiosis. MaaT033 is a freeze-dried, full-ecosystem, high-diversity, fecal microbiota medicinal product, formulated as delayed-release capsules and derived from pooled allogenic human fecal material. The PHOEBUS trial is a phase 2b study to evaluate the efficacy of MaaT033 in improving survival of adult alloHCT patients (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05762211) Study design and Methods: 387 subjects aged ≥ 50 years with hematologic malignancies for which an alloHCT is indicated will be randomized 1:1 to receive either MaaT033 (experimental arm) or placebo (control arm) before initiation of the conditioning regimen and after hematopoietic recovery following alloHCT. Stratification of patients will be performed based on disease risk index (low-intermediate versus high-very high) and donor-host compatibility (HLA-identical versus HLA-mismatch). Inclusion criteria include age ≥ 50 years, alloHCT with a reduced-toxicity or reduced-intensity conditioning regimen, neutrophils > 0.5 G/L, and administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics within the last 90 days prior to inclusion. Exclusion criteria comprise non-myeloablative conditioning regimen, conventional myeloablative conditioning regimen, in-vitro T-cell depletion, alloHCT with cord blood cells, alloHCT from an unrelated donor with ≥ 3/10 HLA-mismatches, use of alemtuzumab, vedolizumab or abatacept for GvHD prophylaxis, history of chronic digestive disease. The primary endpoint is to evaluate OS at 12 months after randomization. Secondary endpoints will include evaluation of the safety of MaaT033, GvHD-free survival, cumulative incidence of acute GvHD and chronic GvHD, non-relapse mortality, relapse-free survival, GvHD-free, relapse-free survival, the proportion of patients with severe infections, gut microbiota composition, and quality of life. Exploratory endpoints will describe the impact of MaaT013 on immune recovery, the nutritional status of the patients, and resource utilization. Patients will receive MaaT033 or placebo (3 capsules per day) for 1 week before the start of the conditioning regimen. Experimental treatment (3 capsules per day) will be resumed at neutrophil recovery and pursued up to 90 days after alloHCT. Patients will be followed monthly up to 6 months post alloHCT and then every 3 months up to 12 months. The study is approved in France and Germany; expansion to other countries is planned for 2024. Study start is expected in September 2023.

Impact of an early mobilization protocol on the reduction of medical complications after surgery for chronic subdural hematoma: the GET-UP Trial.

Timing of mobilization after chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) surgery is highly heterogeneous among neurosurgical centers. Past studies have suggested that early mobilization may reduce medical complications without increasing recurrence, but evidence remains scarce. The purpose of this study was to compare an early mobilization protocol with a 48-hour bed rest practice, with a focus on the occurrence of medical complications. The GET-UP Trial is a prospective, randomized, unicentric, open-label study with an intention-to-treat primary analysis designed to evaluate the impact of an early mobilization protocol after burr hole craniostomy for cSDH on the occurrence of medical complications and functional outcomes. A total of 208 patients were recruited and randomly assigned to either an early mobilization group where they began head-of-bed elevation within the first 12 hours after surgery and proceeded to sedestation, orthostatism, and/or walking as rapidly as tolerated, or to a bed rest group where they remained recumbent with a head-of-bed angle inferior to 30° for 48 hours after surgery. The primary outcome was the occurrence of a medical complication (defined as either an infection, seizure, or thrombotic event) after surgery and until clinical discharge. Secondary outcomes included length of stay measured from randomization to clinical discharge, surgical hematoma recurrence at clinical discharge and 1 month after surgery, and Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) assessment at clinical discharge and 1 month after surgery. A total of 104 patients were randomly assigned to each group. No significant baseline clinical differences were observed before randomization. The primary outcome occurred in 36 (34.6%) patients included in the bed rest group and 20 (19.2%) in the early mobilization group (p = 0.012). At 1 month after surgery, a favorable functional outcome (defined as GOSE score ≥ 5) was observed in 75 (72.1%) patients in the bed rest group and 85 (81.7%) in the early mobilization group (p = 0.100). Surgical recurrence occurred in 5 (4.8%) patients in the bed rest group and 8 (7.7%) in the early mobilization group (p = 0.390). The GET-UP Trial is the first randomized clinical trial to assess the impact of mobilization strategies on medical complications after burr hole craniostomy for cSDH. Early mobilization was associated with a reduction in medical complications without a significant effect on surgical recurrence, compared with a 48-hour bed rest protocol.

Heart Rate Variability in Children with Moderate and Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prospective Observational Study

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of continuous monitoring of heart rate variability (HRV) in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and collect preliminary data on the association between HRV, neurological outcome, and complications. This is a prospective observational cohort study in a tertiary academic PICU. Children admitted to the PICU ≤24 hours after moderate or severe TBI were included in the study. Children suspected of being brain dead at PICU entry or with a pacemaker were excluded. Children underwent continuous monitoring of electrocardiographic (ECG) waveforms over 7 days post-TBI. HRV analysis was performed retrospectively, using a standardized, validated HRV analysis software (CIMVA). The occurrence of medical complications (“event”: intracranial hypertension, cerebral hypoperfusion, seizure, and cardiac arrest) was prospectively documented. Outcome of children 6 months post-TBI was assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale – Extended Pediatric (GOS-E Peds). Fifteen patients were included over a 20-month period. Thirteen patients had ECG recordings available and 4 had >20% of missing ECG data. When ECG was available, HRV calculation was feasible (average 88%; range 70–97%). Significant decrease in overall HRV coefficient of variation and Poincaré SD2 (p < 0.05) at 6 hours post–PICU admission was associated with an unfavorable outcome (defined as GOS-E Peds ≥ 3, or a deterioration of ≥2 points over baseline score). Several HRV metrics exhibited significant and nonsignificant variation in HRV during event. This study demonstrates that it is feasible to monitor HRV in the PICU provided ECG data are available; however, missing ECG data are not uncommon. These preliminary data suggest that altered HRV is associated with unfavorable neurological outcome and in-hospital medical complications. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore if HRV offers reliable and clinically useful prediction data that may help clinical decision making.

Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and other blood cell component counts are not associated with the development of postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

To relate preevacuation platelet count and leukogram findings, especially neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios (NLR) and platelet/lymphocyte ratios with the occurrence of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) after complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) among Brazilian women. Retrospective cohort study of patients with CHM followed at Rio de Janeiro Federal University, from January/2015-December/2020. Before molar evacuation, all patients underwent a medical evaluation, complete blood count and hCG measurement, in addition to other routine preoperative tests. The primary outcome was the occurrence of postmolar GTN. From 827 cases of CHM treated initially at the Reference Center, 696 (84.15%) had spontaneous remission and 131 (15.85%) developed postmolar GTN. Using optimal cut-offs from receiver operating characteristic curves and multivariable logistic regression adjusted for the possible confounding variables of age and preevacuation hCG level (already known to be associated with the development of GTN) we found that ≥2 medical complications at presentation (aOR: 1.96, CI 95%: 1.29-2.98, p<0.001) and preevacuation hCG ≥100,000 IU/L (aOR: 2.16, CI 95%: 1.32-3.52, p<0.001) were significantly associated with postmolar GTN after CHM. However, no blood count profile findings were able to predict progression from CHM to GTN. Although blood count is a widely available test, being a low-cost test and mandatory before molar evacuation, and prognostic for outcome in other neoplasms, its findings were not able to predict the occurrence of GTN after CHM. In contrast, the occurrence of medical complications at presentation and higher preevacuation hCG levels were significantly associated with postmolar GTN and may be useful to guide individualized clinical decisions in post-molar follow-up and treatment of these patients.

Measuring the effects of institutional pediatric traumatic brain injury volume on outcomes for rural-dwelling children.

Rural-dwelling children may suffer worse pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes due to distance from and accessibility to high-volume trauma centers. This study aimed to compare the impacts of institutional TBI volume and sociodemographics on outcomes between rural- and urban-dwelling children. This retrospective study identified patients 0-19 years of age with ICD-9 codes for TBI in the 2012-2015 National Inpatient Sample database. Patients were characterized as rural- or urban-dwelling using United States Census classification. Logistic and linear (in log scale) regressions were performed to measure the effects of institutional characteristics, patient sociodemographics, and mechanism/severity of injury on occurrence of medical complications, mortality, length of stay (LOS), and costs. Separate models were built for rural- and urban-dwelling patients. A total of 19,736 patients were identified (median age 11 years, interquartile range [IQR] 2-16 years, 66% male, 55% Caucasian). Overall, rural-dwelling patients had higher All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups injury severity (median 2 [IQR 1-3] vs 1 [IQR 1-2], p < 0.001) and more intracranial monitoring (6% vs 4%, p < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that overall, rural-dwelling patients suffered increased medical complications (6% vs 4%, p < 0.001), mortality (6% vs 4%, p < 0.001), and LOS (median 2 days [IQR 1-4 days ] vs 2 days [IQR 1-3 days], p < 0.001), but multivariate analysis showed rural-dwelling status was not associated with these outcomes after adjusting for injury severity, mechanism, and hospital characteristics. Institutional TBI volume was not associated with medical complications, disposition, or mortality for either population but was associated with LOS for urban-dwelling patients (nonlinear beta, p = 0.008) and cost for both rural-dwelling (nonlinear beta, p < 0.001) and urban-dwelling (nonlinear beta, p < 0.001) patients. Overall, rural-dwelling pediatric patients with TBI have worsened injury severity, mortality, and in-hospital complications, but these disparities disappear after adjusting for injury severity and mechanism. Institutional TBI volume does not impact clinical outcomes for rural- or urban-dwelling children after adjusting for these covariates. Addressing the root causes of the increased injury severity at hospital arrival may be a useful path to improve TBI outcomes for rural-dwelling children.

Risk factors for high length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality in hip fractures in the elderly

PurposeTo determine the risk factors influencing in-hospital mortality and/or increased hospital stay in patients older than 65 years with proximal femur fracture. MethodsRetrospective study of patients aged over 65 years operated on for hip fracture between January 2015 and December 2017. Medical, psychological, functional and analytical comorbidities present at admission as well as treatment, complications and analytical follow-up during admission and functional status and residence at discharge are studied for a total of 54 variables. A bivariate analysis was performed using a composite endpoint between in-hospital mortality and the increase of more than 10 days of hospital stay. Results360 patients were included with a mean age of 84 years. 75% were women and 53.5% suffered a pertrochanteric fracture. The mean number of comorbidities per patient was 2.7 (0–7), the most frequent being hypertension, dementia and diabetes. In-hospital mortality was 3.6% (n: 13) and mean hospital stay was 8.4 days (1–35), with 16.4% exceeding 10 days. The presence of medical complications (P < .001), hemoglobin level at admission (P < .001), arterial hypertension (P = .012), obesity (P = .018) and parkinson (P = .034) were related to the occurrence of the studied cut-off point. ConclusionArterial hypertension, obesity, Parkinson’s disease, hemoglobin level at admission and occurrence of medical complications are variables that increased the risk of in-hospital mortality and/or a hospital stay above 10 days in patients older than 65 years with proximal femoral fracture.

Factores de riesgo para el ingreso prolongado y mortalidad intrahospitalaria en la fractura del fémur proximal en pacientes mayores de 65 años

PurposeTo determine the risk factors influencing in-hospital mortality and/or increased hospital stay in patients older than 65 years with proximal femur fracture. MethodsRetrospective study of patients aged over 65 years operated on for hip fracture between January 2015 and December 2017. Medical, psychological, functional and analytical comorbidities present at admission as well as treatment, complications and analytical follow-up during admission and functional status and residence at discharge are studied for a total of 54 variables. A bivariate analysis was performed using a composite endpoint between in-hospital mortality and the increase of more than 10 days of hospital stay. Results360 patients were included with a mean age of 84 years. 75% were women and 53.5% suffered a pertrochanteric fracture. The mean number of comorbidities per patient was 2.7 (0-7), the most frequent being hypertension, dementia and diabetes. In-hospital mortality was 3.6% (n: 13) and mean hospital stay was 8.4 days (1-35), with 16.4% exceeding 10 days. The presence of medical complications (p<0.001), hemoglobin level at admission (p<0.001), arterial hypertension (p=0.012), obesity (p=0.018) and parkinson (p=0.034) were related to the occurrence of the studied cut-off point. ConclusionArterial hypertension, obesity, Parkinson's disease, hemoglobin level at admission and occurrence of medical complications are variables that increased the risk of in-hospital mortality and/or a hospital stay above 10 days in patients older than 65 years with proximal femoral fracture.

Early clinical predictors of functional recovery following traumatic spinal cord injury: a population-based study of 143 patients.

Traumatic spinal cord injuries (TSCI) are associated with uncertainty regarding the prognosis of functional recovery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of early clinical variables to predict the degree of functional independence assessed by Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM-III) up to 1year after injury. Prospectively collected data from 143 SCI patients treated in Western Denmark during 2012-2019 were retrospectively analysed. Data analysis involved univariate methods and multivariable linear regression modelling total SCIM-III scores against age, gender, body mass index (BMI), comorbidity, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) grades A-B and C-D, ASIA Motor Score (AMS), timing of surgical treatment and occurrence of medical complications. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Univariate analyses indicated that variables significantly associated with decreased functional independence included increased age (p = .023), increased BMI (p = .012), pre-existing comorbidity (p = .001), AIS grades A-B (p < .001), decreased AMS (p < .001) and occurrence of medical complications (p < .001). However, in the multivariable regression model were pre-existing comorbidity (p = .010), AIS grades A-B (p < .001), low AMS (p < .001) and late surgical treatment (p = .018) significant predictors of decreased functional independence 1year after injury. TSCI patients with greatest potential for functional recovery up to 1year after injury seem to be patients that immediately after trauma present with few or no comorbidities, who sustain motor-incomplete injuries and undergo early decompressive surgery.

The Impact of Medical Complications in Predicting the Rehabilitation Outcome of Patients With Disorders of Consciousness After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

In this study, we sought to assess the predictors of outcome in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) during neurorehabilitation stay. In total, 96 patients with DOC (vegetative state, minimally conscious state, or emergence from minimally conscious state) were enrolled (69 males; mean age 43.6 ± 20.8 years) and the improvement of the degree of disability, as assessed by the Disability Rating Scale, was considered the main outcome measure. To define the best predictor, a series of demographical and clinical factors were modeled using a twofold approach: (1) logistic regression to evaluate a possible causal effect among variables; and (2) machine learning algorithms (ML), to define the best predictive model. Univariate analysis demonstrated that disability in DOC patients statistically decreased at the discharge with respect to admission. Genitourinary was the most frequent medical complication (MC) emerging during the neurorehabilitation period. The logistic model revealed that the total amount of MCs is a risk factor for lack of functional improvement. ML discloses that the most important prognostic factors are the respiratory and hepatic complications together with the presence of the upper gastrointestinal comorbidities. Our study provides new evidence on the most adverse short-term factors predicting a functional recovery in DOC patients after severe TBI. The occurrence of medical complications during neurorehabilitation stay should be considered to avoid poor outcomes.

Decrease in Hospital Admissions for Transient Ischemic Attack, Mild, and Moderate Stroke During the COVID-19 Era.

Background and Purpose:Since the onset of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, doctors and public authorities have demonstrated concern about the reduction in quality of care for other health conditions due to social restrictions and lack of resources. Using a population-based stroke registry, we investigated the impact of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in stroke admissions in Joinville, Brazil.Methods:Patients admitted after the onset of COVID-19 restrictions in the city (defined as March 17, 2020) were compared with those admitted in 2019. We analyzed differences between stroke incidence, types, severity, reperfusion therapies, and time from stroke onset to admission. Statistical tests were also performed to compare the 30 days before and after COVID-19 to the same period in 2019.Results:We observed a decrease in total stroke admissions from an average of 12.9/100 000 per month in 2019 to 8.3 after COVID-19 (P=0.0029). When compared with the same period in 2019, there was a 36.4% reduction in stroke admissions. There was no difference in admissions for severe stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >8), intraparenchymal hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.Conclusions:The onset of COVID-19 was correlated with a reduction in admissions for transient, mild, and moderate strokes. Given the need to prevent the worsening of symptoms and the occurrence of medical complications in these groups, a reorganization of the stroke-care networks is necessary to reduce collateral damage caused by COVID-19.

Decreasing pressure injuries and acute care length of stay in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury

Objectives Identifying factors associated with the occurrence of pressure injuries (PI) during acute care and with longer length of stay (LOS), focusing on modifiable factors that can be addressed and optimized by the acute rehabilitation team. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting A single Level-1 trauma center specialized in SCI care. Participants A cohort of 301 patients with acute TSCI was studied. Outcome measures The primary outcome was the occurrence of PI during acute care stay. The secondary outcome was acute care LOS. Bivariate and multivariate logistic or linear regression analyses were performed to determine the association between non-modifiable factors and outcomes (PI of any stage and acute LOS), whereas bivariate and hierarchical multivariate logistic or linear regression analyses were used for modifiable factors. Results When controlling for the level and severity of the TSCI, the occurrence of pneumonia (OR = 2.1, CI = 1.1–4.1) was significantly associated with the occurrence of PI. When controlling for the level and severity of the TSCI, the occurrence of medical complications (PI, urinary tract infection and pneumonia) and lesser daily therapy resulted in significantly longer acute care LOS (P < .001). Conclusions Prevention of PI occurrence and the optimization of the acute care LOS represent crucial challenges of the acute rehabilitation team, as they are significantly associated with higher functional outcomes. Patients who develop pneumonia may benefit from more aggressive prevention strategies to reduce PI occurrence. Systematic protocols for the prevention of complications as well as greater volume of therapy interventions should be considered to optimize the acute care LOS.

A Fatal Case of Prochlorperazine-Induced Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a medical emergency associated with the use of neuroleptics and antiemetics. NMS is characterized by a distinctive clinical syndrome of altered mental status, rigidity, hyperthermia, and autonomic dysfunction. NMS occurs as a result of changes in presynaptic or postsynaptic dopamine signaling. Central D2 receptor blockade in the hypothalamus, nigrostriatal pathways, and spinal cord leads to increased muscular rigidity and tremor via extrapyramidal pathways. Hypothalamic D2 receptor blockade results in an elevated temperature set point and impairment of heat-dissipating mechanisms. The reported mortality rates for NMS vary between 5 to 20 percent and the occurrence of medical complications and disease severity are the strongest predictors of mortality. This is a case of a 51 year old Caucasian female who presented with altered mental status, temperature of 109°F, diffuse muscular rigidity and autonomic dysfunction manifested as labile blood pressure, tachypnea, hypoxemia and tachycardia after consuming 18 tablets of Prochlorperazine over three days for gastrointestinal upset. Her clinical presentation and laboratory work up were consistent with NMS and she developed fatal complications and multi-organ dysfunction secondary to Prochlorperazine-induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

The impact of early spasticity on the intensive functional rehabilitation phase and community reintegration following traumatic spinal cord injury

Context/Objectives: To determine the impact of spasticity presenting during the acute care hospitalization on the rehabilitation outcomes following a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: A single Level 1 trauma center specialized in SCI care. Participants: 150 individuals sustaining an acute TSCI. Interventions: Not applicable. Outcome Measures: The total inpatient functional rehabilitation length of stay. The occurrence of medical complications and the discharge destination from the inpatient functional rehabilitation facility were also considered. Results: 63.3% of the cohort presented signs and/or symptoms of spasticity during acute care. Individuals with early spasticity developed medical complications during acute care and during intensive functional rehabilitation in a higher proportion. They were also hospitalized significantly longer and were less likely to return home after rehabilitation than individuals without early spasticity. Early spasticity was an independent factor associated with increased total inpatient rehabilitation length of stay. Conclusion: The development of signs and symptoms of spasticity during acute care following a TSCI may impede functional rehabilitation outcomes. In view of its association with the occurrence of early spasticity, higher vigilance towards the prevention of medical complications is recommended. Early assessment of spasticity during acute care is recommended following TSCI.

The impact of acute management on the occurrence of medical complications during the specialized spinal cord injury acute hospitalization following motor-complete cervical spinal cord injury

Context/Objective: Determine the impact of early admission and complete perioperative management in a specialized spinal cord injury (SCI) trauma center (SCI-center) on the occurrence of medical complications following tetraplegia.Design: A retrospective comparative cohort study of prospectively collected data involving 116 individuals was conducted. Group 1 (N=87) was early managed in a SCI-center promptly after the trauma, whereas Group 2 (N=29) was surgically and preoperatively managed in a non-specialized (NS) center before being transferred to the SCI-center. Bivariate comparisons and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between the type of acute care facility and the occurrence of medical complications. Length of stay (LOS) in acute care was also compared.Setting: Single Level-1 trauma center.Participants: Individuals with acute traumatic motor-complete cervical SCI.Interventions: Not applicableOutcome measures: The occurrence of complications during the SCI-center stay.Results: There was a similar rate of complications between the two groups. However, the LOS was greater in Group 2 (p=0.04). High cervical injuries (C1-C4) showed an important tendency to increase the likelihood of developing a complication, while high cervical injuries and increased trauma severity increased the odds of developing respiratory complications.Conclusion: Although complication rates were similar in non-specialized and specialized centers, peri-operative management in a non-specialized center required a longer length of stay. Prompt transfer to a SCI-center may optimize the care trajectory by favoring earlier transfer to rehabilitation.

Spending on Bariatric Surgery in the Unified Health System from 2010 to 2014: a Study Based on the Specialist Hospitals Authorized by the Ministry of Health.

The aim of this study is to analyze the production of 76 specialist hospitals for the morbidly obese in Brazil's public healthcare system (SUS) from 2010 to 2014 in terms of quantity and costs of bariatric surgery and its complications. Secondary data from the SUS Hospital Information System and the National Healthcare Establishments Registry were used. Current spending on bariatric surgery and its medical and postoperative complications were analyzed. There was a 60% rise in the number of surgeries between 2010 and 2014. This increase was not homogeneous among the hospitals studied, since only 19 performed the minimum number of surgeries required. Women accounted for 85% of the surgeries carried out, and 32% were aged between 35 and 44years. The Roux-en-Y technique was the most widely used (93.7% of the total), followed by sleeve gastrectomy. The ratio between the occurrence of medical complications and total number of surgeries performed in each hospital varied significantly (between 0 and 5.97%) but was lower for postoperative complications, ranging from 0 to 1.7%. There was a nominal increase of 44% in average expenditure on postoperative complications between 2013 and 2014, while the average cost of medical complications decreased by 8.7% in the same period. Despite the rise in the number of bariatric surgeries in Brazil, there is still a high demand for surgeries that is not being met, while most specialist hospitals fail to perform the minimum number of surgeries stipulated by the Ministry of Health.

Bilateral Simultaneous Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Patient-Matched Retrospective Observational Study

Bilateral total knee arthroplasty can be performed either as a staged or simultaneous procedure. We conducted a retrospective comparative study to compare the need for transfusion, the length of procedure, the length of stay, and complications of bilateral simultaneous knee arthroplasty with those of unilateral knee arthroplasty. Sixty-nine patients who underwent bilateral simultaneous knee arthroplasty procedures were compared with a matched control group of 69 patients who underwent unilateral knee arthroplasty. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine optimum cut-off values. Both groups of patients had a similar age and gender distribution, preoperative haemoglobin and ASA scores. Cumulative transfusion episodes were lower in the bilateral group than twice that of the unilateral group. In multivariate analysis the preoperative haemoglobin level and bilateral procedures were independent factors predicting the need for transfusion. The average length of procedure and length of hospital stay in the bilateral group was less than twice than that of the unilateral group. Advanced age and bilateral procedures were independent predictors of prolonged length of stay. A haemoglobin level of 12.5 g/dL and age of 70 were most suitable cut-off points to predict need for transfusion and occurrence of medical complications respectively. We conclude that bilateral simultaneous knee arthroplasties are safe and cost effective in appropriately selected patients. We recommend avoiding bilateral simultaneous procedures in patients over the age of 70 years and with significant comorbidities.

Impact of Poststroke Medical Complications on 30-Day Readmission Rate

Some previously identified predictors of 30-day stroke readmission, including age and stroke severity, are nonmodifiable. We assessed the hypothesis that in-hospital medical complications, which are potentially modifiable, after ischemic stroke (IS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) predict 30-day readmission. In a single-center prospective cohort study of IS and TIA patients admitted from August 1, 2012, to July 31, 2013, we identified those who survived to 30-day follow-up or died during a readmission within 30 days. Patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge were identified by telephone assessment and review of hospital records. We evaluated the association between 12 prespecified and prospectively collected poststroke medical complications and 30-day readmission adjusting for baseline characteristics, in-hospital course and treatments, and discharge status using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Among 505 patients, 107 (21.2%) patients had at least 1 medical complication during hospitalization. The most common complications were urinary tract infection (8.7%), venous thromboembolism (6.1%), and pneumonia (4.6%). Seventy-eight (15.4%) patients were readmitted within 30 days. On multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, cardioembolic or large-artery atherosclerotic subtype (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-2.83) and any medical complication (adjusted HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.04-2.73) increased the risk of 30-day readmission. Among the 24 readmitted patients who experienced an initial medical complication, 10 (41.6%) were considered potentially preventable. The occurrence of medical complications after IS or TIA increased the risk of 30-day all-cause readmission. Stroke patients with medical complications may be suitable for targeted interventions to prevent readmissions.

Longitudinal changes in medical complications in adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury

ObjectivesTo determine longitudinal changes in the occurrence of medical complications in adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI).DesignLongitudinal study of long-term outcomes.SettingCommunity.ParticipantsIndividuals who had sustained an SCI before age 19, were 23 years of age or older at initial interview, and followed annually between 1996 and 2011. They were classified into four American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) severity groups: C1–4 AIS ABC, C5–8 AIS ABC, T1–S5 AIS ABC, AIS D.Outcome measuresGeneralized estimating equation (GEE) models were formulated to obtain the odds ratio (OR) of having a medical complication over time.ResultsA total of 1793 interviews were conducted among 226 men and 125 women (86% Caucasian; age at baseline, 26.7 ± 3.6 years; time since injury at baseline, 12.9 ± 5.2 years). Odds of complication occurrence over time varied among severity groups, with increased ORs of severe urinary tract infection (1.05, confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.09), autonomic dysreflexia (AD) (1.09, CI 1.05–1.14), spasticity (1.06, CI 1.01–1.11), pneumonia/respiratory failure (1.09, CI 1.03–1.16), and hypertension/cardiac disease (1.07, CI 1.01–1.15) in the C1-4 ABC group; AD (1.08, CI 1.04–1.13) and pneumonia/respiratory failure (1.09, CI 1.02–1.16) in the C5–8 ABC group; and hypertension/cardiac disease (1.08, CI 1.02–1.14) in the T1–S5 ABC group. Upper extremity joint pain had increased odds of occurrence in all injury severity groups.ConclusionThe significantly increased odds of having medical complications over time warrants awareness of risk factors and implementation of preventive measures to avoid adverse consequences of complications and to maintain independence in individuals with pediatric-onset SCI.