Single-center Retrospective Cohort Study Research Articles

Differences in the Dwell Time of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters between Patients with Catheter Colonization and Those Developing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection: A Single Centre Retrospective Cohort Study.

Substantial knowledge gaps exist concerning the varying durations of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placements that lead to either central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) or catheter colonization. We aimed to compare PICCs dwell time between patients who developed CLABSIs due to multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) and patients with catheter colonization by MDROs. Data from 86 patients admitted consecutively to a tertiary-care hospital from 2017 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean dwell time was 25.73 ± 16.19 days in the PICC-CLABSI group and 16.36 ± 10.28 days in the PICC-colonization group (p = 0.002). The mean dwell time was 17.38 ± 9.5 days in the PICC-MDRO group and 22.48 ± 15.64 days in the PICC-non-MDRO group (p = 0.005). Within the PICC-CLABSI group, the mean dwell time for CLABSIs caused by MDROs was 21.50 ± 12.31 days, compared to 27.73 ± 16.98 days for CLABSIs caused by non-MDROs (p = 0.417). Within the PICC-colonization group, the mean dwell time was 15.55 ± 7.73 days in PICCs colonized by MDROs and 16.92 ± 11.85 days in PICCs colonized by non-MDROs (p = 0.124). The findings of the present study suggest that CLABSIs caused by MDROs in PICCs are associated with a shorter mean catheter dwell time compared to those caused by non-MDROs, underscoring the importance of considering infections by MDROs when evaluating PICC dwell times.

Novel Predictive Scoring System for Bone Union Rate After Conservative Management of Lumbar Spondylolysis.

A single-center retrospective cohort study. To develop a predictive scoring system for bone union after conservative treatment of lumbar spondylolysis and assess its internal validity. Lumbar spondylolysis, a common stress fracture in young athletes, is typically treated conservatively. Predicting bone union rates remains a challenge. This study included patients aged ≤18 years with lumbar spondylolysis undergoing conservative treatment. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to develop a scoring system containing six factors: sex, age, lesion level, main side stage of the lesion, contralateral side stage of the lesion, and spina bifida occulta. The predictive scoring system was internally validated from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve using bootstrap methods. The final analysis included 301 patients with 416 lesions, with an overall bone union rate of 80%. On multivariable analysis, the main and contralateral stages were identified as factors associated with bone union. The predictive scoring system was developed from the main side stage score (prelysis, early=0, progressive stage=1) and the contralateral side stage score (none=0, prelysis, early, progressive stage=1, terminal stage=3). The area under the curve was 0.855 (95% confidence interval: 0.811-0.896) for the ROC curve, showing good internal validity. The predicted bone union rates were generally consistent with the actual rates. A simple predictive scoring system was developed for bone union after conservative treatment of lumbar spondylolysis, based on the stage of the lesion on the main and contralateral sides. The predicted bone union rate was approximately 90% for a total score of 0-1 and ≤30% for a score of 3-4. This system demonstrated good internal validity, suggesting its potential as a useful tool in clinical decision making for the management of spondylolysis.

Anticoagulation Can Be Held in Traumatically Injured Patients on Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support.

Traumatic injury is associated with several pulmonary complications, including pulmonary contusion, transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), and the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There is a lack of literature on these patients supported with veno-venous extracorporeal oxygenation (VV ECMO). Understanding the safety of using VV ECMO to support trauma patients and the ability to hold anticoagulation is important to broaden utilization. This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of adult trauma patients cannulated for VV ECMO during their initial admission over an 8 year period (2014-2021). We hypothesize that anticoagulation can be held in trauma patients on VV ECMO without increasing mortality or prothrombotic complications. We also describe the coagulopathy of traumatically injured patients on VV ECMO. Withholding anticoagulation was not associated with mortality in our study population, and there were no significant differences in bleeding or clotting complications between patients who did and did not receive systemic anticoagulation. Patients in the nonsurvivor group had increased coagulopathy both pre- and post-cannulation. Our study suggests anticoagulation can be safely withheld in traumatically injured VV ECMO patients without increasing mortality, complication rates, or transfusion requirements. Future, multicenter prospective studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our results.

Efficacy of thrombopoietin receptor agonists versus rituximab in non-responsive immune thrombocytopenia-A single centre retrospective analysis.

Management of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) beyond initial glucocorticoid therapy is challenging. In this retrospective single-centre cohort study, we compared all ITP patients relapsed or non-responsive to glucocorticoid therapy treated with either continuous TPO-RAs (n = 35) or rituximab induction (n = 20) between 2015 and 2022. While both groups showed high initial complete response rates (CR, 68.6 vs. 80.0%, ns), the overall rate of progression to the next therapy was higher after time-limited rituximab (75.0 vs. 42.9%), resulting in a lower relapse-free survival (median 16.6 vs. 25.8 months, log-rank; p < 0.05). We conclude that both treatments show similar initial efficacy and their ideal duration of therapy warrants further investigation.

Does a Submental Airway Compared to a Tracheostomy Reduce Length of Stay in Craniomaxillofacial Trauma?

Patients with craniomaxillofacial trauma (CMT) are at increased risk of airway compromise and may necessitate airway stabilization via a tracheostomy (TO) or cricothyroidotomy. The submental airway (SMA) is an alternative airway and can avoid complications related to TO. The purpose of this study was to compare the SMA to the TO with respect to hospital length of stay (LOS) and number of days with an advanced airway, termed airway days (ADs). This single-center retrospective cohort study included subjects with isolated CMT who required operative treatment with either a TO or SMA at Harborview Medical Center. Subjects were excluded if they required a TO for reasons other than treating their CMT. The predictor variable was airway type. Primary outcome variables were LOS and ADs measured as number of days between admission and discharge dates, and days between establishment of airway and extubation or decannulation dates, respectively. Covariates included age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology classification, weight, body mass index, substance use, hospital status, facial injury severity scale scores, and airway placement location. Bivariate analysis using independent t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and multiple linear regression analyses were used. P value of <.05 was considered significant. Of the 14 subjects identified, 6 underwent a TO and 8 a SMA. The mean LOS in the TO group was 20.3±15.8days versus 3.9±4.7days in the SMA group (P=.02). Mean AD in the TO group was 13.2±8.4 versus 0.6±0.7 in the SMA group (P=.01). The TO group had a higher number of operations at 2.0±0.6 versus 1.1±0.4 with a SMA (P=.02). After linear regression analysis adjusting for sex, age, weight, and facial injury severity scale, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. Compared to, SMA has a 5-fold decrease in LOS and 22-fold decrease in ADs on bivariate analysis. An SMA is a viable airway management option for operative treatment of isolated CMT. Further studies are warranted with a larger sample size.

Age-Adjusted D-Dimer Cutoff in Ruling Out Pulmonary Embolism among Saudi Arabians in Riyadh Province

Objective. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an age-adjusted D-dimer (AADD) cutoff in ruling out pulmonary embolism (PE) among the Saudi population, addressing the lack of data on AADD utility in this demographic. Methods. This single-centre retrospective cohort study conducted at Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2010 and 2018 analysed the data from patients suspected of PE who underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Age-adjusted D-dimer (AADD) levels were calculated for patients over 50 years of age [(age×10) µg/L], and AADD cutoffs were compared for diagnostic accuracy. Results. Among 277 subjects meeting inclusion criteria, a significant association between D-dimer levels and PE presence was observed. The AADD criteria showed a specificity of 94.7% and a sensitivity of 25%, with a Youden index of 0.2. The high negative predictive value of 90.62% supported the use of AADD in confirming the absence of PE in patients. Conclusions. Based on the study findings, the AADD cutoff [(age×10) µg/L] can be efficiently and safely used as an exclusionary tool for patients over 50 years of age suspected of having PE. This study supports the clinical utility of AADD, particularly in older Saudi patient populations.

Development and Validation of a User Friendly Morphology Grading System (PATENT) Predicting Aortic Remodelling After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair in High Risk Uncomplicated Type B Aortic Dissection

This study aimed to create a morphology grading system, solely based on 2D images from computed tomography angiography, to predict negative aortic remodelling (NAR) for patients with high risk uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (TBAD) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). This single centre retrospective cohort study extracted and analysed consecutive patients diagnosed with high risk uncomplicated TBAD. Negative aortic remodelling was defined as an increase in the diameter of a false lumen or total aorta, or decrease in the diameter of a true lumen. The multivariate Cox regression model identified risk factors and a prediction model was created for two year freedom from NAR. A three category grading system, in which patients were classified into low, medium, and high risk groups, was further developed and internally validated. Of 351 patients included, 99 (28%) of them developed NAR. The median age was 52 years (interquartile range 45, 62 years) and 56 of them (16%) were female. The rate of two year freedom from NAR was 71% (95% CI 65 - 77%). After the multivariate Cox regression analysis, Patent false lumen, Aberrant right subclavian artery, Taper ratio, abdominal circumferential Extent, coeliac artery or reNal artery involved, and four channelled dissection (Three false lumens) remained independent predictors and were included in the PATENT grading system. The risk score was significantly associated with NAR (HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.14 - 1.29; p < .001). The medium and high risk groups demonstrated a higher rate of NAR (medium risk, HR 2.82; 95% CI 1.57 - 5.01; p = .001; high risk, HR 4.39; 95% CI 2.58 - 7.48; p < .001). The grading system was characterised by robust discrimination with Harrell's C index of 0.68 (95% CI 0.63 - 0.75). The PATENT grading system was characterised with good discrimination and calibration, which may serve as a clinician friendly tool to aid in risk stratification for TBAD patients after TEVAR.

The impact of intraoperative hypotension on postoperative acute kidney injury, mortality and length of stay following off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a single-center retrospective cohort study

BackgroundOff-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) presents distinct hemodynamic characteristics, yet the relationship between intraoperative hypotension and short-term adverse outcomes remains clear. Our study aims to investigate association between intraoperative hypotension and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), mortality and length of stay in OPCABG patients.MethodsRetrospective data of 494 patients underwent OPCABG from January 2016 to July 2023 were collected. We analyzed the relationship between intraoperative various hypotension absolute values (MAP > 75, 65 < MAP ≤ 75, 55 < MAP ≤ 65, MAP ≤ 55 mmHg) and postoperative AKI, mortality and length of stay. Logistic regression assessed the impacts of exposure variable on AKI and postoperative mortality. Linear regression was used to analyze risk factors on the length of intensive care unit stay (ICU) and hospital stay.ResultsThe incidence of AKI was 31.8%, with in-hospital and 30-day mortality at 2.8% and 3.5%, respectively. Maintaining a MAP greater than or equal 65 mmHg [odds ratio (OR) 0.408; p = 0.008] and 75 mmHg (OR 0.479; p = 0.024) was significantly associated with a decrease risk of AKI compared to MAP less than 55 mmHg for at least 10 min. Prolonged hospital stays were linked to low MAP, while in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality were not linked to IOH but exhibited correlation with a history of myocardial infarction. AKI showed correlation with length of ICU stay.ConclusionsMAP > 65 mmHg emerges as a significant independent protective factor for AKI in OPCABG and IOH is related to length of hospital stay. Proactive intervention targeting intraoperative hypotension may provide a potential opportunity to reduce postoperative renal injury and hospital stay.Trial registrationChiCTR2400082518. Registered 31 March 2024. https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=225349.

Taper versus discontinuation of tocilizumab in patients with giant cell arteritis: Real-world experience from a tertiary center

IntroductionFollowing the approval of tocilizumab (TCZ) for giant cell arteritis (GCA), recent studies have shown a high relapse frequency after abrupt discontinuation of TCZ. However, a thorough exploration of TCZ tapering compared to abrupt discontinuation has never been undertaken. Likewise, adverse events have only been scarcely investigated in routine care. This study aimed to compare the incidence of relapses in GCA patients undergoing TCZ tapering compared to abrupt discontinuation. MethodsWe performed a single-center retrospective cohort study from 2012 to 2022. Data from GCA patients treated with TCZ was obtained from the Electronic Patients Record. Relapse-free survival is reported in Kaplan-Meier plots and tapering versus abrupt discontinuation were compared using a Wilcoxon-Brewlos-Gehan test. ResultsWe included 155 patients receiving TCZ treatment for GCA, of which 104 discontinued TCZ. Among the 104 patients discontinuing TCZ, 42 (40 %) experienced a relapse within the first year. A total of 57 patients underwent taper with 6/38 (16 %) and 2/19 (11 %) relapsing while receiving TCZ every second or third week, respectively. In comparison, 59 patients underwent abrupt discontinuation with 27 (46 %) relapsing during follow-up. The patients undergoing abrupt TCZ discontinuation demonstrated a significantly shorter time to relapse compared to all tapered patients (p = 0.02) as well as patients tapered from weekly TCZ treatment to every second week (p < 0.01). Furthermore, 15 % of patients discontinued TCZ due to adverse events. ConclusionThis is the first study indicating that TCZ taper induced longer relapse-free survival than abrupt discontinuation, implying that taper may be favored over discontinuation in patients with GCA.

Ceftriaxone-resistant viridans streptococci bacteraemia among patients treated at a large comprehensive cancer care centre: a retrospective eighteen-year study.

Viridans streptococci (VS) are opportunistic oral commensals and a common cause of bacteraemia in neutropenic patients. In this retrospective single centre cohort study, we investigated the prevalence of ceftriaxone resistance in VS (CRO-R VS) blood isolates between January 2005 and December 2022 from patients treated at a tertiary care hospital. Blood culture isolates were identified using biochemicals and mass spectrometry. Susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby-Bauer and Epsilometer tests. Demographic data, clinical outcomes and antimicrobial use were assessed through electronic medical record review. Among 791 patients with VS bacteraemia, 31 (4%) had confirmed CRO-R VS bacteraemia over the 18-year period; 20/31 (65%) were patients also treated at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and were the focus of this study. Of these 20 patients, 18 (90%) had a known haematologic malignancy; 14 (70%) had undergone haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT); 18 (90%) were neutropenic at the time of culture. Two (10%) patients died within 30 days of CRO-R VS bacteraemia. All the CRO-R isolates (20/20) were members of the Streptococcus mitis group, 12 were multi-drug resistant; all were susceptible to vancomycin. Most patients received vancomycin once blood cultures were positive for a Gram-positive organism. During the study period, the frequency of VS isolate susceptibility testing increased; however, there was no concomitant increase in the percentage of CRO-R isolates at our facility. These data are important in an era where cefepime monotherapy is often used and reinforces the importance of routine resistance testing among VS bacteraemia.

P-670 The impact of fixed day-one versus day-six progestin initiation on ovarian response following progestin primed ovarian stimulation

Abstract Study question Does ovarian response differ between a fixed stimulation day (SD) 1 and SD 6 progestin start in a progestin primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocol? Summary answer Fixed SD 1 and SD 6 PPOS protocols showed no significant differences in terms of ovarian response to stimulation. What is known already Ovulation prior to oocyte retrieval is a potential concern during ovarian stimulation (OS). Progestins, when compared to GnRH analogues, also effectively prevent premature ovulation with the added convenience in terms of its oral administration and lower costs. For this purpose, progestins may be started immediately with OS (SD 1) or later in the cycle, usually around SD 6, when the risk for ovulation increases. While the latter approach may be associated with a lower follicle growth suppression, evidence regarding the impact of the two protocols on ovarian response is still lacking. Study design, size, duration We conducted a single center retrospective cohort study in a private fertility clinic, including 923 patients (584 in the SD1 group and 339 in the SD6 group) who underwent 1064 OS cycles (652 in the SD1 group and 412 in the SD6 group) using a PPOS protocol between January 2016 and May 2023. Among these, 394 (37.03%) were oocyte donation cycles, 341 (32.05%) were autologous IVF/ICSI cycles and 329 (30.92%) were autologous vitrification cycles. Participants/materials, setting, methods We included women under the age of 44 who performed an OS cycle following a PPOS protocol. LH peak suppression was performed with daily desogestrel 75µg started either on SD 1 or on SD 6. The number of oocytes retrieved, number of mature (MII) oocytes, follicle-to-oocyte index (FOI) and follicular output rate (FORT) were compared between the groups. Comparisons are presented as adjusted regression coefficients (β) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) following multivariable linear regression. Main results and the role of chance The majority of patients in the SD1 group were donors (59.66%), while in the SD6 group most patients were doing assisted reproductive techniques (ART) with autologous oocytes (98,78%). In the SD1 group, patients were older (38.93±3.81 vs. 37.93±4.00, p &amp;lt; 0.001), had a higher antral follicle count (AFC) (20.79±8.66 vs. 14.12±9.96, p &amp;lt; 0.001), underwent OS with a lower gonadotropin dose (2036.25±766.20IU vs. 2715.20±976.40IU, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and triggered mostly with GnRHa (86.44% vs. 57.50%, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Both groups presented a similar body mass index (BMI) (22.80±2.96 vs. 21.71±3.25kg/m2, p = 0.175). Bivariate analysis revealed a higher number of oocytes retrieved (19.40±12.02 vs. 10.10±8.19, p &amp;lt; 0.001), number of MII oocytes (12.05±5.97 vs. 7.42±5.91, p &amp;lt; 0.001), FORT (81.53±20.59% vs. 73.72±23.80%, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and FOI (95.49±48.78% vs. 76.31±47.60%, p &amp;lt; 0.001) in the SD1 group. No difference was found in the cancellation rates among the two groups (1.99% for SD1 vs. 3.16% for SD6, p = 0.322). Following adjustment for age, BMI, AFC, ART treatment, type of trigger and total gonadotropin dose, no difference was found regarding the number of oocytes retrieved (β=-0.62; 95%CI -2.53 to 1.30), number of MII oocytes (β=-1.66; 95%CI -3.43 to 0.10), oocyte maturation rate (β = 2.30; 95%CI -4.60 to 9.20), FOI (β=-3.29; 95%CI -13.15 to 6.57) or FORT (β=-1.78; 95%CI -5.66 to 2.10). Limitations, reasons for caution Despite attempting to mitigate confounding effects through multivariable linear regression analysis, the retrospective nature of the study and limited sample size may still be insufficient to eliminate bias. Moreover, reproductive and perinatal outcomes were not reported. Wider implications of the findings Our study suggests that both the SD1 and SD6 PPOS protocols can be employed based on patients’ and clinicians’ preference, regardless of the type of ART treatment or patient’s ovarian reserve, without impact on ovarian response to stimulation. Trial registration number not applicable

A collaborative pharmacist-led intervention to prevent hospital readmissions among elderly patients discharged from the emergency department: a retrospective cohort study

Unplanned hospital readmission is a safety and quality healthcare measure, conferring significant costs to the healthcare system. Elderly individuals, particularly, are at high risk of readmissions, often due to issues related to medication management. Pharmacists play a pivotal role in addressing medication-related concerns, which can potentially reduce readmissions. This retrospective single-centre cohort study, conducted from November 2022 to February 2023 in an emergency department, aimed to determine if integrating emergency medicine pharmacists into Emergency Department care models reduces unplanned hospital readmissions within 28 days and to identify the interventions they employ. The inclusion criteria included patients aged ≥ 65, taking ≥ 3 medications, and presenting with falls, cognition changes, or reduced mobility and were planned for discharge to home from the emergency department. Collaborating with the Emergency Department Aged Care Service Emergency Team, a pharmacist provided comprehensive medication management consultations, discharge liaison services, and other pharmacy related interventions to eligible participants whenever the pharmacist was available. Patients who met the eligibility criteria but did not receive pharmacist interventions due to the pharmacist's unavailability served as the control group. This method was chosen to ensure that the control group consisted of comparable patients who only differed in terms of receiving the pharmacist intervention. The study included 210 participants, with 120 receiving pharmacist interventions and 90 acting as controls. The results revealed a significant reduction in unplanned hospital readmissions among participants who received pharmacist interventions (10.0%, n = 12) compared to controls (22.2%, n = 20), with a notable difference of 12.2% (95% confidence interval 2.4–23.4%, p = 0.01). A total of 107 interventions were documented, emphasising medication selection recommendations (28.0%) and identification of adverse drug reactions/drug-drug interactions (21.5%) as primary areas of focus. These findings suggest that integrating skilled pharmacists into Emergency Department Aged Care Service Emergency Team (ASET) lowered the rate of unplanned hospital readmission within 28 days resulting in improved hospital performance metric outcomes. This highlights the potential role of pharmacists in addressing medication-related issues and enhancing the quality and safety of healthcare delivery, particularly for elderly patients transitioning from the ED to home care settings.

P-429 Measuring serum progesterone levels on the day of a fresh blastocyst transfer is debatable as there is no evidence for correlation with ongoing pregnancy results

Abstract Study question Does serum progesterone (P4) level on the day of a fresh blastocyst transfer relate to ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR)? Summary answer OPR after a fresh single blastocyst transfer seems not to be associated with serum P4 level on the day of transfer. What is known already Several studies have suggested an optimal serum P4 threshold for embryo transfers in frozen embryo transfer cycles. However, for fresh embryo transfers, data are scarce and conflicting. Study design, size, duration A retrospective single-center cohort study was performed on 598 complete data cycles, retained out of 631 consecutive fresh single blastocyst transfer cycles. Data were collected from patients undergoing a fresh IVF/ICSI cycle with autologous oocytes at a tertiary fertility center between June 2022 and August 2023. Participants/materials, setting, methods A total of 482 unique patients underwent one or more single fresh blastocyst transfers using micronized vaginal progesterone (MVP) 800mg BID for luteal phase support starting day after oocyte retrieval. Serum P4 levels were determined on day of transfer. The primary endpoint was OPR, positive hCG-test and early pregnancy loss (EPL) were secondary endpoints. Unadjusted and adjusted generalized estimating equations (GEE) assessed P4 level association with the endpoints, using an exchangeable working correlation matrix. Main results and the role of chance No association was identified between P4 levels on day of transfer and OPR after accounting for maternal age, blastocyst quality, P4 and estradiol level at last ultrasound, BMI and endometrial thickness. Data were grouped according to 10/50/90 and 25/50/75 percentiles, resulting in groups &amp;lt; = or &amp;gt; 27ng/ml and &amp;lt; = or &amp;gt; 40ng/ml, with omission of 90th and 75th percentile groups due to right-skewed distribution. With serum P4 levels higher than 40ng/ml, the probability of a positive hCG-test significantly increased (OR 1.79, CI 1.11-2.91; p = 0.018). No significant difference was observed in patients with serum P4 &amp;lt; = or &amp;gt; 27ng/ml (OR 1.23, CI 0.66-2.30; p = 0.506). Regarding OPR, no significant differences were observed when comparing patients with serum P4 &amp;lt; = or &amp;gt; 27/ng/ml or &amp;lt; = or &amp;gt; 40ng/ml (OR 0.88, CI 0.42-18.85; p = 0.736 and OR 1.41, CI 0.83-2.37; p = 0.203, respectively). Moreover, EPL did not significantly differ between serum P4 level groups (OR 1.93, CI 0.61-6.13; p = 0.265 and OR 1.2, CI 0.51-2.84; p = 0.674). Age (p &amp;lt; 0.001) and embryo quality (p &amp;lt; 0.001) are significantly related with OPR. Additionally, late follicular progesterone levels and OPR are significantly associated (OR 2.39, CI 1.16-4.95 in patients with P4 &amp;lt; = or &amp;gt; 27/ng/ml and OR 2.21, CI 1.07-4.55 in patients with &amp;lt; =40ng/ml and &amp;gt;40ng/ml). Limitations, reasons for caution Limitations include the retrospective design and the lack of live birth outcome data. Progesterone levels exceeding 60 ng/ml were not further analyzed to their precise value but grouped as 60 plus which did not allow to identify potential detrimental effects of very high P4 levels on treatment outcome. Wider implications of the findings Our data suggest that measuring P4 on the day of a single blastocyst transfer with MVP luteal phase support may not be indicative of OPR or the risk of EPL. This raises questions regarding the necessity for routine P4 measurements as well as the development of rescue strategies. Trial registration number ONZ-2023-0628

P-595 Increased clinical pregnancy rates using a clinical decision support tool - a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Study question Does using a clinical decision support tool, Opt-IVF, to guide hormone dosing during superovulation yield increased clinical pregnancy rates in routine clinical practice? Summary answer Higher clinical pregnancy rates were obtained using Opt-IVF to guide stimulatory hormone dosing during superovulation. What is known already ART success rates and cost depend heavily on the superovulation stage of the cycle. Two prospective single-center trials and one prospective multi-center trial had shown that using Opt-IVF to guide dosing resulted in increased numbers of high-quality embryos, used lower hormone doses, and required less ultrasound testing. This is a retrospective cohort study of the use of Opt-IVF in clinical practice over 12 months compared with the control cohort from the previous 12 months. Study design, size, duration Design: The study examined patients undergoing an IVF cycle using Opt-IVF in a single center for 12 months. Opt-IVF was used in all patients who presented to one of the investigators at Akanksha Hospital during the study period. As a comparison group, we examined patients from the previous 12 months when Opt-IVF was not used, and standard clinical protocols were followed to guide dosing. Duration: The study was conducted over 24 months Participants/materials, setting, methods 204 women aged 25-45 years underwent superovulation using hormone doses suggested by Opt-IVF (intervention). Of the participants, 19% were poor responders, 74% were below 35 years of age, 19% were 35-39 years of age, and 7% were above 39 years of age. The control group included 207 women, of whom 10% were poor responders. 72% were below 35 years of age, 26% were 35-39 years, and 2% were above 39 years of age. Main results and the role of chance The participants in the intervention group required significantly lower cumulative gonadotropin dosage compared to the control group during their controlled ovarian stimulation cycles (p &amp;lt; 0.0001). The average number of total embryos was 20% higher (p &amp;lt; 0.001), and the average number of good-quality embryos was 50% higher (p &amp;lt; 0.0001) in the Opt-IVF group than in the control group. Only 4.9% of cycles were canceled in the intervention group, compared to 12.9% canceled in the control group. Overall, Clinical pregnancy rates (including canceled cycles) increased from 35 % in the control group to 43% in the intervention group. The clinical pregnancy rate for poor responder patients was 39% in the Opt-IVF group but was only 16% in controls (p &amp;lt; 0.0001). Similarly, the clinical pregnancy rates were 34% in patients ages 35-39 years and 33% in patients above 39 years of age, much higher than the corresponding clinical pregnancy rates in controls (27% and 0%, respectively). Higher clinical pregnancy rates were also noted in the intervention group for normal responders and for younger patients. Limitations, reasons for caution This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. Wider implications of the findings Using Opt-IVF to guide dosing resulted in increased numbers of high-quality embryos and higher clinical pregnancy rates, particularly among older patients and poor responders. The proportions of these patients can be expected to grow in the future, so improving results in such patients is essential. Trial registration number not applicable

Assessment of catheter position using chest CT in adults undergoing erector spinae plane analgesia for rib fractures: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundContinuous erector spinae plane (ESP) analgesia is a common adjuvant for patients with traumatic rib fracture pain and success relies on the ESP catheter remaining within the correct fascial plane...

Association between intraoperative hypotension and postoperative nausea and vomiting: a retrospective cohort study

Objective Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) occurs in up to 30% of patients and its pathophysiology and mechanisms have not been completely described. Hypotension and a decrease in cardiac output are suspected to induce nausea. The hypothesis that intraoperative hypotension might influence the incidence of PONV was investigated. Material and methods The study was conducted as a retrospective large single center cohort study. The incidence of PONV was investigated until discharge from post anesthesia care unit (PACU). Surgical patients with general anesthesia during a 2-year period between 2018 and 2019 at a university hospital in Germany were included. Groups were defined based on the lowest documented mean arterial pressure (MAP) with group H50: MAP <50mmHg; group H60: MAP <60mmHg; group H70: MAP <70mmHg, and group H0: no MAP <70mmHg. Decreases of MAP in the different groups were related to PONV. Propensity-score matching was carried out to control for overlapping risk factors. Results In the 2-year period 18.674 patients fit the inclusion criteria. The overall incidence of PONV was 11%. Patients with hypotension had a significantly increased incidence of PONV (H0 vs. H50: 11.0% vs.17.4%, Risk Ratio (RR): 1.285 (99%CI: 1.102–1.498), p < 0.001; H0 vs. H60: 10.4% vs. 13.5%, RR: 1.1852 (99%CI: 1.0665–1.3172), p < 0.001; H0 vs. H70: 9.4% vs. 11.2%, RR: 1.1236 (99%CI: 1.013 − 1.2454); p = 0.0027). Conclusion The study demonstrates an association between intraoperative hypotension and early PONV. A more severe decrease of MAP had a pronounced effect.

P-437 Are serum progesterone levels predictive for reproductive outcomes in artificial cycles if individualized luteal phase support is only administered when progesterone is below 5 ng/ml?

Abstract Study question Do serum progesterone levels predict reproductive outcomes in artificial cycles when individualized luteal phase support is administered only if progesterone falls below 5 ng/ml? Summary answer The low 5 ng/ml progesterone threshold appears to be sufficient for the patient not to require additional progesterone injections when progesterone is above 5 ng/ml. What is known already Serum progesterone (P4) level is negatively associated with ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) and miscarriage rate in artificially prepared frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles using standard micronized vaginal progesterone (MVP) for luteal phase support. Individualized luteal support is considered a successful rescue strategy in cycles with low serum progesterone levels eliminating the effect of P4 levels on outcome. Cut-off levels for this rescue strategy range from 8.8 to 10 ng/ml. Study design, size, duration A retrospective single-centre cohort study including a total of 1,016 vitrified-warmed single blastocyst transfers performed at a tertiary fertility centre between October 2021 and December 2022. Blastocysts of ≥ 3CC Gardner score were eligible for vitrification on day 5 or day 6 (Vit-kit or Vit-kit NX, FuijiFilm). Embryos were warmed and subsequently transferred on the same day which was day 5 in the cycle, regardless if the embryo was vitrified on day 5 or day 6. Participants/materials, setting, methods We included 595 patients undergoing an artificially prepared embryo transfer (ET) cycle using MVP 800mg BID for luteal phase support. Serum P4 levels were determined on the day of ET with the initiation of additional injections of subcutaneous P4 from the day after ET in patients with P4 &amp;lt; 5ng/ml. Primary endpoint was OPR. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to correct for confounders. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) models were fitted for primary and secondary outcomes. Main results and the role of chance OPR was comparable for the 3 groups: 9/40 (22.5%) for patients with P4 &amp;lt;5ng/ml, 64/275 (23.3%) for patients with P4 5-10 ng/ml and 181/701 (25.8%) for patients with P4 &amp;gt;10ng/ml (p = 0.377). No significant association between P4 category and likelihood for OPR was found after adjusting for confounders. Early clinical miscarriage rate was significantly different between the 3 groups: 5/40 (12.5%) in patients with P4 &amp;lt;5ng/ml, 26/275 (9.5%) with P4 5-10ng/ml and 37/701 (5.3%) with P4 &amp;gt;10ng/ml (P = 0.005). Limitations, reasons for caution Higher clinical miscarriage rate in cycles with a P4 level under 10 ng/ml questions the efficacy of rescue progesterone in cycles with a low P4. The patient population also exists of a subgroup of PGT-a tested cycles which was not included as a potential confounder in this analysis. Wider implications of the findings The 5 ng/ml P4 threshold appears to be sufficient for the patient not to require additional P4 injections when P4 is above 5 ng/ml. Consequently, a significantly lower proportion of cycles would need to be supplemented with rescue progesterone; 3.8% versus 31.3% for the 10 ng/mL cut off. Trial registration number ONZ-2023-0223

Urine sodium concentration and 28-day weight velocity in preterm infants: A retrospective cohort study.

Urine sodium concentration has been suggested as a marker to guide enteral sodium supplementation in preterm infants; however, no previous data have demonstrated relationships between urine sodium concentration and postnatal growth. We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study on 224 preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Children's Hospital of Georgia between January 2010 and July 2022. Spot urine sodium was measured in preterm infants (<34 weeks postmenstrual age [PMA]) between days of life (DOLs) 7 and 28. Our exposure of interest was spot urine sodium concentration (milliequivalents per liter) obtained between postnatal days 7 and 28, and our primary outcome was weight velocity (grams per kilograms per day) determined at DOL 28. Statistical relationships were assessed by multivariate analysis with subgroup comparisons by Student t test and analysis of variance. In 224 preterm infants (199 ± 17 days, 56% male, 71% Black), urine sodium concentration did not associate with weight velocity at DOL 28 and 36 weeks PMA. Urine sodium concentration was weakly associated with gestational age at birth, and Black preterm infants had higher urine sodium values when compared with "other," but not White preterm infants. Spot urine sodium during the first month of life does not associate with weight velocity at DOL 28 or 36 weeks PMA.

The impact of onset-to-cut time in surgery for stable acute type A aortic dissection-a single-centre retrospective cohort study.

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of onset-to-cut time on mortality in patients undergoing surgery for stable acute type A aortic dissection. Patients who underwent surgery for acute type A aortic dissection between January 2006 and December 2021 and available onset-to-cut times were included. Patients with unstable aortic dissection (preoperative shock, intubation, resuscitation, coma, pericardial tamponade and local/systemic malperfusion syndromes) were excluded. After descriptive analysis, a multivariable binary logistic regression for 30-day mortality was performed. A receiver operating characteristic curve for onset-to-cut time and 30-day mortality was calculated. Restricted cubic splines were designed to investigate the association between onset-to-cut time and survival. The final cohort comprised 362 patients. The median onset-to-cut time was 543 (376-1155) min. The 30-day mortality was 9%. Only previous myocardial infarction (P = 0.018) and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (P < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for 30-day mortality. The corresponding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve showed a value of 0.49. Restricted cubic splines did not indicate an association between onset-to-cut time and survival (P = 0.316). Onset-to-cut time in the setting of stable acute type A aortic dissection does not seem to be a valid predictor of 30-day mortality in patients undergoing surgery and stayed stable during the preoperative course.

Combining telemedicine and in-person visits to deliver care to patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD): Lessons learned from COVID-19.

Telemedicine has been widely used to deliver healthcare to outpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this modality is unclear in patients with a pre-dialysis stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics and management of CKD patients receiving telemedicine care during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective single-center cohort study enrolled outpatients with pre-dialytic stage of CKD from March 9 to June 21, 2020. Telemedicine was proposed for all patients with a stable CKD to reduce the risk of in-hospital transmission whereas in-person visit was performed for patients requiring urgent evaluation. In a 15-week period, 97 patients received 116 nephrological visits. According to the modality of healthcare delivery, the patients were subdivided into telemedicine (66%) and in-person visit (34%) groups. Mean age of all CKD patients was 72.8 ± 12.5 years and males were 50.5% of the population. The average estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 14.6±6 mL/min. Patients evaluated by telemedicine had better kidney function (GFR, 16.2±6.4 vs. 13.6±5.9 mL/min/1.73m2; p=0.037), a lower body mass index (BMI) (24.1 ± 1.7 vs. 30.6 ± 5.7; p=0.019), and a lower risk of CKD progression (51.1 vs. 25.4%, p=0.017) than patients requiring in-person visit. Telemedicine-visit patients experienced a significantly lower number of pharmacological changes than patients managed in the ambulatory setting. Telemedicine was also used to conduct 20% of educational meetings on the choice of dialysis modality and 18.9% of pre-eligibility visits for kidney transplantation. Telemedicine made it possible to provide care to and maintain close monitoring of 2/3 of patients with pre-dialytic stage of CKD during the COVID-19 pandemic.