Is routine extubation overnight safe in cardiac surgery patients?

Objectives

Expedient extubation after cardiac surgery has been associated with improved outcomes, leading to postoperative extubation frequently during overnight hours. However, recent evidence in a mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit population demonstrated worse outcomes with overnight extubation. This study investigated the impact of overnight extubation in a statewide, multicenter Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

眼睑分裂痣的手术整形研究

目的：探究眼睑分裂痣的不同手术方法和治疗效果。方法随机选取该院在2014年1月—2015年12月收治的60例需要进行眼睑分裂痣手术治疗的患者作为观察对象,将其按照抽签法随机分为A组(n=20)、B组(n=20)和C组(n=20),A组患者采用全厚皮片移植术；B组患者采用转移或推进皮瓣术；C组患者采用皮片移植+皮瓣转移术。首先对3组患者的治疗效果进行观察,然后比较3组患者在治疗后的不良反应发生情况,对比不良反应的发生率。结果3组患者的治疗效果均较好,所有患者的上伤口在1期即全部愈合,未出现明显的睑缘切痕；A组患者中,出现不良反应的患者有1例,占5.0%。B组中,无患者出现不良反应,不良反应发生率为0.0%。C组中,出现不良反应的患者有1例,占5.0%。3组患者之间差异无统计学意义(P﹥0.05)。结论治疗眼睑分裂痣的方法较多,全厚皮片移植术、转移或推进皮瓣术以及皮片移植+皮瓣转移术均有较好的效果,患者无明显的不良反应,并且痊愈的效果较好,手术的操作也较为简便易行,具有较高的安全性和可行性,值得临床推广。     

Contemporary bone loss options: Rebuild,reinforce, and augment

Bone loss is commonly encountered during revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Small defects can be adequately managed with cement filling (with or without screws), modular prosthetic augments, and morselized allograft. For larger defects, cancellous impaction grafting and structural allografts have traditionally been utilized. More recently, highly porous tantalum cones and titanium sleeves have been designed to achieve axial and rotational stability in the metaphysis and subsequent biologic fixation. Sleeves are linked to one type of prosthesis, whereas cones are unlinked and can be used with any implant design. Multiple studies have demonstrated excellent survivorship and radiographic osseointegration at mid-term follow-up. This article provides a review of contemporary methods of bone loss management with a focus on highly porous metals and an emphasis on the authors’ preferred method for managing the severe bone loss in revision TKA.     

Outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with heart failure with a midrange ejection fraction

BackgroundCoronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) improves survival in patients with heart failure and severely reduced left ventricular systolic function (LVEF). Limited data exist regarding adverse cardiovascular event rates after CABG in patients with heart failure with midrange ejection fraction (HFmrEF; LVEF > 40% and < 55%).MethodsWe analyzed data on isolated CABG patients from the Veterans Affairs national database (2010-2019). We stratified patients into control (normal LVEF and no heart failure), HFmrEF, and heart failure with reduced LVEF (HFrEF) groups. We compared all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization rates between groups with a Cox model and recurrent events analysis, respectively.ResultsIn 6533 veterans, HFmrEF and HFrEF was present in 1715 (26.3%) and 566 (8.6%) respectively; the control group had 4252 (65.1%) patients. HFrEF patients were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (59%), insulin therapy (36%), and previous myocardial infarction (31%). Anemia was more prevalent in patients with HFrEF (49%) as was a lower serum albumin (mean, 3.6 mg/dL). Compared with the control group, a higher risk of death was observed in the HFmrEF (hazard ratio [HR], 1.3 [1.2-1.5)] and HFrEF (HR, 1.5 [1.2-1.7]) groups. HFmrEF patients had the higher risk of myocardial infarction (subdistribution HR, 1.2 [1-1.6]; P = .04). Risk of heart failure hospitalization was higher in patients with HFmrEF (HR, 4.1 [3.5-4.7]) and patients with HFrEF (HR, 7.2 [6.2-8.5]).ConclusionsHeart failure with midrange ejection fraction negatively affects survival after CABG. These patients also experience higher rates myocardial infarction and heart failure hospitalization.     

Principles of pressure transducer function and sources of error in clinical use

The invasive measurement of physiological pressures is a common requirement in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. From arterial blood pressure to intracranial pressure, these calculated variables give a swift graphical and numerical representation of a patient's current physiological status. This allows us to respond rapidly to conditions outside our preferred parameters and to carefully titrate treatment to target effects. These systems are, however, not infallible. An understanding of the principles of their function will promote appropriate use and an ability to recognize and react to sources of error. This article aims to furnish the reader with this level of understanding in order to inform their academic and clinical practice.     

Peyronie’s disease: Contemporary evaluation and management

Peyronie’s disease is a common yet poorly understood condition characterized by penile pain, curvature, sexual dysfunction and psychological bother. Peyronie’s disease represents a penile wound healing disorder, and is thought to arise from exuberant scarring in response to penile trauma in genetically predisposed men. In the absence of active treatment, the majority of men experience stable or worsening symptoms, with few reporting spontaneous resolution in penile curvature or other deformity. In contrast, penile pain improves or resolves in the majority of men. Treatment options vary based on symptom severity and stability. Several oral therapies are commonly prescribed, although to date there are no strong data to support any oral agents as monotherapy for Peyronie’s disease. Other options including penile traction therapy and intralesional injections result in modest improvements for many patients, particularly when used early after symptom onset. Penile straightening through approaches, such as penile plication and plaque incision or partial excision and grafting, represent the most rapid and reliable approach to correct penile curvature once the symptoms have stabilized. Side-effects vary based on the type of surgery carried out, and include penile shortening, sensation changes and erectile dysfunction in the minority of men. In patients with drug refractory erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease, placement of a penile prosthesis will address both issues, and is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction. The current review provides a practical approach to the modern evaluation and management of patients presenting with Peyronie’s disease.     

Stage 1 acute kidney injury is independently associated with infection following cardiac surgery

ObjectivesSevere acute kidney injury (AKI) is a known risk factor for infection and mortality. However, whether stage 1 AKI is a risk factor for infection has not been evaluated in adults. We hypothesized that stage 1 AKI following cardiac surgery would independently associate with infection and mortality.MethodsIn this retrospective propensity score–matched study, we evaluated 1620 adult patients who underwent nonemergent cardiac surgery at the University of Colorado Hospital from 2011 to 2017. Patients who developed stage 1 AKI by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes creatinine criteria within 72 hours of surgery were matched to patients who did not develop AKI. The primary outcome was an infection, defined as a new surgical-site infection, positive blood or urine culture, or development of pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, stroke, and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS).ResultsStage 1 AKI occurred in 293 patients (18.3%). Infection occurred in 20.9% of patients with stage 1 AKI compared with 8.1% in the no-AKI group (P < .001). In propensity-score matched analysis, stage 1 AKI independently associated with increased infection (odds ratio [OR]; 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-3.17), ICU LOS (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.71–3.31), and hospital LOS (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.17-1.45).ConclusionsStage 1 AKI is independently associated with postoperative infection, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS. Treatment strategies focused on prevention, early recognition, and optimal medical management of AKI may decrease significant postoperative morbidity.