Acute Kidney Injury After First-Stage Joint Revision for Infection: Risk Factors and the Impact of Antibiotic Dosing

Background

Scarce literature exists regarding risk factors associated with postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) after first-stage revision procedures. The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors for AKI and the efficacy of intra-articular antibiotics in infection eradication.

Short-Term Morbidity and Mortality After Hemiarthroplasty and Total Hip Arthroplasty for Pathologic Proximal Femur Fractures

BackgroundAs oncology patients have increasing life expectancies, total hip arthroplasty (THA) may become an important treatment option for pathologic proximal femur fractures (PPFFs). Although THA and hemiarthroplasty (HA) have been compared for native hip fracture treatment, no data on short-term morbidity and mortality are available in the pathologic setting. The purpose of this study is to compare short-term morbidity and mortality of HA vs THA for PPFFs.MethodsThe National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried from 2007 to 2017 for patients with PPFFs treated with HA or THA. Propensity-adjusted logistic regressions were implemented to compare 30-day morbidity and mortality between procedures. Backwards stepwise regression was then used to determine independent predictors of treatment with HA compared to THA.ResultsIn adjusted analysis, THA was associated with longer operative times (120.3 ± 5.6 vs 98.7 ± 4.9 minutes, P < .001); however, there were no differences between THA and HA with regard to 30-day rates of major complications (P = .3), minor complications (P = .77), reoperations (P = .99), readmissions (P = .35), or deaths (P = .63). Older age (P < .001), dependent functional status (P = .02), and the presence of disseminated cancer (P = .049) were predictive of undergoing HA compared to THA.ConclusionAs patients with metastatic cancer continue to live longer with their disease, the durability of surgical reconstruction to treat PPFFs is becoming increasingly important. This study demonstrated no significant differences in 30-day complications between PPFF patients treated with THA or HA after controlling for underlying confounders. These results suggest that THA can be utilized to treat certain patients with PPFFs, and future work is warranted to examine long-term functional outcomes.     

Systematic identification and management of barriers to vascular surgery patient discharge time of day

Objective

Length of stay fails to completely capture the clinical and economic effects of patient progression through the phases of inpatient care, such as admission, room placement, procedures, and discharge. Delayed hospital throughput has been linked to increased time spent in the emergency department and postanesthesia care unit, delayed time to treatment, increased in-hospital mortality, decreased patient satisfaction, and lost hospital revenue. We identified barriers to vascular surgery inpatient care progression and instituted defined measures to positively impact standardized metrics.

Impact of body mass index and gender on wound complications after lower extremity arterial surgery

Objective

Wound complications (WCs) after lower extremity arterial surgery (LEAS) are common, resulting in readmissions and reinterventions. Whereas diabetes and obesity are known risk factors for WCs, gender-specific variability in body fat distribution (android vs gynoid) may drive differential risks of WCs after LEAS. We analyzed the independent and synergistic effects of gender and body mass index (BMI) on WCs.

Evaluation of palliative procedures for pancreatic cancer

In a retrospective review of 51 patients undergoing palliative procedures for carcinoma of the pancreas from 1974 to 1979, cholecystoenterostomy was as effective as choledochoenterostomy. Patients with loops had the same incidence of cholangitis as those with Roux-Y limbs. Prophylactic gastroenterostomy was not performed routinely. Few patients needed a later gastroenterostomy for progressive cancer.     

Technical problems with ulnar nerve transposition at the elbow: findings and results of reoperation

Ten patients who had persistent or recurrent paresthesias, muscular weakness, or sensory loss following transposition of the ulnar nerve at the elbow were explored. Operative findings included compression of the nerve at the intermuscular septum or at the entrance to the cubital tunnel, dense scarring after intramuscular transposition, and constriction by fascial slings. The average interval from the previous operation to re-exploration was 13 months. All patients were improved following neurolysis and submuscular transposition. Recovery was incomplete in nine patients. The average follow-up was 14.5 months.     

Disadvantages of prostacyclin infusion during cardiopulmonary bypass: a double-blind study of 50 patients having coronary revascularization

Prostacyclin (PGI2) has been suggested for use in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) because of its positive effects on platelet number and function. Fifty patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using a bubble oxygenator received heparin, 3 mg per kilogram of body weight, and then were randomly assigned to receive PGI2, 25 ng/kg/min, beginning 5 minutes before and until the end of CPB (26 patients) or a placebo (24 patients). Both groups were similar in sex, age, heparin dose, protamine dose, and CPB time. During CPB, mean arterial pressure fell significantly with PGI2 (76 +/- 2 mm Hg to 53 +/- 2 mm Hg; p less than 0.05) and necessitated pressor substances. Platelet counts fell significantly in both groups with the start of CPB, but after 60 minutes were similar in both groups (118 +/- 9 X 10(3) versus 130 +/- 8 X 10(3); not significant [NS]) and were unchanged 3 hours after CPB. Total chest tube output was 647 +/- 51 ml (placebo group) versus 576 +/- 34 ml (PGI2 group) (NS); 18 of the patients given PGI2 required 26 transfusions compared with 16 transfusions in 8 of the patients given a placebo (p less than 0.05). In PGI2 patients, arterial oxygen tension on 100% oxygen fell from 281 +/- 18 mm Hg before CPB to 223 +/- 17 mm Hg immediately after CPB (p less than 0.05). The placebo patients did not show a change in this variable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinical Staging and the Tendency of Malignant Pleural Mesotheliomas to Remain Localized

Thirty-two patients who had been treated for diffuse, malignant pleural mesotheliomas were retrospectively staged according to the system of Butchart. Nineteen of the 26 patients who were seen with disease confined to one hemithorax have died. Twelve patients died without progression to a higher clinical stage, and only 1 patient died of systemic metastases. Nineteen of the 32 patients died of local tumor invasion. Regimens containing Adriamycin (doxorubicin hydrochloride) appeared to prolong the survival of patients with epithelial-type tumors. Combination chemotherapy, designed to treat soft-tissue sarcomas, produced only partial responses in a small number of patients.     

Determinants of Operative Survival Following Combined Mitral Valve Replacement and Coronary Revascularization

To determine the operative survival rate following combined mitral valve replacement (MVR) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation, we evaluated 100 patients, who were seen consecutively at the Peter Bent Brigham and Brigham and Women's Hospital from 1972 to 1981. There were 63 men and 37 women; the mean age was 62 years. Thirty-six patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class III, and 64 were in Functional Class IV. Mitral regurgitation was predominant in 76 patients; mitral stenosis, in 24. Emergency operations were performed in 15 patients, and elective or semielective operations were performed in 85.There were 18 operative deaths (18%): 9 in patients having elective operations (10.5%) and 9 in those having emergency operations (60%; p < 0.01). Significant preoperative factors related to operative death were NYHA functional class, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, lower cardiac index, and lower ejection fraction in the nonsurvivors. The rate of survival did not differ according to sex, age, or degree of coronary artery disease. In addition, myocardial protection with potassium cardioplegia and complete coronary revascularization significantly reduced operative mortality in the elective group of patients but did not alter the mortality in the emergency group.