Early surgery-related complications after anteroposterior stabilization of vertebral body fractures in the thoracolumbar region

Background  

The complication rate after trauma-associated spine surgery remains unknown because of the rarity of this injury and the polymorphism of treatment methods. We report the complication rates recorded at one center after treatment of unstable vertebral body fractures according to a single, uniform procedure. The aim of this analysis was to identify the typical complications associated with this surgical procedure and, consequently, to contribute to critical deliberations on the introduction of technical innovations such as navigation, intraoperative three-dimensional imaging, and neuromonitoring.     

Reduction in aortic aneurysm size: Early results after endovascular graft placement

Purpose: Previous reports demonstrate initial technical success with transluminally placed endovascular grafts (TPEG) for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, long-term changes in the size of the aorta and aneurysmal segments are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine aortic dimensions at several levels by computed tomographic (CT) scans 1 year after TPEG.Methods: Thirty-four patients underwent TPEG with 1-year CT scans. Patients were divided into three groups: group I, no perigraft leak; group II, early perigraft leak that sealed during the first year; and group III, persistent perigraft leak. Aortic minor and major diameters, perimeter, and area were measured at four locations: the celiac aorta, proximal neck, maximal aneurysm size, and distal neck.Results: There were 32 men and two women, with a mean age of 73 ± 8 years. In group I there were 20 patients (58%), and groups II and III had seven patients (21%) each. The overall mean aneurysm minor diameter decreased from 4.79 ± 0.68 cm at implantation to 4.39 ± 0.86 cm at 1 year ( p < 0.0001). The aneurysm sac decreased by 0.63 ± 0.58 cm in group I, and by 0.34 ± 0.24 cm in group II. In group III, however, the aneurysm sac increased by 0.19 ± 0.21 cm. Aneurysm size change did not correlate with inferior mesenteric or lumbar artery patency. The dimensions of the celiac aorta and proximal neck did not change significantly. However, diameter of the distal neck enlarged by 0.12 ± 0.27 cm ( p < 0.01).Conclusions: TPEG exclusion is associated with reduction of aneurysm size 1 year after implantation. Expansion of the aneurysms occurred with persistent perigraft leak. The aortic size at the celiac artery and proximal neck did not change. Dilation of the distal neck was minor but requires further long-term follow-up to determine clinical significance. (J Vasc Surg 1997;25:113-23.)     

The effect of patient transfer on outcomes after rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm

OBJECTIVE: Centralization of vascular surgery services has resulted in patients being transferred longer distances for treatment of life-threatening conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patient transfer adversely affects the survival of people with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients undergoing attempted repair of an RAAA at our centre, over a recent 3.5-year period (August 2000-December 2003). Patients were divided into those presenting directly to our centre and those transferred from another hospital. The main outcome variable was in-hospital or 30-day mortality, with secondary variables including time to surgical treatment, mortality in the first 24 hours and length of hospitalization. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients (73% men) underwent attempted open repair of an RAAA at our centre during this period. Twenty-four patients (29.6%) presented directly to our hospital, while 57 (70.4%) were transferred from another institution. The overall mortality rate was 53%. Although transferred patients took twice as long as direct patients to get to the operating room (6.3 v. 3.2 h, p=0.03), there was no difference in mortality between the 2 groups (50% v. 54%, p=ns). However, deaths of transferred patients were more likely to occur in the first 24 postoperative hours, compared with direct patients (40% v. 33%, p<0.05). Neither mean intensive care unit stay (5.8 and 8.1 d) nor total hospitalization (20.9 and 18.8 d) differed between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the transfer of patients with RAAA results in a treatment delay, it does not adversely affect the already high mortality rates associated with this condition. These results may be attributed to a preselection of patients who are able to tolerate such a delay.     

Computed tomographic angiography in the evaluation of clip placement for intracranial aneurysm

Summary   Background. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has been shown to reliably detect aneurysms pre-operatively. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of post-operative CTA to detect aneurysmal remnants in connection with clip placement compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Furthermore, special attention was paid to identifying factors influencing the image quality of CTA. Method. Between January 2005 and January 2006 a total of 76 patients with intracranial aneurysms were treated in our department. Thirty-two patients with a total of 33 clipped aneurysm were included in this study. All patients underwent CTA and DSA after surgery. Two investigators, each blinded to the classifications of the other, assessed image quality and clip placement. Findings. In three patients aneurysmal remnants could be detected with CTA and DSA. One 2-mm aneurysmal remnant was not clearly identified on CTA; two small (<2-mm) aneurysmal remnants were definitely not seen on CTA. A single titanium clip was used for aneurysmal clipping in 26 patients, two clips were needed in six patients and one aneurysm required three clips being used. Overall, use of one titanium clip tended to result in better image quality. In addition, clip-gantry angles between 30° and 60° tended to yield better image quality. Conclusion. Post-operatively, CTA can be recommended as a reliable non-invasive diagnostic tool only with optimal image quality and with this criterion up to 66% of the aneurysms can be evaluated. Titanium artefacts, especially in the important zone (<2 mm) around the clip in which small aneurysmal remnants can occur, can render adequate evaluation impossible. CTA image quality depends on the number of titanium clips used, but clip-gantry-angle does not significantly influence the image quality. Correspondence: Ioannis Pechlivanis, Department of Neurosurgery, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Knappschaftskrankenhaus, In der Schornau 23-25, 44892 Bochum, Germany.     

Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular graft placement and aneurysm size reduction

Reduction in aneurysm size during the months after an endovascular graft placement generally is considered one of the criteria of success. We report the case of a patient with an abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture occurring 9 months after a bifurcated endovascular graft placement despite a greater than 45% reduction in size noted on contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan performed at 7 months. Biomaterial modifications of the stent and of the Dacron explanted stent-graft are analyzed. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:178-83.)     

腹主动脉瘤患者术后近期死亡和严重并发症

目的了解肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤患者术后近期病死率和并发症发生率,并分析其原因. 方法选择自1988年1月～200 0年12月,在我院行手术治疗的肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤186例,统计术后近期病死率和并发症发生率,分析术前心、肺、肾功能,年龄和手术因素与严重并发症和死亡的关系. 结果择期手术术后近期病死率5.0%,动脉瘤破裂急诊手术57.1 %.择期手术术后近期严重并发症发生率18.4%,其中心血管并发症10.6%,呼吸道并发症1 1.2%,急性肾功能衰竭2.8%,脑血管意外1.1%,肝功能损害1.1%.心血管并发症与术前冠心病明显相关(χ2=19.737,P＜0.01)而与高血压无关(χ2=1.870,P ＞0.05).术前肺功能异常、吸烟史和血氧分压＜80 mmHg与肺部感染有关(χ2=4. 051、5.885和5.162,P＜0.05)而与成人呼吸窘迫综合征无关(χ2=0.127、0 .916和1.067,P＞0.05).术前肾功能状况与急性肾功能衰竭无关(χ2=0.404 ,P＞0.05).70岁以上或手术时间超过5 h,术后严重并发症(χ2=16.119和10 .163,P＜0.01)和死亡(χ2=7.045和12.145,P＜0.01)的发生率明显增加. 结论多系统器官功能衰竭是导致腹主动脉瘤术后近期死亡的主要原因.术后严重并发症以心肺疾病居多.术前心、肺功能,年龄和手术因素与术后严重并发症和死亡密切相关.     

Early complications and endoleaks after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: Report of a multicenter study

Objective: The aim of this study was the identification of risk factors for adverse events and the assessment of the early success rate in 1554 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) who underwent treatment with endovascular technique between January 1994 and March 1999. For this purpose, the clinical and procedural data were correlated with observed complications and endoleaks. Methods: The data were collected from 56 European centers and submitted to a central registry. Patient characteristics, aortoiliac anatomic features, operative technical details, types of devices used, and experience of the teams of physicians were correlated with the occurrence of complications and endoleaks. The technical success rate was assessed according to the Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, North American Chapter, guidelines. For the assessment of correlations between risk factors and adverse events, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. Results: The operative complications were grouped into three categories: failure to complete the procedure (39 patients, of which 27 underwent a conversion to an open AAA repair; 2.5%); device-related or procedure-related complications (149 patients; 10%); and arterial complications (51 patients; 3%). The most important risk factors for failure to complete the procedure included an aneurysm diameter of 60 mm or more and the need for adjuvant procedures. The factors that predicted device-related and arterial complications were the experience of the team with endovascular AAA treatment and the need for adjuvant procedures. Forty patients (2.6%) died within 30 days after operation. American Society of Anesthesiologists III and IV operative risk classification results predicted higher mortality rates than did American Society of Anesthesiologists operative risk classification I and II results. The patients who underwent operation in 1994, the first year documented in this registry, and those who required adjuvant procedures also had an increased risk of perioperative death. The incidence rate of systemic complications within the first 30 days (279 patients; 18%) was higher in patients aged 75 years or more, in patients with an impaired cardiac status, and in patients considered unfit for an open procedure. An endoleak was detected at the completion of the procedure in 16% of the cases and was still present after 1 month in 9%. The risk factors for primary endoleaks were female gender and age of 75 years and older. The observed technical success rate in this patient series was 72%. Conclusion: The learning curve of the doctors and the need for adjuvant procedures were independent risk factors of operative device-related and arterial complications. The importance of proper instruction during an institution's initial phase with this treatment is emphasized by these observations. Although the endovascular management of AAAs is less stressful than open surgery, systemic complications were still the most common adverse events during the first postoperative month. These complications were associated with several patient-related factors, including advanced age, impaired cardiac status, and poor general medical condition. These observations may be a guide for improved patient selection for endovascular AAA repair. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:134-46.)     

Biocompatibility analysis of the Sundt-Kees booster clip and the Drake aneurysm clip. Technical note

A combination of the Sundt-Kees reinforcing aneurysm clip applied to a Drake aneurysm clip in a piggyback fashion was studied for possible defects due to corrosion and or tissue toxicity. These two clips, which are made of similar metal (301 stainless steel), showed little or no defects when immersed in 5% saline or when implanted in rats for 6 months. This study demonstrates that clips made of similar metals can be used piggyback in patients without ill effects provided that they are carefully handled to avoid any abrasion or misbends which could conceivably lead to corrosion.     

Intermediate outcomes after transcorporal placement of an artificial urinary sphincter

Objectives: To report the intermediate outcomes of a transcorporally placed artificial urinary sphincter. Methods: Medical records of 16 consecutive patients treated with transcorporal placement of artificial urinary sphincter from March 2003 to October 2008 were reviewed. The indications for surgery, operative logs, postoperative evaluations, complication rate and postoperative questionnaire assessment utilizing the International Continence Society short form for men were analyzed. Results: Eight patients each underwent primary transcorporal cuff placement and revision surgery. Complete data for analysis were available in 15 patients at a median follow up of 45 months (range 23?91 months). The success rate (defined as use of 0–1 pads per day) was 80% (12/15 patients). Average voiding score was 2/20 (standard deviation 1.88), average irritative score was 3/24 (standard deviation 4.92) and the mean Quality‐of‐Life score was 0.66 (standard deviation 1.04). Conclusions: Transcorporal placement of an artificial urinary sphincter is both safe and efficacious in patients with a small caliber or atrophic urethra, either as a primary or salvage procedure. Efficacy and level of satisfaction in this subset of patients is equivalent to those undergoing traditional artificial urinary sphincter cuff placement.     

Migration of an aneurysm clip to the sacral subarachnoid space

Case report  A 33-year-old woman was admitted for evaluation of vertigo. An unruptured fusiform aneurysm of left distal posterior inferior cerebellar artery was found and presumed to be the cause of her vertigo. The aneurysm was clipped using three clips and then the vertigo was relieved. However, she developed low back pain 53 months after the operation. On plain radiographic examination, a right-angled clip was found at the sacral level. Cerebral angiography revealed two clips remaining at the previous location and previous aneurysm was no longer visualized. Her symptom of back pain was resolved spontaneously over 2 weeks, and she is doing well without any particular inconvenience for following 72 months. Discussion  Clip loosening and migration is an extremely rare event in aneurysm surgery. If the aneurysm is secured and symptoms related to a migrated clip is resolved, the removal of one does not seem to be mandatory.     

Early revision rotator cuff repair: an analysis of outcomes and function

Purpose

Rotator cuff repair (RCR) is commonly performed and can have good functional outcomes. However, failure of RCR surgery can be challenging for both patient and surgeon alike. This study examines the outcomes of early revision RCR for the management of clinically failed RCRs.

Methods

Thirty-six patients undergoing revision RCR within 1 year of primary surgery were evaluated. Range of motion (ROM) and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) were assessed at baseline, post-primary RCR, and post-revision RCR.

Results

Patients with a documented repair failure after primary RCR failed to improve in both ROM and PROMs compared to before primary RCR. Following early revision, RCR SANE (p = 0.024, p < 0.001), ASES (p = 0.004, p < 0.001), and SST (p < 0.001, p = 0.001) scores improved significantly compared to pre-primary and pre-revision scores, respectively. Documentation of a new traumatic injury did not affect clinical or functional outcomes compared to atraumatic re-tears. Number of tendons torn was positively correlated with higher SANE scores (r = 0.638, p = 0.008) and negatively correlated with SST score (r = −0.475, p = 0.03) and improvement in forward elevation (r = −0.368, p = 0.03) after primary RCR. There were significant correlations between number of tendons torn and improvement in SANE (r = 0.664, p = 0.007) and ASES scores (r = 0.468, p = 0.043) from post-primary RCR to post-revision RCR.

Conclusion

Early revision after failed RCR can lead to clinically significant improvement in functional outcomes. The presence of a traumatic re-injury does not appear to affect revision RCR outcomes as it does in the primary setting. Patients with early clinical failures of primary RCR may benefit from early revision RCR.

Level of evidence: III

Retrospective Case Series.

     

Propensity score analysis in observational studies: outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

OBJECTIVE: Large databases composed of well-designed prospectively collected cohort data provide an opportunity to examine and compare healthcare treatments in actual clinical practice settings. Because the analysis of these data often leads to a retrospective cohort design, it is essential to adequately adjust for lack of balance in patient characteristics when making treatment comparisons. We used matched propensity scoring in a cohort of patients undergoing elective aneurysm repair as an illustrative example of this important statistical method that adjusts for baseline characteristics and selection bias by matching covariables. METHODS: By using prospectively collected clinical data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, we studied 30-day mortality, 1-year survival, and postoperative complications in 1904 patients who underwent elective AAA repair (endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR], n=717 (37.7%); open aneurysm repair, n=1187 [62.3%]) at 123 Veterans Health Administration's hospitals between May 1, 2001, and September 30, 2003. In bivariate analysis, patient characteristics and operative and hospital variables were associated with both type of surgery and outcomes of surgery. Therefore, the predicted probability of receiving EVAR was tabulated for all patients by using multiple logistic regression to control for 32 independent demographic and clinical characteristics and then stratified into 5 groups. Patients were matched within strata based on similar levels of the independent measures (a propensity score technique), creating a pseudo-randomized control design. The proportion of patients with the morbidity and mortality outcomes was then compared between the EVAR and open procedures within strata to control for selection. RESULTS: Patients undergoing EVAR had significantly lower unadjusted 30-day (3.1% versus 5.6%, P=.01) and 1-year mortality (8.7% versus 12.1%, P=.018) than patients undergoing open repair. By using propensity scoring, the proportions of EVAR patients experiencing 30-day mortality were equal or less than patients undergoing open procedures for all levels of probability and decreased as the probability of EVAR increased. Furthermore, propensity scoring also showed that patients having EVAR had lower 1-year mortality and experienced fewer perioperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: We used a propensity score approach to examine outcomes after elective AAA repair to statistically control for many factors affecting both treatment selection and outcome. Patients who underwent elective EVAR had substantially lower perioperative mortality and morbidity rates compared with patients having open repair, which was not explained solely by patient selection in an observational dataset.     

Revisit of aneurysm clip closing forces: comparison of titanium versus cobalt alloy clip

Although closing force of cobalt alloy clip is well studied, there is only little information of titanium alloy clip available in the literature. In the present study, we examined and compared closing forces of various types and points of cerebral titanium and cobalt aneurysm clips for cerebral aneurysms. Straight, temporary, bayonet, angled, and fenestrated titanium or cobalt alloy clips were tested by measuring the closing forces at various points along their blade length. Closing forces of all the tested clips linearly increased from tip to base of clip blades. Sugita Titanium II clips had bigger closing forces than Elgiloy clips in all type clips except for the temporary clips. The closing forces of Sugita Titanium II and Yasargil titanium clips were similar in straight permanent type clip although there were some differences in closing forces between other types of Sugita and Yasargil clips. Our data showed that the closing forces differed depending not only on manufacturers but also on materials and shapes.     

Early versus Late acute graft pyelonephritis: A retrospective analysis of graft and patient outcomes

BackgroundAcute graft pyelonephritis (AGPN) is thought to affect graft and patient survival among renal transplant recipients. The objective was to compare outcomes among early AGPN (< 6 months from transplant) versus late AGPN (> 6 months from transplant).MethodsThis retrospective study analyzed 150 patients with AGPN dividing them into early and late AGPN from 2008 to 2016. Predictors of graft loss and mortality were compared using logistic regression analysis. Graft survival and patient survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meyer survival plots.Results55.3% (n = 83) had early AGPN and 44.7% (n = 67) had late AGPN. In early AGPN group, 13.3% had CMV disease on follow up compared to 3% in late AGPN group (p < 0.05). 26.5% had history of prolonged Foley's catheterization (> 5 days), 38.6% had prolonged DJ stent in-situ (> 2 weeks) following transplant surgery in the early AGPN compared to 7.5% and 19.4% respectively in the late AGPN group (p < 0.05). Recurrent GPN was more common in the late AGPN group – (35.8% versus 18.1%). Presence of renal abscess was predictive of graft loss in Univariate analysis (HR-6.12, p < 0.004). There was decreased death censored graft survival in the early AGPN group (p-0.035) with no significant difference in patient survival among the two groups.ConclusionOccurrence of early AGPN had a significant impact on long term graft survival in renal transplant recipients with no significant effect on patient survival. This study underlines the paramount importance of the prevention of UTIs in renal transplant recipients.     

Early complications following abdominoplasty: towards better patient selection

Summary A retrospective review of 76 abdominoplasty procedures, carried out over a period of 32 months, using the Regnault W technique, is presented. Early postoperative complications and possible predisposing factors were evaluated. The overall complication rate was 11%. Skin necrosis occurred in 8% of cases and was the most frequent complication. Heavy growth of a pathogenic organism was found at all sites of skin necrosis, and Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest pathogen. A higher incidence of complications was recorded in patients who were above ideal weight, or had concurrent disease. In contrast with previous studies, there was little difference in complication rate between smokers and non-smokers.Institution to which work should be attributed: Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit, Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital, Stadium Road, Woolwich, London, England