Retrospective Propensity Score-matched Analysis Research Articles

Comparison of Survival Outcomes between Radical Antegrade Modular Pancreatosplenectomy and Conventional Distal Pancreatosplenectomy for Pancreatic Body and Tail Cancer: Korean Multicenter Propensity Score Match Analysis.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to compare the survival benefit of radical antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (RAMPS) with conventional distal pancreatosplenectomy (cDPS) in left-sided pancreatic cancer. (2) Methods: A retrospective propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was conducted on 333 patients who underwent RAMPS or cDPS for left-sided pancreatic cancer at four tertiary cancer centers. The study assessed prognostic factors and compared survival and operative outcomes. (3) Results: After PSM, 99 patients were matched in each group. RAMPS resulted in a higher retrieved lymph node count than cDPS (15.0 vs. 10.0, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of R0 resection rate, blood loss, hospital stay, or morbidity. The 5-year overall survival rate was similar in both groups (cDPS vs. RAMPS, 44.4% vs. 45.2%, p = 0.853), and disease-free survival was also comparable. Multivariate analysis revealed that ASA score, preoperative CA19-9, histologic differentiation, R1 resection, adjuvant treatment, and lymphovascular invasion were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. Preoperative CA19-9, histologic differentiation, T-stage, adjuvant treatment, and lymphovascular invasion were independent significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival. (4) Conclusions: Although RAMPS resulted in a higher retrieved lymph node count, survival outcomes were not different between the two groups. RAMPS was a surgical option to achieve R0 resection rather than a standard procedure.

Survival outcomes and toxicity profiles among patients with nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) versus IMRT + carbon-ion radiotherapy: A propensity score-matched analysis.

To compare survival outcomes and toxic effects among patients with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) when treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) versus IMRT + carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT). We performed a retrospective propensity score matching analysis (1:1) of patients treated with IMRT and IMRT + CIRT. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the baseline characteristics of the patients. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to identify the independent predictors of survival. We examined the association between risk factors and adverse events (AEs) using chi-square tests. Cox model and logistic regression were used to analyze AEs. Hundred and nine patients who received IMRT + CIRT were included and the median follow-up time was 20.6 months (range: 4.6-82 months). There were no statistically significant differences in locoregional failure-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival, or overall survival between the two groups, but potentially better in IMRT + CIRT group (p > 0.05, respectively). Nodal boost was the only significant factor associated with LRFS and DFS on multivariable analysis. Thirty-seven patients (34.0%) developed grade 3 acute OMs and no grade 4 acute OMs were observed in IMRT + CIRT group. All patients in IMRT + CIRT group developed grade 1 dermatitis; while in the match group, 76 patients developed grade 1 dermatitis, 27 patients developed grade 2 dermatitis, 5 patients developed grade 3 dermatitis, 1 patient developed grade 4 dermatitis. IMRT + CIRT treatment was associated with a significant trend of lower grades of OM and dermatitis (p < 0.05, respectively). Any severe (i.e., grade 3) chronic AEs, such as xerostomia, skin fibrosis, temporal lobe necrosis, osteoradionecrosis, or radiation-induced optic neuropathy, was not observed. In this study, IMRT + CIRT was associated with significantly reduced acute toxicity burden compared with full course of IMRT, with excellent survival outcomes. Patients with persistent disease after treatment and treated with nodal boost had a worse outcome. More accurate assessments of IMRT + CIRT to primary nonmetastatic NPC patients will be imperative.

Therapeutic plasma exchange decreases serum triglyceride level rapidly and reduces early recurrence rate but no advantages in improving outcomes for patients with hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis: a retrospective propensity score matching analysis based on twenty year’s experience

BackgroundHyperlipidaemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) has become the most common cause of acute pancreatitis (AP) not due to gallstones or alcohol (Mosztbacher et al, Pancreatology 20:608-616, 2020; Yin et al, Pancreas 46:504-509, 2017). Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been reported to be effective in reducing serum TG levels which is important in management of HLAP (World J Clin Cases 9:5794-803, 2021). However, studies on TPE are mostly focusing on cases reports, TPE remains poorly evaluated till date and need to be compared with conservative therapy with a well-designed study.MethodsA retrospectively cohort study on HLAP patients between January 2003 and July 2023 was conducted. Factors correlated with efficacy of TPE were included in a propensity model to balance the confounding factors and minimize selection bias. Patients with and without TPE were matched 1:2 based on the propensity score to generate the compared groups. Lipid profiles were detected on admission and consecutive 7 days. The triglyceride (TG) level decline rates, percentage of patients to reach the target TG levels, early recurrence rate, local complications and mortality were compared between groups.ResultsA total of 504 HLAP patients were identified. Since TPE was scarcely performed on patients with TG < 11.3 mmol/L, 152 patients with TG level 5.65 to 11.3 mmol/L were excluded while 352 with TG ≧11.3 mmol/L were enrolled. After excluding 25 cases with incomplete data or pregnancy, 327 patients, of whom 109 treated without TPE while 218 treated with TPE, were included in data analysis. One-to-two propensity-score matching generated 78 pairs, 194 patients with well-balanced baseline characteristics. Of 194 patients enrolled after matching done, 78 were treated without while 116 with TPE. In the matched cohort (n = 194), patients treated with TPE had a higher TG decline rate in 48 h than those without TPE (70.00% vs 54.00%, P = 0.001); the early recurrence rates were 8.96% vs 1.83%, p = 0.055. If only SAP patients were analyzed, the early recurrence rates were 14.81% vs 0.00% (p = 0.026) respectively. For patients with CT severity index (CTSI) rechecked within 14 days, early CTSI improment rate were 40.90% vs 31.91%. Local complications checked 6 months after discharge were 44.12% vs 38.30%. Mortality was 1.28% vs 1.72%. No differences were found in early stage CTSI improment rate (P = .589), local complications (P = .451) or motality between two groups.ConclusionsTPE reduces TG levels more quickly in 48 h compared with those with conservative treatment, but no difference in the consecutive days. TPE tends to reduce the early recurrence rate comparing with conventional therapy, but TPE has no advantages in improving CTSI in early stage, and no improvement for outcomes including local complications and mortalty.

A retrospective propensity score-matched analysis of oncological and functional outcomes of submental island flap versus radial forearm free flap for oral cavity cancer reconstruction

BackgroundThis retrospective study aims to compare the oncological and functional outcomes of the submental island flap versus the radial forearm free flap used for oral cavity cancer reconstruction after minimizing differences in baseline characteristics.MethodsPropensity scores for each oral cavity cancer patient who underwent surgical resection and immediate reconstruction with a submental island flap or a radial forearm free flap with a flap size ≤ 60 cm2 between October 2008 and December 2021 were generated based on the likelihood of being selected given their baseline characteristics. Patients were matched using a 1:1 nearest-neighbor approach.ResultsThe final matched-pair analysis included 51 patients in each group. The 5-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, and locoregional control rates were 70.1% and 64.8% (p = 0.612), 77.3% and 83.7% (p = 0.857), and 76.1% and 73.3% (p = 0.664), respectively, for the submental island flap group and the radial forearm free flap group. Speech and swallowing functions were comparable between groups. However, there were significantly lower rates of complication associated with both donor and recipient sites in the submental island flap group, and also the duration of hospital stays and hospital costs were significantly lower in these patients. A subgroup analysis of patients in which the reconstruction was carried out using the submental island flap procedure revealed that in selected cases, the presence of clinically and pathologically positive level I lymph nodes did not affect survival or locoregional control rates.ConclusionsAlthough this study was not randomized, the matched-pair analysis of surgically treated oral cavity cancer patients showed that submental island flap reconstruction is as effective as radial forearm free flap reconstruction with regard to oncological and functional outcomes with lower complication rates, hospital stay, and hospital costs. This flap can be safely and effectively performed in selected cases with a clinical level I lymph node smaller than 1.5 cm and no signs of extranodal extension.

Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision With Delayed Coloanal Anastomosis (TaTME-DCAA) Versus Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision (LTME) and Robotic Total Mesorectal Excision (RTME) for Low Rectal Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Short-term Outcomes, Bowel Function, and Cost.

Total mesorectal excision (TME) with delayed coloanal anastomosis (DCAA) is surgical option for low rectal cancer, replacing conventional immediate coloanal anastomosis (ICAA) with bowel diversion. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of transanal TME (TaTME) with DCAA versus laparoscopic TME (LTME) with ICAA versus robotic TME (RTME) with ICAA. This was a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis of patients who underwent elective TaTME-DCAA between November 2021 and June 2022. Patients were propensity-score matched in a ratio of 1:3 to patients who underwent LTME-ICAA and RTME-ICAA from January 2019 to December 2020. Outcome measures were histopathologic results, postoperative morbidity, function, and inpatient costs. Twelve patients in the TaTME-DCAA group were compared with 36 patients in the LTME-ICAA and RTME-ICAA groups each after propensity score matching. Histopathologic results and postoperative morbidity rates were statistically similar. Overall stoma-related complication rates in the ICAA groups were 11%. Median total length of hospital stays for TME plus stoma reversal surgery was similar across all techniques (10 vs. 10 vs. 9 days; P=0.532). Despite a significantly shorter duration of follow-up, bowel function after TaTME-DCAA was comparable to that of LTME-ICAA and RTME-ICAA. Overall median inpatient costs of TaTME-DCAA were comparable to LTME-ICAA and significantly cheaper than RTME-ICAA ($31,087 vs. $29,927 vs. $36,750; P=0.002). TaTME with DCAA is a feasible and safe technique compared with other minimally invasive methods of TME, while avoiding bowel diversion and stoma-related complications, as well as comparing favorably in terms of overall hospitalization costs.

Clinical outcomes of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis: a propensity score-matched analysis

Introduction and ObjectiveThere is a paucity of data on patients with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) and a decompensated diabetic state, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the outcomes of patients with MINOCA presenting with or without DKA.MethodsWe conducted this retrospective propensity score-matched analysis from January 1, 2015, to December 4, 2022. The patients with a principal admission diagnosis of ST-Elevation MI (STEMI) and discharge labeled as MINOCA (ICD-10-CM code 121.9) with DKA were analyzed. We performed a comparative analysis for MINOCA with and without DKA before and after propensity score matching for primary and secondary endpoints.ResultsThree thousand five hundred sixty-three patients were analyzed, and 1150 (32.27%) presented with DKA, while 2413 (67.72%) presented as non-DKA. The DKA cohort had over two-fold mortality (5.56% vs. 1.19%; p = 0.024), reinfarction (5.82% vs. 1.45%; p = 0.021), stroke (4.43% vs. 1.36%; p = 0.035), heart failure (6.89% vs. 2.11%; p = 0.033), and cardiogenic shock (6.43% vs. 1.78%; p = 0.025) in a propensity score-matched analysis. There was an increased graded risk of MINOCA with DM (RR (95% CI): 0.50 (0.36–0.86; p = 0.023), DKA (RR (95% CI): 0.46 (0.24–0.67; p = 0.001), and other cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.ConclusionDKA complicates a portion of MINOCA and is associated with increased mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Relationship between anion gap and in-hospital mortality in intensive care patients with liver failure: a retrospective propensity score matching analysis

Relationship between anion gap and in-hospital mortality in intensive care patients with liver failure: a retrospective propensity score matching analysis

Impact of preoperative thrombocytopenia on perioperative outcomes among patients undergoing minimally invasive or open liver resection. An international multicenter retrospective propensity score matched analysis

Impact of preoperative thrombocytopenia on perioperative outcomes among patients undergoing minimally invasive or open liver resection. An international multicenter retrospective propensity score matched analysis

Effect of regional block technique on postoperative high-grade complications according to Clavien-Dindo classification in elderly patients with thoracic and abdominal cancer: a retrospective propensity score matching analysis.

Postoperative complications have an influence on postoperative rehabilitation, length of hospital stay and hospitalization expenses in elderly patients, especially those with higher Clavien-Dindo (C-D) classification. Patients with cancers often experience more serious postoperative complications after surgery. Different anesthesia methods can affect the postoperative outcomes of cancer patients. Regional block techniques have been recommended in guidelines for enhanced recovery after surgery. However, the relationship between regional blocks and high-grade postoperative complications remains unclear, thus, the study explored the relationship between regional block techniques and high-grade postoperative complications graded by C-D classification in elderly patients with thoracic and abdominal cancer. Retrospective enrollment of eligible elderly patients admitted to Peking University People's Hospital between January 2018 and March 2022 was conducted. Propensity score matching (PSM) and univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to analyze the potential benefits of regional blocks for elderly patients in real world practice. A total of 2769 patients were enrolled in this study, including 568 who underwent colorectal resection, 2201 who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic pneumonectomy. Among them, 2033 patients received regional block, while 736 patients did not. Statistical analysis indicated that regional blocks could reduce the incidence of postoperative complications of C-D classification Grade II or higher, with an Odds ratio (OR) of 0.742, 95% Confidence interval (CI) (0.552 to 0.996) (P = 0.047). Regional block is associated with a reduction in the occurrence of postoperative complications graded by C-D classification in elderly patients with thoracic and abdominal cancer. The application of regional blocks can lower the risk of high-risk complications and mortality.

Preliminary evidence for endoscopic surgery combined with postoperative anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in advanced recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BackgroudEndoscopic surgery can be used as the main treatment for advanced recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC). However, there is a huge clinical controversy about the need for consolidated immunotherapy after surgery.MethodsWe performed a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis (1:2) of patients with locally advanced rNPC who underwent endoscopic nasopharyngectomy (ENPG) combined with anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) monotherapy or ENPG alone. The survival rate was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier method. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Potential surgical-related complications and immune-related adverse events (AEs) were also assessed.ResultsWe recruited 10 patients receiving ENPG plus anti-PD-1 monotherapy and 20 receiving ENPG alone. During the mean follow-up of 23.8 months, a significant improvement in the 2-year PFS was detected in the consolidation immunotherapy group compared to the ENPG alone group (80.0% vs. 40.0%; HR = 0.258; 95% CI: 0.09–0.72; p = 0.04), while the 2-year OS in the consolidation immunotherapy group was not significantly longer than that in the ENPG alone group (90.0% vs. 75.0%; HR = 0.482; 95% CI: 0.08–3.00; p = 0.50). The incidence of surgical-related complications in the consolidation immunotherapy group and ENPG alone group was 70.0 and 60.0%, respectively. Immune-related AEs were similar between the toripalimab arm (75.0%) and the camrelizumab arm (66.7%). Surgical-related complications depend on symptomatic treatments. Immune-related AEs were mild and tolerable.ConclusionsConsolidation immunotherapy regimen for patients with advanced rNPC after ENPG compared to ENPG alone provides a superior PFS rate with a manageable safety profile.

Chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum: a retrospective propensity-score matched analysis

A lack of evidence-based data on the chemoradiotherapy (CRT) efficacy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum (SCCR) makes further study of this topic extremely important.Aim: The aim of our research was to estimate the efficacy of CRT in patients with SCCR compared to the rectal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCAC).Materials and methods: Our study was based on analysis of medical records of patients with ICD–X code C20 and ICD-O 8070 / 3, 8070 / 3.1, 80703 in a database from 2007 to 2020 obtained from the archive of Research Institute FSBI “N. N. Blokhin Cancer Research Center” of the Ministry of Health of Russia. We included patients with SCCR who received CRT as initial treatment into the experimental group. Groups with rectal adenocarcinoma and SCCAC were created using propensity-score matching 1:2 taking into account sex, age, the cN clinical stage, histological grade and tumor size. The main study endpoints were 3‑year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates, complete clinical response rate and complete clinical or pathological response rate at 6 months after CRT, local recurrence and distant metastases rates, surgery rate.Results: We included 15 patients in SCCR group and 30 patients in rectal adenocarcinoma group and SCCAC group each. There were no significant differences in parameters that could affect the prognosis. The complete clinical response was achieved in 7 (46.7 %) patients with SCCR versus 3 (10.0 %) patients with adenocarcinoma (p = 0.005) and 24 (80.0 %) patients with SCCAC (p = 0.005). The surgery rate was 26.6 % (4 patients) in SCCR group, 6.67 % (2 patients) in SCCAC group, 90 % (27 patients) in adenocarcinoma group (p &lt; 0.001). The recurrence rate was 26.7 % (4 patients) in SCCR group versus 10.0 % (3 patients) in adenocarcinoma group (p = 0.146) and 6.7 % (2 patients) in SCCAC group (p = 0.063). The metastases rate was 26.7 % (4 patients) in SCCR group, 26.7 % (8 patients) in adenocarcinoma group (p &gt; 0.99). In SCCAC group metastases were detected in 1 (3.3 %) patient, which was significantly different compared to the SCCR group (p = 0.019). Median follow up was 44 months. The 3‑year OS was 78.8 % in SCCR group versus 91.0 % in adenocarcinoma group (p = 0.675), and 86.3 % in SCCAC group (p = 0.953). The 3‑year OS in adenocarcinoma and SCCAC groups did not differ (p = 0.996). The 3‑year DFS was 34.7 % in SCCR group versus 55.6 % in adenocarcinoma group (p = 0.504) and 82.9 % in SCCAC group (p = 0.031). The 3‑year DFS differences in adenocarcinoma and SCCAC groups were significant (p = 0.041).Conclusions: We have obtained important data on the CRT comparative efficacy in patients with SCCR, SCCAC and rectal adenocarcinoma. The high complete clinical response rate in SCCR group makes it possible to consider the use of CRT as the main treatment method. Results of our research can be used to plan the treatment of patients with SCCR.

The Naples Prognostic Score Is a Useful Tool to Assess Surgical Treatment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Different prognostic scores have been applied to identify patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have a higher probability of poor outcomes. In this study, we evaluated whether the Naples Prognostic Score, a novel index that considers both inflammatory and nutritional values, was associated with long-term survival. This study presents a retrospective propensity score matching analysis of patients who underwent curative surgery for non-small cell lung cancer from January 2016 to December 2021. The score considered the following four pre-operative parameters: the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, serum albumin, and total cholesterol. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate the relationship between the score and disease-free survival, overall survival, and cancer-related survival. A total of 260 patients were selected for the study, though this was reduced to 154 after propensity score matching. Post-propensity Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant correlation between the Naples Prognostic Score, overall survival (p = 0.018), and cancer-related survival (p = 0.007). Multivariate Cox regression analysis further validated the score as an independent prognostic indicator for both types of survival (p = 0.007 and p = 0.010, respectively). The Naples Prognostic Score proved to be an easily achievable prognostic factor of long-term survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after surgical treatment.

Impact of dexmedetomidine on mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a retrospective propensity score matching analysis

ObjectivesThis study sought to estimate the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) administration on mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingThe study sourced its data from...

376P Nutrition as an independent prognostic factor in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study and propensity score-matched analysis

376P Nutrition as an independent prognostic factor in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study and propensity score-matched analysis

The value of lymph nodes ratios in the prognosis of resectable remnant gastric cancer through the retrospective propensity score matching analysis

PurposeCurrently, the characteristics and prognosis of remnant gastric cancer (RGC) are not fully understood yet. The present study aimed to describe the details of clinicopathological features of resectable RGC and investigated the factors affecting survival after the curative operation.MethodsFrom Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2015, a total of 118 resectable RGC patients (the RGC group) and 236 age-, sex- and TNM stages-matched resectable gastric cancer (GC) patients (the control group) were recruited retrospectively. Clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe overall survival rate was 46.61% for RGC patients compared to 55.08% for control groups (P < 0.01), and the mean overall survival time of RGC patients was 40.23 ± 32.27 months, compared to 55.06 ± 34.29 months in the control group (P = 0.023 after matching). The overall survival (OS) of RGC patients with stage IIb was much worse than IIa (P < 0.001) and similar to IIIa (P = 0.463) and IIIb (P = 0.014). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis revealed that TNM stage (HR: 3.899, P < 0.001) and lymph nodes ratio (LNR) (HR: 2.405, P = 0.028) were independent prognostic significance to OS.ConclusionsThe OS of RGC was much worse than GC with similar TNM stages, and LNR might consider a highly reliable indicator to evaluate the prognostic in RGC.

Short-term outcomes following intracorporeal vs. extracorporeal anastomosis after laparoscopic right and left-sided colectomy: a propensity score-matched study.

To compare the short-term outcomes of patients undergoing intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) during laparoscopic colectomy to those undergoing extracorporeal anastomosis (EA). The study was a single-centre retrospective propensity score-matched analysis conducted. Consecutive patients who underwent elective laparoscopic colectomy without the double stapling technique between January 2018 and June 2021 were investigated. The main outcome was overall postoperative complications within 30 days after the procedure. The authors also performed a sub-analysis of the postoperative results of ileocolic anastomosis and colocolic anastomosis, respectively. A total of 283 patients were initially extracted; after propensity score matching, there were 113 patients in each of the IA and EA groups. There were no differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. The IA group had a significantly longer operative time than the EA group (208 vs. 183 min, P =0.001). The rate of overall postoperative complications was significantly lower in the IA group ( n =18, 15.9%) than in the EA group ( n =34, 30.1%; P =0.02), especially in colocolic anastomosis after left-sided colectomy (IA: 23.8% vs. EA: 59.1%; P =0.03). Postoperative inflammatory marker levels were significantly higher in the IA group on postoperative day 1 but not on postoperative day 7. There was no difference in the postoperative lengths of hospital stay between the two groups, and no deaths occurred. The data suggest that performing IA during laparoscopic colectomy can potentially reduce the risk of postoperative complications, especially in colocolic anastomosis after left-sided colectomy.

Lumbar Puncture in Thrombocytopenia: The Floor Is Not Firm.

Objective Lumbar puncture (LP) is a diagnostic procedure that accesses the spinal subarachnoid space to measure the opening pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and obtain samples of CSF for analysis. Although commonly performed, LPs are associated with the risk of morbidity and mortality. In addition, thrombocytopenia is thought to increase the risk of LP complications, particularly spinal bleeds. This study compares rates of complications among patients who received LPs with and without thrombocytopenia in hopes of establishing more evidence-based platelet thresholds for an LP. Methods The TriNetX multi-institutional electronic health record database was used to perform a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis of clinical outcomes of two cohorts of patients who underwent LPs - those with thrombocytopenia (defined as a platelet level of 10,000-50,000 platelets {plts}/μL) and those without thrombocytopenia. The outcomes of interest were the new occurrence of subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, receipt of a blood patch, new onset of paralysis, and requirement of spinal decompression. Results The risk of developing a spinal bleed following an LP was 1.496% (42 of 2,808) for the cohort with thrombocytopenia versus 1.09% (31 of 2,843) for the cohort without thrombocytopenia. The risk difference, risk ratio, and odds ratio of patients from these two cohorts experiencing a spinal bleed following an LP were insignificant at 0.05. The risk of receiving a blood patch following an LP was 7.844% for those with thrombocytopeniacompared to 1.421% for those without thrombocytopenia. The odds ratio of receiving a blood patch between the two cohorts was 5.906, significant to the 0.05 level (95% CI: 4.213-8.279). There was no significant difference in the cohorts' risk of developing paralysis or requiring spinal decompression following an LP. Conclusion In support of recent findingsagainst conventional platelet count thresholds prior to LP, it was observed in the present study that the incidence of post-LP spinal bleeding in the 30 days after LP is not associated with platelet counts below the guideline threshold of 50,000 plts/μL. Patients with thrombocytopenia are also not significantly more likely to require spinal decompression or develop new onset paralysis. However, thrombocytopenia is associated with a significantly increased likelihood of receiving a blood patch following an LP.

Risk factors for postoperative hypoxemia during transport to the postanesthesia care unit and influence of transport monitoring : A retrospective propensity score-matched databank analysis

Within acentral operating room area, after general anesthesia (GA) patients are at risk of hypoxemia during transport to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU); however, specific risk factors have not been conclusively clarified and uniform recommendations for monitoring vital signs during transport within acentral operating room area complex do not exist. The purpose of this retrospective database analysis was to identify risk factors for hypoxemia during this transport and to determine whether the use of transport monitoring (TM) affects the initial value of peripheral venous oxygen saturation (SpO2) in the PACU. This analysis was performed on aretrospectively extracted dataset of procedures in GA within acentral operating room area of atertiary care hospital from 2015 to 2020. The emergence from GA was conducted in the operating room with subsequent transport to the PACU. The transport distance was between 31and 72m. Risk factors for initial hypoxemia in the PACU, defined as peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) below 90%, were determined using multivariate analysis. After splitting the dataset into patients without TM (group OM) and with TM (group MM) and propensity score matching, the influence of TM on initial SpO2 and the Aldrete score after arrival in the PACU were examined. From atotal of 22,638 complete datasets included in the analysis, 8 risk factors for initial hypoxemia in PACU were identified: age > 65years, body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), intraoperative airway driving pressure (∆p) > 15 mbar and positive endexpiratory pressure (PEEP) > 5 mbar, intraoperative administration of along-acting opioids, first preoperative SpO2 < 97%, and last SpO2 < 97% measured after emergence from anesthesia before transport. At least 1 risk factor for postoperative hypoxemia was present in 90% of all patients. After propensity score matching, 3362 datasets per group remained for analysis of the influence of TM. Patients transported with TM revealed ahigher SpO2 at PACU arrival (MM 97% [94; 99%], OM 96% [94; 99%], p < 0.001). In a subgroup analysis, this difference between groups remained in the presence of one or more risk factors (MM 97% [94; 99%], OM 96% [94; 98%], p < 0.001, n = 6044) but was not detectable in the absence of risk factors for hypoxemia (MM 97% [97; 100%], OM 99% [97; 100%], p < 0.393, n = 680). Furthermore, the goal of an Aldrete score > 8 at PACU arrival was achieved significantly more often in monitored patients (MM 2830 [83%], OM: 2665 [81%], p = 0.004). Critical hypoxemia (SpO2 < 90%) at PACU arrival had an overall low occurrence within propensity matched datasets and showed no difference between groups (MM: 161 [5%], OM 150 [5%], p = 0.755). According to these results, consistent use of TM leads to ahigher SpO2 and Aldrete score at PACU arrival, even after a short transport distance within an operating room area. Consequently, it appears to be reasonable to avoid unmonitored transport after general anesthesia, even for short distances.

Discourse-based psychological intervention alleviates perioperative anxiety in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in China: a retrospective propensity score matching analysis

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness of a discourse-based psychological intervention on perioperative anxiety, pain and life satisfaction of patients with AIS.MethodsBetween April 2018 and February 2021, 116 consecutive patients with AIS undergoing corrective surgery were enrolled in this study, including 51 with personalized psychological intervention (intervention group, IG) and 65 without (control group, CG). After propensity score matching (PSM), patient characteristics, perioperative scores of anxiety and life satisfaction, measured by values of Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7) and Life Satisfaction Index Z scale (LSIZ), were recorded. Mixed linear models were used to estimate the influence of intervention group and time of measurement, as well as their interactions, in anxiety and life satisfaction. Data on post-surgical pain in both groups was also collected and analyzed.ResultsAfter PSM, a total of 90 patients (IG, n = 45; CG, n = 45) were enrolled in this study, and the 2 groups were comparable in patients’ demographic and baseline characteristics. There were no pre-intervention between-group differences in the degree of anxiety (IG: 3.98 ± 3.27 vs. CG: 3.93 ± 3.20, p = .948, Cohen’s d = 0.015), and life satisfaction (IG: 6.56 ± 1.70 vs. CG: 6.67 ± 2.09, p = .783, Cohen’s d = -0.058). After surgery, participants in both IG and CG showed improved the levels of anxiety (GAD-7: IG 2.18 ± 1.21; CG 2.87 ± 2.00) and life satisfaction (LSIZ: IG 9.84 ± 2.09; CG 9.02 ± 2.15). A stratified analysis of patients with generalized anxiety disorder showed improved anxiety (GAD-7: IG 3.50 ± 1.22 vs. CG 6.80 ± 2.05, p = .017, Cohen’s d = -1.956) and lower pain level (VAS: IG 4.50 ± 1.76 vs. CG 7.00 ± 1.00, p = .017, Cohen’s d = -1.747) in the IG than the CG after surgery.ConclusionsDiscourse-based psychological intervention before surgery can improve perioperative anxiety and life satisfaction, and postoperative painful condition, especially for patients with high-leveled pre-surgical anxiety.

Safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted versus laparoscopic distal gastrectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

Robot-assisted distal gastrectomy (RADG) has been used in the minimally invasive surgical treatment of gastric cancer, but the research on advanced gastric cancer (AGC) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has not been reported. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of RADG versus laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) after NAC for AGC. This was a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis from February 2020 and March 2022. Patients who underwent RADG or LDG for AGC (cT3-4a/N +) following NAC were enrolled and a propensity score-matched analysis was performed in a 1:1 manner. The patients were divided into RADG group and LDG group. The clinicopathological characteristics and short-term outcomes were observed. After propensity score matching, 67 patients each in the RADG and LDG groups. RADG was associated with a lower intraoperative blood loss (35.6 vs. 118.8ml, P = 0.014) and more retrieved lymph nodes (LNs) (50.7 vs. 39.5, P < 0.001), more extraperigastric (18.3 vs. 10.4, P < 0.001), and suprapancreatic LNs (16.33 vs. 13.70, P = 0.042). The RADG group showed lower VAS scores at postoperative 24h (2.2 vs 3.3, P = 0.034), earlier ambulation (1.3 vs. 2.6, P = 0.011), aerofluxus time (2.2 vs. 3.6, P = 0.025), and shorter postoperative hospital stay (8.3 vs. 9.8, P = 0.004). There were no significant differences in the operative time (216.7 vs.194.7min, P = 0.204) and postoperative complications between the two groups. RADG may be a potential therapeutic option for patients with AGC after NAC considering its advantages in perioperative period compared with LDG.