The Association between Reasons for a Rapid Response Team Alert and Immediate Patient Management in Total Hip Arthroplasty Patients

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the value and efficacy of rapid response teams (RRTs) for different triggering events in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients.MethodsA retrospective review of all RRT events at a single, tertiary referral center from 2014 to 2016 was performed. Inclusion criteria were defined as patients >18 years old that underwent primary or revision THA. Information queried included demographics, primary reason for RRT, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), underlying etiology, whether any changes in management occurred, and whether the patient was uptriaged.ResultsIn total, 168 RRTs were called on 153 hip arthroplasty patients (mean age 65.2 ± 14.1 years; mean body mass index 32.3 ± 4.8, 66% female). Length of stay in RRT for primary and revision THA was 3.4 and 6.2 days, respectively. This was significantly longer than the length of stay for primary THA patients (2.4 days, P < .001) and revision THA patients (4.6 days, P = .005) that did not require an RRT. There were no mortalities. RRTs for hypotension/presyncope (11%) and for syncope (11%) resulted in significantly fewer changes in management (P < .01) than tachycardia (77%), hypoxia (57%), AMS (79%), and other (47%). RRTs for hypotension/presyncope (28%), syncope (15%), and hypoxia (30%) resulted in significantly fewer patients being uptriaged (P < .001) than tachycardia (81%). Hypotension/presyncope was found to be significantly more commonly due to volume depletion (67%) (P < .001) than other etiologies. Hypoxia was significantly more commonly due to atelectasis (57%) and opioids/oversedation (30.4%) (P = .037). AMS/delirium was also significantly more commonly caused by opioids/over-sedation (71%) (P < .001).ConclusionIn patients undergoing THA, RRTs for hypotension/presyncopal symptoms and syncope were significantly less likely to result in changes in management or uptriaging compared to tachycardia. The most common etiologies were potentially preventable, including volume depletion and opioid use.     

加速康复外科联合中医药对腹腔镜全直肠系膜切除术患者手术指标和临床效果的影响

目的:分析加速康复外科(ERAS)联合中医药对腹腔镜全直肠系膜切除术患者手术指标和临床效果的影响。方法:选取2014年1月至2016年10月溧阳市中医医院收治的直肠癌患者128例作为研究对象,按不同治疗方式分组,Ⅰ组予以传统开腹全直肠系膜切除术治疗,Ⅱ组予以ERAS联合腹腔镜全直肠系膜切除术治疗,Ⅲ组予以ERAS、中医药联合腹腔镜全直肠系膜切除术治疗。比较各组手术情况,应激指标,炎性反应,免疫功能,并发症和预后情况比较。结果:Ⅱ组及Ⅲ组手术时间均多于Ⅰ组,Ⅲ组出血量、肛门排气时间、进食时间及住院时间均少于Ⅱ组及Ⅰ组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),各组淋巴结清扫数目、肿瘤下缘距离远切缘距离比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。术后,各组应激指标、炎性反应指标水平均上升,Ⅲ组炎性反应指标水平均低于Ⅱ组且低于Ⅰ组(P<0.05)。各组CD3+、CD4+、CD4+/CD8+水平均下降,Ⅲ组CD3+、CD4+、CD4+/CD8+水平均高于Ⅱ组且高于Ⅰ组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。Ⅱ组及Ⅲ组并发症发生率低于Ⅰ组(P<0.05),Ⅱ组及Ⅲ组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。各组预后情况比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:ERAS联合中医药在腹腔镜全直肠系膜切除术患者的应用中优越性明显,可减轻机体创伤性,维持内环境稳定,为其临床推广提供理论依据。     

Emerging Racial Disparities in Outpatient Utilization of Total Joint Arthroplasty

BackgroundRacial and ethnic disparities within the field of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) have been extensively reported. To date, however, it remains unknown how these disparities have translated to the outpatient TJA (OP-TJA) setting. The purposes of this study were to compare relative OP-TJA utilization rates between White and Black patients from 2011-2019 and assess how these differences in utilization have evolved over time.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review from 2011-2019 using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Differences in the relative utilization of OP (same-day discharge) versus inpatient TJA between White and Black patients were assessed and trended over time. Multivariable logistic regressions were run to adjust for baseline patient factors and comorbidities.ResultsDuring the study period, Black patients were significantly less likely to undergo OP-TJA when compared to White patients (P < .001 for both outpatient total knee arthroplasty and outpatient total hip arthroplasty [OP-THA]). From 2011 to 2019, an emerging disparity was found in outpatient total knee arthroplasty and OP-THA utilization between White and Black patients (eg, White versus Black OP-THA: 0.4% versus 0.6% in 2011 compared with 10.2% versus 5.9% in 2019, P_trend < .001). These results held in all adjusted analyses.ConclusionIn this study we found evidence of emerging and worsening racial disparities in the relative utilization of OP-TJA procedures between White and Black patients. These results highlight the need for early intervention by orthopaedic surgeons and policy makers alike to address these emerging inequalities in access to care before they become entrenched within our systems of orthopaedic care.     

Mildly decreased preoperative bilirubin levels are associated with infections after shoulder and knee arthroplasty

Increasing numbers of arthroplasties are also accompanied by postoperative infections. The main purpose was to evaluate preoperative serum bilirubin levels between patients with and without infections after shoulder and knee arthroplasties. For this retrospective case-control single-center study, a total of 108 patients were extracted from a prospectively collected database. Eighteen patients with infections after shoulder (n = 8) and knee (n = 10) arthroplasty were matched by age, gender, and implant type in a 1:5-scenario to 90 patients (40 shoulders and 50 knees) without postoperative infection. Demographic data, preoperative blood parameters, and postoperative infection-related outcomes were evaluated. Total bilirubin was the only preoperative parameter significantly different between the infection (8.21 ± 3.25 μmol/L or 0.48 ± 0.19 mg/dL) and noninfection (10.78 ± 4.62 μmol/L or 0.63 ± 0.27 mg/dL; P = .014) group, while C-reactive protein and other liver parameters were similar between the groups. Significantly more controls (92.1%) had preoperative bilirubin levels above 8.72 μmol/L or 0.51 mg/dL than cases (7.9%; P = .007). The 5-year infection survival-rate was 65.6% for patients with preoperative bilirubin levels < 8.72 μmol/L or < 0.51 mg/dL and 91.2% with ≥ 8.72 μmol/L or ≥ 0.51 mg/dL. Mildly decreased preoperative bilirubin levels with a cutoff at 8.72 μmol/L or 0.51 mg/dL were significantly associated to patients with infections after shoulder and knee arthroplasty. There were no differences in other blood parameters or comorbidities between patients with infections and their matched-controls.     

The Association of Race/Ethnicity and Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes in a Universally Insured Population

BackgroundPrior studies have documented racial/ethnic disparities in the United States for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes. One factor cited as a potential mediator is unequal access to care. We sought to assess whether racial/ethnic disparities persist in a universally insured TKA population.MethodsA US integrated health system’s total joint replacement registry was used to identify elective primary TKA (2000-2016). Racial/ethnic differences in revision and 90-day postoperative events (readmission, emergency department [ED] visit, infection, venous thromboembolism, and mortality) were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard and logistic regression with adjustment for confounders.ResultsOf 129,402 TKA, 68.8% were white, 16.2% were Hispanic, 8.4% were black, and 6.6% were Asian. Compared to white patients, Hispanic patients had lower risks of septic revision (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57-0.83) and infection (odds ratio [OR] = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.30-0.59), but a higher likelihood of ED visit (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.22-1.34). Black patients had higher risks of aseptic revision (HR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.42-1.83), readmission (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.02-1.24), and ED visit (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.23-1.39). Asian patients had lower risks of aseptic revision (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54-0.83), septic revision (HR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.60-0.99), readmission (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.79-1.00), and venous thromboembolism (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.45-0.78).ConclusionWe observed differences in TKA outcome, even within a universally insured population. While lower risks in some outcomes were observed for Asian and Hispanic patients, the higher risks of aseptic revision and readmission for black patients and ED visit for black and Hispanic patients warrant further research to determine reasons for these findings to mitigate disparities.Level of EvidenceLevel III.     

腹腔镜辅助经肛全直肠系膜切除术治疗中低位直肠癌的临床疗效（附15例）

目的:探讨腹腔镜辅助经肛全直肠系膜切除术（laparoscopic-assisted transanal total mesorectal excision,La-TaTME）治疗中低位直肠癌的安全性及近期疗效。方法:回顾性分析南华大学附属第一医院胃肠外科2017年12月至2018年6月施行La-TaTME术的15例中低位直肠癌患者的临床资料。结果:15例患者中，男性10例，女性5例，年龄为（52.7±6.4）岁，体质量指数为（24.8±2.1）kg/m2。15例患者均顺利完成手术，无一例中转开腹；手术时间为（293.5±72.4）min，术中出血量为（91.8±24.6）mL；术后造口排气时间为（1.8±0.6）d，术后下床活动时间为（1.5±0.3）d，术后引流管拔除时间为（7.8±3.4）d，术后住院天数为（13.0±1.8）d；术后出现肛周感染1例，吻合口瘘2例，予以冲洗引流、抗感染、肛门坐浴等保守治疗后恢复；中位随访6个月未见肿瘤复发转移，无死亡病例。结论:对于中低位直肠癌患者，La-TaTME手术是安全可行的，近期疗效较好。     

Clinical Impact and Predictors of the Slow-Flow Phenomenon after Endovascular Treatment of Infrapopliteal Lesions Using the Crosser Catheter in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

PurposeTo determine the clinical impact and predictors of slow flow after endovascular treatment (EVT) using the Crosser catheter for debulking infrapopliteal lesions associated with critical limb ischemia.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study included 65 patients with critical limb ischemia (70 limbs, 90 infrapopliteal lesions), who underwent EVT using the Crosser catheter between November 2011 and February 2017. The Crosser catheter was used when the balloon catheter could not be passed through the lesion or could not be dilated sufficiently. Slow flow was evaluated after atherectomy using Crosser and was defined as delayed antegrade flow to the foot (total number of cine frames >35).ResultsFollowing atherectomy, slow flow developed in 37 infrapopliteal lesions (41.1%). Despite secondary treatment, slow flow persisted in 29 of 37 lesions (78%). After atherectomy using the Crosser catheter, the balloon could be passed through the lesion in all cases. The wound healing rate at 1 year after EVT (overall, 67.8%) was significantly poorer in the presence of slow flow (rate with vs. without slow flow, 45.3% vs. 84.4%, respectively; P = .006), especially among patients with stage ≥3 baseline wound, ischemia, and foot infection. The active length of the Crosser catheter was a predictor of slow flow (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.08; P < .001), with an optimal cutoff of 100 mm.ConclusionsSlow flow is associated with a poorer wound healing rate at 1 year, especially for patients with severe baseline ischemia. To reduce the risk of slow flow, the active length of the Crosser catheter should be kept at <100 mm.