Mortality rates in geriatric patients with spinal cord injuries

OBJECT: The authors undertook this study to evaluate the incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) in geriatric patients (> or = 70 years of age) and examine the impact of patient age, extent of neurological injury, and spinal level of injury on the mortality rate associated with traumatic SCI. METHODS: A prospectively maintained SCI database (3481 patients) at a single institution was retrospectively studied for the period from 1978 through 2005. Parameters analyzed included patient age, admission American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score, level of SCI, mechanism of injury, and mortality data. The data pertaining to the 412 patients 70 years of age and older were compared with those pertaining to the younger cohort using a chi-square analysis. RESULTS: Since 1980, the number of SCI-related hospital admissions per year have increased fivefold in geriatric patients and the percentage of geriatric patients within the SCI population has increased from 4.2 to 15.4%. In comparison with younger patients, geriatric patients were found to be less likely to have severe neurological deficits (greater percentage of ASIA Grades C and D injuries), but the mortality rates were higher in the older age group both for the period of hospitalization (27.7% compared with 3.2%, p < 0.001) and during 1-year follow-up. The mortality rates in this older population directly correlate with the severity of neurological injury (1-year mortality rate, ASIA Grade A 66%, Grade D 23%, p < 0.001). The mortality rate in elderly patients with SCI has not changed significantly over the last two decades, and the 1-year mortality rate was greater than 40% in all periods analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal cord injuries in older patients are becoming more prevalent. The mortality rate in this patient group is much greater than in younger patients and should be taken into account when aggressive interventions are considered and in counseling families regarding prognosis.     

Treatment of an infected total hip replacement with the PROSTALAC system: Part 1: Infection resolution

INTRODUCTION: Infection after total hip replacement (THR) is a serious medical complication with significant negative ramifications for both the patient and the health care system. The prosthesis of antibiotic-loaded acrylic cement (PROSTALAC) was designed to treat the joint infection while maintaining functional movement in the hip. METHODS: We identified 28 patients treated for infected THR with the PROSTALAC system, by retrospective chart review. Preoperative and intraoperative cultures were taken to identify the causative organism. After PROSTALAC insertion, patients underwent at least 6 weeks of intravenous (IV) antibiotics. Prior to undergoing posttreatment cultures, patients were required to be antibiotic-free for a minimum of 6 weeks, with normal laboratory values. We defined resolution infection as retention of a joint prosthesis for a minimum of 2 years. RESULTS: Infection was identified in 28 patients in either the joint aspirate or intraoperative cultures. Of these patients, 2 failed to clear infection, requiring repeat PROSTALAC insertion. Two additional patients had positive 48-hour cultures post-second stage, treated with additional IV antibiotics. Retention of the post-PROSTALAC prosthesis is 100% at 2 years. CONCLUSION: PROSTALAC has acceptable infection resolution outcomes and appears effective for treating infected THR.     

The value of urgent carotid surgery for crescendo transient ischemic attacks

OBJECTIVE: This study audited operative risk in patients undergoing urgent carotid surgery for crescendo transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). METHODS: Interrogation of the vascular unit database (January 1992 to July 2004) identified 42 patients operated on urgently for crescendo TIAs, which were defined as>or=3 TIAs within the preceding 7 days. Stroke, death, and any major cardiac events were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients underwent conventional endarterectomy, and three underwent interposition vein bypass. Crescendo TIA patients had sustained a median of five TIAs (range, 3 to 20) in the 7 days before surgery. Three patients died or had a stroke after surgery, for a combined stroke/death rate of 7%. This compares with 2.4% in 1000 patients undergoing elective carotid endarterectomy in this unit during the same time period. The combined stroke/death/major cardiac event rate was 14% (n=6). CONCLUSIONS: The combined risk of neurologic and cardiac complications after urgent carotid surgery for crescendo TIA is higher than that expected after elective cases but is still acceptable considering the natural history of patients with unstable neurologic symptoms.     

Inter-Rater Reliability of the PIPES Tool: Validation of a Surgical Capacity Index for Use in Resource-Limited Settings

Introduction

In response to the need for simple, rapid means of quantifying surgical capacity in low resource settings, Surgeons OverSeas (SOS) developed the personnel, infrastructure, procedures, equipment and supplies (PIPES) tool. The present investigation assessed the inter-rater reliability of the PIPES tool.

Methods

As part of a government assessment of surgical services in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, the PIPES tool was translated into Spanish and applied in interviews with physicians at 31 public hospitals. An additional interview was conducted with nurses at a convenience sample of 25 of these hospitals. Physician and nurse responses were then compared to generate an estimate of reliability. For dichotomous survey items, inter-rater reliability between physicians and nurses was assessed using the Cohen’s kappa statistic and percent agreement. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess agreement for continuous items.

Results

Cohen’s kappa was 0.46 for infrastructure, 0.43 for procedures, 0.26 for equipment, and 0 for supplies sections. The median correlation coefficient was 0.91 for continuous items. Correlation was 0.79 for the PIPES index, and ranged from 0.32 to 0.98 for continuous response items.

Conclusions

Reliability of the PIPES tool was moderate for the infrastructure and procedures sections, fair for the equipment section, and poor for supplies section when comparing surgeons’ responses to nurses’ responses—an extremely rigorous test of reliability. These results indicate that the PIPES tool is an effective measure of surgical capacity but that the equipment and supplies sections may need to be revised.     

Neurostimulation systems for deep brain stimulation: in vitro evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging-related heating at 1.5 tesla

PURPOSE: To assess magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-related heating for a neurostimulation system (Activa Tremor Control System, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) used for chronic deep brain stimulation (DBS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Different configurations were evaluated for bilateral neurostimulators (Soletra Model 7426), extensions, and leads to assess worst-case and clinically relevant positioning scenarios. In vitro testing was performed using a 1.5-T/64-MHz MR system and a gel-filled phantom designed to approximate the head and upper torso of a human subject. MRI was conducted using the transmit/receive body and transmit/receive head radio frequency (RF) coils. Various levels of RF energy were applied with the transmit/receive body (whole-body averaged specific absorption rate (SAR); range, 0.98-3.90 W/kg) and transmit/receive head (whole-body averaged SAR; range, 0.07-0.24 W/kg) coils. A fluoroptic thermometry system was used to record temperatures at multiple locations before (1 minute) and during (15 minutes) MRI. RESULTS: Using the body RF coil, the highest temperature changes ranged from 2.5 degrees-25.3 degrees C. Using the head RF coil, the highest temperature changes ranged from 2.3 degrees-7.1 degrees C.Thus, these findings indicated that substantial heating occurs under certain conditions, while others produce relatively minor, physiologically inconsequential temperature increases. CONCLUSION: The temperature increases were dependent on the type of RF coil, level of SAR used, and how the lead wires were positioned. Notably, the use of clinically relevant positioning techniques for the neurostimulation system and low SARs commonly used for imaging the brain generated little heating. Based on this information, MR safety guidelines are provided. These observations are restricted to the tested neurostimulation system.     

Human erythrocyte ghosts: exploring the origins of multiexponential water diffusion in a model biological tissue with magnetic resonance.

A tissue model composed of erythrocyte ghosts was developed to study the effects of compartmentation on the MR signal acquired from biological tissues. This simple and flexible model offers control over the biophysical parameters that contribute to multicomponent signals arising from cellular systems. Cell density, size, intra- and extracellular composition, and membrane permeability can be independently altered. The effects of cell density and cell size on water diffusion properties were assessed. The data demonstrate non-monoexponential water diffusion in ghost cell suspensions of 17-67% cell density. Data were analysed with the widely employed two-compartment (biexponential) model, and with a two-compartment model that accounted for exchange between compartments. Water exchange between the intra- and extracellular compartments appeared to be significant over the range of diffusion times studied (7-35 ms). The biexponential fit to the ghost data appeared to be underparameterised as the ADCs and relative fractions of the fast and slow components were dependent on the experimental acquisition parameters, specifically the diffusion time. However, both analysis methods proved effective at tracking changes in the ghost model when it was perturbed. This was demonstrated with cell density variation, cell swelling and shrinkage experiments, and reduction of membrane water permeability using a water channel blocker (pCMBS). We anticipate that this model system could be used to investigate compartmental diffusion effects to simulate a range of pathologies, especially ischemic stroke.     

Biomechanical study of 4-hole pubic symphyseal plating: locked versus unlocked constructs

To the authors' knowledge, no published studies have examined the use of locking plates on injuries of the anterior pelvic ring. The purpose of this study was to determine whether locked plates provide enhanced stability in the treatment of pubic symphyseal disruptions. Completely unstable pelvic injuries were simulated in pelvic Sawbones (model 1301; Pacific Research Laboratories, Vashon, Washington) and 2 different fixation constructs used for anterior fixation (4-hole, 3.5-mm pubic symphysis plate with all locked or all unlocked screws). Adjunctive sacroiliac screw fixation with a single 7.3-mm screw placed into S1 was used in all specimens. Specimens were analyzed for motion at the pubic symphysis and sacroiliac joints using a Material Testing System (MTS Systems Corporation, Eden Prairie, Minnesota). Each specimen was subjected to compressive loading in a single-limb stance. Side loading was also examined. The main outcome measurement was motion at the pubic symphysis and sacroiliac joints and overall construct stiffness. No significant difference existed in overall construct stiffness between the 2 methods of pubic symphysis fixation. The motions at the pubic symphysis or injured sacroiliac joints were not significantly different. In addition, motion at the pubic symphysis joint with lateral load was not improved with a locking construct.No significant difference existed between 4-hole locked or unlocked constructs used for fixation of the pubic symphysis. No apparent advantage of locking screws exists for disruptions of the pubic symphysis, and recent reports have questioned the possibility of catastrophic failure.     

Traumatic central cord syndrome: neurologic recovery after surgical management

The purpose of this study was to evaluate neurologic recovery following an acute, traumatic central cord syndrome (TCCS) injury. We retrospectively reviewed 69 patients who were treated surgically following an acute TCCS injury. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor scores (AMS) were obtained from the time of presentation, from the time of hospital discharge, and from the most recent follow-up visit. The mean AMS was 63.2±25.8 at presentation and 89.9±14.6 at final follow-up (P<.001). Overall, 74% of the patients improved at least one ASIA impairment scale grade. Surgery was performed at a mean of 2.9 days (range, 0.25-24 days) following the injury using a posterior approach in 33 patients (48%), anterior approach in 22 patients (32%), and combined anterior-posterior approach in 14 patients (20%). Neither surgical timing nor approach appears to affect motor recovery. Adverse events were encountered in 24.6% of the patients. There were no deaths. A history of a loss of consciousness, decreased rectal tone at presentation, the presence of a fracture, the timing of surgery, and surgical approach did not have a significant impact on motor recovery.     

Institution of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation late after lung transplantation – a futile exercise?

The use of and indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are expanding as its reliability improves with widely varying results reported. A retrospective review of 24 lung transplant recipients who required ECMO support postoperatively was performed with 13 patients requiring ECMO within the first 48 h ("early" group) and 11 requiring ECMO after seven d postoperatively ("late" group). The majority of early ECMO group had primary graft failure patients and the late ECMO group comprised patients with infection or non-specific graft failure. There were significant differences in outcomes between groups, with 10/13 in the early group and 4/11 in the late group successfully weaned from ECMO (p = 0.045). Six of the 13 patients in the early group and none of the late group survived to hospital discharge (p = 0.009). The late ECMO group had a much higher incidence of death owing to complications existing prior to institution of ECMO (essentially uncontrolled infection or organ failure). There were no differences in complications arising during ECMO between groups. Late institution of ECMO in lung transplant recipients for causes other than primary graft failure is associated with such poor survival that its use should be considered only in very select cases.