Synergistic impact of innate immunity hyper-activation and endothelial dysfunction on the magnitude of organ failure in the infection-sepsis continuum.

OBJECTIVES: Identifying host response biomarkers implicated in the emergence of organ failure during infection is key to improving the early detection of this complication. METHODS: Twenty biomarkers of innate immunity, T-cell response, endothelial dysfunction, coagulation, and immunosuppression were profiled in 180 surgical patients with infections of diverse severity (IDS) and 53 with no infection (nIDS). Those better differentiating IDS/nIDS in the area under the curve were combined to test their association with the sequential organ failure assessment score by linear regression analysis in IDS. Results were validated in another IDS cohort of 174 patients. RESULTS: C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, pentraxin-3, lipocalin-2 (LCN2), tumoral necrosis factor-α, angiopoietin-2, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) and interleukin (IL)-15 yielded an area under the curve ≥0.75 to differentiate IDS from nIDS. The combination of LCN2, IL-15, TREM-1, angiopoietin-2 (Dys-4) showed the strongest association with sequential organ failure assessment score in IDS (adjusted regression coefficient; standard error; P): Dys-4 (3.55;0.44; <0.001), LCN2 (2.24; 0.28; <0.001), angiopoietin-2 (1.92; 0.33; <0.001), IL-15 (1.78; 0.40; <0.001), TREM-1(1.74; 0.46; <0.001), tumoral necrosis factor-α (1.60; 0.31; <0.001), pentraxin-3 (1.12; 0.18; <0.001), procalcitonin (0.85; 0.12; <0.001). Dys-4 provided similar results in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: There is a synergistic impact of innate immunity hyper-activation (LCN2, IL-15, TREM-1) and endothelial dysfunction (angiopoietin-2) on the magnitude of organ failure during infection.

Hypotension prediction index guided goal-directed therapy to reduce postoperative acute kidney injury during major abdominal surgery: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant postoperative complication associated with increased mortality and hospital costs. Hemodynamic strategies, such as goal-directed therapy, might reduce AKI risk. Predicting and proactively managing intraoperative hypotension may be helpful. This trial aims to investigate if a preemptive hemodynamic strategy guided by the hypotension prediction index (HPI) can decrease the incidence of moderate-to-severe AKI within 30 days following major elective abdominal surgery. METHODS: This is an open-label, controlled, multicenter, randomized clinical trial that involves daily patient follow-up until hospital discharge. Inclusion criteria are patients aged over 65 and/or categorized as ASA III or IV physical status, undergoing major elective abdominal surgery (general, urological, or gynecological procedures) via laparoscopic or open approach under general or combined anesthesia. INTERVENTION: In the intervention group, hemodynamic management will be based on the HPI and the advanced functional hemodynamic variables provided by the Hemosphere platform and the AcumenIQ® sensor (Edwards Lifesciences). The primary outcome is the incidence of moderate-to-severe AKI within 7 days post-surgery. Secondary outcomes include postoperative complications and 30-day mortality. DISCUSSION: This study explores the potential of HPI-guided hemodynamic management in reducing AKI after major elective abdominal surgery, with implications for postoperative outcomes and patient care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05569265. Registered on October 6, 2022.

Update of the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine evidence-based and consensus-based guideline on postoperative delirium in adult patients.

Postoperative delirium (POD) remains a common, dangerous and resource-consuming adverse event but is often preventable. The whole peri-operative team can play a key role in its management. This update to the 2017 ESAIC Guideline on the prevention of POD is evidence-based and consensus-based and considers the literature between 01 April 2015, and 28 February 2022. The search terms of the broad literature search were identical to those used in the first version of the guideline published in 2017. POD was defined in accordance with the DSM-5 criteria. POD had to be measured with a validated POD screening tool, at least once per day for at least 3 days starting in the recovery room or postanaesthesia care unit on the day of surgery or, at latest, on postoperative day 1. Recent literature confirmed the pathogenic role of surgery-induced inflammation, and this concept reinforces the positive role of multicomponent strategies aimed to reduce the surgical stress response. Although some putative precipitating risk factors are not modifiable (length of surgery, surgical site), others (such as depth of anaesthesia, appropriate analgesia and haemodynamic stability) are under the control of the anaesthesiologists. Multicomponent preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative preventive measures showed potential to reduce the incidence and duration of POD, confirming the pivotal role of a comprehensive and team-based approach to improve patients' clinical and functional status.

Postoperative Critical Care Admission Was Not Associated with Improved Postoperative Outcomes in Elective Colorectal Surgery: Secondary Analysis Of POWER Trial.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of routine admission of high-risk patients to a critical care unit after surgery is not clear. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between critical care admission after scheduled colorectal surgery and postoperative complications, 30-day mortality, and length of stay in hospital. METHODS: A pre-defined secondary substudy of POWER study was performed. POWER study was a prospective multicenter observational study of patients undergoing elective primary colorectal surgery during a single period of two months of recruitment between September and December 2017. RESULTS: A total of 2084 patients from 80 Spanish hospitals were included, of which 722 (34.6%) were admitted to critical care unit (CCU) after elective surgery. After adjusting for confounding factors in the multivariate analysis, postoperative CCU admission was independently associated with a higher incidence of moderate-to-severe postoperative complications (adjusted OR 1.951, 95% CI 1.570, 2.425; p < 0.001). Regarding secondary outcomes, postoperative critical care admission was independently associated with higher 30-day mortality (adjusted OR 6.736; 95% CI 2.507, 18.101; p < 0.001) and independently associated with an increased hospital length of stay (adjusted OR 1.143, 95% CI 1.112, 1.175; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Direct admission to CCU after scheduled colorectal surgery was not associated with a reduction in moderate-to-severe postoperative complications.

Association between use of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols and postoperative complications after gastric surgery for cancer (POWER 4): a nationwide, prospective multicentre study.

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols in gastric cancer surgery remains controversial. METHODS: Multicentre prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer. Adherence with 22 individual components of ERAS pathways were assessed in all patients, regardless of whether they were treated in a self-designed ERAS centre. Each centre had a three-month recruitment period between October 2019 and September 2020. The primary outcome was moderate-to-severe postoperative complications within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes were overall postoperative complications, adherence to the ERAS pathway, 30 day-mortality and hospital length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: A total of 743 patients in 72 Spanish hospitals were included, 211 of them (28.4 %) from self-declared ERAS centres. A total of 245 patients (33 %) experienced postoperative complications, graded as moderate-to-severe complications in 172 patients (23.1 %). There were no differences in the incidence of moderate-to-severe complications (22.3% vs. 23.5%; OR, 0.92 (95% CI, 0.59 to 1.41); P = 0.068), or overall postoperative complications between the self-declared ERAS and non-ERAS groups (33.6% vs. 32.7%; OR, 1.05 (95 % CI, 0.70 to 1.56); P = 0.825). The overall rate of adherence to the ERAS pathway was 52% [IQR 45 to 60]. There were no differences in postoperative outcomes between higher (Q1, > 60 %) and lower (Q4, ≤ 45 %) ERAS adherence quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the partial application of perioperative ERAS measures nor treatment in self-designated ERAS centres improved postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing gastric surgery for cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03865810.

Identification of the haemoglobin level associated with a lower risk of complications after total hip and knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative anaemia is associated with poor outcomes in surgical patients, but the preoperative haemoglobin cut-off that determines lower morbidity in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) is not well established. METHODS: Planned secondary analysis of data collected during a multicentre cohort study of patients undergoing THA and TKA in 131 Spanish hospitals during a single 2-month recruitment period. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin <12 g dl-1 for females and < 13 g dl-1 for males. The primary outcome was the number of patients with 30-day in-hospital postoperative complications according to European Perioperative Clinical Outcome definitions and specific surgical TKA and THA complications. Secondary outcomes included the number of patients with 30-day moderate-to-severe complications, red blood cell transfusion, mortality, and length of hospital stay. Binary logistic regression models were constructed to assess association between preoperative Hb concentrations and postoperative complications, and variables significantly associated with the outcome were included in the multivariate model. The study sample was divided into 11 groups based on preoperative Hb values in an effort to identify the threshold at which increased postoperative complications occurred. RESULTS: A total of 6099 patients were included in the analysis (3818 THA and 2281 TKA), of whom 8.8% were anaemic. Patients with preoperative anaemia were more likely to suffer overall complications (111/539, 20.6% vs. 563/5560, 10.1%, p < .001) and moderate-to-severe complications (67/539, 12.4% vs. 284/5560, 5.1%, p < .001). Multivariable analysis showed preoperative haemoglobin ≥14 g dl-1 was associated with fewer postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Preoperative haemoglobin ≥14 g dl-1 is associated with a lower risk of postoperative complications in patients undergoing primary TKA and THA.

Early mobilization after total hip or knee arthroplasty: a substudy of the POWER. 2 study

Abstract Background Early mobilization after surgery is a cornerstone of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs in total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our goal was to determine the time to mobilization after this surgery and the factors associated with early mobilization. Methods This was a predefined substudy of the POWER.2 study, a prospective cohort study conducted in patients undergoing THA and TKA at 131 Spanish hospitals. The primary outcome was the time until mobilization after surgery as well as determining those perioperative factors associated with early mobilization after surgery. Results A total of 6093 patients were included. The median time to achieve mobilization after the end of the surgery was 24 hours [16-30]. 4,222 (69.3%) patients moved in ≤ 24 hours after surgery. Local anesthesia [OR = 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72-0.90); p= 0.001], surgery performed in a self-declared ERAS center [OR = 0.57 (95% CI: 0.55-0.60); p< 0.001], mean adherence to ERAS items [OR = 0.93 (95% CI: 0.92-0.93); p< 0.001], and preoperative hemoglobin [OR = 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96-0.98); p< 0.001] were associated with shorter time to mobilization. Conclusions Most THA and TKA patients mobilize in the first postoperative day, early time to mobilization was associated with the compliance with ERAS protocols, preoperative hemoglobin, and local anesthesia, and with the absence of a urinary catheter, surgical drains, epidural analgesia, and postoperative complications. The perioperative elements that are associated with early mobilization are mostly modifiable, so there is room for improvement.

Association between use of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols and postoperative complications in colorectal surgery in Europe: The EuroPOWER international observational study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Assess the relationship between the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) pathway and routine care and 30-day postoperative outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: European centers (185 hospitals) across 21 countries. PATIENTS: A total of 2841 adult patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Each hospital had a 1-month recruitment period between October 2019 and September 2020. INTERVENTIONS: Routine perioperative care. MEASUREMENTS: Twenty-four components of the ERAS pathway were assessed in all patients regardless of whether they were treated in a formal ERAS pathway. A multivariable and multilevel logistic regression model was used to adjust for baseline risk factors, ERAS elements and country-based differences. RESULTS: A total of 1835 patients (65%) received perioperative care at a self-declared ERAS center, 474 (16.7%) developed moderate-to-severe postoperative complications, and 63 patients died (2.2%). There was no difference in the primary outcome between patients who were or were not treated in self-declared ERAS centers (17.1% vs. 16%; OR 1.00; 95%CI, 0.79-1.27; P = 0.986). Hospital stay was shorter among patients treated in self-declared ERAS centers (6 [5-9] vs. 8 [6-10] days; OR 0.82; 95%CI, 0.78-0.87; P < 0.001). Median adherence to 24 ERAS elements was 57% [48%-65%]. Adherence to ERAS-pathway quartiles (≥65% vs. <48%) suggested that patients with the highest adherence rates experienced a lower risk of moderate-to-severe complications (15.9% vs. 17.8%; OR 0.71; 95%CI, 0.53-0.96; P = 0.027), lower risk of death (0.3% vs. 2.9%; OR 0.10; 95%CI, 0.02-0.42; P = 0.002) and shorter hospital stay (6 [4-8] vs. 7 [5-10] days; OR 0.74; 95%CI, 0.69-0.79; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment in a self-declared ERAS center does not improve outcome after colorectal surgery. Increased adherence to the ERAS pathway is associated with a significant reduction in overall postoperative complications, lower risk of moderate-to-severe complications, shorter length of hospital stay and lower 30-day mortality.

Higher Adherence to ERAS Society® Recommendations is Associated with Shorter Hospital Stay Without an Increase in Postoperative Complications or Readmissions in Bariatric Surgery: the Association Between Use of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocols and Postoperative Complications after Bariatric Surgery (POWER 3) Multicenter Observational Study.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways in patients undergoing bariatric surgery remains unclear. Our objective was to determine the effect of the ERAS elements on patient outcomes following elective bariatric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study in adult patients undergoing elective bariatric surgery. Each participating center selected a single 3-month data collection period between October 2019 and September 2020. We assessed the 24 individual components of the ERAS pathways in all patients. We used a multivariable and multilevel logistic regression model to adjust for baseline risk factors, ERAS elements, and center differences RESULTS: We included 1419 patients. One hundred and fourteen patients (8%) developed postoperative complications. There were no differences in the incidence of overall postoperative complications between the self-designated ERAS and non-ERAS groups (54 (8.7%) vs. 60 (7.6%); OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.73-1.79; P = .56), neither for moderate-to-severe complications, readmissions, re-interventions, mortality, or hospital stay (2 [IQR 2-3] vs. 3 [IQR 2-4] days, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.62-1.17; P = .33) Adherence to the ERAS elements in the highest adherence quartile (Q1) was greater than 72.2%, while in the lowest adherence quartile (Q4) it was less than 55%. Patients with the highest adherence rates had shorter hospital stay (2 [IQR 2-3] vs. 3 [IQR 2-4] days, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.09-2.17; P = .015), while there were no differences in the other outcomes CONCLUSIONS: Higher adherence to ERAS Society® recommendations was associated with a shorter hospital stay without an increase in postoperative complications or readmissions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03864861.

Neuromuscular blockade management and postoperative outcomes in enhanced recovery colorectal surgery: secondary analysis of POWER trial.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the impact of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) management, monitoring and reversal on postoperative outcomes in colorectal surgical patients included in an enhanced recovery program. METHODS: We performed a predefined analysis in 2084 patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery who participated in POWER study. We analyzed them for complications, length of hospital stay and mortality. Two groups were defined: 1) monitoring + reversal of the neuromuscular blockade (M+R) group: all patients receiving neuromuscular blockade monitoring plus reversal of it with any drug (neostigmine or sugammadex) were included; and 2) no monitoring nor reversal (noM+noR) group. In this group all the patients who did not receive monitoring and reversal of the neuromuscular blockade were allocated. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis found no statistically significant differences in moderate-severe complications (174 [25.7%] vs. 124 [27.1%]; P=0.607), length of hospital stay (10.8±11.1 vs. 11.0 ±12.6 days; P=0.683) and mortality (6 [0.9%] vs. 5 [1.1%]; P=0.840) between the group receiving optimal neuromuscular management (M+R) and the one did not receive it (noM+noR). Univariate analysis showed patients reversed with neostigmine died more than those reversed with sugammadex (3 [2.7%] vs. 3 [0.5%]; P=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest optimal neuromuscular blockade management in colorectal surgery is not associated with less moderate-severe complications, length of hospital stay or death during postoperative period in an enhanced recovery program. Neostigmine reversal seems to be linked to higher rate of mortality than sugammadex.

Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy and Postoperative Outcomes in an Enhanced Recovery Program for Colorectal Surgery: A Propensity Score-Matched Multicenter Study.

INTRODUCTION: Goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) has increasingly been utilized in major surgery as a key component to ensure fluid optimization and adequate tissue perfusion, showing improvements in the rate of morbidity and mortality under conventional care. It is unclear if patients derive similar benefit as part of an enhanced recovery program (ERP). Our group sought to assess the association between GDFT and postoperative outcomes within an ERP for colorectal surgery. METHODS: A propensity score-matched analysis, based upon demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and ERP components, was utilized to assess the association between GDFT and outcomes in a multicenter prospective ERP for colorectal surgery cohort study. Outcomes included pulmonary edema, acute kidney injury (AKI), ileus, surgical site infection (SSI), and anastomotic dehiscence. The calipmatch module was used to match patients who received GDFT to non-GDFT in a 1-to-1 propensity score fashion. RESULTS: A total of 151 matched pairs were included in the analysis (n = 302, 23%). Both groups had comparable baseline demographics, as well as similar rates of compliance with enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) components. Goal-directed fluid therapy patients received significantly more colloid (237 ± 320 mL vs. 140 ± 245 mL, P < .01) than non-GDFT counterparts. Goal-directed fluid therapy was not associated with improved rates of postoperative AKI (odds ratios (OR) 1.00, 95% confidence intervals (CI) .39-2.59, P = 1.00), ileus (OR 1.40, 95% CI .82-2.41, P = .22), SSI (OR 1.06, 95% CI .54-2.08, P = .86), or length of hospital stay (LOS) (10.8 ± 8.9 vs. 11.1±13.2 days, P = .84). CONCLUSIONS: There was no associated between GDFT and major postoperative outcomes within an ERAS program for colorectal surgery. Additional large-scale or pragmatic randomized trials are necessary to determine whether GDFT has a role in ERP for colorectal surgery.

MR- proADM to detect specific types of organ failure in infection.

BACKGROUND: Following the SEPSIS-3 consensus, detection of organ failure as assessed by the SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score, is mandatory to detect sepsis. Calculating SOFA outside of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is challenging. The alternative in this scenario, the quick SOFA, is very specific but less sensible. Biomarkers could help to detect the presence of organ failure secondary to infection either in ICU and non-ICU settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the ability of four biomarkers (C-Reactive protein (CRP), lactate, mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and procalcitonin (PCT)) to detect each kind of organ failure considered in the SOFA in 213 patients with infection, sepsis or septic shock, by using multivariate regression analysis and calculation of the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC). RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis, MR-proADM was an independent predictor of five different failures (respiratory, coagulation, cardiovascular, neurological and renal). In turn, lactate predicted three (coagulation, cardiovascular and neurological) and PCT two (cardiovascular and renal). CRP did not predict any of the individual components of SOFA. The highest AUROCs were those of MR-proADM and PCT to detect cardiovascular (AUROC, CI95%): MR-proADM (0.82 [0.76-0.88]), PCT (0.81 [0.75-0.87] (P < .05) and renal failure: MR-proADM (0.87 [0.82-0.92]), PCT (0.81 [0.75-0.86]), (P < .05). None of the biomarkers tested was able to detect hepatic failure. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with infection, MR-proADM was the biomarker detecting the largest number of SOFA score components, with the exception of hepatic failure.

Association Between Use of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol and Postoperative Complications in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in the Postoperative Outcomes Within Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol in Elective Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Study (POWER2).

Importance: The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) care protocol has been shown to improve outcomes compared with traditional care in certain types of surgery. Objective: To assess the association of use of the ERAS protocols with complications in patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, prospective cohort study included patients recruited from 131 centers in Spain from October 22 through December 22, 2018. All consecutive adults scheduled for elective THA or TKA were eligible for inclusion. Patients were stratified between those treated in a self-designated ERAS center (ERAS group) and those treated in a non-ERAS center (non-ERAS group). Data were analyzed from June 15 through September 15, 2019. Exposures: Total hip or knee arthroplasty and perioperative management. Sixteen individual ERAS items were assessed in all included patients, whether they were treated at a center that was part of an established ERAS protocol or not. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was postoperative complications within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes included length of stay and mortality. Results: During the 2-month recruitment period, 6146 patients were included (3580 women [58.2%]; median age, 71 [interquartile range (IQR), 63-76] years). Of these, 680 patients (11.1%) presented with postoperative complications. No differences were found in the number of patients with overall postoperative complications between ERAS and non-ERAS groups (163 [10.2%] vs 517 [11.4%]; odds ratio [OR], 0.89; 95% CI, 0.74-1.07; P = .22). Fewer patients in the ERAS group had moderate to severe complications (73 [4.6%] vs 279 [6.1%]; OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.56-0.96; P = .02). The median overall adherence rate with the ERAS protocol was 50.0% (IQR, 43.8%-62.5%), with the rate for ERAS facilities being 68.8% (IQR, 56.2%-81.2%) vs 50.0% (IQR, 37.5%-56.2%) at non-ERAS centers (P < .001). Among the patients with the highest and lowest quartiles of adherence to ERAS components, the patients with the highest adherence had fewer overall postoperative complications (144 [10.6%] vs 270 [13.0%]; OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.99; P < .001) and moderate to severe postoperative complications (59 [4.4%] vs 143 [6.9%]; OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.45-0.84; P < .001) and shorter median length of hospital stay (4 [IQR, 3-5] vs 5 [IQR, 4-6] days; OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: An increase in adherence to the ERAS program was associated with a decrease in postoperative complications, although only a few ERAS items were individually associated with improved outcomes.

Routine management of postoperative delirium outside the ICU: Results of an international survey among anaesthesiologists.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a severe brain dysfunction. Although data indicate a high relevance, no survey has investigated the routine practice to monitor delirium outside the ICU setting after surgery. Prior to publishing of the new European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) guidelines on POD, an international survey was conducted to assess current practice. METHODS: European Society of Anaesthesiology-endorsed online survey; Trial Registration: NCT-identifier: 02513537. RESULTS: In total, 566 respondents from 62 countries accessed, and 564 (99.6%) completed the survey (completion rate). Overall, 385 (68%) of the respondents reported that delirium is either "very relevant" or "relevant" for their daily clinical practice. In all, 38 (7%) of the respondents routinely monitor for delirium in >50% of all patients. Asked on the monitoring time point, more than half (n = 308, 55%) indicated to screen before or at recovery room discharge, 235 (42%) up to the first postoperative day, 143 (25%) up to 3 days, and 77 (14%) up to 5 postoperative days. Although there is a lack of long-term monitoring, nearly all respondents (n = 530, 94%) reported to treat delirium. Availability of EEG/EMG-based monitoring to assess the depth of anaesthesia was high in the study group (n = 547, 97%) and was used by more than one-third of the respondents to reduce risk of burst suppression (n = 189, 34%). CONCLUSION: Although delirium is perceived as a relevant condition among anaesthesiologists, there is a high demand for implementing monitoring strategies after publishing of the POD Guideline. The survey shows that tools necessary for POD Guideline implementation are available in the centres represented by the respondents.

A noninvasive postoperative clinical score to identify patients at risk for postoperative pulmonary complications: the Air-Test Score.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) negatively affect morbidity, healthcare costs and postsurgical survival. Preoperative and intraoperative peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) levels are independent risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). The air-test assesses the value of SpO2 while breathing room-air. We aimed at building a clinical score that includes the air-test for predicting the risk for PPCs. METHODS: This is a development and validation study in patients -randomly divided into two cohorts- from a large randomized clinical trial (iPROVE) that enrolled 964 intermediate-to-high risk patients scheduled for abdominal surgery. Arterial oxygenation was assessed on room-air in the preoperative period (preoperative air-test) and 3h after admission to the postoperative care unit (postoperative air-test). The air-test was defined as positive or negative if SpO2 was ≤96% or >96%, respectively. Positive air-tests were stratified into weak (93-96%) or strong (<93%). The primary outcome was a composite of moderate-to-severe PPCs during the first seven postoperative days. RESULTS: A total of 902 patients were included in the final analysis (542 in the development cohort and 360 in the validation cohort). Regression analysis identified five independent risk factors for PPC: age, type of surgery, pre- and postoperative air-test, and atelectasis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.75-0.82) when including these five independent predictors. We built a simplified score termed "air-test score" by using only the pre- and postoperative SpO2, resulting in an AUC of 0.72 (95% CI: 0.67-0.76) for the derivation and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.66-0.78) for the validation cohort, respectively. The air-test score stratified patients into four levels of risk, with PPCs ranging from <15% to >75%. CONCLUSIONS: The simple, non-invasive and inexpensive bedside air-test score, evaluating pre- and postoperatively SpO2 measured on room-air, helps to predict the risk for PPCs.

Effects of oxygen on post-surgical infections during an individualised perioperative open-lung ventilatory strategy: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine whether using a high fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) in the context of an individualised intra- and postoperative open-lung ventilation approach could decrease surgical site infection (SSI) in patients scheduled for abdominal surgery. METHODS: We performed a multicentre, randomised controlled clinical trial in a network of 21 university hospitals from June 6, 2017 to July 19, 2018. Patients undergoing abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to receive a high (0.80) or conventional (0.3) FIO2 during the intraoperative period and during the first 3 postoperative hours. All patients were mechanically ventilated with an open-lung strategy, which included recruitment manoeuvres and individualised positive end-expiratory pressure for the best respiratory-system compliance, and individualised continuous postoperative airway pressure for adequate peripheral oxyhaemoglobin saturation. The primary outcome was the prevalence of SSI within the first 7 postoperative days. The secondary outcomes were composites of systemic complications, length of intensive care and hospital stay, and 6-month mortality. RESULTS: We enrolled 740 subjects: 371 in the high FIO2 group and 369 in the low FIO2 group. Data from 717 subjects were available for final analysis. The rate of SSI during the first postoperative week did not differ between high (8.9%) and low (9.4%) FIO2 groups (relative risk [RR]: 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-1.50; P=0.90]). Secondary outcomes, such as atelectasis (7.7% vs 9.8%; RR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.48-1.25; P=0.38) and myocardial ischaemia (0.6% [n=2] vs 0% [n=0]; P=0.47) did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: An oxygenation strategy using high FIO2 compared with conventional FIO2 did not reduce postoperative SSIs in abdominal surgery. No differences in secondary outcomes or adverse events were found. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02776046.

Postoperative Outcomes Within Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol in Elective Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty. POWER.2 Study: Study Protocol for a Prospective, Multicentre, Observational Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The number of indications for total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is increasing. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) represents the next step in the evolution of standardised care. The primary aim of this study is to measure the in-hospital 30-day medical and surgical postoperative complications rate. The study's secondary aims are to determine the length of stay, 30-day mortality rate, 30-day reoperation and readmission rates, the ERAS overall compliance and predefined ERAS individual items compliance. METHODS: This multicentre, prospective, observational study will include adult patients (aged >18 years) undergoing elective THR and TKR surgery. Consecutive patients undergoing surgery within the 2-month data collection period will be included. Centres that offer the THR and/or TKR surgery will be eligible to participate. The data collection will be done through an online data collection form via a secure, password-protected platform at each centre with predefined data fields. RESULTS: Ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the Comité de Ética de la Investigación de la Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón (C.P.-C.I. PI18/135; on 23 May 2018). It was prospectively registered on 27 June 2018, at www.clinicaltrials.gov with identification no. NCT03570944. CONCLUSION: The study will be disseminated through the SPARN-RedGERM, SEDAR, GERM and through social media. Peer-reviewed publications will be published under corporate authorship, including POWER.2 Study Group and SPARN-RedGERM.

Association Between Use of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol and Postoperative Complications in Colorectal Surgery: The Postoperative Outcomes Within Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol (POWER) Study.

Importance: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) care has been reported to be associated with improvements in outcomes after colorectal surgery compared with traditional care. Objective: To determine the association between ERAS protocols and outcomes in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Postoperative Outcomes Within Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol (POWER) Study is a multicenter, prospective cohort study of 2084 consecutive adults scheduled for elective colorectal surgery who received or did not receive care in a self-declared ERAS center. Patients were recruited from 80 Spanish centers between September 15 and December 15, 2017. All patients included in this analysis had 1 month of follow-up. Exposures: Colorectal surgery and perioperative management were the exposures. Twenty-two individual ERAS items were assessed in all patients, regardless of whether they were included in an established ERAS protocol. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary study outcome was moderate to severe postoperative complications within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes included ERAS adherence, mortality, readmissions, reoperation rates, and hospital length of stay. Results: Between September 15 and December 15, 2017, 2084 patients were included in the study. Of these, 1286 individuals (61.7%) were men; mean age was 68 years (interquartile range [IQR], 59-77). A total of 879 patients (42.2%) presented with postoperative complications and 566 patients (27.2%) developed moderate to severe complications. The number of patients with moderate or severe complications was lower in the ERAS group (25.2% vs 30.3%; odds ratio [OR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.94; P = .01). The overall rate of adherence to the ERAS protocol was 63.6% (IQR, 54.5%-77.3%), and the rate for patients from hospitals self-declared as ERAS was 72.7% (IQR, 59.1%-81.8%) vs non-ERAS institutions, which was 59.1% (IQR, 50.0%-63.6%; P < .001). Adherence quartiles among patients receiving the highest and lowest ERAS components showed that the patients with the highest adherence rates had fewer moderate to severe complications (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.25-0.46; P < .001), overall complications (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.26-0.43; P < .001), and mortality (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.07-0.97; P = .06) compared with those who had the lowest adherence rates. Conclusions and Relevance: An increase in ERAS adherence appears to be associated with a decrease in postoperative complications.

Composed endotypes to guide antibiotic discontinuation in sepsis.

Overuse of empiric antibiotic therapy in the ICU is responsible for promoting the dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Shortened antibiotic treatment duration could contribute to palliating the emergence of MDR. Uncertainty about patient evolution is a major concern for deciding to stop antibiotics. Biomarkers could represent a complementary tool to identify those patients for whom antibiotic treatment could be safely discontinued. The biomarker most extensively studied to guide antibiotic withdrawal is procalcitonin (PCT), but its real impact on decreasing the duration of antibiotic treatment is a matter of controversy. Combining biomarkers to rule out complicated outcomes in sepsis patients could represent a better option. Some candidate biomarkers, including mid-regional proadrenomedullin, the percentage of human leukocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR)-positive monocytes, means of fluorescence intensities of HLA-DR on monocytes, interleukin-7 receptor expression levels, immunoglobulin M levels in the serum or the absence of increased proteolysis, have already demonstrated the potential to exclude the risk of progression to septic shock, nosocomial infections, and mortality when tested along the sepsis course. Other promising biomarkers to rule out complicated outcomes are neutrophil protease activity, the adaptive/coagulopathic signatures identified by whole transcriptome analysis by Sweeney et al., and the SRS1 signature identified by Davenport et al. In conclusion, there are a number of promising biomarkers involved in proteolytic, vascular, immunological, and coagulation alterations that could be useful to build composed endotypes to predict uncomplicated outcomes in sepsis. These endotypes could help to identify patients deserving the discontinuation of antibiotics.