Major Open Abdominal Surgery Research Articles

Effect of inspiratory oxygen fraction during driving pressure-guided ventilation strategy on pulmonary complications following open abdominal surgery: A randomized controlled trial

Study objectiveThe aim of the present study was to determine the effect of 30 % fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) compared with 80 % FIO2 in the context of driving pressure-guided ventilation strategy on pulmonary complications following open abdominal surgery. DesignA single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial. SettingTertiary university hospital in China. Patients514 adult patients, ASA I-III and scheduled for major open abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. InterventionsPatients were randomly assigned to receive either 30 % or 80 % FIO2 during the intraoperative period. All patients received driving pressure-guided ventilation strategy, including low tidal volume and individualized PEEP set at lowest driving pressure. MeasurementsThe primary outcome was the incidence of a composite of pulmonary complications within the 7 days postoperatively. The severity of pulmonary complications, extrapulmonary complications, and other secondary outcomes were also assessed. Main resultsOf 1553 patients assessed for eligibility, 514 patients were randomly assigned and analyzed with intention-to-treat principle. Patients receiving 30 % FIO2 had a significantly lower incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) compared to those receiving 80 % FIO2 (46.3 %vs. 64.6 %; RR, 0.72; 95 % CI, 0.61–0.84; P < 0.001). The severity score of PPCs was significantly reduced in the 30 % FIO2 group compared with that in the 80 % FIO2 group within the 7 postoperative days (P < 0.001). Dynamic compliance was significantly greater in 30 % FIO2 group at the end of surgery (56 [48–66] vs. 53 [46–62], P = 0.027). More patients in the 80 % FIO2 group developed oxygen desaturation (SpO2 < 94 %) on air intake during PACU stay (18.5 %vs. 30.4 %; RR, 0.61; 95 % CI, 0.44–0.84; P = 0.002; 30 % FIO2 group vs.80 % FIO2 group). ConclusionsIn patients undergoing open abdominal surgery, using a 30 % FIO2, compared with 80 % FIO2, in context of driving pressure-guided ventilation strategy, intraoperatively reduced the incidence and severity of pulmonary complications within the first 7 postoperative days.

Cardiac index-guided therapy to maintain optimised postinduction cardiac index in high-risk patients having major open abdominal surgery: the multicentre randomised iPEGASUS trial

BackgroundIt is unclear whether optimising intraoperative cardiac index can reduce postoperative complications. We tested the hypothesis that maintaining optimised postinduction cardiac index during and for the first 8 h after surgery reduces the incidence of a composite outcome of complications within 28 days after surgery compared with routine care in high-risk patients having elective major open abdominal surgery. MethodsIn three German and two Spanish centres, high-risk patients having elective major open abdominal surgery were randomised to cardiac index-guided therapy to maintain optimised postinduction cardiac index (cardiac index at which pulse pressure variation was <12%) during and for the first 8 h after surgery using intravenous fluids and dobutamine or to routine care. The primary outcome was the incidence of a composite outcome of moderate or severe complications within 28 days after surgery. ResultsWe analysed 318 of 380 enrolled subjects. The composite primary outcome occurred in 84 of 152 subjects (55%) assigned to cardiac index-guided therapy and in 77 of 166 subjects (46%) assigned to routine care (odds ratio: 1.87, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–3.39, P=0.038). Per-protocol analyses confirmed the results of the primary outcome analysis. ConclusionsMaintaining optimised postinduction cardiac index during and for the first 8 h after surgery did not reduce, and possibly increased, the incidence of a composite outcome of complications within 28 days after surgery compared with routine care in high-risk patients having elective major open abdominal surgery. Clinicians should not strive to maintain optimised postinduction cardiac index during and after surgery in expectation of reducing complications. Clinical trial registrationNCT03021525.

The effect of goal-directed crystalloid versus colloid administration on postoperative spirometry parameters: a substudy of a randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundPulmonary function is impaired after major abdominal surgery and might be less impaired by restrictive fluid administration. Under the assumption of a fluid-sparing effect of colloids, we tested the hypothesis that an intraoperative colloid-based goal-directed fluid management strategy impairs postoperative pulmonary function parameters less compared to goal-directed crystalloid administration.MethodsWe performed a preplanned, single-center substudy within a recently published trial evaluating the effect of goal-directed crystalloids versus colloids on a composite of major complications. Sixty patients undergoing major open abdominal surgery were randomized to Doppler-guided intraoperative fluid replacement therapy with lactated Ringer’s solution (n = 31) or unbalanced 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (n = 29). A blinded investigator performed bedside spirometry (Spirobank-G, Medical International Research, Rome, Italy) preoperatively as well as 6, 24, and 48 h postoperatively.ResultsMedian total intraoperative fluid requirements were significantly higher during crystalloid administration compared to patients receiving colloids (4567 ml vs. 3044 ml, p = 0.01). Six hours after surgery, pulmonary function parameters did not differ significantly between the crystalloid — and the colloid group: forced vital capacity (FVC): 1.6 l (1.2–2 l) vs. 1.9 l (1.5–2.4 l), p = 0.15; forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1): 1.1 l (0.9–1.6 l) vs. 1.4 l (1.2–1.7 l), p = 0.18; and peak expiratory flow (PEF): 2 l.sec−1 (1.5 – 3.6 l.sec −1) vs. 2.3 l.sec −1 (1.8 – 3.4 l.sec −1), p = 0.23. Moreover, postoperative longitudinal time × group interactions of FVC, FEV1, and PEF between 6 and 48 postoperative hours did not differ significantly.ConclusionPostoperative pulmonary function parameters were similarly impaired in patients receiving goal-directed crystalloid administration as compared to goal-directed colloid administration during open abdominal surgery.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00517127, registered on August 16, 2007) and EudraCT (2005-004602-86).

Association between intraoperative starch use and postoperative kidney dysfunction in patients undergoing major gastro-intestinal surgery: A propensity score-matched analysis.

The impact of intraoperative starch-based fluid therapy on postoperative kidney dysfunction in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery is uncertain. Low molecular weight starch is expected to cause less postoperative kidney dysfunction. This retrospective study evaluated the impact of intraoperative 6% hydroxyethyl starch on postoperative renal dysfunction. The primary outcome of this study was postoperative acute kidney injury as per KDIGO definition within 72 hours of surgery. This study analysed data from 461 patients with a median (interquartile range) age of 45 (33-58) years, and 48.2% of all patients were female. The proportion (95% confidence interval) of patients who developed acute kidney injury was 0.18 (0.14-0.21); 62.9% of patients had acute kidney injury stage I, 32% had acute kidney injury stage II, and the rest were acute kidney injury stage III. In the propensity score-matched sample, the average treatment effect of intraoperative colloid use on postoperative serum creatinine at day 3 (p = 0.32), duration of postoperative intensive care unit stay (p = 0.97), duration of hospital stay (p = 0.37), postoperative worst international normalised ratio (p = 0.92), and postoperative transfusion requirement (p = 0.40) were not statistically significant. Intraoperative use of low molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch use was not associated with postoperative kidney dysfunction and coagulopathy in adult patients undergoing major open abdominal surgery.

FTP3.14 Comparing thoracic epidural anaesthesia to rectus sheath catheter induced analgesia in reducing postoperative pain following major abdominal surgery. A systematic review

Abstract Aims Effective analgesia is mandatory for achieving optimum post operative recovery. The aim of this study is to compare between thoracic epidural analgesia and rectus sheath catheter analgesia in reducing pain score after open major abdominal surgery. Methods Standard medical electronic databases were searched with the support of a local librarian. Relevant published randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing thoracic epidural analgesia and rectus sheath catheter analgesia after open major abdominal surgery, were shortlisted according to the inclusion criteria. Result Four RCTs on 351 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were included in this meta-analysis. There were 176 patients in the thoracic epidural group (TEA) and 175 patients in the rectus sheath catheter group (RSC). In the random effect model analysis, there was no significant difference in VAS pain score in 24 hours at rest [SMD -0.46; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -1.21 to 0.29; z =1.20 P=0.23] and movement [SMD -0.64; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -1.69 to -0.14; z = 1.19 P= 0.23] between TEA and RSC. Similarly, there was no significant difference in pain score in 48 hours at rest [SMD -0.14; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.36 to 0.08; z = 1.29 P= 0.20] and movement [SMD -0.69; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -2.03 to 0.64; z = 1.02 P= 0.31]. Conclusion There was no significant difference in pain score between TEA and RSC following major abdominal surgery and both approaches can be used safely according to the choice and expertise available. Acknowledgement This work was previously presented.

Major open abdominal surgery is associated with increased levels of endothelial damage and interleukin-6.

To examine changes in biomarkers of endothelial glycocalyx shedding, endothelial damage, and surgical stress following major open abdominal surgery and the correlation to postoperative morbidity. Major abdominal surgery is associated with high levels of postoperative morbidity. Two possible reasons are the surgical stress response and the impairment of the glycocalyx and endothelial cells. Further, the degree of these responses may correlate with postoperative morbidity and complications. A secondary data analysis of prospectively collected data from two cohorts of patients undergoing open liver surgery, gastrectomy, esophagectomy, or Whipple procedure (n = 112). Hemodynamics and blood samples were collected at predefined timestamps and analyzed for biomarkers of glycocalyx shedding (Syndecan-1), endothelial activation (sVEGFR1), endothelial damage (sThrombomodulin (sTM)), and surgical stress (IL6). Major abdominal surgery led to increased levels of IL6 (0 to 85 pg/mL), Syndecan-1 (17.2 to 46.4 ng/mL), and sVEGFR1 (382.8 to 526.5 pg/mL), peaking at the end of the surgery. In contrast, sTM, did not increase during surgery, but increased significantly following surgery (5.9 to 6.9 ng/mL), peaking at 18 h following the end of surgery. Patients characterized with high postoperative morbidity had higher levels of IL6 (132 vs. 78 pg/mL, p = 0.007) and sVEGFR1 (563.1 vs. 509.4 pg/mL, p = 0.045) at the end of the surgery, and of sTM (8.2 vs. 6.4 ng/mL, p = 0.038) 18 h following surgery. Major abdominal surgery leads to significantly increased levels of biomarkers of endothelial glycocalyx shedding, endothelial damage, and surgical stress, with the highest levels seen in patients developing high postoperative morbidity.

Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Geriatric Gynecologic Oncology Patients After Major Open Abdominal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction: This investigation’s purpose was to determine the incidence of acute kidney injury, the associated risk factors, and the 90-day outcomes and kidney function of geriatric patients who underwent major open abdominal gynecologic oncologic surgery. Materials and Method: This retrospective cohort study involved patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent major open abdominal gynecologic oncologic surgery. Results: The postoperative incidence of acute kidney injury in gynecologic oncologic surgical procedures was 22.1%, with a transient nature observed in 72% of patients. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4 %. Kidney function on the 90th day after acute kidney injury development revealed that estimated glomerular filtration rate regressed by over 25% in 6 patients (24%). Acute kidney injury development was associated with surgical time, intraoperative bleeding volume, bowel procedures, the presence of ascites, intraoperative hypotension, vasopressor use, postoperative diuretic use, postoperative hypoalbuminemia, prolonged post-anesthesia care unit, and hospital stay (p &lt; 0.05). A logistic regression analysis of the risk factors for acute kidney injury revealed that surgery duration was a significant one (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Postoperative acute kidney injury is an important postoperative complication associated with the development or progression of chronic kidney disease. This leads to a prolonged stay in the post-anesthesia care unit and in the hospital. Although acute kidney injury is frequently transient in geriatric patients following major open abdominal gynecologic oncologic surgery, developing preventive measures, encouraging team collaboration, and monitoring serum creatinine concentration in the early postoperative period are critical in complex surgical procedures. Keywords: Postoperative Complications; Acute Kidney Injury; Geriatrics.

Predicting fluid responsiveness using esophagus Doppler monitoring and pulse oximetry derived pleth variability index; retrospective analysis of a hemodynamic study.

Fluid therapy during major surgery can be managed by providing repeated bolus infusions until stroke volume no longer increases by ≥ 10%. However, the final bolus in an optimization round increases stroke volume by < 10% and is not necessary. We studied how different cut-off values for the hemodynamic indications given by esophagus Doppler monitoring, as well as augmentation by pulse oximetry, are associated with a higher or smaller chance that stroke volume increases by ≥ 10% (fluid responsiveness) before fluid is infused. An esophagus Doppler and a pulse oximeter that displayed the pleth variability index were used to monitor the effects of a bolus infusion in 108 patients undergoing goal-directed fluid therapy during major open abdominal surgery. The analyzed data set comprised 266 bolus infusions. The overall incidence of fluid responsiveness was 44%, but this varied greatly depending on pre-infusion hemodynamics. The likelihood of being fluid-responsive was 30%-38% in the presence of stroke volume > 80 mL, corrected flow time > 360 ms, or pleth variability index < 10%. The likelihood was 21% if stroke volume had decreased by <8% since the previous optimization, which decreased to 0% if combined with stroke volume > 100 mL. By contrast, the likelihood of fluid responsiveness increased to 50%-55% when stroke volume ≤ 50 mL, corrected flow time ≤ 360 ms, or pleth variability index ≥ 10. A decrease in stroke volume by > 8% since the previous optimization was followed by a 58% likelihood of fluid responsiveness that, in combination with any of the other hemodynamic variables, increased to 66%-76%. Single or combined hemodynamic variables provided by esophagus Doppler monitoring and pulse oximetry derived pleth variability index could help clinicians avoid unnecessary fluid bolus infusions.

Effect of recruitment manoeuvres under lung ultrasound-guidance and positive end-expiratory pressure on postoperative atelectasis and hypoxemia in major open upper abdominal surgery: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPostoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) especially atelectasis and hypoxemia are common during abdominal surgery. Studies on the effect of either recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) or positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on PPCs are controversial. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of perioperative lung ultrasound (LUS)-guided RMs combined with PEEP on the reduction of postoperative atelectasis and hypoxemia in major open upper abdominal surgery. MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, 122 adult patients undergoing major open upper abdominal surgery were allocated into three groups: control (C) group (n = 42); PEEP (P) group (n = 40); RMs combined with PEEP (RP) group (n = 40). All patients were scheduled for general anaesthesia using the lung-protective ventilation (LPV) strategy. The levels of PEEP in the three groups were 0 cmH2O, 5 cmH2O and 5 cmH2O. LUS examination was carried out at 3 predetermined time points in each group: 5 min after intubation (T1), at the end of surgery (T2) and 15 min after extubation (T3). Patients with atelectasis on the sonogram in the RP group received LUS-guided RMs at point T2. LUS scores were used to estimate the severity of aeration loss. The P/F ratio (PaO2/FiO2) at 15min after extubation was used to assess the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia. Primary outcomes were the incidences of postoperative atelectasis and hypoxemia (PaO2/FiO2 < 300 mmHg). The secondary outcome was the distribution of LUS scores in each lung area. ResultsFrom July 2021 to December 2021, 122 consecutive patients were enrolled. No typical atelectasis was observed 5 min after intubation. The incidence of atelectasis was 52.4%, 50.0% and 42.5% in the C group, P group and RP group at the end of surgery, respectively. The rate of atelectasis in the C group, P group and RP group (after RMs) was 52.4%, 50.0% and 17.5%, respectively, 15 min after extubation (P < 0.01). The frequency of postoperative hypoxemia was 27.5%, 15.0% and 5.0% in the C group, P group and RP group, respectively (P < 0.017). The increased LUS scores mainly occurred in the superoposterior and inferoposterior quadrants at the end of surgery. Only in the RP group demonstrated a decreased LUS score in the posteriorquadrants after extubation. ConclusionsIn patients undergoing major open upper abdominal surgery, an intraoperative mechanical ventilation strategy without PEEP or with PEEP alone did not reduce PPCs. However, PEEP of 5 cmH2O combined with LUS-guided RMs proved feasible and beneficial to decrease the occurrence of postoperative atelectasis and hypoxemia in major open upper abdominal surgeries.

Anaesthetic management of a case of dilated cardiomyopathy posted for exploratory abdominal surgery

Patients with known case of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) undergoing major open abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia poses a challenge for anesthesiologist. It is because in such surgeries there is risk of precipitating congestive heart failure. Also major haemodynamic instability due to major fluid shift. Here we report a successful case management of patient with dilated cardiomyopathy posted for exploratory abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia.

Race, ethnicity, and the use of regional anesthesia in cancer patients undergoing open abdominal surgery: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

BackgroundWhere applicable, regional anesthesia has been shown to be superior to opioid or non-opioid analgesic modalities alone. However, some studies have shown ethnic-based disparities in the use of regional anesthesia in patients undergoing surgical procedures. In this study of patients who had undergone major oncologic surgery, our main objective was to compare the use of regional anesthesia between patients of different ethnicities.MethodsA retrospective review of adults who had undergone major open abdominal surgical procedures between 2016 and 2021 was performed. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between baseline patient characteristics and the use of regional anesthesia.ResultsA total of 4,791 patients were included in the analysis. The median age was 60.5 years [interquartile range, 49, 69], the majority were female (65%), and of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Class (ASA) 3 (94.7%). Regional anesthesia was used in 2,652 patients (55.4%) and was not associated with race or ethnicity (p = 0.287). Compared to White patients, the odds of regional anesthesia use in other racial/ethnic groups were: Asian {odds ratio (OR) 0.851 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.660–1.097]; p = 0.2125}, Black/African American [OR 0.807 (95% CI, 0.651–1.001); p = 0.0508], Hispanic/Latino [OR 0.957 (95% CI, 0.824–1.154); p = 0.7676], Other race [OR 0.957 (95% CI, 0.627–1.461); p = 0.8376]. In the multivariable analysis, age [OR 0.995 (95% CI, 0.991–1.000); p = 0.0309] and female gender [OR 1.231 (95% CI, 1.090–1.390); p = 0.0008] were associated with the use of regional anesthesia.ConclusionIn this single-institution retrospective study of adults who had undergone major open abdominal surgery, the use of regional anesthesia was not associated with race or ethnicity. In the multivariable analysis, age and female gender were associated with the use of regional anesthesia.

Associations between the C3orf20 rs12496846 Polymorphism and Both Postoperative Analgesia after Orthognathic and Abdominal Surgeries and C3orf20 Gene Expression in the Brain.

Considerable individual differences are widely observed in the sensitivity to opioid analgesics. We focused on rs12496846, rs698705, and rs10052295 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the C3orf20, SLC8A2, and CTNND2 gene regions that we previously identified as possibly associated with postoperative analgesia after orthognathic surgery. We investigated associations between these SNPs and postoperative analgesia in 112 patients who underwent major open abdominal surgery in hospitals and were treated with analgesics, including opioids, after surgery. Total genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood or oral mucosa samples for genotyping each SNP. Effects of these potent SNPs on gene expression in the brain were also investigated in samples that were provided by the Stanley Foundation Brain Bank. In the association studies, carriers of the G allele of the rs12496846 SNP in the C3orf20 gene region were significantly associated with greater 24 h postoperative analgesic requirements among the three SNPs that were investigated (p = 0.0015), which corroborated a previous study of orthognathic patients (p < 0.0001). In the gene expression analysis, carriers of the G allele of the rs12496846 SNP were significantly associated with lower mRNA expression of the C3orf20 gene (p < 0.0001). These results indicate that this SNP could serve as a marker that predicts analgesic requirements.

Myocardial injury after major noncardiac surgery: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundMyocardial injury after noncardiac surgery frequently occurs and may influence survival. The aims of this study were to examine the association between myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery and patient and procedural factors as well as its impact on postoperative clinical outcome. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted from data collected in adults enrolled in a randomized trial in elective major open abdominal surgery. Preoperative patient characteristics, intraoperative hemodynamic changes, and postoperative adverse events were analyzed, and Kaplan-Meier curves were built for postoperative survival probability. After adjustment for baseline patient and procedural characteristics, the effect of myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery on postoperative outcomes was analyzed in a propensity score matched cohort. ResultsAmong 394 patients, myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery was reported in 109 (27.7%) and was associated with a higher cardiovascular risk profile, prolonged surgery (333 ± 111 min vs 295 ± 134 min, P = .010), greater need for transfusions (41.3% vs 19.3%, P < .001), higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events (22.9% vs 6.7%, P < .001), pulmonary complications (31.2% vs 17.9%, P = .004) , acute kidney injury (30.3% vs 18.2%, P = .009), and systemic inflammatory syndrome (28.4% vs 13.0%, P < .001). After propensity score matching, the operative time and the need for blood transfusion remained higher among myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery patients who experienced more frequent major adverse cardiac events and acute kidney injury. In both the entire and matched cohorts, survival up to 30 months after surgery was determined mainly by the presence of cancer. ConclusionThe burden of cardiovascular disease and operative stress surgery is predictive of myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery and, in turn, with a higher incidence of cardiac adverse events, whereas the presence of cancer is associated with poor survival in patients undergoing major open abdominal surgery. Further studies are needed to determine whether myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery can be prevented by better control of the patient’s cardiovascular condition and implementation of less invasive of surgical procedures.

Changes in stroke volume variation and cardiac index during open major bowel surgery.

Stroke volume variation (SVV) is a dynamic indicator of preload, which is a determinant of cardiac output. Aims: Aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between changes in SVV and cardiac index (CI) in patients with normal left ventricular function undergoing major open abdominal surgery. Patients undergoing major open abdominal surgery were monitored continuously with FloTrac® to measure SVV and CI along with standard monitoring. Both SVV and CI were noted at baseline and every 10 min thereafter till the end of surgery and were observed for concurrence between the measurements. 1800 pairs of measurement of SVV and CI were obtained from 60 patients. Mean SVV and CI (of all patients) measured at different time points of measurement showed that as SVV increased with time, the CI dropped correspondingly. When individual readings of CI and SVV were plotted against each other, the scatter was found to be wide, reiterating the lack of agreement between the two parameters (R2 = 0.035). SVV >13% suggesting hypovolemia was found at 207 time points. Of these, 175 had a CI >2.5 L/min/m2 and only 32 patients had a CI <2.5 L/min/m2. SVV, a dynamic index of fluid responsiveness can be used to monitor patients expected to have large fluid shifts during major abdominal surgery. It is very specific and has a high negative predictive value. When SVV increases, CI is usually maintained. Since many factors affect SVV and CI, any increase in SVV >13%, must be correlated with other parameters before administration of the fluid challenge.

Development and validation of a risk score for predicting postoperative delirium after major abdominal surgery by incorporating preoperative risk factors and surgical Apgar score

Study objectiveTo develop and validate a simple delirium-predicting scoring system in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery by incorporating preoperative risk factors and intraoperative surgical Apgar score (SAS). DesignObservational retrospective cohort study. SettingA tertiary general hospital in China. Patients1055 patients who received major abdominal surgery from January 2015 to December 2019. MeasurementsWe collected data on preoperative and intraoperative variables, and postoperative delirium. A risk scoring system for postoperative delirium in patients after major open abdominal surgery was developed and validated based on traditional logistic regression model. The elastic net algorithm was further developed and evaluated. Main resultsThe incidence of postoperative delirium was 17.8% (188/1055) in these patients. They were randomly divided into the development (n = 713) and validation (n = 342) cohorts. Both the logistic regression model and the elastic net regression model identified that advanced age, arrythmia, hypoalbuminemia, coagulation dysfunction, mental illness or cognitive impairments and low surgical Apgar score are related with increased risk of postoperative delirium. The elastic net algorithm has an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.842 and 0.822 in the development and validation cohorts, respectively. A prognostic score was calculated using the following formula: Prognostic score = Age classification (0 to 3 points) + arrythmia + 2 * hypoalbuminemia + 2 * coagulation dysfunction + 4 * mental illness or cognitive impairments + (10-surgical Apgar score). The 22-point risk scoring system had good discrimination and calibration with an AUROC of 0.823 and 0.834, and a non-significant Hosmer-Lemeshow test P = 0.317 and P = 0.853 in the development and validation cohorts, respectively. The bootstrapping internal verification method (R = 1000) yielded a C-index of 0.822 (95% CI: 0.759–0.857). ConclusionThe prognostic scoring system, which used both preoperative risk factors and surgical Apgar score, serves as a good first step toward a clinically useful predictive model for postoperative delirium in patients undergoing major open abdominal surgery.

Continuous positive airway pressure after major abdominal surgery: an independent discussion of the Prevention of Respiratory Insufficiency after Surgical Management trial

Postoperative respiratory complications frequently lead to respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and death,1 particularly after major abdominal surgery.1,2 Noninvasive respiratory support using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is safe and reliable3–6 and may improve outcomes in patients who develop respiratory failure after major surgery.7,8 Small trials suggest that CPAP applied early after major surgery may reduce respiratory complications.9 The Prevention of Respiratory Insufficiency after Surgical Management (PRISM) trial investigated whether preventative CPAP administered within 4 h after major open abdominal surgery reduces the incidence of pneumonia, tracheal re-intubation, and/or 30 day mortality.

Postoperative continuous positive airway pressure to prevent pneumonia, re-intubation, and death after major abdominal surgery (PRISM): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial

Respiratory complications are an important cause of postoperative morbidity. We aimed to investigate whether continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) administered immediately after major abdominal surgery could prevent postoperative morbidity. PRISM was an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial done at 70 hospitals across six countries. Patients aged 50 years or older who were undergoing elective major open abdominal surgery were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive CPAP within 4 h of the end of surgery or usual postoperative care. Patients were randomly assigned using a computer-generated minimisation algorithm with inbuilt concealment. The primary outcome was a composite of pneumonia, endotracheal re-intubation, or death within 30 days after randomisation, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in all patients who received CPAP. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN56012545. Between Feb 8, 2016, and Nov 11, 2019, 4806 patients were randomly assigned (2405 to the CPAP group and 2401 to the usual care group), of whom 4793 were included in the primary analysis (2396 in the CPAP group and 2397 in the usual care group). 195 (8·1%) of 2396 patients in the CPAP group and 197 (8·2%) of 2397 patients in the usual care group met the composite primary outcome (adjusted odds ratio 1·01 [95% CI 0·81-1·24]; p=0·95). 200 (8·9%) of 2241 patients in the CPAP group had adverse events. The most common adverse events were claustrophobia (78 [3·5%] of 2241 patients), oronasal dryness (43 [1·9%]), excessive air leak (36 [1·6%]), vomiting (26 [1·2%]), and pain (24 [1·1%]). There were two serious adverse events: one patient had significant hearing loss and one patient had obstruction of their venous catheter caused by a CPAP hood, which resulted in transient haemodynamic instability. In this large clinical effectiveness trial, CPAP did not reduce the incidence of pneumonia, endotracheal re-intubation, or death after major abdominal surgery. Although CPAP has an important role in the treatment of respiratory failure after surgery, routine use of prophylactic post-operative CPAP is not recommended. National Institute for Health Research, Barts Charity, Intersurgical, Association of Anaesthetists, and Sapienza Università di Roma.

Actual postoperative protein and calorie intake in patients undergoing major open abdominal cancer surgery: A prospective, observational cohort study.

BackgroundAdequate nutritional protein and energy intake are required for optimal postoperative recovery. There are limited studies reporting the actual postoperative protein and energy intake within the first week after major abdominal cancer surgery. The main objective of this study was to quantify the protein and energy intake after major abdominal cancer surgery.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study. Nutrition intake was assessed with a nutrition diary. The amount of protein and energy consumed through oral, enteral, and parenteral nutrition was recorded and calculated separately. Based on the recommendations of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN), protein and energy intake were considered insufficient when patients received <1.5 g/kg protein and 25 kcal/kg for 2 or more days during the first postoperative week.ResultsFifty patients were enrolled in this study. Mean daily protein and energy intake was 0.61 ± 0.44 g/kg/day and 9.58 ± 3.33 kcal/kg/day within the first postoperative week, respectively. Protein and energy intake were insufficient in 45 [90%] and 41 [82%] of the 50 patients, respectively. Patients with Clavien‐Dindo grade ≥III complications consumed less daily protein compared with the group of patients without complications and patients with grade I or II complications.ConclusionDuring the first week after major abdominal cancer surgery, the majority of patients do not consume an adequate amount of protein and energy. Incorporating a registered dietitian into postoperative care and adequate nutrition support after major abdominal cancer surgery should be a standard therapeutic goal to improve nutrition intake.

The effect of peri-operative dexmedetomidine on the incidence of postoperative delirium in cardiac and non-cardiac surgical patients: a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Delirium occurs commonly following major non-cardiac and cardiac surgery and is associated with: postoperative mortality; postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction; increased length of hospital stay; and major postoperative complications and morbidity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peri-operative administration of dexmedetomidine on the incidence of postoperative delirium in non-cardiac and cardiac surgical patients. In this randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial we included 63 patients aged≥60years undergoing major open abdominal surgery or coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative delirium, as screened for with the Confusion Assessment Method. Delirium assessment was performed twice daily until postoperative day 5, at the time of discharge from hospital or until postoperative day 14. We found that dexmedetomidine was associated with a reduced incidence of postoperative delirium within the first 5 postoperative days, 43.8% vs. 17.9%, p=0.038. Severity of delirium, screened with the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist, was comparable in both groups, with a mean maximum score of 1.54 vs. 1.68, p=0.767. No patients in the dexmedetomidine group died while five (15.6%) patients in the placebo group died, p=0.029. For patients aged≥60years undergoing major cardiac or non-cardiac surgery, we conclude that the peri-operative administration of dexmedetomidine is associated with a lower incidence of postoperative delirium.

Predictive power of modified frailty index score for pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery in the elderly: a single centre prospective cohort study.

The primary aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the usefulness of the modified Frailty Index (mFI) score to predict postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in elderly patients undergoing major open abdominal surgery. The secondary purpose was to compare the prediction power of mFI, Ariscat (Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia), and American Society physical status classification (ASA) scores. After local Ethical Committee approval, 105 patients aged ≥65 years undergoing open major abdominal surgery were enrolled. Clinical data were compared between patients with or without PPCs (including respiratory failure, aspiration pneumonia, pulmonary infection, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, atelectasis, bronchospasm or un-planned re-intubation). t-test or χ2-test were performed for univariate analyses. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of PPCs. Non parametric ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) was used for cut-off calculation. AUCs (areas under ROC curve) of preoperative scores were compared using χ2-test. PPCs prevalence (11.3%) was associated with increased mFI, ASA, and Ariscat scores, greater age, hemoglobin levels <10 g/dl, peripheral oxygen saturation <95% (p=0.0001) and longer surgery duration. Logistic regression showed that mFI (p=0.0001) and Ariscat (p=0.04) were independent predictors of PPCs. The predictive power of mFI (AUC=0.90) was similar to that of Ariscat (AUC=0.81) (χ2=2.53; p=0.11) but greater than that of ASA (AUC=0.69) (χ2=9.85; p=0.002). An mFI≥0.18 was predictive of PPCs (sensitivity=90.91%; specificity=79.07%). An Ariscat score of 27 was the cut-off identified as determining factor for PPCs occurrence (sensitivity=90.91%; specificity=51.16%). Elderly patients with an mFI ≥0.18 and/or an Ariscat score ≥27 were at higher risk of PPCs after open major abdominal surgery. More attention should be paid to these patients by implementing both strict monitoring and strategies for PPCs prevention in the perioperative period.