Perioperative Factors Associated With Postoperative Delirium in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common and serious complication after surgery. Various predisposing factors are associated with POD, but their magnitude and importance using an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis have not been assessed. Objective: To identify perioperative factors associated with POD and assess their relative prognostic value among adults undergoing noncardiac surgery. Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL from inception to May 2020. Study Selection: Studies were included that (1) enrolled adult patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, (2) assessed perioperative risk factors for POD, and (3) measured the incidence of delirium (measured using a validated approach). Data were analyzed in 2020. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Individual patient data were pooled from 21 studies and 1-stage meta-analysis was performed using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression after a multivariable imputation via chained equations model to impute missing data. Main Outcomes and Measures: The end point of interest was POD diagnosed up to 10 days after a procedure. A wide range of perioperative risk factors was considered as potentially associated with POD. Results: A total of 192 studies met the eligibility criteria, and IPD were acquired from 21 studies that enrolled 8382 patients. Almost 1 in 5 patients developed POD (18%), and an increased risk of POD was associated with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status 4 (odds ratio [OR], 2.43; 95% CI, 1.42-4.14), older age (OR for 65-85 years, 2.67; 95% CI, 2.16-3.29; OR for >85 years, 6.24; 95% CI, 4.65-8.37), low body mass index (OR for body mass index <18.5, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.64-3.09), history of delirium (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 2.69-5.66), preoperative cognitive impairment (OR, 3.99; 95% CI, 2.94-5.43), and preoperative C-reactive protein levels (OR for 5-10 mg/dL, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.59-3.50; OR for >10 mg/dL, 3.56; 95% CI, 2.46-5.17). Completing a college degree or higher was associated with a decreased likelihood of developing POD (OR 0.45; 95% CI, 0.28-0.72). Conclusions and Relevance: In this systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data, several important factors associated with POD were found that may help identify patients at high risk and may have utility in clinical practice to inform patients and caregivers about the expected risk of developing delirium after surgery. Future studies should explore strategies to reduce delirium after surgery.

Age-related differences in cognition and postoperative quality of recovery after beach chair position shoulder surgery.

We examined the influence of age in beach chair position shoulder surgery and postoperative quality of recovery by conducting a single-site, observational, cohort study comparing younger aged (18-40 years) versus older aged (at least 60 years) patients admitted for elective shoulder surgery in the beach chair position. Endpoints were dichotomous return of function to each patient's individual preoperative baseline as assessed using the postoperative quality of recovery scale; measuring cognition, nociception, physiological, emotional, functional activities and overall perspective. We recruited 112 (41 younger and 71 older aged) patients. There was no statistical difference in cognitive recovery at day three postoperatively (primary outcome): 26/32 younger patients (81%) versus 43/60 (72%) older patients, P=0.45. Rates of recovery were age-dependent on domain and time frame (secondary outcomes), with older patients recovering faster in the nociceptive domain (P=0.02), slower in the emotional domain (P=0.02) and not different in the physiological, functional activities and overall perspective domains (all P >0.35). In conclusion, we did not show any statistically significant difference in cognitive outcomes between younger and older patients using our perioperative anaesthesia and analgesia management protocol. Irrespective of age, 70% of patients recovered by three months in all domains.

Delirium Reduction by Analgesia Management in Hip Fracture surgery (DRAM-HF): Exploration of perceived facilitators and barriers.

OBJECTIVES: In tandem with the implementation of a multidisciplinary protocol which was successful in reducing delirium after hip fracture surgery (DRAM-HF), we sought to investigate enablers and barriers to same. METHODS: Single-centre, prospective, before-and-after questionnaire targeted at health-care professionals involved in DRAM-HF. We assessed respondent-reported enablers and barriers to the multidisciplinary protocol, using 0-100 agreement scales and free-text responses. RESULTS: A total of 134 preintervention and 124 postintervention responses were collated (out of 200, response rates 67% and 62%, respectively). Preintervention support for DRAM-HF was 100% (n = 130) and postintervention 95.9% (n = 116). Study design was well received with a mean score of 76.7 (SD 19.7) for being easy to understand. Support for additional computer alert systems was also high (mean 73.6, SD 23.9). Free-text responses emphasised the need for integration of ward pharmacists into medication optimisation (n = 31) and upskilling nurse practitioners (n = 23). CONCLUSION: Whilst generally supported, DRAM-HF implementation may be streamlined by optimising electronic delivery, offering targeted education and expanding roles.

Effect of Virtual Reality Therapy in Reducing Pain and Anxiety for Cancer-Related Medical Procedures: A Systematic Narrative Review.

CONTEXT: Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a novel form of nonpharmacological analgesia therapy. We wished to review the use of VR to treat pain and anxiety in cancer-related medical procedures and chemotherapy. OBJECTIVES: To determine if immersive VR influences pain and/or anxiety outcomes in patients with cancer undergoing medical interventions. To discuss critical limitations in the current evidence base and provide suggestions for future areas of research. METHODS: A systematic review was performed on Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar from 1999 to December 2019. The following search terms were run in each of the databases: Virtual Reality and pain or anxiety. Articles were assessed by two independent authors for inclusion. RESULTS: From 999 retrieved citations, nine studies met inclusion criteria for review. Methodological limitations and small sample sizes preclude strong guidance for clinical applications. Although studies demonstrated a trend toward improvement in pain and anxiety, only two studies reached statistical significance. CONCLUSION: There is inconclusive evidence on the significance of immersive VR in reducing pain (five studies) or anxiety (six studies) for patients with cancer undergoing medical interventions or receiving chemotherapy. Further research on the effect of immersive VR as a tool for medical procedures and/or patients with cancer undergoing treatment is required.

Selecting and optimising patients for total knee arthroplasty.

The minimum requirements for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are significant, prolonged symptoms with supporting clinical and radiological signs. Despite interest in screening tools, there is limited evidence for a specific symptom threshold that justifies surgery. Non-operative treatments including medications, exercise and weight loss are unlikely to reverse radiographic changes, but they may improve symptoms and delay the need for surgery. Many patient factors such as mental health and obesity affect both the level of symptomatic improvement after surgery and risks of surgery, but none have been identified as contraindications for the procedure as significant health gains can still be achieved. Although age and sex are associated with patient-reported outcomes and risk of revision, these factors cannot be used to restrict access to TKA, and age cut-offs are not recommended. Evidence regarding pre-operative optimisation of patients to improve post-operative TKA outcomes is limited by the few interventional trials available, particularly in the areas of patient expectation, diabetes, obesity and vascular disease. There is good evidence from randomised controlled trials that pre-operative rehabilitation primarily focusing on exercises for the joint or limb has minimal effect on post-operative TKA outcomes, and there is some evidence from randomised controlled trials that an intensive smoking cessation program before surgery may improve post-operative outcomes. Detailed international guidelines exist on the optimisation of the cardiorespiratory status of surgical patients, and these should be followed for TKA surgery.

Is cerebrovascular autoregulation associated with outcomes after major noncardiac surgery? A prospective observational pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have identified multiple risk factors for development of cognitive decline after surgery. Impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation may be a contributor to postoperative cognitive decline. METHODS: One hundred and forty patients admitted for major elective noncardiac surgery were recruited. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to calculate the tissue oxygenation index of dynamic autoregulation (TOx). The primary endpoint was Day 3 cognitive recovery as assessed using the Postoperative Quality of Recovery Scale. The secondary endpoint was a combined major adverse event of death, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, stroke, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, and acute kidney injury at Day 30. RESULTS: Higher optimal TOx values, signifying impaired autoregulation, were associated with worse outcomes. Patients who cognitively recovered at Day 3 (n = 47) had lower optimal TOx values (TOxopt ) than patients who did not recover (n = 22): 0.06 (0.24) vs 0.18 (0.16) (mean [SD]), P = 0.02. Patients who did not suffer a major adverse event (n = 102) had lower TOxopt than patients who did (n = 17): 0.09 (0.21) vs 0.20 (0.27), P = 0.04. When dichotomized as having impaired or intact autoregulation based on TOxopt levels, a value of TOxopt ≥0.1 correctly identified 72.7% of patients who did not cognitively recover, OR 3.3 (1.1-9.9) (Odds ratio, [95% CI]), P = 0.03. TOxopt ≥0.1 correctly identified 82.4% of patients who suffered a major adverse event, OR 4.7 (1.3-17.2), P = 0.02. CONCLUSIONS: In older and higher risk patients having major noncardiac surgery, impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation was associated with failure of cognitive recovery in the early postoperative period and with 1-month mortality and morbidity.