Nonopioid analgesic use in older patients admitted for orthopedic rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Multimodal analgesia (MMA) combines opioids with nonopioid analgesics (NOAs) to mitigate opioid-related adverse events and development of opioid use disorders. Although MMA has become the standard for orthopedic perioperative pain management, guidance is less clear for the approximately 15% of patients who go on to require inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation (IOR) postoperatively. The IOR population tends to be older and frailer and hence likely more vulnerable to adverse events. Little research has been done to shed light on how NOAs are used in this population. OBJECTIVE: To characterize NOA prescribing in older versus younger adults during IOR admissions and to determine predictors of NOA prescribing in an older IOR population. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: Two IOR wards at an academic rehabilitation hospital in Toronto, Canada. PATIENTS: All patients aged ≥50 years admitted for an orthopedic indication between November 2019 and June 2021; the patients aged <65 group was included for comparative characterization of NOA prescribing versus older peers. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Medication use and adverse events, pain, and rehabilitation outcomes such as the Functional Independence Measure, discharge destination, and length of stay. RESULTS: A total of 643 patient encounters were included; 48.2% used NOA. Age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.97; confidence interval [CI]: 0.95-0.99, p < .001) and prior NOA use (OR: 3.15; CI: 2.0-4.9, p < .001) were associated with NOA prescribing. Other positively associated factors included body mass index, psychiatric history, elective surgery, and admission from a specific referring hospital. Adverse events between NOA users and nonusers were similar. CONCLUSIONS: NOA prescribing is heterogeneous and declines with age in IOR. This points to an opportunity to explore integrating NOA into opioid-sparing MMA protocols tailored to older IOR patients, along with further study of the safety and benefit of these regimens.

Opioid use in older orthopedic rehabilitation inpatients: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: While there is much evidence about pain management for orthopedic patients in the immediate perioperative setting, little is known about how opioids are used during inpatient rehabilitation, particularly in older adults. A safe upper limit of 50 mg oral morphine equivalents (OME) is frequently cited in guidelines. AIM: The aim of this study was to characterize the dosing of opioids in an older adult population undergoing inpatient orthopedic rehabilitation (IOR). DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Inpatient units at an academic rehabilitation hospital in Toronto, Canada. POPULATION: All adults aged ≥50 years old admitted for orthopedic rehabilitation between November 2019 and June 2021 following acute care admissions for either a surgical or non-surgical orthopedic indication. METHODS: Participants were divided into groups of prior opioids users, new opioids users, and opioid non-users during IOR. Demographic, clinical, and medication administration data were collected through the electronic health record and manual chart review. Average daily opioid dose for the first seven days of each stay was characterized using OME. Linear regression was used to assess for variables independently associated with opioid dose. RESULTS: A total of 643 patients undergoing orthopedic rehabilitation were included: 125 (19.4%) were prior opioid users, 416 (64.7%) were new opioid users, and 102 (15.9%) were non-users, with median age respectively of 72, 79, and 83. Median daily OME over the first week for prior users was 30.3 and for new users was 6.9. Opioid dose was inversely associated with age and admission for a non-surgical indication; it was positively associated with reported pain (as defined by day 3 pain score) and admission for knee replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Opioids are frequently but heterogeneously used in older adults undergoing IOR. Median OME use in this cohort of older adults was substantially lower than the 50 OME threshold suggested in guidelines, particularly for new opioid users. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Older adults require much lower opioid doses than younger patients. Pain management in older orthopedic rehabilitation inpatients is distinct from the perioperative setting and deserves tailored guidance, with a focus on using the lowest effective dose.

Efficiency in the Endoscopy Unit: Can We 'Turn Around' Room Turnover? An Observational Quality Improvement Study.

Background: Endoscopy units are being challenged to provide timely and quality care, despite limited resources and an ever-growing patient population. Decreasing procedure time is unlikely to create sufficient time savings and may compromise quality. Non-procedural factors, such as room turnover, are important contributors to efficiency and represent an ideal target for quality improvement efforts. Aims: The objective of this quality improvement study was to identify practices that will improve endoscopy unit efficiency at our centre. The specific aims were to (a) understand practices at local hospitals that contribute to room turnover efficiency and (b) examine the magnitude and sources of variation in room turnover efficiency across endoscopists and nurses at our centre. Methods: Interviews were conducted with team leads at five local hospitals. Routinely collected data from our centre were analyzed to understand the magnitude and variation in efficiency by provider and reasons for delays. Non-procedure time defined as 'patient 1 scope out' to 'patient 2 scope in' was our primary measure of efficiency. Results: Over the 12-month period, 750 outpatient procedures met inclusion criteria. Median non-procedure time was 19 min (interquartile range: 16-22 min). The variation attributable to endoscopists was 14.7% compared to 80.4% for unmeasured factors. Conclusions: The variation that remains unexplained by our model suggests that unmeasured factors play a substantial role in endoscopy unit efficiency and that our current endoscopy records are not capturing important contributors to efficiency. The next phase will involve focus groups and direct observation with the goal of identifying these unmeasured factors.

Impact of a nurse engagement intervention on pain, agitation and delirium assessment in a community intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: In 2013, the Society of Critical Care Medicine published a revised version of the ICU Pain, Agitation, and Delirium (PAD) guidelines. Immobility and sleep were subsequently added in 2018. Despite the well-established advantages of implementing these guidelines, adoption and adherence remain suboptimal. This is especially true in community settings, where PAD assessment is performed less often, and the implementation of PAD guidelines has not yet been studied. The purpose of this prospective interventional study is to evaluate the effect of a multifaceted nurse engagement intervention on PAD assessment in a community intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: All patients admitted to our community ICU for over 24 hours were included. A 20-week baseline audit was performed, followed by the intervention, and a 20-week postintervention audit. The intervention consisted of a survey, focus groups and education sessions. Primary outcomes included rates of daily PAD assessment using validated tools. RESULTS: There were improvements in the number of patients with at least one assessment per day of pain (67.5% vs 59.3%, p=0.04), agitation (93.1% vs 78.7%, p<0.001) and delirium (54.2% vs 39.4%, p<0.001), and the number of patients with target Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale ordered (63.1% vs 46.8%, p=0.002). There was a decrease in the rate of physical restraint use (10.0% vs 30.9%, p<0.001) and no change in self-extubation rate (0.9% vs 2.5%, p=0.2). CONCLUSION: The implementation of a multifaceted nurse engagement intervention has the potential to improve rates of PAD assessment in community ICUs. Screening rates in our ICU remain suboptimal despite these improvements. We plan to implement multidisciplinary interventions targeting physicians, nurses and families to close the observed care gap.

Changes in Volume and Density Parameters Measured on Computed Tomography Images Following Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy of Nonspine Bone Metastases.

INTRODUCTION: Volumetric and density parameters measured from computed tomography scans were investigated for evaluating treatment response of nonspine bone lesions following stereotactic body radiation therapy. METHODS: Twenty-three patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy to nonspine bone metastases with pre- and post-treatment radiological follow-up with computed tomography imaging were identified in a retrospective review. An expert radiologist classified 26 lesions by type (lytic, sclerotic) and by response. Two independent radiation oncologists created separate contours of the bone and soft tissue lesion volumes. Density and volume were assessed relative to baseline values. RESULTS: For bone-only lesions, all lesions designated as local control decreased in volume or remained within 20% of baseline volumes. Lytic lesions classified as progressive disease exhibited much larger volume increases. Lytic bone lesions showed indications of remineralization with some exhibiting immediate increases in density (1-6 months) and others decreasing initially then increasing back toward baseline between 7 and 12 months. The majority of sclerotic lesions, all classified as local control, decreased slightly in both volume and density. Lesions with both soft tissue and boney involvement resulted in contradictory results when employing both radiological and size parameters for assessing treatment response. Classification was dominated by changes in soft tissue volume, despite associated volume or density changes in the corresponding boney lesion. In contrast, when soft tissue volume changes were minimal (<20% increase), classification appeared to be related primarily to density changes and not bone volume. CONCLUSIONS: Volume and density changes show promise as quantitative parameters for classifying treatment responses of nonspine osseous lesions. Further work is required for clarifying how these metrics can be applied to lesions with both boney and soft tissue components.

Pain, agitation and delirium assessment and management in a community medical-surgical ICU: results from a prospective observational study and nurse survey.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a common manifestation in the intensive care unit (ICU) that is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Guidelines suggested appropriate management of pain, agitation and delirium (PAD) is crucial in improving patient outcomes. However, the practice of PAD assessment and management in community hospitals is unclear and the mechanisms contributing to the potential care gap are unknown. OBJECTIVES: This quality improvement initiative aimed to review the practice of PAD assessment and management in a community medical-surgical ICU (MSICU) and to explore the community MSICU nurses' perceived comfort and satisfaction with PAD management in order to understand the mechanisms of the observed care gap and to inform subsequent quality improvement interventions. METHODS: We prospectively collected basic demographic data, clinical information and daily data on PAD process measures including PAD assessment and target Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score ordered by intensivists on all patients admitted to a community MSICU for >24 hours over a 20-week period. All ICU nurses in the same community MSICU were invited to participate in an anonymous survey. RESULTS: We collected data on a total of 1101 patient-days (PD). 653 PD (59%), 861 PD (78%) and 439 PD (39%) had PAD assessment performed, respectively. Target RASS was ordered by the intensivists on 515 PD (47%). Our nurse survey revealed that 88%, 85% and 41% of nurses were comfortable with PAD assessment, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium assessment was not routinely performed. This is partly explained by the discomfort nurses felt towards conducting delirium assessment. Our results suggested that improvement in nurse comfort with delirium assessment and management is needed in the community MSICU setting.

Propofol administration by endoscopists versus anesthesiologists in gastrointestinal endoscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of patient safety outcomes.

BACKGROUND: With a growing demand for endoscopic services, the role of anesthesiologists in endoscopy units must be reassessed. The aim of this study was to compare patient outcomes in non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol (NAAP) versus anesthesiologist-administered propofol (AAP) during routine endoscopy. METHODS: We systematically searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL and the grey literature for studies comparing NAAP and AAP. Primary outcomes included endoscopy- and sedation-related complications. Secondary outcomes included measures of endoscopy quality and of patient and endoscopist satisfaction. We reported treatment effects using random-effects models. RESULTS: Of 602 articles identified, 5 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies included only patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification of I or II. Non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol did not result in increased rates of airway intervention (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29 to 3.95; 3443 patients) or hypotension (OR 1.47, 95% CI 0.40 to 5.41; 17 978 patients) but did result in higher rates of bradycardia (OR 3.68, 95% CI 1.65 to 8.17; 17 978 patients). Nonanesthesiologists administered lower propofol dosages than anesthesiologists (mean difference -61.79, 95% CI -114.46 to -9.12; 3443 patients), and their patients more commonly experienced awareness with recall (OR 19.99, 95% CI 7.88 to 50.76; 2090 patients). However, NAAP neither compromised patient willingness to repeat the procedure (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.10 to 1.83; 2367 patients) nor lengthened total procedure time (mean difference -0.08, 95% CI -3.51 to 3.34; 2367 patients). CONCLUSION: Endoscopists may safely administer propofol without compromising procedural quality in patients classified as ASA I or II undergoing routine endoscopy. The results of this meta-analysis are limited by a lack of available high-quality studies. Further, large-scale studies are needed for definitive conclusions.

CONTEXTE: Étant donné que les services endoscopiques sont de plus en plus demandés, le rôle des anesthésiologistes dans les unités d'endoscopie doit être réévalué. Le but de cette étude était de comparer les résultats cliniques chez les patients selon que le propofol était administré par des non-anesthésiologistes (NAAP, pour non-anesthesiologist-administered propofol) ou par des anesthésiologistes (AAP, pour anesthesiologist-administered propofol). MÉTHODES: Nous avons procédé à une revue systématique des réseaux MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science et CENTRAL et de la littérature grise pour recenser les études ayant comparé les méthodes NAAP et AAP. Les paramètres principaux incluaient les complications liées à l'endoscopie et à la sédation, et les paramètres secondaires incluaient les mesures de la qualité de l'endoscopie et la satisfaction des patients et des endoscopistes. Nous avons fait état des effets des traitements à l'aide de modèles à effets aléatoires. RÉSULTATS: Sur les 602 articles recensés, 5 répondaient aux critères d'inclusion. La plupart des études incluaient uniquement des patients présentant une classe ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) I ou II. Le propofol administré par des non-anesthésiologistes n'a pas donné lieu à un taux accru d'interventions touchant les voies respiratoires (rapport des cotes [RC] 1,07, intervalle de confiance [IC] de 95 %, 0,29 à 3,95; 3443 patients) ou d'hypotension (RC 1,47, IC de 95 %, 0,40 à 5,41; 17 978 patients), mais a donné lieu à des taux plus élevés de bradycardie (RC 3,68, IC de 95 %, 1,65 à 8,17; 17 978 patients). Comparativement aux anesthésiologistes, les non-anesthésiologistes ont administré des doses de propofol plus faibles (différence moyenne -61,79, IC de 95 %, -114,46 à -9,12; 3443 patients) et leurs patients ont plus souvent gardé conscience, avec souvenirs post-intervention (RC 19,99, IC à 95 %, 7,88 à 50,76; 2090 patients). Toutefois, la méthode NAAP n'a ni compromis la volonté des patients à répéter l'intervention (RC 0,42, IC à 95 %, 0,10 à 1,83; 2367 patients) ni prolongé la durée totale de l'intervention (différence moyenne −0,08, IC à 95 %, −3,51 à 3,34; 2367 patients). CONCLUSION: Les endoscopistes peuvent administrer le propofol de manière sécuritaire sans compromettre la qualité de l'intervention chez les patients de classe ASA I ou II soumis à une endoscopie de routine. Les résultats de cette méta-analyse sont limités par l'absence d'études de grande qualité. En outre, des études de plus grande envergure sont requises pour arriver à des conclusions définitives.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis in children secondary to pyriform sinus fistula.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST), a potential complication of pyriform sinus fistula (PSF), is a rare clinical condition as the thyroid gland is remarkably resistant to infections. Lack of awareness of the entity contributes to the rarity and frustrating recurrences. We performed a retrospective review of all cases of AST due to PSF treated at our institution over a 10-year period. The clinical data, investigations, operative findings and procedures, microbial culture reports and follow-up were recorded and analyzed. Between January 1997 and September 2006, 12 cases (8 males and 4 females) of AST due to PSF were treated. Nine patients (75%) underwent successful complete excision, seven of whom had initial incision and drainage procedures. In three patients (25%) with recurrence, one underwent complete excision at a later procedure, one patient had multiple recurrences with six incision and drainage procedures and two failed attempts of excision of PSF before final successful complete excision. The third patient is awaiting re-excision of the PSF tract. All patients, except the one awaiting re-excision, are well with no further recurrences during the follow-up period that ranged from 18 to 96 months (median, 46.5 months). AST due to PSF is a challenging entity in terms of diagnosis and management as recurrences are common despite meticulous dissection. High index of suspicion and radiological investigations such as barium studies and computed tomography scan aid in the delineation and excision of the fistulous tract.

Multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii intra-abdominal abscess.

BACKGROUND: Multi-drug-resistant bacteria are rarely isolated from patients with acute appendicitis. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: We report an unusual case of post-appendectomy intra-abdominal abscess with intra- operative cultures that grew multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. An 11-year-old boy underwent open appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. He developed a superficial surgical site infection at the Penrose drain site on the seventh postoperative day; cultures grew multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. A computed tomography scan revealed an intra- abdominal abscess. Open drainage was performed, and intra-operative cultures grew the same multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii along with Escherichia coli. CONCLUSIONS: Post-operative therapy with ceftriaxone may have predisposed the patient to nosocomial infection caused by multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii.

Computerized three-dimensional study of a rotavirus model of biliary atresia: comparison with human biliary atresia.

Biliary atresia is a panbiliary disease causing obstructive jaundice in neonates and infants. The clinical spectrum can be broadly categorized into the fetal and perinatal types. A consistent animal model that accurately mimics the whole clinical spectrum of biliary atresia is not yet available. However, rotavirus infection of neonatal mice has been shown to produce atresia in the biliary system. This study investigates the three-dimensional computerized morphology of the murine neonatal model comparing with age-matched control mice. Newborn Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with rhesus rotavirus within 24-48 h after birth. Control mice received 0.9% NaCl. Pups with symptoms of cholestasis were sacrificed from the 5th to the 15th postinjection day, as were age-matched controls. Their hepatobiliary tissues were prepared for three-dimensional computerized image reconstruction. Rotavirus infection caused obliteration of the intrahepatic bile ducts and single to multiple atresias in the extrahepatic bile duct. At 15 days postinjection, intrahepatic ductal proliferation appeared, and the three-dimensional appearances of the intrahepatic biliary structures were similar to the human disease. Cystic duct and gallbladder dilatation was frequently seen in this model, and this feature distinguishes it from the human disease in which the gallbladder is almost always atretic. This rotavirus murine model demonstrates many of the features of human perinatal biliary atresia, and can be used as an investigative tool to further study the pathogenesis of biliary atresia.

Omental infarction--a mimicker of acute appendicitis in children.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to review the presenting features of pediatric patients found to have omental infarction with a normal appendix at surgery. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all patients with surgically proven omental infarction treated at KK Women's and Children's Hospital between May 1997 and January 2004. RESULTS: Twelve children (10 boys and 2 girls) were treated for primary omental infarction. The mean age was 9.0 +/- 1.42 years. The mean weight was 41.3 +/- 9.65 kg, with 6 (50%) above the 97th percentile and the remainder were between the 50th and 97th percentile. All 12 children presented with right-sided abdominal pain. At presentation, 9 had low-grade fever of 37.3 degrees C or higher, with the maximum temperature recorded at 37.9 degrees C. The mean total white blood cell count was 13.3 +/- 2.66. Significant neutrophilia (relative percentage, > 70%; absolute neutrophils, > 8000) was noted in 9 children. Eight children underwent radiological imaging, which included ultrasonography (n = 3) and/or computed tomography (CT) (n = 7) of the abdomen. Preoperative diagnosis was made on 4 CT scans. Surgical resection resulted in immediate resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Omental infarction often mimics acute appendicitis preoperatively, although CT may be diagnostic. Surgical resection of the affected omentum expedites clinical recovery.

Intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal lymphangiomas in pediatric and adult patients.

Intra-abdominal and retroperitoneal lymphangiomas are a rare, congenital malformations of the lymphatics, which are found predominantly in children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical features of this tumor, highlighting the differences in adults and pediatric patients. We also evaluate the preoperative diagnosis, radiological features, surgical treatment, and outcome of this rare condition. Between 1990 and 2004, 14 patients who underwent surgical resection of an intra-abdominal lymphangioma were reviewed retrospectively. There were five pediatric patients between fetal age and 17 years of age and nine adults between 31 and 62 years of age. Overall, females outnumbered males in the series, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:4. However, males predominated in the pediatric age group with a male-to-female ratio of 1.5:1. The clinical presentation of children was more acute ranging from 3 days to 2 months. In adults, four patients were asymptomatic, and the remaining five had symptom duration ranging from 2 weeks to a year. The lymphangiomas occurred in the mesentery (n = 4), retroperitoneum (n = 4), omentum (n = 3), pancreas (n = 2), and spleen (n = 1). All the patients underwent total surgical resection with or without organ resection, and there were no recurrences at a median follow-up of 2 years (range; 3 months--13 years). This series demonstrates that abdominal lymphangiomas have a male preponderance and present more acutely in pediatric patients, whereas in adults, female patients predominate and the history is more chronic.

Biliary atresia: making the diagnosis by the gallbladder ghost triad.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the gallbladder ghost triad and evaluate its usefulness in the sonographic diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary atresia (BA). METHODS: From October 1997 to February 2002, 217 fasted infants with cholestatic jaundice aged 2-12 weeks were examined sonographically. We defined the gallbladder ghost triad as gallbladder length <1.9 cm, lack of smooth/complete echogenic mucosal lining with an indistinct wall and irregular/lobular contour, and used it as a criteria for BA. Gallbladder wall thickness, triangular cord, diffuse periportal echogenicity and hepatic artery calibre were also recorded. Diagnosis of BA was confirmed surgically and histologically. RESULTS: Thirty of 31 babies with BA demonstrated the gallbladder ghost triad. No false-positives were recorded. The 31st BA baby showed a normal gallbladder at 6 weeks, but developed the ghost triad at 8 weeks. Gallbladder wall thickening was seen in 46/186 non-BA babies, but not in BA. Triangular cord was observed in 24/31 babies. Twenty-two of 186 non-BA babies and 5/31 BA babies showed diffuse periportal echogenicity. The hepatic artery appeared more prominent in BA. All 31 babies diagnosed sonographically as BA had surgery. Three non-BA babies had "negative" laparotomies showing hypoplastic bile ducts. CONCLUSIONS: The gallbladder ghost triad is a very accurate sign of BA. Indeterminate cases require close follow-up.