Predictive factors for critical care dependency after posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Aims: Historically, patients undergoing surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) have been nursed postoperatively in a critical care (CC) setting because of the challenges posed by prone positioning, extensive exposures, prolonged operating times, significant blood loss, major intraoperative fluid shifts, cardiopulmonary complications, and difficulty in postoperative pain management. The primary aim of this paper was to determine whether a scoring system, which uses Cobb angle, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and number of levels to be fused, is a valid method of predicting the need for postoperative critical care in AIS patients who are to undergo scoliosis correction with posterior spinal fusion (PSF). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all AIS patients who had undergone PSF between January 2018 and January 2020 in a specialist tertiary spinal referral centre. All patients were assessed preoperatively in an anaesthetic clinic. Postoperative care was defined as ward-based (WB) or critical care (CC), based on the preoperative FEV1, FVC, major curve Cobb angle, and the planned number of instrumented levels. Results: Overall, 105 patients were enrolled. Their mean age was 15.5 years (11 to 25) with a mean weight of 55 kg (35 to 103). The mean Cobb angle was 68° (38° to 122°). Of these, 38 patients were preoperatively scored to receive postoperative CC. However, only 19% of the cohort (20/105) actually needed CC-level support. Based on these figures, and an average paediatric intensive care unit stay of one day before stepdown to ward-based care, the potential cost-saving on the first postoperative night for this cohort was over £20,000. There was no statistically significant difference between the Total Pathway Score (TPS), the numerical representation of the four factors being assessed, and the actual level of care received (p = 0.052) or the American Society of Anesthesiologists grade (p = 0.187). Binary logistic regression analysis of the TPS variables showed that the preoperative Cobb angle was the only variable which significantly predicted the need for critical care. Conclusion: Most patients undergoing posterior fusion surgery for AIS do not need critical care. Of the readily available preoperative measures, the Cobb angle is the only predictor of the need for higher levels of care, and has a threshold value of 74.5°.

Venous thromboembolic events in hand surgery.

The risks of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following total hip and knee arthroplasty have been widely published. Our aim was to investigate the recorded incidence of VTE events at the time of elective and trauma hand surgery. The UK National Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data linking VTE events with hand surgery for the financial years 2010-2012 were analysed. The local VTE rates following hand surgical procedures were also analysed. Finally, a cost assessment of VTE thromboprophylaxis was performed according to the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) guidelines. 334,211 hand surgical procedures were performed throughout England of which there were 13 DVT and 27 PE events. These events were seen in patients with pre-existing comorbidities. The annual incidence of VTE is 0.006% at most in hand surgical patients in England. The cost of implementing mechanical VTE thromboprophylaxis to all patients having hand surgery would amount to £6,336,641 over 2 years. The cost of treatment for all VTE events would amount to £20,418. VTE prophylaxis is probably not necessary in patients undergoing isolated elective or trauma hand surgical procedures.