Postoperative Thromboembolism Research Articles

Early postoperative outcomes following bariatric surgery in the United States: Are racial disparities improving?

Bariatric surgery offers effective treatment for morbid obesity and associated medical comorbidities, with excellent short- and long-term outcomes. Although it has been well documented that racial minority bariatric patients have worse outcomes than White patients, it remains unclear whether this recognition has led to improvement. Herein, we assess recent trends in bariatric surgery among Black and White patients and compare early postoperative outcomes by race. Primary sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) patients from 2015 to 2021 reported to the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program were studied. Bariatric patients were stratified by race (Black and White) and perioperative outcomes were compared between matched Black and White patients. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital readmissions, hospital length of stay (LOS), reoperation, and postoperative complications. Overall, there were 193,071 Black and 645,224 White primary bariatric patients, with a higher volume of SG and RGYB performed among White patients. A total of 219,566 Black and White bariatric patients were matched and included in the case-control. Black patients were found to have higher rates of 30-day mortality (0.02% vs. 0.01%; p = 0.03) and readmissions (3.68% vs. 2.65%; p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in LOS, reoperations, or overall postoperative complications. However, there was a higher postoperative pulmonary thromboembolism rate (0.16% vs 0.08%; p < 0.001).). The differences in perioperative outcomes stratified by race persisted over the study period (Fig.1). Black bariatric surgery patients continue to have worse perioperative outcomes compared with their White counterparts. Further work must be done to determine contributing factors in order to effect improvement in outcomes in bariatric surgical care for racial minority patients.

Intermittend pneumatic venous thrombembolism (VTE) prophylaxis during neurosurgical procedures

BackgroundThe management of perioperative venous thrombembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is highly variable between neurosurgical departments and general guidelines are missing. The main issue in debate are the dose and initiation time of pharmacologic VTE prevention to balance the risk of VTE-based morbidity and potentially life-threatening bleeding. Mechanical VTE prophylaxis with intermittend pneumatic compression (IPC), however, is established in only a few neurosurgical hospitals, and its efficacy has not yet been demonstrated. The objective of the present study was to analyze the risk of VTE before and after the implementation of IPC devices during elective neurosurgical procedures.MethodsAll elective surgeries performed at our neurosurgical department between 01/2018–08/2022 were investigated regarding the occurrence of VTE. The VTE risk and associated mortality were compared between groups: (1) only chemoprophylaxis (CHEMO; surgeries 01/2018–04/2020) and (2) IPC and chemoprophylaxis (IPC; surgeries 04/2020–08/2022). Furthermore, general patient and disease characteristics as well as duration of hospitalization were evaluated and compared to the VTE risk.ResultsVTE occurred after 38 elective procedures among > 12.000 surgeries. The number of VTEs significantly differed between groups with an incidence of 31/6663 (0.47%) in the CHEMO group and 7/6688 (0.1%) events in the IPC group. In both groups, patients with malignant brain tumors represented the largest proportion of patients, while VTEs in benign tumors occurred only in the CHEMO group.ConclusionThe use of combined mechanical and pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis can significantly reduce the risk of postoperative thromboembolism after neurosurgical procedures and, therefore, reduce mortality and morbidity.

ASO Visual Abstract: Validation of the Safety and Efficacy of Apixaban for Postoperative Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Patients with Gynecologic Malignancies.

ASO Visual Abstract: Validation of the Safety and Efficacy of Apixaban for Postoperative Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Patients with Gynecologic Malignancies.

Validation of the Safety and Efficacy of Apixaban as Postoperative Thromboembolism Prophylaxis for Patients with Gynecologic Malignancies.

Venous thromboembolism is a preventable complication of gynecologic cancer surgery that leads to postoperative morbidity and mortality. This study compared apixaban with enoxaparin to identify whether apixaban had the same safety and efficacy for patients undergoing gynecologic cancer surgery. The study identified patients with a gynecologic malignancy who underwent surgery and were prescribed apixaban at discharge between June 2020 and April 2023. International Classification of Diseases 10 codes were used to identify patients who had a thromboembolism within 90 days or a bleeding event within 60 days after surgery. The rates of events for patients prescribed apixaban were compared with those for a historical cohort of patients who received enoxaparin. Fisher's exact tests were used to compare categorical variables, and t tests were used to compare continuous variables. A logistic regression was performed to compare the odds of thromboembolism between the two groups. Baseline patient characteristics differed in terms of body mass index (BMI), race, route of surgery, and type of cancer. Of the 490 patients in the apixaban cohort, 12 (2.4%) had a thromboembolism compared with 3 (2.1%) of the 138 patients in the enoxaparin group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.30-4.70; p > 0.999). The odds ratio was adjusted for BMI, age, and route of surgery. A bleeding event occurred for 1 (0.2%) of the 490 patients in the apixaban group and for 1 (0.7%) of the 138 patients in the enoxaparin group. This validation study showed that apixaban is a safe and effective method of postoperative venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. The data provide support to previous data and guideline updates recommending the use of apixaban for postoperative prophylaxis.

Dementia Development during Long-Term Follow-Up after Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement with a Biological Prosthesis in a Geriatric Population.

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with a biological heart valve prosthesis (BHV) is often used as a treatment in elderly patients with symptomatic aortic valve disease. This age group is also at risk for the development of dementia in the years following SAVR. The research question is "what are the predictors for the development of dementia?". In 1500 patients undergoing SAVR with or without an associated procedure, preoperative (demographic, cardiac and non-cardiac comorbid conditions), perioperative (associated procedures, cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass time) and postoperative 30-day adverse events (bleeding, thromboembolism, heart failure, conduction defects, arrhythmias, delirium, renal and pulmonary complications) were investigated for their effect on the occurrence of dementia by univariate analyses. Significant factors were entered in a multivariate analysis. The sum of the individual follow-up of the patients was 10,182 patient-years, with a mean follow-up of 6.8 years. Data for the development of dementia could be obtained in 1233 of the 1406 patients who left the hospital alive. Dementia during long-term follow-up developed in 216/1233 (17.2%) of the patients at 70 ± 37 months. Development of dementia reduced the mean survival from 123 (119-128) to 109 (102-116) months (p < 0.001). Postoperative delirium was the dominant predictor (OR = 3.55 with a 95%CI of 2.41-4.93; p < 0.00), followed by age > 80 years (2.38; 1.78-3.18; p < 0.001); preoperative atrial fibrillation (1.47; 1.07-2.01; p = 0.018); cardiopulmonary bypass time > 120 min (1.34; 1.02-1.78; p = 0.039) and postoperative thromboembolism (1.94; 1.02-3.70; p = 0.044). Postoperative delirium, as a marker for poor condition, and an age of 80 or more were the dominant predictors.

An Algorithm for Control of Excessive Perioperative Bleeding and Ecchymosis in Rhinoplasty Patients Based on 4 Decades of Experience.

Persistent intraoperative bleeding, excessive post-operative ecchymosis, epistaxis, or blood collection in the supratip area increases the complexity of rhinoplasty, causing suboptimal outcomes. We present an intraoperative bleeding management algorithm developed by the senior author (B.G.) based on 43 years of experience and assess its efficacy in achieving hemostatic control through 103 consecutive cases. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 103 consecutive patients who had undergone septorhinoplasty by a single surgeon. Patient demographics, coagulopathies, medications, diet, intraoperative use of tranexamic acid (TXA), desmopressin (DDAVP), Vitamin K, and post-operative complications were reviewed. Twenty-six (25.2%) patients did not receive intraoperative hemostatic agents. Twenty-six (25.2%) patients required TXA only, three (2.91%) patients were given DDAVP only, one (0.97%) patient received Vitamin K only, and forty-six (44.7%) patients required both TXA and DDAVP. One (0.97%) patient needed TXA, DDAVP, and vitamin K. Intraoperative bleeding was controlled in all patients. One patient with known factor 11 deficiency received both TXA and DDAVP intraoperatively but did not require fresh frozen plasma. Intraoperative bleeding was controlled by first administering 10 mg/kg of TXA intravenously, followed by DDAVP with a maximum dose of 0.3 mcg if needed, and 10 mg of Vitamin K if bleeding persisted. Patients with known type I or IIa Von Willebrand disease received DDAVP preoperatively. No patient experienced post-operative epistaxis, thromboembolism, or other associated complications. The algorithm of TXA, DDAVP, and Vitamin K is effective in controlling excessive intraoperative bleeding, post-operative ecchymosis, and epistaxis. IV.

Laparoscopic Adrenal Gland Surgery in Times of COVID - Is a Safety-Interval Before Surgery After COVID-Infection Still Mandatory?

Due to a multicenter study early in the coronavirus disease (COVID)-pandemic that revealed an increased risk for postoperative mortality, thromboembolic and pulmonary complications in case of surgery shortly after a COVID infection, current recommendations for planning elective surgeries suggest postponing surgery for at least 7 weeks after COVID infection. However, virus variants have evolved throughout the pandemic, leading to less severe symptoms. Besides, laparoscopic adrenal gland surgery itself is a safe procedure with low morbidity rates. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the perioperative course of patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy shortly after a COVID-19 infection with those who had not had a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2022. All patients who underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy at the Department for General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery at Ludwig-Maximilian University between January and December 2022 were included. There was no event of thromboembolic or pulmonary complications in the study population. Duration of surgery did not differ between the two groups; neither did the need for postoperative ICU-admittance nor the duration of ICU-stay. Intraoperative FiO2 did not differ, nor did the SpO2 or the number of different catecholamines. There was a slight trend towards higher noradrenaline dosage among patients after COVID-19 infection. Previous COVID infection did not lead to prolonged hospital stays. The results demonstrate that in case of well-standardized surgical procedures, with a limited surgical trauma and the possibility for patients to be mobilized early, surgery shortly after a mild COVID infection seems safe and reasonable.

Evaluation of the analgesic efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to local anesthesia in quadratus lumborum block after cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background Effective analgesia following surgery promotes the delivery mother’s rapid recovery, improves early ambulation, promotes nursing, and lowers the risk of postoperative thromboembolism. The purpose of this work was to assess the postoperative analgesic efficiency of mixing local anesthetic with dexmedetomidine (DEX) in quadratus lumborum block (QLB) after a cesarean section (CS). Methods 50 patients who underwent a cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia with an average body mass index (BMI) ranging from 18.5 to 34.9 Kg/m2 participated in this double-blinded randomized-controlled study. Two equally sized groups of patients were formed: Group B got QLB with 20 ml of 0. 25% bupivacaine on both sides in addition to DEX 0.5 μg/kg, while group A received QLB with 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine in each side alone. Results The total amount of morphine used in the initial 24 hours after surgery and the number of patients who require morphine at 8, twelve, and 24 hours later were substantially decreased in group B than in group A. There was a significant decrease in time to first ambulation and in the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) after four hours postoperatively in group B than in group A. In group B, three individuals experienced bradycardia, and two patients experienced hypotension as DEX-related side effects. Conclusions The period of postoperative analgesia is prolonged, and the administration of opiates after surgery is decreased when DEX is added to local anesthetics in QLB.

Is perioperative blood transfusion associated with postoperative thromboembolism or infection after metastatic spinal tumor surgery?

Study designRetrospective cohort. Summary of background dataPatients with metastatic spine disease who undergo surgical intervention have a high risk of requiring red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Perioperative transfusion has been independently associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolic (VTE) and infectious complications following orthopedic procedures and degenerative spinal intervention; however, literature within spine oncology is limited. ObjectiveTo determine the association between perioperative RBC transfusion and postoperative VTE or infection following spinal tumor surgery. MethodsA total of 153 patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastases between April 2012 and April 2022 were included. Medical records were reviewed to identify RBC transfusion administered either intraoperatively or within 96 h following surgery. The primary endpoints were: 1) development of any VTE or 2) development of any infection within 30 days following surgery. Any VTE was defined as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and any infection was defined as pneumonia, meningitis, Clostridium difficile infection, urinary tract infection, surgical site infection, or sepsis. Logistic regression analyses were performed. ResultsOf the 153 patients included in the study, 43 % received a perioperative RBC transfusion. The overall incidence of postoperative VTE and infection was 15 % and 22 %, respectively. In univariate analysis, perioperative transfusion was not associated with postoperative VTE (odds ratio [OR] 2.41; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.97–6.00; p = 0.058) but was associated with infection (OR 3.02; 95 % CI 1.36–6.73; p = 0.007). After adjusting for confounders such as performance status, operative time, and surgical extent, transfusion was not associated with both VTE (OR 1.25; 95 % CI 0.36–4.32; p = 0.727) or infection (OR 1.86; 95 % CI 0.70–4.92; p = 0.210). While not statistically significant, sub-analyses demonstrated a trend towards increased VTE incidence in patients requiring transfusion earlier (within 24 h) as opposed to later postoperatively. ConclusionsWe found that perioperative transfusion was not an independent predictor of 30-day postoperative VTE or infection in patients undergoing metastatic spinal surgery. Further exploration of time-dependent transfusion outcomes is warranted.

The effect of perioperative antithrombin supplementation on blood conservation and postoperative complications after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery: A systematic review, meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

Study objectiveAntithrombin (AT) activity is reduced during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. Guidelines has demonstrated that perioperative AT supplementation contributed to blood conservation and prevent perioperative thrombotic complications and target organ injury owing to its role in reducing thrombin generation. But these recommends is lack of support of meta-analysis in the guidelines. This meta-analysis aims to include all the relevant randomized controlled trails (RCT) on patients who experienced cardiac surgeries with CPB and investigate the effect of perioperative AT on blood conservation and complications after cardiac surgery. MethodsStandard published RCTs were searched from bibliographic databases to identify all evidence reporting perioperative AT supplementation for patients undergoing cardiovascular surgeries. The primary outcome was postoperative blood loss, the secondary outcomes were blood component transfusion (red blood cell (RBC), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelet and autologous blood), postoperative morbidity and in hospital mortality. The relative risk (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and the standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes were estimated using a random-effects model. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed using TSA software 0.9.5.10. Results13 RCTs with 996 participants undergoing different cardiovascular surgeries were included. Meta-analysis showed AT did not decrease postoperative blood loss (SMD -0.01, 95%CI -0.2 to 0.19). Subgroup analysis showed the effect of AT on postoperative blood loss was not associated with age, RCT type, surgery type, injection time of AT and AT deficiency. TSA further suggested that no additional studies were required for the stable result. Perioperative AT also did not reduce RBC ((SMD 0.10, 95%CI -0.66 to 0.85), (RR 0.99, 95%CI 0.83 to 1.19)), FFP ((SMD 0.11, 95%CI -0.19 to 0.41), (RR 1.30, 95%CI 0.90 to 1.87)), platelet (RR 1.10, 95%CI 0.83 to 1.46) and autologous blood (SMD 0.46, 95%CI -0.12 to 1.8504) transfusions. Perioperative AT significantly increased in hospital mortality (RR 2.53, 95%CI 1.02 to 6.28) and acute kidney injury (AKI) (RR 3.72, 95%CI 1.73 to 8.04) incidence. There was no significant difference in postoperative reexploration, thromboembolism, ECMO/IABP support, and stroke incidence between AT and non-AT group. ConclusionsWith the improvement of AT level and heparin sensitivity, perioperative AT has no significant effect on blood conservation. And it is noteworthy that the treatment increased in hospital mortality and the incidence of AKI after cardiac surgery.

Management of Patients Receiving Antiplatelet Therapy During Gastroenterological Surgery: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study (GSATT).

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of continuing preoperative aspirin monotherapy on surgical outcomes in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy (APT). The effectiveness of continuing preoperative aspirin monotherapy in patients undergoing APT in preventing thromboembolic consequences is mostly unknown. This prospective multicenter cohort study on the Safety and Feasibility of Gastroenterological Surgery in Patients Undergoing Antithrombotic Therapy (GSATT study) conducted at 14 clinical centers enrolled and screened patients between October 2019 and December 2021. The participants (n=1,170) were assigned to the continued APT group, discontinued APT group, or non-APT group, and the surgical outcomes of each group were compared. Propensity score matching was performed between the continued and discontinued APT groups to investigate the effect of continuing preoperative aspirin therapy on thromboembolic complications. The rate of thromboembolic complications in the continued APT group was substantially lower than that in the non-APT or discontinued APT groups (0.5% vs. 2.6% vs. 2.9%; P=0.027). Multivariate investigation of the entire cohort revealed that discontinuation of APT (P<0.001) and chronic anticoagulant use (P<0.001) were independent risk factors for postoperative thromboembolism. The post-matching evaluation demonstrated that the rates of thromboembolic complications were significantly different between the continued and discontinued APT groups (0.6% vs. 3.3%; P=0.012). APT discontinuation following elective gastroenterological surgery increases the risk of thromboembolic consequences, whereas continuing preoperative aspirin greatly reduces this risk. The continuation of preoperative aspirin therapy in APT-received patients is considered one of the best alternatives for preventing thromboembolism during elective gastroenterological surgery.

The implications of antithrombotic agents on subdural hematoma evacuation: what does "reversal" truly entail?

The optimal perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy (ATT) in patients requiring urgent neurosurgical intervention for subdural hematoma (SDH) is poorly understood. The delicate equilibrium of effective hemostasis while preventing thrombosis is complex and relies on numerous factors such as indication for and type of ATT, medical comorbidities, and extent of neurological injury. This study aimed to analyze the impact of ATT and reversal strategies on surgical outcomes to highlight current challenges in the management of these high-risk patients. The authors performed a retrospective surgical cohort analysis of 100 patients undergoing urgent SDH evacuation at a level I trauma center between March 2020 and May 2021. The patients were first stratified into two cohorts based on preoperative ATT use and then further segregated by receipt of reversal agents. Statistical analysis included the chi-square test, Welch two-sample t-test, and multivariate logistic regression. The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary endpoints included radiographic SDH reexpansion, revision surgery, improvement in preoperative neurological deficits, and incidence of thromboembolism. A crossover cohort was secondarily analyzed in patients for whom ATT was interrupted for a minimum duration equal to effective drug metabolism. Finally, ATT reinitiation patterns were examined. Of 100 patients, 48% received ATT, 54.2% of whom were given reversal agents. ATT use was significantly associated with decreased rates of postoperative neurological improvement (p = 0.023) with trends toward increased mortality (p = 0.078), SDH reexpansion (p = 0.12), and need for revision surgery (p = 0.10). Patient crossover revealed a 4 times greater likelihood of death in patients without ATT interruption prior to surgery (p = 0.040) without an observable impact on secondary outcomes. ATT reversal contributed no improvement in outcomes other than a decreased intensive care unit length of stay when adjusted for in-hospital mortality (p = 0.014). The rate of postoperative thromboembolism following ATT reversal was 11.5%. ATT reinitiation was highly variable, occurring in 59.5% of patients, with median times of 17 and 15 days for antiplatelets and anticoagulants, respectively. Use of preoperative ATT portends poor clinical outcomes following nonelective SDH evacuation regardless of attempts to reverse these medications with replacement blood products. This study further reinforces the critical need for judicious use of ATT and optimization of reversal strategies in high-risk patient populations as best guided by multidisciplinary teams and evolving clinical practice guidelines.

THE ROLE OF HOMOCYSTEINE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF GYNECOLOGICAL DISEASES

Despite the fact that homocysteine was first described in 1932, at present, the study of changes in the synthesis and content of this amino acid reveals new mechanisms for the disease development. It should be mentioned that studies confirming the correlation between elevated homocysteine levels and human pathologies (cardiovascular diseases, pregnancy complications, neuropsychiatric disorders) have appeared only recently. This indicates that hyperhomocysteinemia has not been resolved and deserves clinicians’ and researchers’ attention.&#x0D; Most publications present studies on hyperhomocysteinemia as part of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. However, more recently, elevated homocysteine level has been considered as a marker in preeclampsia and postoperative thromboembolism, including that after reproductive surgery. It was noted that in early pregnancy the activation of endothelial cells is changed in women with hyperhomocysteinemia and uterine fibroids. It increases thrombosis risks, and later, during the chorion formation, an endothelial defect can cause fetoplacental insufficiency, and in case of endotheliosis progression lead to preeclampsia and eclampsia. In recent years, some authors associate hyperhomocysteinemia with disorders of the female reproductive system and ovulatory abilities, possible pathogenesis of benign tumors, pregnancy pathologies and delivery issues.&#x0D; A detailed study of elevated homocysteine in women can help in solving a number of issues, such as the role of hyperhopmocysteinemia in the pathogenesis of gynecological diseases and development of reproductive disorders. &#x0D; There is much information on the role of homocysteine in the development of endothelial dysfunction and significant metabolic disorders. At the same time, there is not enough studies on the changes in folate metabolism, which cause hyperhomocysteinemia and directly affect the development of endocrine gynecological and obstetric pathologies. These problems require further analysis. The correlation between the hyperhomocysteinemia and development of gynecological pathologies is currently one of the promising scientific areas. Special attention is paid to the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids in terms of vascular theory. Despite ongoing research, there is only insufficient information on the role of excess homocysteine in the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids.

Outcomes of different types of pulmonary atresia in neonates treated by ductus arteriosus stenting

Objective: To summarize the outcomes of different types of pulmonary atresia in neonates treated by ductus arteriosus stenting. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 19 neonates who had pulmonary atresia treated by ductus arteriosus stenting in Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from April 2014 to June 2021 were included. They were divided into the intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) group and the ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD) group. Ductus arteriosus stents were implanted by different approaches. These children were followed up regularly at the 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery and annually since then to evaluate the outcome. Independent sample t-test was used for the statistical analysis. Results: There were 12 children in PA-IVS group and 7 in PA-VSD group. All of them were full term in fants. The gestational age of the PA-IVS group and the PA-VSD group was (38.8±1.1) and (37.7±1.8) weeks, the birth weights were (3.2±0.4) and (3.4±1.1) kg, and the age at operation was (10±9) and (12±7) days, respectively, without significant difference (all P>0.05). Among the 12 children with PA-IVS, 9 had stents successfully implanted through the femoral artery and 3 through the femoral vein. Of the 7 children with PA-VSD, 2 had the stents successfully implanted via the femoral artery and 2 failed, and the remaining 3 had stents successfully implanted via the left carotid artery. There was no postoperative thromboembolism, arteriovenous fistula, pseudoaneurysm or other vascular complications. Five children with PA-VSD who had successful operations were followed up at 6 months of age. They all had the operation for pulmonary atresia, repair of the ventricular septal defect, removal of arterial duct stents, and ligation of the arterial duct. All children survived without any stent displacement or stenosis and biventricular circulation was achieved during the follow-up. Conclusions: Ductus arteriosous stenting can be the first-stage treatment for children with PA-IVS and PA-VSD. In addition to the traditional femoral vein and femoral artery approach, the carotid artery can be used as a route for stent placement.

Thrombotic and bleeding outcomes following the perioperative interruption of anticoagulation among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and active cancer

BackgroundPatients with cancer are at an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) and often need to undergo procedures or surgery that requires periprocedural interruption of anticoagulation. Anticoagulated patients with cancer might be at increased risk of postprocedural thromboembolic and bleeding complications. Data on postprocedural outcomes among patients with concurrent active cancer and AF are sparse. ObjectiveTo assess the 30-day risk of postoperative thromboembolic and major bleeding complications after the periprocedural interruption of anticoagulation among patients with AF and active cancer. MethodsWe conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study in patients with active cancer and AF who required periprocedural interruption of anticoagulation for invasive procedures between August 2015 and May 2019. The primary endpoints were the 30-day postoperative risks of arterial thromboembolism (ATE) and major bleeding. The secondary endpoints included the 30-day risks of venous thromboembolism, clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding, and overall mortality. ResultsTwo hundred sixty-four patients undergoing 302 periprocedural interruptions were included in our study. The 30-day risk of ATE was 0.7% (95% CI, 0.1%-2.4%), and the 30-day risk of major bleeding was 1.7% (95% CI, 0.6%-3.9%). The 30-day risks of venous thromboembolism and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding were 0.7% (95% CI, 0.1%-2.4%) and 4.3% (95% CI, 2.5%-7.3%), respectively. The overall risk of mortality at 30 days was 1.3% (95% CI, 0.4%-3.4%). There was one fatal postoperative stroke. ConclusionsPatients with AF and active cancer in this study were at relatively low risk for ATE and postoperative bleeding complications when patients were managed according to commonly applied perioperative management recommendations.

Activated 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate as a Hemostatic Adjunct for Neonatal Cardiac Surgery: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Prothrombin complex concentrates are an emerging "off-label" therapy to augment hemostasis after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), but data supporting their use for neonatal cardiac surgery are limited. We retrospectively reviewed neonates undergoing open heart surgery with first-time sternotomy between May 2014 and December 2018 from a hospital electronic health record database. Neonates who received activated 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (a4FPCC) after CPB were propensity score matched (PSM) to neonates who did not receive a4FPCC (control group). The primary efficacy outcome was total volume (mL/kg) of blood products transfused after CPB, including the first 24 hours on the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU). The primary safety outcome was the incidence of 7- and 30-day postoperative thromboembolism. Secondary outcomes included 24 hours postoperative chest tube output, time to extubation, duration of CVICU stay, duration of hospital stay, 30-day mortality, and incidence of acute kidney injury on postoperative day 3. We used linear regression modeling on PSM data for the primary efficacy outcome. For the primary safety outcome, we tested for differences using McNemar test on PSM data. For secondary outcomes, we used linear regression, Fisher exact test, or survival analyses as appropriate, with false discovery rate-adjusted P values. A total of 165 neonates were included in the final data analysis: 86 in the control group and 79 in the a4FPCC group. After PSM, there were 43 patients in the control group and 43 in the a4FPCC group. We found a statistically significant difference in mean total blood products transfused for the a4FPCC group (47.5 mL/kg) compared with the control group (63.7 mL/kg) for PSM patients (adjusted difference, 15.3; 95% CI, 29.4-1.3; P = .032). We did not find a statistically significant difference in 7- or 30-day thromboembolic rate, postoperative chest tube output, time to extubation, incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), or 30-day mortality between the groups. The a4FPCC group had a significantly longer length of intensive care unit stay (32.9 vs 13.3 days; adjusted P = .049) and hospital stay (44.6 vs 24.1 days; adjusted P = .049) compared with the control group. We found that the use of a4FPCC as a hemostatic adjunct for post-CPB bleeding in neonatal cardiac surgery was associated with a decrease in mean total blood products transfused after CPB without an increased rate of 7- or 30-day postoperative thromboembolism. Our findings suggest that a4FPCCs can be considered as part of a hemostasis pathway for refractory bleeding in neonatal cardiac surgery.

Influence factors of deep venous thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty and significance of changes of serum nets and sVCAM-1 levels

To investigate the relationship between the changes of serum neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(sVCAM-1) and deep venous thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty. From May 2017 to April 2020, 30 patients with deep venous thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty were retrospectively selected as the observation group, and 60 patients without deep venous thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty in the same period were randomly selected as the control group. The clinical data, serum levels of nets and sVCAM-1 before and 1, 3 and 5 days after operation were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of deep venous thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty; Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between serum nets and sVCAM-1 levels;Draw the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) to obtain the area under the curve(AUC), and analyze the diagnostic value of serum nets and sVCAM-1 levels for deep vein thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty. There were statistically significant differences between two groups in age, body mass index, and postoperative knee elevation and flexion ratio(P<0.05). The level of serum NETs and sVCAM-1 on the 1st and 3rd day after surgery of the observation group were higher than the control group(P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, body mass index, knee flexion position, serum nets and sVCAM-1 levels at 1 and 3 days after operation were all the influencing factors of DVT after knee arthroplasty (P<0.05);Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the levels of serum NETs and sVCAM-1 in patients with deep venous thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty 1 and 3 days after operation(P<0.05). The ROC curve of predicting deep venous thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty by serum nets and sVCAM-1 levels at 1 and 3 days after operation was drawn, the results showed that the AUC of serum nets and sVCAM-1 levels at 1 day after operation was higher than that at 3 days after operation, which had a good predictive effect. The influencing factors of deep vein thromboembolism after knee arthroplasty are age, body mass index, postoperative knee elevation and flexion, postoperative serum NETs and sVCAM-1 levels, especially postoperative serum NETs and sVCAM-1 levels. Changes can be used as potential biomarkers for predicting postoperative deep vein thromboembolism, and clinical attention should be paid to it.

Thrombus-targeted nano-agents for NIR-II diagnostic fluorescence imaging-guided flap thromboembolism multi-model therapy

In oral and maxillofacial surgery, flap repair is essential to the quality of postoperative life. Still, thrombosis is fatal for the survival of the flaps. Besides, some postoperative thrombotic diseases, such as pulmonary embolism, also intimidate patients’ life. The traditional diagnostic methods are still limited by a large amount of hardware and suffer from inconvenience, delay, and subjectivity. Moreover, the treatments mainly rely upon thrombolytics, such as urokinase (UK) plasminogen activator, which may cause bleeding risk, especially intracerebral hemorrhage. Herein, a kind of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) containing a first near-infrared window (NIR-I) phototheranostic agent Y8 and urokinase plasminogen activator (UK) as the core, and modified with the fibrin-targeting peptide Gly–Pro–Arg–Pro–Pro (GPRPP) were developed for the flap and postoperative thromboembolism treatment (named GPRPP-Y8U@P). The conjugated molecule Y8 endows GPRPP-Y8U@P with the capacity of NIR-II imaging and excellent photothermal/photodynamic therapeutic effects. In vivo experiments demonstrated that GPRPP-Y8U@P could quickly locate thrombus by NIR-II fluorescence imaging, and semi-quantitative analysis of the embolized blood vessels' paraffin section verified its thrombolytic efficiency. Additionally, the urokinase trapped in the NPs would not result in nonspecific bleeding, tremendously improving physical security and curative effects with minimizing side effects. Overall, the advantages of GPRPP-Y8U@P, such as precise localization of the thrombus, thrombus ablation in the site, and mild side effects, demonstrated the attractiveness of this approach for effective clinical monitoring of thrombus therapy.

Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Craniovertebral Junction Lesions: A Case Series of 18 Patients.

Introduction Odontoid pathologies constitute a special category because they may lead to instability. Instability is defined by abnormal spinal alignment under physiologic conditions (loads) such as standing, walking, bending, or lifting. Since instability poses a risk of cord damage, surgical interventions may be required for durable long-term stabilization. This study demonstrates operative technique and results of endoscopic endonasal approach to the odontoid pathologies. Methods We conducted a retrospective study involving 18 patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal odontoidectomy (EEO) due to craniovertebral pathologies. Demographic data, clinical features of the patients, risk factors, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were reported in this series. Results Satisfactory outcomes achieved in 16 patients based on comparing the modified Rankin scale before and after the surgery ( p = 0.0001). The mean duration for EEO was 232.6 ± 18.8 minutes. The mean blood loss during surgery was 386.67 ± 153.04 mL. The mean duration of hospital stay was 7 days. All patients were extubated within a few hours after surgery. Despite of successful anterior decompression in the aforementioned cases, intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, postoperative meningitis, and pulmonary thromboembolism occurred as complications. However, two intraoperative CSF leakages were managed by direct dural repair and fat graft; two patients died due to postoperative meningitis and pulmonary thromboembolism at 7 and 4 days after the second surgery. Conclusion In conclusion, EEO can be effectively used for anterior decompression of the odontoid pathologies, despite the risk of complications.

Feasibility and safety of closing large left atrial appendage using the LAmbre device

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of the LAmbre occluder for large-diameter left atrial appendage occlusion. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study. Patients with large orifice of the left atrial appendage (≥31 mm) and occlusion with the LAmbre device in the Arrhythmia Center of Ningbo First Hospital were included from June 2018 to March 2020. Baseline data were collected and major perioperative complications of left atrial appendage occlusion (including death, stroke, instrumental embolism, cardiac tamponade, and major bleeding events) were recorded. Patients were followed up 45 days, 6 months and 12 months after surgery. The shunt and device-related thrombosis were recorded by esophageal cardiac ultrasound or pulmonary vein CT, and the occurrence of postoperative thromboembolism, bleeding events, death and other serious adverse events were recorded. Results: The average age and left atrial appendage ostial dimension of 32 patients (37.5% women) included in this research were (70.4±8.4) years old and (34.4±2.9) mm. The LAmbre device was successfully implanted in 31(96.9%) patients. No major complications occurred during the perioperative period. During the 12-month follow-up, pericardial tamponade occurred in 1(3.2%) patient and was recovered after treatment. There was no occluder edge shunt>5 mm in patients followed up by esophageal echocardiography. No significant peri-device leak, device-related thrombus, thromboembolism or death event has occurred. Conclusion: The LAmbre occluder may be feasible and safe for large-diameter left atrial appendage occlusion.