Predictors and in-hospital mortality associated with prolonged emergency department length of stay in New South Wales tertiary hospitals from 2017 to 2018.

OBJECTIVE: To determine specific patient, clinical and service factors associated with increased ED length of stay and investigate whether prolonged ED length of stay, as measured by emergency treatment performance (ETP) non-compliance, is an independent predictor of all cause 30-day mortality for patients presenting to, and admitted from ED. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of linked state-wide emergency, inpatient and death data from New South Wales. All patients who presented to a tertiary level public hospital (level 5 or 6) ED and admitted to an in-patient unit were included. Outcomes were the proportion of admitted patients who met ETP targets, and 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 697 600 eligible cases were identified and analysed. The odds of meeting ETP benchmarks were 62% lower in those with complex or multiple medical comorbidities (odds ratio 0.38, 95% confidence interval 0.37-0.40, P < 0.001) compared with patients with no medical comorbidities. Admission under psychiatry, surgical and oncology service-related groups were associated with decreased ETP. The hazard ratio for 30-day all-cause mortality over time was 28% higher in those not meeting ETP benchmarks after adjusting for age, triage category, comorbidities, ICU and service-related group (hazard ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.26-1.30, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with complex and multiple medical comorbidities, and those admitted under certain service-related groups such as psychiatry, surgery and oncology were found to have poorer ETP performance. Overall, failure to meet ETP was associated with increased mortality after adjusting for age, case-mix, comorbidities and acuity.

Modified In Vivo Lung Perfusion for Local Chemotherapy: A Preclinical Study With Doxorubicin.

BACKGROUND: In vivo lung perfusion (IVLP) is a promising adjuvant treatment of lung metastases, allowing the localized delivery of drugs to the lungs without systemic exposure. Previous experimental and clinical data resulted in variable efficacy and frequent toxicity. Our objectives were to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of a novel protective IVLP technique coupled with the delivery of sarcoma-based chemotherapy to the lung. METHODS: The left pulmonary artery and veins in pigs were cannulated and clamped. Left lung IVLP was performed for 4 hours. Doxorubicin (Dox) at a standard clinical dose of 75 mg/m(2) was used, followed by 150 and 225 mg/m(2). Dox 75 mg/m(2) combined with ifosfamide (Ifos) 6 g/m(2) was also tested. After IVLP, blood reperfusion was allowed for 4 hours. Lung physiology was assessed and biopsy samples were obtained for histologic assessment of acute lung injury (ALI), inflammatory profile, and cell death. Lung tissue levels, perfusate, and plasma levels of Dox were measured during the procedure. RESULTS: Lungs treated with Dox 75 mg/m(2) alone or combined with Ifos showed stable function throughout the procedure, without evidence of ALI (p = 0.12 and p = 0.36, respectively). Tissue levels of Dox were 70.3 µg/g homogeneously distributed in the lung (p = 0.12). No drug was detected systemically. Dox 150 mg/m(2) and 225 mg/m(2) showed incremental ALI. CONCLUSIONS: IVLP for 4 hours with Dox 75 mg/m(2) alone or combined with Ifos was well tolerated, without measurable ALI. High drug levels in perfusate and lung tissue were found without systemic leakage. A dose-related toxicity was observed with increases in Dox doses.