Rate Of Mechanical Complications Research Articles

Bariatric Surgery Following Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Increases the Risk for Mechanical Complications Including Instability and Prosthetic Loosening.

While extensive literature has been published on the risks and benefits of bariatric surgery (BS) prior to and following lower-extremity arthroplasty, no similar investigations have been performed on the impact of BS prior to total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The objective of the present study was to compare the incidence of mechanical complications in morbidly obese patients who undergo TSA: those who undergo BS following TSA compared with those who do not undergo BS, and those who undergo BS after TSA compared with those who undergo BS prior to TSA. A Medicare database was queried for morbidly obese patients who underwent BS either before or after TSA, as well as those who underwent TSA but no BS. Of 12,277 morbidly obese patients who underwent TSA between 2005 and 2014, 304 underwent BS (165 of them prior to TSA and 139 following TSA) and 11,923 did not undergo BS. Rates of mechanical complications were then compared between groups using a logistic regression analysis. Patients who underwent BS after TSA had significantly higher rates of mechanical complications (12.9%) compared to controls (8.8%) or patients who underwent prior BS (7.9%). Patients who underwent BS after TSA had higher rates of both instability (7.9%) and loosening (8.6%) than did controls (5.1 and 4.9%, respectively) or patients who underwent BS before TSA (4.8 and 4.2%, respectively). BS following TSA is associated with increased rates of mechanical complications, including instability and loosening, compared to BS prior to TSA. These findings suggest that it may be prudent to consider performing BS prior to TSA in morbidly obese patients, rather than waiting until after TSA is performed.

Outcomes and Treatment of Malignant Tumors of Long Bones

Abstract Introduction. With the advances in chemotherapy, the life expectancy of patients with malignant tumors of bones begins to rise and creates the opportunity for a more conservative treatment of such cases. The main complications after using reconstruction with bone graft are represented by mechanical failure, due to the lack of strong fixation, or biological failure of graft integration. Infection is another complication, patients being usually immunosuppressed. The aim of this study was to investigate a retrospective single center experience of surgically treated malignant bone tumors of long bones, respectively oncological, surgical, and functional outcome differences after biological reconstruction. Materials and methods. Between 2007 and 2017, we conducted a retrospective study, with patients from Elias Orthopaedic Department. 70 patients with malignant tumors were treated. Only in 20 cases, resection-reconstruction was possible. Results. Survival rate at 8-year follow up was 35%. Mechanical failure rate was 20%, graft resorption rate was 25%, and infection rate was 15%. Discussion. Primary malignant tumors of bones are very rare, less than 1% of cancer cases, and yet there is no strict rule for treating these patients in specialized centers. Because of the small sample of patients, the heterogeneity of reconstruction methods and multiple types of grafts, this study also had some limitations. The mechanical or biological complication rate is higher in resectionreconstruction cases. Non-unions, fractures and infections are the most common complications.

A novel technique of axillary vein puncture involving peripherally inserted central venous catheters for a small basilic vein.

Peripherally inserted central venous catheters are some of the most useful devices for vascular access used globally. Peripherally inserted central venous catheters have a low rate of fatal mechanical complications when compared to non-tunnel central venous catheters. However, as peripherally inserted central venous catheter access requires a smaller vein, there is a high risk of thrombosis. The axillary vein (confluence of the basilic and brachial veins) can serve as an access for cannulation. Moreover, as this vein is larger than the basilic or brachial vein, it might be a superior option for preventing thrombosis. The risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection should be considered when the puncture site is at the axillary fossa. The aim of this study was to present our new protocol involving peripherally inserted central venous catheters (non-tunneled/tunneled) and a tunneling technique and assess its feasibility and safety for improving cannulation and preventing thrombosis and infection. The study included 20 patients. The axillary vein in the upper arm was used for peripherally inserted central venous catheters in patients with a small-diameter basilic vein (<3 mm). When the puncture site was in the axillary fossa, a subcutaneous tunnel of about 3 cm was constructed easily using a peripheral venous catheter. The observed catheter duration was 645 days (median ± standard deviation, 26 ± 22.22 days). Catheterization was successful in all cases, however, two accidental dislodgements were identified. No fatal or serious complications were observed after catheterization. Our new protocol for axillary peripherally inserted central venous catheters/tunneled axillary peripherally inserted central venous catheters use for a small-diameter basilic vein is safe and feasible.

Under-corrected knees do not fail more than aligned knees at 8years in fixed severe valgus total knee replacement.

A fixed severe valgus knee is a surgical challenge. A safe post-operative Hip-Knee-Ankle angle (HKA) range of 180°±4 was recommended, but recent studies mentioned equal results from outliers of this range. Nevertheless, no distinction was made between varus and valgus knees, as well as over-corrected or under-corrected knees. Did post-operative nonaligned total knee replacements (TKR) from fixed severe valgus knees behave differently from the properly aligned population? Did over-corrected knees behave differently from under-corrected knees? Through a multi-center retrospective cohort study, we provided 557 knees of at least 10° of minimal pre-operative valgus; in this population 75 presented a post-operative Hip-Knee-Ankle angle (HKA) outside of the 180°±4 range; 23 of them had at least 5° of varus; 52 of them had at least 5° of valgus. Median pre-operative HKA of the entire cohort was 194° (range 190-198). Median follow-up was 8years (range 5-11); Knee Society Score (KSS) results, HKA, Femoral and Tibial Mechanical Angles (FMA, TMA) and complication rates were obtained. The outlier group (HKA ≤ 175 or ≥ 185) was compared to the control group (HKA 180 ± 4); over-corrected (HKA ≤ 175) and under-corrected (HKA ≥ 185) sub-groups were individually tested against the control group. The outlier group had a lower Final Knee Score than the aligned group (p = 0.023). In the over-corrected sub-group, median post-operative FMA was 88° (SD 4°) and median TMA was 87° (SD 4°). The complication rate was higher (p = 0.019). Knee (p = 0.018), Function (p = 0.034) and Final Knee Scores (p = 0.03) were statistically lower than in the control group. In the under-corrected sub-group, mean post-operative FMA was 93° (SD 2°) and mean TMA was 91° (SD 2°). The complication rate was lower (p = 0.019) and there was no difference with the control group concerning KSS. In case of pre-operative fixed severe valgus knee, one should avoid over-correcting HKA angle and especially the TMA. Over-correction of a severe preoperative valgus in a post-operative varus was prejudicial for TKA survival. Keeping a severe valgus knee in low valgus to avoid using a more constrained implant and/or ligament releases will not decrease the 5-10year implant survival and functional scores. Level IV-Case series.

Relative pelvic version: an individualized pelvic incidence-based proportional parameter that quantifies pelvic version more precisely than pelvic tilt

Background ContextPelvic tilt (PT) is used as an indicator of pelvic version with increased values indicating retroversion and disability. The concept of using PT solely as an absolute numerical value can be misleading, especially for the patients with pelvic incidence (PI) values near the upper and lower normal limits. Relative pelvic version (RPV) is a PI-based individualized measure of the pelvic version. Relative pelvic version indicates the individualized spatial orientation of the pelvis relative to the ideal sacral slope as defined by the magnitude of PI. PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare RPV and PT for their ability to predict mechanical complications and their correlations with health-related quality of Life (HRQoL) scores. Study DesignA retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected data of adult spinal deformity patients was carried out. Mechanical complications (proximal junctional kyphosis or proximal junctional failure, distal junctional kyphosis or distal junctional failure, rod breakage, and implant-related complications) and HRQoL scores (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], Core Outcome Measures Index [COMI], Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary [SF-36 PCS], and Scoliosis Research Society 22 Spinal Deformity Questionnaire [SRS-22]) were used as outcome measures. MethodsInclusion criteria were ≥4 levels fusion, and ≥2-year follow-up. Correlations between PT, RPV, PI, and HRQoL were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient. Pelvic incidence values and mechanical complication rates in RPV subgroups for each PT category were compared using one-way analysis of variance, Student t test, and chi-squared tests. Predictive models for mechanical complications with RPV and PT were analyzed using binomial logistic regressions. ResultsA total of 222 patients (168 women, 54 men) met the inclusion criteria. Mean age was 52.2±19.3 (18–84) years. Mean follow-up was 28.8±8.2 (24–62) months. There was a significant correlation between PT and PI (r=0.613, p<.001), threatening the use of PT to quantify pelvic version for different PI values. Relative pelvic version was not correlated with PI (r=−0.108, p>.05), being able to quantify pelvic version for all PI values. Compared with PT, RPV had stronger partial correlations with ODI, COMI, SF-36 PCS, and SRS-22 scores (p<.05). Discrimination performance assessed by area under the curve, percentage accuracy in classification, true positive rate, true negative rate, and positive and negative predictive values was better for the model with RPV than for PT. For average PI sizes, the agreement between RPV and PT were moderate (0.609, p<.001), whereas the agreement in small and large PI sizes were poor (0.189, p>.05; −0.098, p>.496, respectively). When analyzed by RPV, each PT “0,” “+,” and “++” category was further divided into two or three distinct subgroups of patients having different PI values (p=.000, p=.000, and p=.029, respectively). Relative pelvic version subgroups within the same PT category displayed different mechanical complication rates (p=.000, p=.020, and p=.019, respectively). ConclusionsPelvic tilt may be insufficient or misleading in quantifying normoversion for the whole spectrum of PI values when used as an absolute numeric value in conjunction with previously reported population-based average thresholds of 20 and 30 degrees. Relative pelvic version offers an individualized quantification of ante-, normo-, and retroversion for all PI sizes. Schwab PT groups were found to constitute inhomogeneous subgroup of patients with different mean PI values and mechanical complication rates. Compared with PT, RPV showed a greater association with both mechanical complications and HRQoL.

Mechanical complications and outcomes following invasive emergency procedures in severely injured trauma patients

This study aimes to determine the complication rates, possible risk factors and outcomes of emergency procedures performed during resuscitation of severely injured patients. The medical records of patients with an injury severity score (ISS) >15 admitted to the University Hospital Leipzig from 2010 to 2015 were reviewed. Within the first 24 hours of treatment, 526 patients had an overall mechanical complication rate of 26.2%. Multivariate analysis revealed out-of-hospital airway management (OR 3.140; 95% CI 1.963–5.023; p < 0.001) and ISS (per ISS point: OR 1.024; 95% CI 1.003–1.045; p = 0.027) as independent predictors of any mechanical complications. Airway management complications (13.2%) and central venous catheter complications (11.4%) were associated with ISS >32.5 (p < 0.001) and ISS >33.5 (p = 0.005), respectively. Chest tube complications (15.8%) were associated with out-of-hospital insertion (p = 0.002) and out-of-hospital tracheal intubation (p = 0.033). Arterial line complications (9.4%) were associated with admission serum lactate >4.95 mmol/L (p = 0.001) and base excess <−4.05 mmol/L (p = 0.008). In multivariate analysis, complications were associated with an increased length of stay in the intensive care unit (p = 0.019) but not with 24 hour mortality (p = 0.930). Increasing injury severity may contribute to higher complexity of the individual emergency treatment and is thus associated with higher mechanical complication rates providing potential for further harm.

Reviving an Old Technique Forgotten: Insertion Central Venous Catheter by External Jugular Vein: Description of Technical and Series of Cases

Background: The insertion of the central venous catheter (CVC) is a widely used procedure in intensive care units (ICUs). However, the use of the external jugular vein (EJV) for central venous cannulation, has been relegated as the time goes by. The purpose of this study is to describe the technique used to implant the CVC via EJV, performing at the same time, a number of case reports, characterizing the early mechanical complications presented in intensive care patients, which required placing central venous catheter without the use of ultrasound. Methodology: Case series report, with a population of 70 critically ill patients who required insertion of CVC by EJV, describing the early mechanical complications from the procedure. Results: Out of the 70 CVC, 90% were successfully inserted, the main early mechanical complication was subcutaneous hematoma in the 7.93%, and bad position was observed in 22% of cases. Conclusions: Technique without pulmonary complications, with low rate of early mechanical complications, to be considered in critically ill patients.

Complications with cement spacers in 2-stage treatment of periprosthetic joint infection on total hip replacement.

The aim of the present study was to assess our management of infected total hip replacement in indications for 2-stage surgical treatment according to current guidelines when a cement spacer has been used. The study hypothesis was that the complications rate related to cement spacers is low. A single-center retrospective study included 26 patients receiving a spacer between the two stages of total hip replacement, over a 5 year period. We analyzed the spacers used, mechanical complications, infectious complications and the second stage of surgery. During the interval between surgeries, in the 26 patients, there were 19 spacer-related mechanical complications (73% of patients): 11 dislocations (42.3%), 5 spacer fractures (19.2%), 5 femoral bone lyses or fractures (19.2%) and 3 acetabular lyses or fractures (11.5%). In 4 cases, complications were associated. The greater the femoral offset of the spacer, the more frequent were femoral bone lyses or fractures (p=0.05), and the smaller the offset the more frequent were acetabular lyses or fractures (p=0.05). The rates of mechanical complications (p=0.003) and spacer fracture (p=0.02) were significantly greater in older patients. There were 4 cases of reinfection (19%): i.e., an 81% treatment success rate. One reinfection implicated a new bacterium: methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. The second surgical stage was significantly longer in complex bipolar revision (p=0.009). The present results showed a high risk of spacer-related complications, and thus the importance of selection of patients liable to derive real benefit and those for whom a Gilderstone procedure would be preferable. IV, retrospective study.

Relative lumbar lordosis and lordosis distribution index: individualized pelvic incidence-based proportional parameters that quantify lumbar lordosis more precisely than the concept of pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis.

OBJECTIVE The subtraction of lumbar lordosis (LL) from the pelvic incidence (PI) offers an estimate of the LL required for a given PI value. Relative LL (RLL) and the lordosis distribution index (LDI) are PI-based individualized measures. RLL quantifies the magnitude of lordosis relative to the ideal lordosis as defined by the magnitude of PI. LDI defines the magnitude of lower arc lordosis in proportion to total lordosis. The aim of this study was to compare RLL and PI - LL for their ability to predict postoperative complications and their correlations with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores. METHODS Inclusion criteria were ≥ 4 levels of fusion and ≥ 2 years of follow-up. Mechanical complications were proximal junctional kyphosis/proximal junctional failure, distal junctional kyphosis/distal junctional failure, rod breakage, and implant-related complications. Correlations between PI - LL, RLL, PI, and HRQOL were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Mechanical complication rates in PI - LL, RLL, LDI, RLL, and LDI interpreted together, and RLL subgroups for each PI - LL category were compared using chi-square tests and the exact test. Predictive models for mechanical complications with RLL and PI - LL were analyzed using binomial logistic regressions. RESULTS Two hundred twenty-two patients (168 women, 54 men) were included. The mean age was 52.2 ± 19.3 years (range 18-84 years). The mean follow-up was 28.8 ± 8.2 months (range 24-62 months). There was a significant correlation between PI - LL and PI (r = 0.441, p < 0.001), threatening the use of PI - LL to quantify spinopelvic mismatch for different PI values. RLL was not correlated with PI (r = -0.093, p > 0.05); therefore, it was able to quantify divergence from ideal lordosis for all PI values. Compared with PI - LL, RLL had stronger correlations with HRQOL scores (p < 0.05). Discrimination performance was better for the model with RLL than for PI - LL. The agreement between RLL and PI - LL was high (κ = 0.943, p < 0.001), moderate (κ = 0.455, p < 0.001), and poor (κ = -0.154, p = 0.343), respectively, for large, average, and small PI sizes. When analyzed by RLL, each PI - LL category was further divided into distinct groups of patients who had different mechanical complication rates (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Using the formula of PI - LL may be insufficient to quantify normolordosis for the whole spectrum of PI values when applied as an absolute numeric value in conjunction with previously reported population-based average thresholds of 10° and 20°. Schwab PI - LL groups were found to constitute an inhomogeneous group of patients. RLL offers an individualized quantification of LL for all PI sizes. Compared with PI - LL, RLL showed a greater association with both mechanical complications and HRQOL. The use of RLL and LDI together, instead of PI - LL, for surgical planning may result in lower mechanical complication rates and better long-term HRQOL.

Global Alignment and Proportion (GAP) Score: Development and Validation of a New Method of Analyzing Spinopelvic Alignment to Predict Mechanical Complications After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.

The restoration of normal sagittal alignment is a critical goal in adult spinal deformity surgery to achieve favorable outcomes and prevent mechanical complications. Schwab sagittal modifiers have been accepted as targets for appropriate alignment, but addressing these targets does not always prevent high mechanical complication or revision rates. This may be because the linear absolute numerical parameters do not cover the whole pelvic incidence spectrum and the distribution of lordosis, pelvic anteversion, and negative malalignment are not considered as potential causes of failure. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a score based on pelvic-incidence-based proportional parameters to better predict mechanical complications. Two hundred and twenty-two patients (168 women and 54 men) followed for ≥2 years after posterior fusion at ≥4 levels were included in the study. The mean age (and standard deviation) was 52.2 ± 19.3 years (range, 18 to 84 years), and the mean duration of follow-up was 28.8 ± 8.2 months (range, 24 to 62 months). The global alignment and proportion (GAP) score was developed and validated in groups of patients randomly assigned to derivation (n = 148, 66.7%) and validation (n = 74, 33.3%) cohorts. GAP score parameters were relative pelvic version (the measured minus the ideal sacral slope), relative lumbar lordosis (the measured minus the ideal lumbar lordosis), lordosis distribution index (the L4-S1 lordosis divided by the L1-S1 lordosis multiplied by 100), relative spinopelvic alignment (the measured minus the ideal global tilt), and an age factor. Proximal and distal junctional kyphosis and/or failure, rod breakage, and other implant-related complications were considered mechanical complications. The predictive accuracy of the GAP score was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Associations between GAP categories and mechanical complications and revisions were analyzed using Cochran-Armitage tests. In the validation cohort, 32 patients (43%) experienced mechanical complications and 17 (23%) underwent mechanical revision. The area under curve for the GAP score predicting mechanical complications was 0.92 (standard error [SE] = 0.034, p < 0.001, 95% [confidence interval [CI] = 0.85 to 0.98). Postoperatively, patients with a proportioned spinopelvic state according to the GAP score had a mechanical complication rate of 6% while those with a moderately or severely disproportioned spinopelvic state had rates of 47% and 95%, respectively. The GAP score is a new pelvic-incidence-based proportional method of analyzing the sagittal plane that predicts mechanical complications in patients undergoing surgery for adult spinal deformity. Setting surgical goals according to the GAP score may decrease the prevalence of mechanical complications.

A Contemporary Assessment of Mechanical Complication Rates and Trainee Perceptions of Central Venous Catheter Insertion.

Limited data exist regarding rates of mechanical complications of ultrasound-guided, nontunneled central venous catheters (CVC). Similarly, trainee perceptions surrounding CVC complications are largely unknown. To evaluate contemporary CVC mechanical complication rates, associated risk factors, and trainee perspectives. A single-center retrospective review of CVC procedures between June 1, 2014, and May 1, 2015. Electronic survey distributed to internal medicine trainees. Intensive care units and the emergency department at an academic hospital. Electronic health records of patients with CVC procedures were reviewed for complications. Demographic and procedural characteristics were compared for complicated vs uncomplicated procedures. Student t tests and chi-square tests were used to compare continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Of the 730 reviewed records, 14 serious mechanical complications occurred due to pneumothorax (n = 5), bleeding (n = 3), vascular injury (n = 3), stroke (n = 1), and death (n = 2). Risk factors for complicated vs uncomplicated CVC placement included subclavian location (21.4% vs 7.8%, 𝑃 = 0.001), number of attempts (2.2 vs 1.5, 𝑃 = 0.02), unsuccessful CVC (21.4% vs. 4.3%, 𝑃 = 0.001), attending supervision (61.5% vs 34.7%, 𝑃 = 0.04), low body mass index (mean 25.7 kg/ m² vs 31.5 kg/m², 𝑃 = 0.001), anticoagulation (28.6% vs 20.6%, 𝑃 = 0.048), and ventilation (78.5% vs 66.5%, 𝑃 = 0.001). Survey data suggested deficiencies in managing unsuccessful CVC procedures; specifically, only 35% (N = 21/60) of trainees regularly perform chest x-rays after failed CVC attempt. We observed a 1.9% rate of mechanical complications associated with CVC placement. Our study confirms historical data that unsuccessful CVC attempts are an important risk factor for complications. Education regarding unsuccessful CVC placement may improve patient safety.

Initial Clinical Experiences With Novel Diagonal ECLS System in Pediatric Cardiac Patients.

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) provides mechanical support following cardiac surgery when respiratory or cardiac failure occurs. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety and feasibility of the Medos Deltastream diagonal pump (DP3) ECLS system in pediatric cardiac patients. We described the technical considerations and risk factors related to the survival outcomes in 102 pediatric cardiac patients who received ECLS support between March 2011 and April 2016. We switched from the DP2 system, which was used for the initial 25 patients, to the DP3 system after November 2012. The DP3 was then used in a consecutive series of 77 patients (4.5% of all pediatric patients who underwent congenital heart surgery during the same time period). The patients' median age was 90 days (range: 2 days-12 years), while their median weight was 4 kg (range: 2.1-40 kg). Fifty four patients (70%) were weaned off ECLS, while 28 patients (36.3%) were successfully discharged from the hospital by means of the DP3 system. The median ECLS duration for survivors was 8.2 days (range: 4-14.5 days). The ECLS indications, durations, and initiation times had no statistical significance in terms of survival. Renal, hemorrhagic, and neurologic complications were all associated with decreased hospital discharge rates (P = 0.003, P = 0.045, and P < 0.001 respectively). Higher lactate levels (P = 0.009) and longer duration for normalization (P < 0.001) were both associated to failure to wean off ECLS support and, hence, to hospital deaths. The weaning rate was 36% prior to November 2012. It increased to 70.3% after that time (P = 0.009). The mechanical complication rate was 9% with the DP3 system and 32% with the DP2, which was statistically significant (P = 0.009). Additionally, the lactate levels were higher and decreased more slowly in the patients supported by the DP2. As a result of the shift to the DP3 system, a revised ECLS protocol, and increased ECLS experience, a significant improvement was observed in our clinical outcomes. The results of this study suggested that the combination of a DP3 pump and a Hilite oxygenator in pediatric ECLS circuits may improve durability and reduce circuit-induced complications.

Resilient liner-retained overdentures seem to have a lower rate of mechanical complications than clip-retained overdentures in patients with 2 implant–supported bar-retained overdentures

Elsyad MA, Shaheen NH, Ashmawy TM. Long-term clinical and prosthetic outcomes of soft liner and clip attachments for bar/implant overdentures: a randomized controlled clinical trial. J Oral Rehabil. 2017;44(6):472-480. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joor.12500.

Complications of central venous catheter insertion in a teaching hospital.

Central venous catheters are fundamental to daily clinical practice. This procedure is mainly performed by residents, often without supervision or structured training. To describe the characteristics of central venous catheterization and the complication rate related to it. Retrospective cohort study. Adult patients undergoing central venous catheter insertion out of the intensive care unit (ICU) of a teaching hospital were selected from March 2014 to February 2015. Data were collected from medical charts using an electronic form. Clinical and laboratory characteristics from patients, procedure characteristics, and mechanical and infectious complications rates were assessed. Patients with and without complications were compared. Three hundred and eleven (311) central venous catheterizations were evaluated. The main reasons to perform the procedure were lack of peripheral access, chemotherapy and sepsis. There were 20 mechanical complications (6% of procedures). Arterial puncture was the most common. Procedures performed in the second semester were associated with lower risk of complications (odds ratio 0.35 [95CI 0.12-0.98; p=0.037]). Thirty-five (35) catheter-related infection cases (11.1%) were reported. They were related to younger patients and procedures performed by residents with more than one year of training. Procedures performed after the first trimester had a lower chance of infection. These results show that the rate of mechanical complications of central venous puncture in our hospital is similar to the literature, but more attention should be given to infection prevention measures.

CO2 driven endotracheal tube cuff control in critically ill patients: A randomized controlled study.

BackgroundTo determine the safety and clinical efficacy of an innovative integrated airway system (AnapnoGuard™ 100 system) that continuously monitors and controls the cuff pressure (Pcuff), while facilitating the aspiration of subglottic secretions (SS).MethodsThis was a prospective, single centre, open-label, randomized, controlled feasibility and safety trial. The primary endpoint of the study was the rate of device related adverse events (AE) and serious AE (SAE) as a result of using AnapnoGuard (AG) 100 during mechanical ventilation. Secondary endpoints were: (1) mechanical complications rate (2) ICU staff satisfaction; (3) VAP occurrence; (4) length of mechanical ventilation; (5) length of Intensive Care Unit stay and mortality; (6) volume of evacuated subglottic secretions.Sixty patients were randomized to be intubated with the AG endotracheal-tube (ETT) and connected to the AG 100 system allowing Pcuff adjustment and SS aspiration; or with an ETT combined with SS drainage and Pcuff controlled manually.ResultsNo difference in adverse events rate was identified between the groups. The use of AG system was associated with a significantly higher incidence of Pcuff determinations in the safety range (97.3% vs. 71%; p<0.01) and a trend to a greater volume of aspirated SS secretions: (192.0[64–413] ml vs. 150[50–200], p = 0.19 (total)); (57.8[20–88.7] ml vs. 50[18.7–62] ml, p = 0.11 (daily)). No inter-group difference was detected using AG system vs. controls in terms of post-extubation throat pain level (0 [0–2] vs. 0 [0–3]; p = 0.7), hoarseness (42.9% vs. 75%; p = 0.55) and tracheal mucosa oedema (16.7% vs. 10%; p = 0.65).Patients enrolled in the AG group had a trend to reduced VAP risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP) (14.8% vs. 40%; p = 0.06), which were more frequently monomicrobial (25% vs. 70%; p = 0.03).No statistically significant difference was observed in duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, and mortality.ConclusionsThe use AG 100 system and AG tube in critically ill intubated patients is safe and effective in Pcuff control and SS drainage. Its protective role against VAP needs to be confirmed in a larger randomized trial.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01550978. Date of registration: February 21, 2012.

Postoperative Complications Associated With rhBMP2 Use in Posterior/Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion.

Study Design:Retrospective database review.Objective:Posterior/posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF) is an effective treatment for a variety of spinal disorders; however, variations in surgical technique have different complication profiles. The aim of our study was to quantify the frequency of various complications in patients undergoing PLF with and without human recombinant bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP2).Methods:We queried the orthopedic subset of the Medicare database (PearlDiver) between 2005 and 2011 for patients undergoing PLF procedures with and without rhBMP2. Complication and reoperation rates were analyzed within 1 year of the index procedure. Complications assessed include: acute renal failure, deep vein thrombosis, dural tear, hematoma, heterotopic ossification, incision and drainage, cardiac complications, nervous system complications, osteolysis, pneumonia, pseudarthrosis, pulmonary embolism, radiculopathy, respiratory complications, sepsis, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, mechanical, and wound complications. Chi-square analysis was used to calculate the complication differences between the groups.Results:Our data revealed higher overall complication rates in patients undergoing PLF with rhBMP2 versus no_rhBMP2 (76.9% vs 68.8%, P < .05). Stratified by gender, rhBMP2 males had higher rates of mechanical complications, pseudarthrosis, and reoperations compared with no_rhBMP2 males (P < .05), whereas rhBMP2 females had higher rates of pseudarthrosis, urinary tract infection, and urinary retention compared with no_rhBMP2 females (P < .05).Conclusion:Our data revealed higher overall complication rates in PLF patients given rhBMP2 compared with no_rhBMP2. Furthermore, our data suggests that rhBMP2-associated complications may be gender specific.

Il ruolo della fissazione esterna nel trattamento delle fratture extracapsulari del collo del femore dell’anziano

External fixation is an osteosynthesis technique universally recognised by the International Scientific Community and, according to many, it is the gold standard of treatment. Lateral femoral neck fractures, owing to the extraordinary scientific and epidemiological importance they have in orthopaedic traumatology, have historically been a privileged subject of studies on several fixation and osteosynthesis techniques. Within the various osteosynthesis systems (diaphyseal intra- or extramedullary), external fixation systems belong to the category of diaphyseal extramedullary osteosynthesis. The goals sought by users of this method are mainly three: a significant reduction in blood loss, surgical times and, as a consequence, hopefully in shorter hospital stays; external fixators are used in case of debilitated patients or of complex clinical conditions. A reduced rate of mechanical complications as compared to traditional osteosynthesis systems was not easy to demonstrate owing to the difficulty of defining comparison criteria between the two systems. In addition to biomechanical problems, the unfavourable aspects in the clinical management of this method include the high rate of superficial infections near the pins and poor patient tolerability. The analysis of the literature did not show significant elements in favour of external fixation as concerns the type of fracture, potential long-term functional benefits, postoperative mortality rate, thus suggesting the use of this method in a very limited number of cases, with a poor expected outcome. The literature and international case studies on osteosynthesis in fractures of the femoral neck show a steady increase in the use of diaphyseal intramedullary osteosynthesis (nailing systems) which, in some Countries, accounts for nearly all femoral neck surgical procedures.

A randomized clinical trial of ultrasound-guided infra-clavicular cannulation of the subclavian vein in cardiac surgical patients: short-axis versus long-axis approach.

The aim of this study was to compare the success rate and safety of short-axis versus long-axis approaches to ultrasound-guided subclavian vein cannulation. A total of 190 patients requiring central venous cannulation following cardiac surgery were randomized to either short-axis or long-axis ultrasound-guided cannulation of the subclavian vein. Each cannulation was performed by anesthesiologists with at least 3years' experience of ultrasound-guided central vein cannulation (>150 procedures/year, 50% short-axis and 50% long-axis). Success rate, insertion time, number of needle redirections, number of separate skin or vessel punctures, rate of mechanical complications, catheter misplacements, and incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection were documented for each procedure. The subclavian vein was successfully cannulated in all 190 patients. The mean insertion time was significantly shorter (p=0.040) in the short-axis group (69±74s) than in the long-axis group (98±103s). The short-axis group was also associated with a higher overall success rate (96 vs. 78%, p<0.001), first-puncture success rate (86 vs. 67%, p=0.003), and first-puncture single-pass success rate (72 vs. 48%, p=0.002), and with fewer needle redirections (0.39±0.88 vs. 0.88±1.15, p=0.001), skin punctures (1.12±0.38 vs. 1.28±0.54, p=0.019), and complications (3 vs. 13%, p=0.028). The short-axis procedure for ultrasound-guided subclavian cannulation offers advantages over the long-axis approach in cardiac surgery patients.

Landmark Versus Ultrasound-Guided Subclavian Central Venous Catheterization with a Combined Short and Long Axis Approach in an Intensive Care Setting

Abstract Introduction. Central venous catheterization of the subclavian vein can be achieved with a landmark and an ultrasound-guided method. Using ultrasound the vein can be catheterized with a long axis in plane or a short axis out of plane approach and a combined approach. The aim of the study was to compare the success, average number of attempts and mechanical complication rate between the landmark and the combined ultrasound-guided method. Methods. A total of 162 adult patients from the Intensive Care Unit at Clinical Hospital Acibadem-Sistina, Skopje were included in this prospective study. Patients randomized in the examined group (n=71) were catheterized with real-time ultrasound guidance with a combined short axis out of plane and long axis in plane method. Patients randomized in the control group (n=91) were catheterized with the landmark method. Subclavian vein was catheterized in both groups. Overall success, success on first attempt, number of attempts and complications at the moment of catheterization were the main outcome measures. Results. Catheterization using the landmark method was successful in 94.5% of patients, 65.9% of which during the first attempt. Cannulation using real-time ultrasound guidance was successful in all patients with a first pas success of 83.1%. The complication rate in the ultrasound group was 2.82% and 16.5% in the landmark group (p=0.004404). Conclusion. Real-time ultrasound guidance with a combined short axis out of plane and long axis in plane approach improves success, decreases number of attempts, and reduces mechanical complications rate.

Anchorage strategies in geriatric hip fracture management.

There is an enormous humanitarian and socioeconomic need to improve the quality and effectiveness of care for patients with hip fracture. To reduce mechanical complications in the osteosynthesis of proximal femoral fractures, improved fixation techniques have been developed including blade or screw-anchor devices, locked minimally invasive or cement augmentation strategies. However, despite numerous innovations and advances regarding implant design and surgical techniques, systemic and mechanical complication rates remain high. Treatment success depends on secure implant fixation in often-osteoporotic bone as well as on patient-specific factors (fracture stability, bone quality, comorbidity, and gender) and surgeon-related factors (experience, correct reduction, and optimal screw placement in the head/neck fragment). For fracture fixation, the anchorage of the lag screw within the femoral head plays a crucial role depending on the implant’s design. Meta-analyses and randomized controlled studies demonstrate that there is a strong trend towards arthroplasty treating geriatric femoral neck fractures. However, for young adults as well as older patients with less compromised bone quality, or in undisplaced fractures, head-preserving therapy is preferred as it is less invasive and associated with good functional results. This review summarizes the evidence for the internal fixation of femoral neck fractures and trochanteric femoral fractures in elderly patients. In addition, biomechanical considerations regarding implant anchorage in the femoral head including rotation, migration, and femoral neck shortening are made. Finally, cement augmentation strategies for hip fracture implants are evaluated critically.