Graft vessel disease following heart transplantation: a systematic review of the role of statin therapy.

BACKGROUND: Graft vessel disease (GVD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in cardiac allograft recipients. Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for GVD, and the majority of patients will display abnormal lipid profiles in the years following transplant. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to establish the clinical impact of statins in cardiac allograft recipients, critically appraising the literature on this subject. METHODS: A literature search for randomized studies assessing statin use in cardiac allograft recipients was undertaken. The Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, clinicaltrials.gov, and the Transplant Library from the Centre for Evidence in Transplantation were searched. The primary outcome was presence of GVD. Secondary outcomes included graft and patient survival, acute rejection, and adverse events. Meta-analysis was precluded by heterogeneity in outcome reporting and therefore narrative synthesis was undertaken. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. The majority of RCTs demonstrated some risk of bias, and methods of outcome measurement were variable. Studies reporting incidence or severity of GVD suggest that statins do confer benefit. Survival benefit from statin use is modest. There is a low incidence of adverse events attributable to statins. There was no difference in the overall number of episodes of rejection. CONCLUSION: Whilst the methodological quality of evidence describing the use of statins in cardiac allograft recipients is limited, the available evidence suggests benefit from their use. This is compatible with the effects of statins in non-transplant patients with cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the rate of adverse events in the trials is low.

Chest trauma clinical practice guideline protects against delirium in patients with rib fractures.

Introduction: Traumatic rib fractures present a considerable risk to patient well-being, contributing to morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. To address the risks associated with rib fractures, evidence-based interventions have been implemented, including effective pain management, pulmonary hygiene, and early walking. Vancouver General Hospital, a level 1 trauma center in British Columbia, Canada, developed a comprehensive multidisciplinary chest trauma clinical practice guideline (CTCPG) to optimize the management of patients with rib fractures. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the impact of the CTCPG on pain management interventions and patient outcomes. Methods: The study involved patients admitted between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 (post-CTCPG cohort) and a historical control group admitted between November 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 (pre-CTCPG cohort). Patient data were collected from patient charts and the British Columbia Trauma Registry, including demographics, injury characteristics, pain management interventions, and relevant outcomes. Results: Implementation of the CTCPG resulted in an increased use of multimodal pain therapy (99.4% vs 96.1%; p=0.03) and a significant reduction in the incidence of delirium in the post-CTCPG cohort (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.80, p=0.0099). There were no significant differences in hospital length of stay, ICU (intensive care unit) days, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation requirement, ventilator days, pneumonia incidence, or mortality between the two cohorts. Discussion: Adoption of a CTCPG improved chest trauma management by enhancing pain management and reducing the incidence of delirium. Further research, including multicenter studies, is warranted to validate these findings and explore additional potential benefits of the CTCPG in the management of chest trauma patients. Level of evidence: IIb.

"Uro-abdominoplasty": an adaptation of abdominal contouring for revision of complicated urostomies.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the indications, surgical technique and outcomes of abdominoplasty as a novel tool for revising complicated urostomies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four patients (3 female, 1 male; mean body mass index = 32 kg/m; mean age = 56 years) who underwent abdominoplasty for urostomy revision 2007-2009 were identified. Ileal conduits had been performed following ablative or diversion surgery for cervical carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, interstitial cystitis, and neuropathic bladder. A postal questionnaire was used to establish pre- and postabdominoplasty stoma function. RESULTS: Patients were referred to the reconstructive team with problems fitting their urostomy-appliance leading to urinary leakage, skin irritation, and social embarrassment. Uro-abdominoplasty indications included multiple abdominal scars (n = 2), large abdominal apron (n = 4), and deep skin creases (n = 2). Three patients had undergone previous failed urostomy repositioning or peristomal liposuction. The joint plastic surgical-urological operations lasted a mean of 3 hours, with no major postoperative complications. Patients were discharged 8 days later. Of 4 patients, 3 reported improved appliance fitting and reduced urinary leakage (>50%) and the remaining patient had intermittent leakage due to a persistent abdominal fold superiorly, and has since undergone reverse abdominoplasty. Two patients complained of long-term lower abdominal numbness, but all 4 were satisfied with the aesthetic improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominoplasty has been successfully used in our center for the purpose of improving urostomy dysfunction of intractable mechanical leakage by creating a flatter surface for appliance fitting. Uro-abdominoplasty widens the reconstructive repertoire of plastic surgeons and can be considered in those who have exhausted conservative or simpler surgical solutions.

Acute pancreatitis in the older patient: Is a new risk score required?

INTRODUCTION: The average age of the surgical patient in the UK is increasing. Frailty and cognitive impairment have been shown to be important risk factors in elderly patients with surgical pathology. Limited work has previously assessed the outcomes of acute pancreatitis in the elderly population and the usefulness of current severity scoring methods. We aimed to assess the mortality rates in this cohort and identify any factors that may influence patient outcome. METHODS: All patients ≥ 80 years admitted with acute pancreatitis between 1 January 2014 and 31 May 2018 were retrospectively identified. Disease severity scores were measured by a modified Ranson score, and patients' co-morbidities were quantified with the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Primary endpoint was whether the patient was alive at discharge; multilevel logistic regression was used to identify any independent risk factors for patient outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were included, with an average age of 86 years. The most common aetiology was gallstones. Nine patients died during admission, and ITU admission was the only predictor of mortality (p = 0.027). Twenty-three patients had died by one year. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was more common in patients with gallstone disease who were alive at one year (p = 0.029). DISCUSSION: Risk severity and co-morbidity scores are not predictive of outcomes in elderly patients with acute pancreatitis. The use of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography should be considered in elderly patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis where suitable. Further work is needed to identify improved mortality prediction tools in the elderly with acute pancreatitis and optimal management strategies.

Flow charts improve efficiency and education during bilateral complex reconstructive surgery of the breasts.

Free flap surgery for breast reconstruction using abdominal, gluteal and thigh perforator flaps is now routine. It has been extended to "challenging" groups of patients such as the obese, the elderly, and those with multiple scars. However, bilateral free flap reconstruction is still demanding, especially when performed at the same time as the mastectomy. For healthcare staff new to bilateral immediate reconstruction-be they scrub nurses, technicians, junior doctors, or anesthetists-the operative process is not only lengthy but also confusing because it involves multiple steps and operating theatre teams. To simplify the process, we have designed flow charts that map out the course of the operations. We have found that these pictorial representations not only educate staff but also increase the efficiency of the entire procedure. This general principle of utilizing a flow chart to outline complex surgery can be applied to many different types of operations besides breast reconstruction.

The Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Patients with HIV Infection: a Literature Review.

Obesity among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals is on the rise. Bariatric procedures such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) alter the GI tract. Whether this alteration has any impact on the absorption of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), thus affecting HIV disease markers such as CD4 cell count or viral load (VL), is not yet known. We conducted this review to look into the outcomes of bariatric surgery procedures, RYGB, SG and adjustable gastric band (AGB) and its effects on the CD4 cell counts and VL and HAART therapy. A literature search was conducted between January and April 2017, by two independent reviewers, using Pubmed and Google Scholar. The terms 'bariatric surgery and HIV', 'obesity surgery and HIV', 'gastric bypass surgery and HIV', 'sleeve gastrectomy and HIV' and 'gastric band and HIV' were used to retrieve available research. Of the 49 papers reviewed, only 12 reported the outcomes of patients with HIV undergoing bariatric surgery and were therefore included in this review. Six papers assessed patients undergoing RYGB only (N = 18), 3 papers reported on SG only (N = 18) and 3 papers reported on case mix, including 7 cases of RYGB, 4 cases of SG and 11 cases of AGB. Data is limited; however, based on the available data, bariatric surgery is safe in HIV-infected individuals and does not have any adverse impact on HIV disease progress. Additionally, there was no difference in HIV-related outcomes between SG and RYGB.

Establishing the need for clinical follow-up after emergency appendicectomy in the modern era: Retrospective case series of 145 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency appendicectomy (EA) is a commonly performed operation, with an increasing number of EAs being performed as day-case. The aim of this study is to establish if there is a need for post-operative follow-up and if this could prevent adverse outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent EA at multiple centres over a six-month period was undertaken. They were contacted by telephone and a standardised questionnaire was used to ascertain post-operative outcomes, including duration of analgesia use, duration before return to normal daily activity (ADLs), surgical site infection rates (SSI) and rates of re-presentation to medical services. Patients were stratified into those who underwent laparoscopic versus open appendicectomy, smokers versus non-smokers, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: A total of 145 patients were included in the study. Patients undergoing open surgery (vs. laparoscopic surgery) required analgesia for significantly longer periods, with a significantly longer return to ADLs. Smokers, when compared to non-smokers experienced a significantly longer return to work/school; and significantly higher risk of SSI and re-presenting to accident & emergency; as did patients with a BMI >30 when compared to those with a BMI <30. CONCLUSION: Most patients do not need formal outpatient assessment after EA. However, there is clearly a subset of higher risk patients who may benefit from this - patients who are smokers or obese. They have prolonged recovery times, and are at greater risk of SSI. Earlier surgical outpatient follow-up of these patients could prevent adverse outcomes.

Best evidence topic: Should ventral hernia repair be performed at the same time as bariatric surgery?

A best evidence topic has been constructed using a described protocol. The three-part question addressed was: In morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery, when a ventral hernia is picked up in clinic or intraoperatively is concurrent repair of the hernia better than delayed repair after weight loss with regards to complication rates? Using the reported search, 179 papers were found. 5 studies were deemed to be suitable to answer the question. All 5 studies assessed were non randomised studies either retrospective or prospective and the overall quality of these studies was poor. The outcomes assessed were incidence of complications associated with hernia repair (recurrence, infection) and deferral of repair (small bowel obstruction). The patient's symptoms and anatomy is important in determining the timing of repair. The evidence does not provide a consensus for the optimal timing of ventral hernia repair for patients undergoing bariatric surgery, with some of the selected studies contradicting each other. However, the studies do affirm the risk of small bowel obstruction if hernias are left alone. The reported rate of surgical site infection is low when mesh repair is performed at the same time as weight loss surgery. Until large volume, high quality randomized control trials can be performed, a case by case approach is best, where the patients' symptoms, anatomy, type of bariatric surgery and their personal preferences are considered, and an open discussion on the risks and benefits of each approach is undertaken.

Best evidence topic: What is the best management of the appendix-stump in acute appendicitis: Simple ligation or stump invagination?

A best evidence topic has been constructed using a described protocol. The three-part question addressed was: for patients undergoing appendicectomy for complicated acute appendicitis is simple ligation or invagination of the appendix-stump safer? Using the reported search, 587 papers were found. Five studies were deemed to be suitable to answer the question. In conclusion, the literature is more in favour of the appendix stump being managed with simple ligation rather than stump invagination. All 5 studies assessed are prospective, randomised studies, though overall the quality of these studies is poor. The outcomes assessed were incidence of post-operative complications (pyrexia, wound infection, abscess, caecal fistula and post-operative ileus), post-operative length of stay and mean operating time. The analysis indicates no significant difference between the groups in rates of post-operative pyrexia, intra-abdominal abscess or caecal fistula. Only one study showed a significant difference in rates of wound infection in favour of simple ligation. One study demonstrated a significant difference in favour of simple ligation when comparing rates of post-operative ileus. Overall, simple ligation was found to reduce patient length of stay when compared with stump invagination; one study found this difference to be significant. Simple ligation also produced shorter operating times compared with stump invagination--a risk factor for the development of post-operative ileus. All studies suffered limitations that make the quality of the evidence assessed poor. Although this evidence does favour simple ligation of the stump as compared to invagination, higher quality randomised studies are needed to answer the question definitively.

Evaluating the quality of internet information for bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: The internet is frequently used by patients seeking information on bariatric surgery. This study aims to evaluate the quality of this information. METHOD: The terms 'weight loss'; 'weight loss surgery', 'obesity surgery' and 'bariatric surgery' were searched for in three common search engines. The quality of websites retrieved was assessed with the DISCERN Plus tool. RESULTS: Thirty websites were assessed. The range of scores was 23-66 out of 80. On average, the quality of websites was of 'poor' to 'fair' quality. CONCLUSION: The quality of information is highly variable, and on average of poor, or fair quality. Healthcare professionals should be aware of this when discussing bariatric surgery with patients who have sought information on the internet.

What is the optimum prophylaxis against gastrointestinal haemorrhage for patients undergoing adult cardiac surgery: histamine receptor antagonists, or proton-pump inhibitors?

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was what is the optimum prophylaxis against gastrointestinal haemorrhage for patients undergoing adult cardiac surgery: histamine receptor antagonists (H(2)RA) or proton-pump inhibitors? A total of 201 papers were found; of which, 8 represented the best evidence. The authors, date, journal, study type, population, main outcome measures and results were tabulated. Only one randomized controlled trial (RCT) with relevant clinical outcomes was identified. The rest of the studies consisted of five prospective studies and two retrospective studies. In the RCT, there were no reported cases of gastrointestinal haemorrhage in the proton-pump inhibitor cohort, whereas 4 patients taking H(2)RA developed it. The rate of active gastrointestinal ulceration was higher in the H(2)RA cohort in comparison with the proton-pump inhibitor cohort (21.4 vs 4.3%). A prospective study followed 2285 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery who received either no prophylaxis, or a proton-pump inhibitor. Chi-squared analysis showed the risk of bleeding to be lower in those receiving the proton-pump inhibitor (P < 0.05). Another study of 6316 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting demonstrated a reduced risk of gastrointestinal bleed with prophylactic intravenous omeprazole (odds ratio = 0.2; confidence intervals = 0.1-0.8; P < 0.05). One study successfully showed that proton-pump inhibitors are effective in adequately suppressing gastric acid levels, regardless of Helicobacter pylori infection status; conversely, this study suggested that H(2)RAs were not. The evidence for H(2)RAs is marginal, with no study showing a clear benefit. One study showed that ulcer prophylaxis with H(2)RA did not correlate with the clinical outcome. Another study demonstrated gastric ulceration to be a common gastrointestinal complication in spite of regular H(2)RA use. There is also evidence to suggest that acid suppression increases the risk of nosocomial pneumonia, although open heart surgery may be a confounding factor in this association. Two RCTs showed that H(2)RAs may augment the immune system and reducing stress following cardiac surgery. Proton-pump inhibitors appear to be the superior agent for prophylaxis against gastrointestinal bleed in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, although rigorous comparative data are sparse. Furthermore, level-I evidence would confirm this.

What is the optimum antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing implantation of a left ventricular assist device?

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was what the optimum antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is. A total of 373 papers were found, of which 11 represented the best evidence. The authors, date, journal, study type, population, main outcome measures and results are tabulated. Eight retrospective and two prospective studies, including one randomized controlled trial (RCT), were identified. Although highly variable, the prophylactic antibiotic protocols employed in these studies generally favour the use of vancomycin, a cephalosporin, beta-lactam and quinolone, with the option of additional fluconazole and mupirocin. However, the lack of standardized definitions for infection, and variations in the choice, timing and duration of prophylactic antibiotics complicates the interpretation of reported infection rates. Driveline and pocket infections comprised the majority of infectious complications, and were principally attributed to Gram-positive organisms, such as Staphylococcus, as well as Pseudomonas species. We conclude that a beta-lactam be used for primary prophylaxis, with vancomycin where the risk of MRSA is high. Topical mupirocin and an anti-fungal are also recommended. Prophylaxis should commence prior to device insertion, and be continued into the peri- and post-operative period. Large-scale RCTs are necessary to assess the impact of different antibiotic regimens on infection within LVAD recipients.

Surgical workload, risk factors and complications in patients on warfarin with gastrointestinal bleeding.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess surgical workload and risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on warfarin admitted to a hospital. METHODS: Data was collected for all warfarinised patients admitted between April 2005 and October 2007 with gastrointestinal bleeding. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients (average 80 years) were recorded. Indications for warfarin therapy were atrial fibrillation (80%), mechanical heart valve (6.67%) and embolic disease (13.33%). Fifty percent were admitted with an INR above therapeutic range and of these patients, 83% were on one or more medications known to potentiate the anti-coagulation effect of warfarin. Nine patients were also taking anti-platelet medication. Five of these nine had an admission INR within the intended therapeutic range. Thirteen patients received blood transfusions and had a significantly higher (p<0.05) INR (average 9) than the 17 patients not requiring transfusion (average 2.8). The average cost of transfusion per patient was pound470. None of the patients required acute surgical intervention. The average length of stay was 7 days, at a total cost of pound1444 per patient. Investigations found the cause of bleeding to be diverticulosis in 9 patients and neoplastic disease in 4 patients. Almost half of the patients received no investigation due to risks from co-morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Uncontrolled anti-coagulation, polypharmacy and age were overwhelming risk factors for major gastrointestinal bleeding. Our results show that adding anti-platelet therapy has to be clearly justified against the increased risk of bleeding. Cost to the surgical department was high and no patients required surgical or radiological intervention. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: Warfarin is an important drug, but the complications of its use are difficult and expensive to deal with. Warfarin use is a risk factor for haemorrhage, and this commonly involves the gastrointestinal tract. The use of warfarin is set to increase as the population ages and atrial fibrillation and other cardiovascular risk factors become more prevalent. Consequently, one can expect a rise in warfarin-related gastrointestinal haemorrhage. WHAT DOES THIS ARTICLE ADD?: Our study aimed to assess the burden of gastrointestinal haemorrhage secondary to warfarin on our surgical department (which was high), and also to assess what the risk factors for haemorrhage for patients on warfarin. One of the risk factors we uncovered was polypharmacy, particularly involving anti-platelets e.g. aspirin. We highlight the need for further guidance with regards to managing patients on warfarin, and suggest possible solutions to the problems uncovered.