Development and validation of a multivariable prediction model in pediatric liver transplant patients for predicting intensive care unit length of stay

Background

Liver transplantation is the life-saving treatment for many end-stage pediatric liver diseases. The perioperative course, including surgical and anesthetic factors, have an important influence on the trajectory of this high-risk population. Given the complexity and variability of the immediate postoperative course, there would be utility in identifying risk factors that allow prediction of adverse outcomes and intensive care unit trajectories.

Aims

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a risk prediction model of prolonged intensive care unit length of stay in the pediatric liver transplant population.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of consecutive pediatric isolated liver transplant recipients at a single institution between April 1, 2013 and April 30, 2020. All patients under the age of 18 years receiving a liver transplant were included in the study (n = 186). The primary outcome was intensive care unit length of stay greater than 7 days.

Results

Recipient and donor characteristics were used to develop a multivariable logistic regression model. A total of 186 patients were included in the study. Using multivariable logistic regression, we found that age < 12 months (odds ratio 4.02, 95% confidence interval 1.20–13.51, p = .024), metabolic or cholestatic disease (odds ratio 2.66, 95% confidence interval 1.01–7.07, p = .049), 30-day pretransplant hospital admission (odds ratio 8.59, 95% confidence interval 2.27–32.54, p = .002), intraoperative red blood cells transfusion >40 mL/kg (odds ratio 3.32, 95% confidence interval 1.12–9.81, p = .030), posttransplant return to the operating room (odds ratio 11.45, 95% confidence interval 3.04–43.16, p = .004), and major postoperative respiratory event (odds ratio 32.14, 95% confidence interval 3.00–343.90, p < .001) were associated with prolonged intensive care unit length of stay. The model demonstrates a good discriminative ability with an area under the receiver operative curve of 0.888 (95% confidence interval, 0.824–0.951).

Conclusions

We develop and validate a model to predict prolonged intensive care unit length of stay in pediatric liver transplant patients using risk factors from all phases of the perioperative period.     

Awake Craniotomy for Tumour Excision

Background

Craniotomy and excision of tumours can produce neurological deficits if the tumour is located close to eloquent areas of the brain. One technique of overcoming this problem is to keep the patient ‘awake’ during surgery.

Methods

Eight patients with intra cranial space occupying lesions (ICSOL) were operated ‘awake’, using a combination of skull block with sedation and analgesia. A mixture of 0.125% bupivacaine and 0.5% lignocaine was used for various nerve and field blocks. Midazolam, fentanyl and propofol in titrated doses were used to achieve conscious sedation.

Result

The procedure was successful in all the patients. They tolerated the procedure well and were able to follow the commands intraoperatively as desired. There were no significant complications.

Conclusion

Awake craniotomy with skull blocks with sedation and analgesia is a well established procedure. It requires a good rapport between surgeon, anaesthesiologist and the patient.Key Words: Awake craniotomy, Skull block, Sedation, Analgesia     

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胆道系统恶性肿瘤包括胆管癌和胆囊癌 ,前者主要指原发于肝内、肝门部和远端肝外胆管的恶性肿瘤。至今胆系肿瘤仍依ＴＮＭ分类法分为 0～Ⅳ期。 0期 :为原位癌 ;Ⅰ期 :肿瘤局限于粘膜层、肌层 ;Ⅱ期 :出现局部浸润 ;Ⅲ期 :在Ⅰ或Ⅱ期基础上肿瘤累及邻近组织或肝十二指肠韧带上淋巴结 ;Ⅳ期 :出现肝脏等器官受累或远处转移或出现以下之一区域的淋巴结转移 ,如胰周、十二指肠周、肝门周、腹腔及肠系膜。1　诊断胆系恶性肿瘤的诊断 ,主要依靠临床表现、实验室检查以及影象学检查。临床表现特异性不强 ,其中最基本的表现为胆道梗阻症状 ,同时可…     

Reduction of sound levels with antinoise in MR imaging

A combination of active and passive techniques was used to reduce the sound levels in magnetic resonance imagers. These techniques were integrated into an existing audio system. Measurements of sound reduction varied with the protocol being used and averaged 9.9 dB with coaxial cabling and 14.2 dB with fiberoptic conduction of the feedback signal to a controller. Patient comfort and communication were improved.     

Anthropomorphic radiologic phantoms

A technique is being developed for the design and fabrication of anthropomorphic phantoms for diagnostic x-ray imaging. Anatomic information extracted from actual patient radiographs is incorporated into the phantoms using computer image processing and computer-assisted machining methods. In this paper, the technique is described as applied to a breast phantom, and preliminary images that closely mimic human anatomy on radiographs are shown.     

High mobility group proteins 1 and 2 recognize chromium-damaged DNA

Chromium (Cr) is a human carcinogen and a potent DNA damaging agent. Incubation of DNA with CrCl3 resulted in dose-dependent binding of Cr to DNA and, at concentrations >20 microM, altered the electrophoretic mobility of a 100 bp oligonucleotide. We also demonstrate that high mobility group (HMG) proteins 1 and 2 bind Cr-damaged DNA (Cr-DNA). Protein binding was lesion density-dependent, with maximal binding to DNA treated with 100 microM CrCl3. HMG2 binds to Cr-DNA with a calculated Kd of approximately 10(-9) M. These proteins also bound DNA obtained from chromate-treated cells. These results suggest that the covalent attachment of Cr to DNA induces alterations in DNA structure which are recognized by HMG1 and HMG2. Therefore, these proteins may function as Cr-damaged DNA recognition proteins in vivo and as a consequence of binding, may play a role in directing the cellular response to Cr-DNA adduct formation.      

Paediatric cardiac catheterization: innovations

In recent years interventional procedures have been introduced to the field of paediatric cardiac catheterization. These procedures continue to develop in complexity and increasingly are being applied to patients with reduced cardiovascular reserve, as an alternative to cardiac surgery or when cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is contraindicated. More frequently anaesthetists are being called upon to provide support in sedating, anaesthetizing or/and resuscitating these patients. The purpose of this review is to give a comprehensive update of the interventional procedures and to review the anaesthetic management techniques as they apply to the catheterization laboratory. We will discuss possible complications and management strategies from our own experience and the experience of others. We have observed that as more complicated procedures are performed the anaesthetist plays a pivotal role in the management of the patient from arrival to departure from the cardiac catheterization laboratory, and in preventing mortality and major morbidity. Although the economic consequences of interventional cardiological techniques remain unclear, the field continues to expand and more complex procedures are continually being introduced.