Preoperative Hemoglobin Levels Research Articles

Predictors of Blood Transfusion in Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgeries for Ovarian Malignancy.

The aims of this study were to describe the baseline estimated blood loss (EBL) in surgery and transfusion rate in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgeries for ovarian malignancy, and identify perioperative variables associated with blood loss and transfusion. A retrospective cohort study at a single institution was performed that included patients with known or suspected ovarian malignancy undergoing cytoreductive surgery between 2016 and 2021. t tests, χ2 tests, and multiple logistic regression analyses were used. Among 44 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 61% received perioperative blood transfusion. There were significant differences in EBL and preoperative hemoglobin levels between patients who did and did not receive transfusion (EBL 442.6 vs 236.8 mL, P = 0.0008; preoperative hemoglobin 10.2 vs 11.2 g/dL, P = 0.049). After adjusting for preoperative hemoglobin, the risk of transfusion increased for each additional 200 mL of EBL (odds ratio [OR] 3.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-9.5). Stratified by race, the association between EBL and transfusion risk remained statistically significant only for non-Latinx White patients (OR 6.1, 95% CI 1.7-21.9), who made up 77% of the study population, but not for patients of other races and ethnicities (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.16-6.42). Perioperative blood transfusion is common in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery. In this study, EBL and preoperative hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with transfusion receipt. Clinicians should optimize hemoglobin levels and intraoperative blood conservation strategies to reduce the need for transfusion. The results also highlight the importance of considering racial and ethnic differences when developing strategies to reduce transfusion risk.

Development and external validation of preoperative clinical prediction models for postoperative outcomes including preoperative aerobic fitness in patients approaching elective colorectal cancer surgery

IntroductionPreoperative aerobic fitness is associated with postoperative outcomes after elective colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. This study aimed to develop and externally validate two clinical prediction models incorporating a practical test to assess preoperative aerobic fitness to distinguish between patients with and without an increased risk for 1) postoperative complications and 2) a prolonged time to in-hospital recovery of physical functioning after elective colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. Materials and methodsModels were developed using prospective data from 256 patients and externally validated using prospective data of 291 patients. Postoperative complications were classified according to Clavien-Dindo. The modified Iowa level of assistance scale (mILAS) was used to determine time to postoperative in-hospital physical recovery. Aerobic fitness, age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, neoadjuvant treatment, surgical approach, tumour location, and preoperative haemoglobin level were potential predictors. Areas under the curve (AUC), calibration plots, and Hosmer-Lemeshow tests evaluated predictive performance. ResultsAerobic fitness, sex, age, ASA, tumour location, and surgical approach were included in the final models. External validation of the model for complications and postoperative recovery presented moderate to fair discrimination (AUC 0.666 (0.598–0.733) and 0.722 (0.651–0.794), respectively) and good calibration. High sensitivity and high negative predictive values were observed in the lower predicted risk categories (<40 %). ConclusionBoth models identify patients with and without an increased risk of complications or a prolonged time to in-hospital physical recovery. They might be used for improving patient-tailored preoperative risk assessment and targeted and cost-effective application of prehabilitation interventions.

Intra- and post-operative outcomes of the Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Program in laparoscopic hysterectomy.

To investigate the effect of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol on perioperative and post-operative outcomes in laparoscopic hysterectomies (LHs) performed for benign gynecological diseases. This prospective study was conducted with randomized 100 participants who underwent LH between 1 January and 31 December, 2022. A standard care protocol was applied to 50 participants (Group 1, control) and the ERAS protocol to the other 50 (Group 2, study). Length of hospitalization was compared between the groups as the primary outcome, and the duration of the operation, the amount of bleeding, post-operative nausea-vomiting, gas discharge time, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, and complications as the secondary outcomes. No statistically significant difference was seen between the groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, operation indications, surgical procedures applied in addition to hysterectomy, operative time, pre-operative and post-operative hemoglobin levels, amount of bleeding, or drain use (p > 0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was observed in terms of nausea (60% vs. 26%, p = 0.001), vomiting (28% vs. 10%, p = 0.040), duration of gassing (17.74 ± 6.77 vs. 14.20 ± 7.05h, p = 0.012), length of hospitalization (41.78 ± 12.17 vs. 34.12 ± 10.90h, p = 0.001), analgesic requirements (4.62 ± 1.36 vs. 3.34 ± 1.27h, p < 0.001), or VAS scores at the 1st (5.86 ± 1.21 vs. 4.58 ± 1.31, p < 0.001), 6th (5.16 ± 1.12 vs. 4.04 ± 1.08, p < 0.001), 12th (4.72 ± 1.12 vs. 3.48 ± 1.12, p < 0.001), 18th (4.48 ± 1.21 vs. 3.24 ± 1.34, p < 0.001), and 24th (4.08 ± 1.29 vs. 3.01 ± 1.30, p < 0.001) hours. The findings of this study show that the ERAS protocol has a positive effect on peri- and post-operative outcomes in LH. Further prospective studies are now needed to confirm the validity of the results.

Acil Abdominal Cerrahi Yapılan COVID-19 Hastalarında Postoperatif Komplikasyonların Öngördürücüleri

Amaç: COVID-19 dünya çapında hızla yayılması ve pandemi haline gelmesi, cerrahi hastalarda postoperatif komplikasyonların insidansında da artışa neden oldu. Acil ameliyata alınan hastalarda COVID-19 pozitifliğinin ameliyat sonrası komplikasyonları etkileyebileceği açıktır. Bu çalışmada acil abdominal cerrahi uygulanan COVID-19 hastalarında postoperatif komplikasyonlar için öngördürücü faktörlerin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.&#x0D; Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu çalışmada acil abdominal cerrahi uygulanan ve perioperatif 72 saat içerisinde COVID-19 Polimeraz Zincir Reaksiyonu (PCR) testi pozitif sonuçlanan 52 hasta retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi.&#x0D; Bulgular: Çalışmaya dahil edilen hastaların medyan yaşı 50.5’di (aralık: 18-83). 30 günlük mortalite oranı %15.4 olarak saptandı. Postoperatif komplikasyon oranı %23.1’di. Postoperatif komplikasyon durumu ile yaş (p=0.003) ve preoperatif hemoglobin değeri (p=0.001) arasında anlamlı bir ilişki saptandı. Yaş ve hemoglobinin birlikte değerlendirilmesinin postoperatif komplikasyonlar için sensivitesinin %91.7, spesifitesinin %87.5 olduğu görüldü (p

A nomogram prediction model for hungry bone syndrome in dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism after total parathyroidectomy

ObjectiveSecondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hungry bone syndrome (HBS) after parathyroidectomy (PTX) is a serious complication, which can lead to diarrhea, convulsion, arrhythmia and even death. This study was aimed to determine the risk factors for HBS after PTX in dialysis patients with SHPT and construct a nomogram prediction model to predict the incidence of postoperative complications.MethodsClinical data were collected from 80 maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with SHPT who received total PTX in the Second Hospital of Jilin University from January 2018 to September 2021. In line with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, totally 75 patients were finally enrolled for analysis. Patients were divided into two groups for retrospective analysis according to the severity of postoperative HBS, including HBS group and non-HBS (N-HBS) group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the risk factors for postoperative HBS. Afterwards, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted based on the statistical analysis results, aiming to compare the prediction effects of different predicting factors. Finally, the nomogram was established to evaluate the occurrence probability of postoperative complications predicted by the risk factors.ResultsAmong the 75 patients, 32 had HBS (HBS group), while 43 did not have HBS (N-HBS group). Univariate analysis results indicated that, the preoperative intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels in HBS group were significantly higher than those in N-HBS group, while preoperative hemoglobin and preoperative albumin (Alb) levels were significantly lower than those in N-HBS group. As discovered by multivariate logistic regression analysis, preoperative iPTH (OR = 1.111, P = 0.029) and ALP (OR = 1.010, P < 0.001) were the independent risk factors for postoperative HBS. ROC curve analysis suggested that the area under the curve (AUC) values of these two indicators were 0.873 and 0.926, respectively (P < 0.0001). Subsequently, the nomogram model for predicting HBS was constructed. The model verification results indicated that the predicted values were basically consistent with the measured values, with the C-index of 0.943 (95% CI 0.892–0.994). Besides, the calibration curve was consistent with the ideal curve, demonstrating the favorable accuracy and discrimination of the model.ConclusionsPreoperative iPTH and preoperative ALP are the risk factors for postoperative HBS, which can be used to guide the early clinical intervention.

Pelvic packing or endovascular interventions: Which should be given priority in managing hemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures? A systematic review and a meta-analysis

BackgroundPelvic fractures in trauma patients can be associated with substantial massive hemorrhage. Hemostasis interventions mainly consist of pelvic packing (PP) and endovascular intervention (EI), such as angiography-embolization (AE) and resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA). Whether PP or EI should be prioritized for the management of hemodynamic unstable patients with pelvic fractures remains under debate. This meta-analysis aimed to establish the evidence-based recommendations for the management of hemodynamic unstable patients. Materials and methodsPubMed, CENTRAL, and EMBASE databases were searched for articles published from January 1, 2000 to January 31, 2023. Eligible studies, such as retrospective cohort studies, propensity score matching studies, prospective cohort studies, observational cohort studies, quasi-randomized clinical trials evaluating PP and EI (AE or REBOA) for the management of patients with hemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures, were included. Mean Difference (MD), relative risk (RR), and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models depending on the heterogeneity of included trials. We compared the effectiveness of the two methods in terms of mortality, unstable fracture pattens, injury severity score (ISS), systolic blood pressure (SBP), lactate (LA), base deficiency (BE), hemoglobin preoperatively, blood transfusion requirement, the time to and of operation, complications. ResultsOverall, 15 trials enrolling 1136 patients were analyzed, showing a total mortality rate of 28.4 % (323/1136). No effect of PP preference on the ISS (PP 36.4 ± 10.4 vs. EI 34.5 ± 12.7), SBP (PP 81.1 ± 24.3 mmHg vs. EI 94.2 ± 32.4 mmHg), LA (PP 4.66 ± 2.72 mmol/L vs. 4.85 ± 3.45 mmol/L), BE (PP 8.14 ± 5.64 mmol/L vs. 6.66 ± 5.68 mmol/L), and unstable fracture patterns (RR = 1.10, 95 % CI [0.63, 1.92]) was observed. PP application was associated with lower preoperative hemoglobin level (PP 8.11 ± 2.28 g/dL vs. EI 8.43 ± 2.43 g/dL, p < 0.05), more preoperative transfusion (MD = 2.53, 95 % CI [0.01, 5.06]), less postoperative transfusion within the first 24 h (MD = −1.09, 95 % CI [−1.96, −0.22]), shorter waiting time to intervention (MD = −0.93, 95 % CI [−1.54, −0.31]), and shorter operation time of intervention (MD = −0.41, 95 % CI [−0.52, −0.30]). PP had lower mortality rate owing to uncontrolled hemorrhage in the acute phase (RR = 0.41, 95 % CI [0.22, 0.79]). There was neither difference in mortality due to other complications (RR = 1.60, 95 % CI [0.79, 3.24]), nor in total mortality (RR = 0.92, 95%CI [0.49, 1.74]) (p > 0.05). ConclusionsPP showed advantages of reducing the amount of postoperative transfusion, shortening the time of waiting and operating, and decreasing mortality due to uncontrolled hemorrhage in the acute phase without raising the odds of mortality due to complications. PP, a reliable hemostatic method, should be prioritized for resuscitating most pelvic fractures with hemodynamically unstable, especially in case of bleeding from veins and fracture sites, as well as inadequate EI.

Impact of the Barthel Index Score and Prognosis on Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement.

Few studies have compared the Barthel Index (BI) score and postoperative outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). We aimed to examine the relationship between the BI score and postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent TAVR and SAVR.Methods and Results: The study included patients who underwent SAVR between January 2014 and December 2022 (n=293) and patients who underwent TAVR between January 2016 and December 2022 (n=312). We examined the risk factors for long-term mortality in the 2 groups. The mean (±SD) preoperative BI score was 88.7±18.0 in the TAVR group and 95.8±12.3 in the SAVR group. The home discharge rate was significantly lower in the SAVR than TAVR group. The BI score at discharge was significantly higher in the SAVR than in TAVR group (86.2 vs. 80.2; P<0.001). Significant risk factors for long-term mortality in the TAVR group were sex (P<0.001) and preoperative hemoglobin level (P=0.008), whereas those in the SAVR group were preoperative albumin level (P=0.04) and postoperative BI score (P=0.02). The cut-off point of the postoperative BI score determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was 60.0. The BI score at discharge was a significant risk factor for long-term mortality in the SAVR group, with a cut-off value of 60.0.

Development of a predictive model for risk stratification of acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Acute kidney injury (AKI) following hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is common. Identifying patients at risk could have implications for surgical and anesthetic management. We aimed to develop a predictive model that could predict AKI based on patients’ preoperative characteristics and intraperitoneal chemotherapy regimen. We retrospectively gathered data of adult patients undergoing HIPEC at our health system between November 2013 and April 2022. Next, we developed a model predicting postoperative AKI using multivariable logistic regression and calculated the performance of the model (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve [AUC]) via tenfold cross-validation. A total of 412 patients were included, of which 36 (8.7%) developed postoperative AKI. Based on our multivariable logistic regression model, multiple preoperative and intraoperative characteristics were associated with AKI. We included the total intraoperative cisplatin dose, body mass index, male sex, and preoperative hemoglobin level in the final model. The mean area under the receiver operating characteristics curve value was 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.71–0.93). Our risk model predicted AKI with high accuracy in patients undergoing HIPEC in our institution. The external validity of our model should now be tested in independent and prospective patient cohorts.

Preoperative Blood Transfusion Requirements for Hemorrhoidal Severe Anemia: A Retrospective Study of 128 Patients.

BACKGROUND Severe anemia caused by hemorrhoidal hematochezia is typically treated preoperatively with reference to severe anemia treatment strategies from other etiologies. This retrospective cohort study included 128 patients with hemorrhoidal severe anemia admitted to 3 hospitals from September 1, 2018, to August 1, 2023, and aimed to evaluate preoperative blood transfusion requirements. MATERIAL AND METHODS Of 5120 patients with hemorrhoids, 128 (2.25%; male/female: 72/56) experienced hemorrhoidal severe anemia, transfusion, and Milligan-Morgan surgery. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on their preoperative hemoglobin (PHB) levels after transfusion: PHB ≥70 g/L as the liberal-transfusion group (LG), and PHB <70 as the restrictive-threshold group (RG). The general condition, bleeding duration, hemoglobin level on admission, transfusion volume, length of stay, immune transfusion reaction, surgical duration, and hospitalization cost were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS Patients with severe anemia (age: 41.07±14.76) tended to be younger than those with common hemorrhoids (age: 49.431±15.59 years). The LG had a significantly higher transfusion volume (4.77±2.22 units), frequency of immune transfusion reactions (1.22±0.58), and hospitalization costs (16.69±3.31 thousand yuan) than the RG, which had a transfusion volume of 3.77±2.09 units, frequency of immune transfusion reactions of 0.44±0.51, and hospitalization costs of 15.00±3.06 thousand yuan. Surgical duration in the LG (25.69±14.71 min) was significantly lower than that of the RG (35.24±18.72 min). CONCLUSIONS Patients with hemorrhoids with severe anemia might require a lower preoperative transfusion threshold than the currently recognized threshold, with an undifferentiated treatment effect and additional benefits.

Impact of chronic kidney disease stages on surgical and functional outcomes in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for localized renal tumors.

The influence of chronic kidney disease stage on robot-assisted partial nephrectomy outcomes remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the impact of chronic kidney disease stage on functional and surgical outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and identify preoperative predictors of significant postoperative 1-year renal-function loss (RFL). Clinical data of 408 patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy at Yokohama City University Hospital between 2016 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. The da Vinci Surgical System was applied in all patients, and outcomes assessed included surgical parameters, postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, trifecta and pentafecta achievements, and complications. Significant RFL was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate reduction ≥ 25% from baseline. Higher chronic kidney disease stages correlated with older age, hypertension, diabetes, and solitary kidneys. Postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate decline was most pronounced in patients with chronic kidney disease stages 4-5. Although the chronic kidney disease stage did not significantly affect most surgical parameters, pentafecta achievement was higher in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 3 than in those with stages 4-5. Two patients required hemodialysis after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative hemoglobin level and maximum tumor diameter were significant predictive factors for significant RFL. In conclusion, preoperative CKD stage did not influence on surgical outcome except for pentafecta achievement. RAPN may be feasible for patients with CKD stages 4-5 because of no rapid progression to hemodialysis induction and no procedure-related mortality. Preoperative hemoglobin levels and tumor diameter emerged as predictors of significant RFL.

Intraoperative and immediate postoperative transfusion: Clinical-hematological profile of transfunded patients in a university hospital

IntroductionThe transfusion practice by surgery blood reserve, varied among services, must be performed through the rational and restrictive use of blood components because it is a scarce and expensive resource for health care services. ObjectiveAnalyze the use of blood products for surgery blood reserve by means of the study of the clinical-hematological profile of patients submitted to intraoperative and immediate postoperative transfusions. MethodsThis was an observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study, conducted by collecting biological, operational, and laboratory variables, involving 680 patients at a university hospital who had elective surgery with surgery blood reserve request sent during the period from October 2021 to October 2022. ResultsThe overall transfusion rate was 25.44%, and the mean preoperative hemoglobin level of transfused patients was 9.74 ± 2.50 g/dL, with the mean number of transfusions packed red blood cell units was 1.58 ± 0.77. Patients with higher preoperative hemoglobin levels were less likely to have transfusion (p < 0.001) and patients who had surgical oncologic were more likely to require transfusion (p = 0.048). The transfusion rate of packed red blood cells and platelets concentrates, compared to what was requested, was 15.86% and 5.82%. ConclusionThere is a tendency of transfusions to follow restrictive models, with higher transfusion probability in surgical oncologic. Furthermore, there should be more a conscise use of the surgery blood reserves request.

Preoperative anemia: impact on short- and long-term outcomes following curative-intent resection of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

ObjectiveThe impact of preoperative anemia on clinical outcomes of patients undergoing resection of gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) has not been previously investigated. The objective of the current study was to characterize how preoperative anemia affected short- and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing curative-intent resection of GEP-NETs. MethodsPatients who underwent curative-intent resection for GEP-NETs between January 1990 to December 2020 were identified from eight major institutions. The last preoperative hemoglobin level was recorded; anemia was defined as < 13.5g/dl in males or < 12.0g/dl in females based on instructions of American Society of Hematology. The impact of anemia on post-operative outcomes were assessed on uni- and multivariate analysis. ResultsAmong1,559 patients, median age was 58 years (IQR 48-66) and roughly one-half of the cohort was male (n=796, 51.1%). Most patients had a pancreatic tumor (n=1040, 66.7%), followed by small bowel (n=259, 16.6%), duodenum (n=103, 6.6%), stomach (n=66, 4.2%), appendix (n=53, 3.4%), and other locations (n=38, 2.6%). Median preoperative hemoglobin level was 13.4 (IQR 12.2-14.5) g/dl. Overall, 101 (6.7%) and 119 (8.5%) patients received an intra- or postoperative pRBC transfusion, respectively. A total of 972 (44.5%) patients experienced a postoperative complication. Although the overall incidence of complications was no different among patients who did (anemic 48.7%) versus did not (non-anemic 47.3%) have anemia (p=0.597), patients with preoperative anemia were more likely to develop a major (≥Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa: anemic 48.9% vs. non-anemic 38.0%, p=0.006) and multiple (≥3 types of complications: anemic 32.2% vs. anemic 19.7%, p<0.001) complications. 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) was 96.7%, 90.5%, and 86.6% respectively. On multivariable analysis, anemia (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.2, p=0.006) remained associated with worse OS; postoperative pRBC transfusion was associated with a OS (5-year OS, 75.0% vs. 87.7%, p=0.017), as well as RFS (5-year RFS, 66.9% vs. 76.5%, p=0.047). Conclusionspreoperative anemia was commonly identified in roughly 1 in 3 patients who underwent curative-intent resection for GEP-NETs. Preoperative anemia was strongly associated with higher risk of postoperative morbidity and worse long-term outcomes.

MRI-based central sarcopenia negatively impacts the therapeutic effectiveness of single-segment lumbar fusion surgery in the elderly

Central sarcopenia is associated with the prognosis of various orthopedic surgeries in the elderly. This study aims to investigate its impact on the outcomes of single-segment lumbar fusion surgery in elderly patients. Retrospective analysis was conducted on 314 patients aged 60 to 80 who underwent single-segment posterior lumbar fusion surgery due to degenerative lumbar diseases. Patients were categorized into high psoas and L4 vertebral index (PLVI) and low PLVI groups according to the MRI-measured PLVI for central sarcopenia. Basic patient data, surgery-related parameters, functional assessments at preoperative and postoperative 3, 6, and 12 months, and X-ray-based fusion status were compared. The basic data of the two groups showed no significant differences. Parameters including the operative segment, preoperative hemoglobin levels, surgical duration, and intraoperative blood loss exhibited no significant variances. However, notable differences were observed in postoperative initial hemoglobin levels, transfusion requirements, and length of hospital stay between the two groups. During the postoperative follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12 months, the VAS scores for lower back pain and ODI scores in the lower PLVI group were significantly higher compared to the high PLVI group. Additionally, the EuroQoL 5D scores were notably lower in the low PLVI group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of leg pain VAS scores at each time point and the fusion status at 12 months postoperatively. MRI-based central sarcopenia has a negative impact on the therapeutic effectiveness following single-segment lumbar fusion surgery in elderly patients.

Routine pretransfusion testing before primary total hip or knee arthroplasty are an expensive and wasteful routine. Systematic review and meta-analysis.

The excessive routine ordering of pretransfusion tests (blood typing, screening, and cross-matching) for surgical cases incurs significant unnecessary costs and places an undue burden on transfusion services. This study aims to systematically review the literature regarding the necessity of routine pretransfusion tests before total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and summarize their outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. The study's characteristics, the prevalence of over-ordering pretransfusion tests, transfusion rates, and potential cost savings to the healthcare system were analyzed. The study included 17,667 patients. Pooled results revealed a 96.3% over-ordering pretransfusion test rate (95% CI: 0.92-1.00; p < 0.001) among patients undergoing primary THA or TKA. The pooled prevalence of hospital transfusion rate was 3.6%. Notably, there were statistically significant differences in preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) levels between patients not requiring transfusion (Hb = 13.9g/dl; 95% CI 12.59-15.20; p < 0.001) and those needing transfusion (Hb = 11.9g/dl; 95% CI 10.69-13.01; p < 0.001) (p = 0.03). The per-patient total cost savings ranged from 28.63 to 191.27 dollars. Our study suggests that routine pre-transfusion testing for all patients undergoing primary THA or TKA may be unnecessary. We propose limiting pretransfusion test orders to patients with preoperative hemoglobin levels below 12g/dl in unilateral primary TKA or THA. This targeted approach can result in significant cost savings for healthcare systems and transfusion services by reducing the over-ordering of pretransfusion tests in these surgical procedures.

Comparative Evaluation of Upper Pole and Non-Upper Pole Puncture Techniques in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL): A Retrospective Analysis of Efficacy and Safety Parameters

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a critical intervention in the management of large renal calculi, with the choice of calyx puncture technique impacting the efficacy and safety of the procedure. While the upper pole approach is associated with better visualization and stone clearance, it is used with caution due to a perceived increase in complication rates. Objective: This study aimed to compare the upper pole calyx puncture technique's efficacy and safety with that of the non-upper pole (middle and lower) puncture techniques in PCNL. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 173 patients who underwent PCNL at the Urology and Transplant Unit A of The Institute of Kidney Diseases in Peshawar from January 2017 to December 2020. Data on demographics, stone characteristics, perioperative findings, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Statistical significance was determined using Chi-square tests with SPSS version 25. Results: The average stone size was 21.38 mm (±11.2 mm) overall, with the upper pole group presenting a smaller average size of 19.8 mm (±7.6 mm) compared to 21.55 mm (±10.8 mm) for the non-upper pole group (p=0.032). Pre-operative hemoglobin levels were slightly lower in the upper pole group (12.5 ± 1.8 mg/dl) than in the non-upper pole group (12.9 ± 1.8 mg/dl, p=0.007). Complete clearance rates were comparable between groups. Post-operative blood transfusion was required more frequently in the non-upper pole group (12.1%, n=12) versus the upper pole group (4.0%, n=3, p=0.04). Conclusion: The upper pole approach in PCNL may afford a higher rate of stone clearance and reduced operative times with acceptable safety when compared to non-upper pole approaches. The selection of puncture technique should be tailored to individual patient anatomy and stone characteristics, with consideration given to the surgeon's experience and skill.

Association between preoperative hemoglobin with length of hospital stay among non-cardiac and non-obstetric surgery patients: a secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundPrevious studies concerning the association between preoperative Hemoglobin (HB) level and the Length Of hospital Stay (LOS) in patients with non-cardiac surgery and non-obstetric surgery remain inconclusive. Herein, the objective of this study was to analyze whether and to what extent the preoperative HB level was connected with the LOS in non-cardiac and non-obstetric surgery patients.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was performed at a single institution, involving patients who underwent elective non-cardiac, non-obstetric surgery from April 2007 to September 2013. Clinical characteristics of patients such as demographics, comorbidities, preoperative HB level, LOS, mortality, procedure length, and pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) Severity Class data were collected. A univariate analysis was used to determine the association between clinical characteristics and LOS. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between preoperative HB level and LOS.Results and discussionIn this study, 311 patients were included. We observed that compared with the LOS > 7 days group, the average HB level of patients in the LOS ≤ 7 days group was higher (12.04 ± 2.20 g/dl vs. 10.92 ± 2.22 g/dl, p < 0.001). In addition, there were fewer patients with moderate-to-severe anemia in LOS ≤ 7 days group than the LOS > 7 days group (32.74% vs 58.82%, p < 0.001). In addition, we found that patients with LOS ≤ 7 days were accompanied with lower mortality (0.44% vs. 7.06%, p < 0.001) and lower mean combined pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) than that in patients with LOS > 7 days (42.56 ± 11.97 vs. 46.00 ± 12.37, p < 0.05). After controlling for relevant confounders, we discovered a nonlinear association between preoperative HB level and LOS as well as a threshold effect based on LOS. Specifically, when preoperative HB level was less than 11.9 g/dL, LOS decreased by 2 days for each 1 g/dL increase in HB level. However, LOS did not alter substantially with the rise of preoperative HB level when it was higher than 11.9 g/dL.ConclusionOur study showed a close non-linear association between preoperative HB level and LOS in patients with non-cardiac surgery and non-obstetric surgery. In particular, for patients with preoperative HB less than 11.9 g/dL, increasing the preoperative HB level can help shorten the LOS after operation.

Implementation of Patient Blood Management in Orthotopic Heart Transplants: A Single Centre Retrospective Observational Review

Blood transfusion in the perioperative cardiothoracic setting has accepted risks including deep sternal wound infection, increased intensive care unit length of stay, lung injury, and cost. It has an immunomodulatory effect which may cause allo-immunisation. This may influence long-term survival through immune-mediated factors. Targeting coagulation defects to reduce unnecessary or inappropriate transfusions may reduce these complications. In 2012, an institution-wide patient blood management evidence-based algorithmic bleeding management protocol was implemented at The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. The benefit of this has been previously reported in our lung transplant and cardiac surgery (excluding transplants) cohorts. This study aimed to investigate the effect of this on our orthotopic heart transplant recipients. After the implementation of the protocol, despite no difference in preoperative haemoglobin levels and higher risk patients (EuroSCORE 20 vs 26; p=0.013), the use of packed red blood cells (13.0 U vs 4.4 U; p=0.046) was significantly lower postoperatively and fresh frozen plasma was significantly lower both intra- and postoperatively (7.4 U vs 0.6 U; p<0.001, and 3.3 U vs 0.6 U; p=0.011 respectively). Concurrently, the use of prothrombin complex concentrate (33% vs 78%; p<0.001) and desmopressin (5% vs 22%; p=0.0028) was significantly higher in the post-protocol group, while there was less use of recombinant factor VIIa (15% vs 4%; p=0.058). Intraoperative units of cryoprecipitate also rose from 0.9 to 2.0 (p=0.006). We have demonstrated that a targeted patient blood management protocol with point-of-care testing for heart transplant recipients is correlated with fewer blood products used postoperatively, with some increase in haemostatic products and no evidence of increased adverse events.

Establishment and validation of a nomogram to predict postoperative anemia after total hip arthroplasty

BackgroundAnemia is a common complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA). In this study, we evaluated the preoperative risk factors for postoperative anemia after THA and developed a nomogram model based on related preoperative and intraoperative factors.MethodsFrom January 2020 to May 2023, 927 THA patients at the same medical center were randomly assigned to either the training or validation cohort. The correlation between preoperative and intraoperative risk factors and postoperative anemia after THA was evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. A nomogram was developed using these predictive variables. The effectiveness and validation for the clinical application of this nomogram were evaluated using the concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsThrough univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, 7 independent predictive factors were identified in the training cohort: Lower body mass index (BMI), extended operation time, greater intraoperative bleeding, lower preoperative hemoglobin level, abnormally high preoperative serum amyloid A (SAA) level, history of cerebrovascular disease, and history of osteoporosis. The C-index of the model was 0.871, while the AUC indices for the training and validation cohorts were 84.4% and 87.1%, respectively. In addition, the calibration curves of both cohorts showed excellent consistency between the observed and predicted probabilities. The DCA curves of the training and validation cohorts were high, indicating the high clinical applicability of the model.ConclusionsLower BMI, extended operation time, increased intraoperative bleeding, reduced preoperative hemoglobin level, elevated preoperative SAA level, history of cerebrovascular disease, and history of osteoporosis were seven independent preoperative risk factors associated with postoperative anemia after THA. The nomogram developed could aid in predicting postoperative anemia, facilitating advanced preparation, and enhancing blood management. Furthermore, the nomogram could assist clinicians in identifying patients most at risk for postoperative anemia.

Preoperative hemoglobin thresholds for increased risk of "medical" complications in fast-track total hip and knee arthroplasty, a secondary analysis of a machine-learning algorithm.

There is increasing evidence that gender-specific hemoglobin thresholds may not be ideal in the surgical population. Thus, preoperative anemia defined as a hemoglobin of <13.0 g/dL is a well-established risk factor in elective surgery. However, few studies have investigated the specific influence of preoperative hemoglobin within a machine-learning model using data from an optimized fast-track surgical setup. A secondary analysis on the specific influence of preoperative hemoglobin level on a machine-learning model developed for identifying patients at increased risk of a length of stay (LOS) of >4 day or readmissions due to medical complications in fast-track total hip and knee arthroplasty within a well-defined fast-track protocol. To evaluate the effect of hemoglobin on the model we calculated SHaply Additive Explanation (SHAP) values for the 3913 patients from our previous test-dataset and stratified by gender and total hip and knee arthroplasty, respectively. The study period ran from January 2017 to August 2017. Median LOS was 1 day and mean preoperative Hb was 15.5 g/dL (SD:1.5), lower in women (14.9 vs. 16.2 g/dL) and with 30.5% of women versus 12.0% of men having a Hb of <13.0 g/dL. There was a steep increase in SHAP value with a preoperative Hb < 14.8 g/dL, and irrespective of gender age and procedure type. A machine-learning model found a hemoglobin threshold of <14.8 g/dL for increased risk of impaired recovery, regardless of gender or age, supporting reevaluation of preoperative anemia thresholds in the elective surgical setting.

Assessing the Safety and Effectiveness of Bipolar Technology in Transurethral Prostate Resection: A study in a Tertiary Care Private Hospital

Background: Benign enlargement of prostate (BEP) is a common affliction among aging males, predominantly emanating from the transition zone of the prostate, resulting in lower urinary tract symptoms. Despite the availability of diverse treatment modalities, transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) has conventionally served as a benchmark intervention. Recently, there has been a growing interest in bipolar energy techniques, spurred by their potential advantages in mitigating complications such as TUR syndrome and surgical bleeding. Objectives: The main aim of the study to evaluate the safety profile (including serum sodium and hemoglobin reductions, clot retention, TUR syndrome, catheterization duration, and hospital stay) and efficacy (resection rate, maximum flow rate increase, and International Prostate Symptom Score reduction) within the bipolar technique for the TURP. Methods &amp; Materials: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Urology, Square Hospitals Ltd, Dhaka, Bangladesh, spanning December 2020 to November 2021. The study employed comprehensive preoperative assessments, including bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (B-TURP) using Olympus ESG-400 energy platform. Surgical parameters, postoperative monitoring, and statistical analysis were meticulously executed to evaluate outcomes and complications for symptomatic benign enlargement of prostate. Results: In a sample of 50 individuals undergoing bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (B-TURP), the distribution of ages revealed 66.97±7.95 years as the bipolar system's average age, ranging from 53-82 years. The majority resided in urban areas (62%), with family income predominantly in the 25000-50000 bracket (42%). Preoperative baseline variables, including IPSS, Qmax, serum hemoglobin, and sodium levels, exhibited similar values between groups. Intraoperatively, the mean resection rate was 0.56±0.16 gm/min. Postoperatively, B-TURP resulted in a slight ......