Variation in Anesthesiology Provider-Volume for Complex Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: Examine between-hospital and between-anesthesiologist variation in anesthesiology provider-volume (PV) and delivery of high-volume anesthesiology care. BACKGROUND: Better outcomes for anesthesiologists with higher PV of complex gastrointestinal cancer surgery have been reported. The factors linking anesthesiology practice and organization to volume are unknown. METHODS: We identified patients undergoing elective esophagectomy, hepatectomy, and pancreatectomy using linked administrative health data sets (2007-2018). Anesthesiology PV was the annual number of procedures done by the primary anesthesiologist in the 2 years before the index surgery. High-volume anesthesiology was PV>6 procedures/year. Funnel plots to described variation in anesthesiology PV and delivery of high-volume care. Hierarchical regression models examined between-anesthesiologist and between-hospital variation in delivery of high-volume care use with variance partition coefficients (VPCs) and median odds ratios (MORs). RESULTS: Among 7893 patients cared for at 17 hospitals, funnel plots showed variation in anesthesiology PV (median ranging from 1.5, interquartile range: 1-2 to 11.5, interquartile range: 8-16) and delivery of HV care (ranging from 0% to 87%) across hospitals. After adjustment, 32% (VPC 0.32) and 16% (VPC: 0.16) of the variation were attributable to between-anesthesiologist and between-hospital differences, respectively. This translated to an anesthesiologist MOR of 4.81 (95% CI, 3.27-10.3) and hospital MOR of 3.04 (95% CI, 2.14-7.77). CONCLUSIONS: Substantial variation in anesthesiology PV and delivery of high-volume anesthesiology care existed across hospitals. The anesthesiologist and the hospital were key determinants of the variation in high-volume anesthesiology care delivery. This suggests that targeting anesthesiology structures of care could reduce variation and improve delivery of high-volume anesthesiology care.

Transfusion camp: A retrospective study of self-reported impact on postgraduate trainee transfusion practice.

BACKGROUND: The optimal method of postgraduate transfusion medicine (TM) education remains understudied. One novel approach is Transfusion Camp, a longitudinal 5-day program that delivers TM education to Canadian and international trainees. The purpose of this study was to determine the self-reported impact of Transfusion Camp on trainee clinical practice. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of anonymous survey evaluations from Transfusion Camp trainees over three academic years (2018-2021) was conducted. Trainees were asked, "Have you applied any of your learning from Transfusion Camp into your clinical practice?". Through an iterative process, responses were categorized into topics according to program learning objectives. The primary outcome was the rate of self-reported impact of Transfusion Camp on clinical practice. Secondary outcomes were to determine impact based on specialty and postgraduate year (PGY). RESULTS: Survey response rate was 22%-32% over three academic years. Of 757 survey responses, 68% of respondents indicated that Transfusion Camp had an impact on their practice, increasing to 83% on day 5. The most frequent areas of impact included transfusion indications (45%) and transfusion risk management (27%). Impact increased as PGY increased with 75% of PGY-4+ trainees reporting impact. In multivariable analysis, the impact of specialty and PGY varied depending on the objective. DISCUSSION: The majority of trainees report applying learnings from Transfusion Camp to their clinical practice with variations based on PGY and specialty. These findings support Transfusion Camp as an effective means of TM education and help identify high-yield areas and gaps for future curriculum planning.

Current status of point of care ultrasonography for the perioperative care of trauma patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The incorporation of point of care ultrasound into the field of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine is growing at rapid pace. The benefits of this modality align with the acuity of patient care and decision-making in anesthetic care of a trauma patient. RECENT FINDINGS: Cardiac ultrasound can be used to diagnose cardiac tamponade or investigate the inferior vena cava to assess volume status in patients who may suffer from hemorrhagic shock. Thoracic ultrasound may be used to rapidly identify pneumothorax or hemothorax in a patient suffering chest wall trauma. In addition, investigators are exploring the utility of ultrasonography in traumatic airway management and elevated intracranial pressure. In addition, the utility of gastric ultrasound on trauma patients is briefly discussed. SUMMARY: Incorporation of point of care ultrasound techniques into the practice of trauma anesthesiology is important for noninvasive, mobile and expeditious assessment of trauma patients. In addition, further large-scale studies are needed to investigate how point of care ultrasound impacts outcomes in trauma patients.

Does the evidence support the importance of high transfusion ratios of plasma and platelets to red blood cells in improving outcomes in severely injured patients: a systematic review and meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Deaths by exsanguination in trauma are preventable with hemorrhage control and resuscitation with allogeneic blood products (ABPs). The ideal transfusion ratio is unknown. We compared efficacy and safety of high transfusion ratios of FFP:RBC and PLT:RBC with low ratios in trauma. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and Controlled Clinical Trials Register were searched. Observational and randomized data were included. Risk of bias was assessed using validated tools. Primary outcome was 24-h and 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were exposure to ABPs and improvement of coagulopathy. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. Strength and evidence quality were graded using GRADE profile RESULTS: 55 studies were included (2 randomized and 53 observational), with low and moderate risk of bias, respectively, and overall low evidence quality. The two RCTs showed no mortality difference (odds ratio [OR], 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40-4.59). Observational studies reported lower mortality in high FFP:RBCs ratio (OR, 0.38 [95% CI, 0.22-0.68] for 1:1 vs. <1:1; OR, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.22-0.81] for 1:1.5 vs. <1:1.5; and OR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.31-0.71] for 1:2 vs. <1:2, respectively). Meta-analyses in observational studies showed no difference in exposure to ABPs. No data on coagulopathy for meta-analysis was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Meta-analyses in observational studies suggest survival benefit and no difference in exposure to ABPs. No survival benefit in RCTs was identified. These conflicting results should be interpreted with caution. Studies are mostly observational, with relatively small sample sizes, nonrandom treatment allocation, and high potential for confounding. Further research is warranted.

Association Between Familiarity of the Surgeon-Anesthesiologist Dyad and Postoperative Patient Outcomes for Complex Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery.

Importance: The surgeon-anesthesiologist teamwork and relationship is crucial to good patient outcomes. Familiarity among work team members is associated with enhanced success in multiple fields but rarely studied in the operating room. Objective: To examine the association between surgeon-anesthesiologist dyad familiarity-as the number of times working together-with short-term postoperative outcomes for complex gastrointestinal cancer surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based retrospective cohort study based in Ontario, Canada, included adults undergoing esophagectomy, pancreatectomy, and hepatectomy for cancer from 2007 through 2018. The data were analyzed January 1, 2007, through December 21, 2018. Exposures: Dyad familiarity captured as the annual volume of procedures of interest done by the surgeon-anesthesiologist dyad in the 4 years before the index surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures: Ninety-day major morbidity (any Clavien-Dindo grade 3 to 5). The association between exposure and outcome was examined using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Seven thousand eight hundred ninety-three patients with a median age of 65 years (66.3% men) were included. They were cared for by 737 anesthesiologists and 163 surgeons who were also included. The median surgeon-anesthesiologist dyad volume was 1 (range, 0-12.2) procedures per year. Ninety-day major morbidity occurred in 43.0% of patients. There was a linear association between dyad volume and 90-day major morbidity. After adjustment, the annual dyad volume was independently associated with lower odds of 90-day major morbidity, with an odds ratio of 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.98; P = .01) for each incremental procedure per year, per dyad. The results did not change when examining 30-day major morbidity. Conclusions and Relevance: Among adults undergoing complex gastrointestinal cancer surgery, increasing familiarity of the surgeon-anesthesiologist dyad was associated with improved short-term patient outcomes. For each additional time that a unique surgeon-anesthesiologist dyad worked together, the odds of 90-day major morbidity decreased by 5%. These findings support organizing perioperative care to increase the familiarity of surgeon-anesthesiologist dyads.

Is There a Role for Transesophageal Echocardiography in the Perioperative Trauma Patient?

Purpose of Review: This review article summarizes the advantages and potential uses of focused transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the perioperative period for trauma patients. We suggest a locally developed TEE protocol for trauma and provide strategies to achieve widespread use of TEE in the anesthesia care of trauma patients. Recent Findings: In recent years, TEE has gained interest as an additional modality as point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for the resuscitation of acutely ill patients in whom transthoracic echocardiography is not feasible or non-diagnostic. Nevertheless, its use among non-cardiac anesthesiologists is still limited compared to the more traditional POCUS applications. Summary: A goal-directed, focused TEE can be performed at the bedside in different locations and mechanically ventilated patients. TEE provides relevant diagnostic information to guide the resuscitation of acutely injured patients, particularly to identify life-threatening hidden thoracic injuries in the scenario of patients with multi-system trauma.

Systemic angiopoietin-1/2 dysregulation following cardiopulmonary bypass in adults.

AIM: Vascular leakage following cardiopulmonary bypass contributes to morbidity. Angiopoietin-1 and -2 are biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction. Our aim was to characterize Ang-1 and -2 association with clinical characteristics and outcomes. METHODS: Observational cohort study measuring Ang-1/-2 with a panel of cytokines in adults undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: Ang-2 levels increased immediately postop whereas Ang-1 levels decreased over time. No significant correlation was found with other inflammatory mediators. High correlation was found between the hospital length of stay and Ang-2 increase at 24 h (rho = 0.590; p < 0.0001). The predictors of Ang-2 increase were female gender, cross clamp time, transfusion of blood and absence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor as a pre-op medication. CONCLUSION: Angiopoietins can detect vascular leakage early and could impact patient's management to decrease length of stay after cardiac surgery.

Oral neutrophils are an independent marker of the systemic inflammatory response after cardiac bypass.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is an immuno-reactive state where neutrophils are activated and accumulate in different tissues. Edema and tissue necrosis are the most common sequelae observed, predominantly in the lungs, kidneys, and heart, heralding significant risk for postoperative complications. No method exists to noninvasively assess in vivo neutrophil activity. The objective of this study was to determine if neutrophil recruitment to the oral cavity would correlate with specific biomarkers after coronary bypass surgery (CPB). METHODS: We conducted a single site prospective observational study including non-consecutive adult patients undergoing elective, on-pump CPB. Blood and either oral cavity rinses or swabs were collected pre- and post-CPB. Absolute neutrophil counts from oral samples and serum biomarkers were measured. The association between neutrophil recruitment to the oral cavity, biomarkers and outcomes after CPB were analyzed. RESULTS: CPB was associated with statistically significant increases in oral and blood neutrophil counts, as well as an increase in certain biomarkers over preoperative baseline. Peripheral blood neutrophil count were increased at all time points however statistically significant differences in median oral neutrophil counts were observed only at the time point immediately postoperative, and in what seems to be two unique patient populations (p < 0.001; group 1, median: 1.6×10(5), Interquartile range [IQR], 1.1×10(5) - 4.8×10(5), and group 2, median: 1.9×10(6), IQR, 8.7×10(5) - 4.0×10(6)). CONCLUSIONS: CPB is associated with a transient increase in oral neutrophils that may correlate with the systemic inflammatory response; oral neutrophils may have the ability to discriminate and identify unique patient populations based on their tissue migration.