Timing, incidence and management of delayed bleeding after partial nephrectomy in patients at risk for recurrent, bilateral, multifocal renal tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Delayed bleeding is a potentially serious complication after partial nephrectomy (PN), with reported rates of 1%-2%. Patients with multiple renal tumors, including those with hereditary forms of kidney cancer, are often managed with resection of multiple tumors in a single kidney which may increase the risk of delayed bleeding, though outcomes have not previously been reported specifically in this population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and timing of delayed bleeding as well as the impact of intervention on renal functional outcomes in a cohort primarily made up of patients at risk for bilateral, multifocal renal tumors. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of patients with known or suspected predisposition to bilateral, multifocal renal tumors who underwent PN from 2003 to 2023 was conducted. Patients who presented with delayed bleeding were identified. Patients with delayed bleeding were compared to those without. Comparative statistics and univariate logistic regression were used to determine potential risk factors for delayed bleeding. RESULTS: A total of 1256 PN were performed during the study period. Angiographic evidence of pseudoaneurysm, AV fistula and/or extravasation occurred in 24 cases (1.9%). Of these, 21 were symptomatic presenting with gross hematuria in 13 (54.2%), decreasing hemoglobin in 4(16.7%), flank pain in 2(8.3%), and mental status change in 2 (8.3%), while 3 patients were asymptomatic. Median number of resected tumors was 5 (IQR 2-8). All patients underwent angiogram with super-selective embolization. Median time to bleed event was 13.5 days (IQR 7-22). Factors associated with delayed bleeding included open approach (OR 2.2, IQR(1.06-5.46), P = 0.04 and left-sided surgery (OR 4.93, IQR(1.67-14.5), P = 0.004. Selective embolization had little impact on ultimate renal functional outcomes, with a median change of 11% from the baseline eGFR after partial nephrectomy and embolization. One patient required total nephrectomy for refractory bleeding after embolization. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed bleeding after PN in a cohort of patients with multifocal tumors is an infrequent event, with similar rates to single tumor series. Patients should be counseled regarding timing and symptoms of delayed bleeding and multidisciplinary management with interventional radiology is critical for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Does tranexamic acid effectively minimise blood loss in cleft palate repair? A rigorous assessment through comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cleft palate repair is a common reconstructive procedure that can involve significant blood loss. Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been proposed to minimise blood loss during various surgical procedures, but its effectiveness in cleft palate repair remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of TXA to reduce postoperative blood loss. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science, to identify relevant studies published up to September 2023. Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Primary outcomes measured were total blood loss, transfusion rates, and postoperative complications. We identified four relevant RCTs, which included 275 cleft palate patients with a mean (range) age of 28.7 (6-65) months. The pooled analysis found no significant difference in duration of surgery (MD -18.40 minutes, p = 0.09), preoperative haemoglobin (MD 0.46 g/dl, p = 0.27), or postoperative haemoglobin (MD 0.07 g/dl, p = 0.86) between TXA and control groups. Intraoperative blood loss was lower with TXA, but with TXA, the difference was not statistically significant (MD -16.63 ml, p = 0.15). TXA significantly improved surgical field visibility (p = 0.004). No adverse events occurred with its use. While no significant differences were found in surgical outcomes with TXA, surgical field visibility significantly improved, and TXA showed a promising safety profile. Larger and higher-quality RCTs are still needed to validate these preliminary findings before TXA can be considered as a standard treatment.

Dentistry for patients with haemophilia: Trialling a safe and economical change in management.

INTRODUCTION: While the dental management of patients with haemophilia has changed considerably in the last decade, haemophiliacs in Western Australia have continued to receive pre-operative factor support for dentistry regardless of the type of dental procedure. AIM: To review the efficacy and safety of established dental protocols that reduce factor use in the dental management of patients with haemophilia and to estimate cost savings. METHODS: Records of 11 patients with haemophilia that were seen in the pilot programme period were reviewed. These were cross-referenced with previous dental and haematology notes that stated the amount and type of pre-operative factor used. Cost savings were estimated using the Australian National Blood Authority's Product List. RESULTS: All study participants were male, and included those with haemophilia A (n = 9), and B (n = 2). Mean age was 45 years (range 22-80). A variety of dental treatments were undertaken, and no pre-operative factor was used. Patients on prophylaxis (n = 6) received dental treatment the same day as their regular factor administration. It was estimated AUD$26,314 was saved by not using pre-operative factor. One patient had bleeding post-extraction and was seen the following day to achieve haemostasis using local measures. The remaining patients had no complaints of post-operative bleeding, and did not require any further haemostatic measures. CONCLUSION: This pilot programme supports data that haemophiliacs can safely receive a variety of dental treatments without the need for pre-operative factor, and the significant cost savings of doing so. Further data is required to support this protocol for invasive dental procedures.

Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Otolaryngologic Patients Using Caprini Assessment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine the utilization of Caprini guideline-indicated venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis and impact on VTE and bleeding outcomes in otolaryngology (ORL) surgery patients. METHODS: Elective ORL surgeries performed between 2016 and 2021 were retrospectively identified. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between patient characteristics and receiving appropriate prophylaxis, inpatient, 30- and 90-day VTE and bleeding events. RESULTS: A total of 4955 elective ORL surgeries were analyzed. Thirty percent of the inpatient cohort and 2% of the discharged cohort received appropriate risk-stratified VTE prophylaxis. In those who did not receive appropriate prophylaxis, overall inpatient VTE was 3.5-fold higher (0.73% vs. 0.20%, p = 0.015), and all PE occurred in this cohort (0.47% vs. 0.00%, p = 0.005). All 30- and 90-day discharged VTE events occurred in those not receiving appropriate prophylaxis. Inpatient, 30- and 90-day discharged bleeding rates were 2.10%, 0.13%, and 0.33%, respectively. Although inpatient bleeding was significantly higher in those receiving appropriate prophylaxis, all 30- and 90-day post-discharge bleeding events occurred in patients not receiving appropriate prophylaxis. On regression analysis, Caprini score was significantly positively associated with likelihood of receiving appropriate inpatient prophylaxis (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.07) but was negatively associated in the discharge cohort (OR 0.43, CI 0.36-0.51). Receipt of appropriate prophylaxis was associated with reduced odds of inpatient VTE (OR 0.24, CI 0.06-0.69), but not with risk of bleeding. CONCLUSION: Although Caprini VTE risk-stratified prophylaxis has a positive impact in reducing inpatient and post-discharge VTE, it must be balanced against the risk of inpatient postoperative bleeding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:1169-1182, 2024.

Social vulnerability is associated with higher risk-adjusted rates of postoperative complications in a broad surgical population.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if an association between Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and risk-adjusted complications exists in a broad spectrum of surgical patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Growing evidence supports the impact of social circumstances on surgical outcomes. SVI is a neighborhood-based measure accounting for sociodemographic factors putting communities at risk. METHODS: This was a multi-hospital, retrospective cohort study including a sample of patients within one healthcare system (2012-2017). Patient addresses were geocoded to determine census tract of residence and estimate SVI. Patients were grouped into low SVI (score<75) and high SVI (score≥75) cohorts. Perioperative variables and postoperative outcomes were tracked and compared using local ACS-NSQIP data. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to generate risk-adjusted odds ratios of postoperative complications in the high SVI cohort. RESULTS: Overall, 31,224 patients from five hospitals were included. Patients with high SVI were more likely to be racial minorities, have 12/18 medical comorbidities, have high ASA class, be functionally dependent, be treated at academic hospitals, and undergo emergency operations (all p â€‹< â€‹0.05). Patients with high SVI had significantly higher rates of 30-day mortality, overall morbidity, respiratory, cardiac and infectious complications, urinary tract infections, postoperative bleeding, non-home discharge, and unplanned readmissions (all p â€‹< â€‹0.05). After risk-adjustment, only the associations between high SVI and mortality and unplanned readmission became non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: High SVI was associated with multiple adverse outcomes even after risk adjustment for preoperative clinical factors. Targeted preventative interventions to mitigate risk of these specific complications should be considered in this high-risk population.

Risk Factors for Thromboembolic and Bleeding Events in Patients After the Fontan Operation (Insights from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims of Japan).

Risk stratification of thromboembolic events (TEs) and bleeding events is important for the appropriate selection of thromboprophylaxis in patients after the Fontan operation. Therefore, we clarified the risk factors for TEs and bleeding events in patients after the Fontan operation using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 2,515 patients who underwent the Fontan operation between June 2011 and September 2019. The end points were TEs and bleeding events within 1 year of the Fontan operation analysis. We analyzed the risk factors for these end points using a multivariate analysis. In total, 1,903 patients were included in the analysis. The median age at the time of the Fontan operation was 3 (1 to 22) years, and 1,067 patients (56%) were male. The incidence rates of TEs and bleeding events were 12% and 11%, respectively. Age (odds ratio [OR] 1.1 per 1 year older, p <0.05) was an independent risk factor for TEs. Thromboprophylaxis with aspirin after the Fontan operation significantly reduced TEs (OR 0.3, p <0.05). A history of postoperative hemorrhage (OR 1.5, p <0.05) and the use of a potassium channel blocker (OR 2.1, p <0.05) were independent risk factors for bleeding events. In conclusion, aspirin was found to reduce the risk of TEs within 1 year of the Fontan operation. The results of this study will be useful in selecting effective and safe thromboprophylaxis in patients after the Fontan operation.

Racial Disparities in Pediatric Mortality Following Transfusion Within 72 Hours of Operation.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative bleeding and transfusion are correlated with mortality risk. Furthermore, postoperative bleeding may often initiate the cascade of complications that leads to death. Given that minority children have increased risk of surgical complications, this study aimed to investigate the association of race with pediatric surgical mortality following postoperative transfusion. METHODS: We used the NSQIP-P PUF to assemble a retrospective cohort of children <18 who underwent inpatient surgery during 2012-2021. We included White, Black, Hispanic, and 'Other' children who received a transfusion within 72 h of surgery. The primary outcome was defined as all-cause mortality within 30 days following the primary surgical procedure. Using logistic regression models, we estimated the risk-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of mortality, comparing each racial/ethnic cohort to White children. RESULTS: A total of 466,230 children <18 years of age underwent inpatient surgical procedures from 2012 to 2021. Of these, 46,200 required transfusion and were included in our analysis. The majority of patients were non-Hispanic White (64.6%, n = 29,850), while 18.9% (n = 8752) were non-Hispanic Black, 11.7% (n = 5387) were Hispanic, and 4.8% (n = 2211) were 'Other' race. The overall rate of mortality following transfusion was 2.5%. White children had the lowest incidence of mortality (2.0%), compared to children of 'Other' race (2.5%), Hispanic children (3.1%), and Black children (3.6%). After adjusting for sex, age, comorbidities, case status, preoperative transfusion within 48 h, and year of operation, we found that Black children experienced 1.24 times the odds of mortality following a postoperative transfusion compared to a White child (aOR: 1.24; 95%CI, 1.03-1.51; P = 0.025). Hispanic children were also significantly more likely to die following a postoperative transfusion than White children (aOR: 1.19; 95%CI, 1.02-1.39; P = 0.027). CONCLUSION: We found that minority children who required a postoperative transfusion had a higher odds of death than White children. Future studies should explore adverse events following postoperative transfusion and the differences in their management by race that may contribute to the higher mortality rate for minority children. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER AND REGISTRY: Not applicable.

Aquablation in Patients on Antithrombotics: Assessment of Safety, Postoperative Bleeding Rates and Clinical Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of perioperative antithrombotic use on the bleeding outcomes following Aquablation. METHODS: One hundred sixteen men with who underwent Aquablation as part of the WATER prospective trial (NCT02505919) were assigned to 2 groups based on perioperative antithrombotic status. Antithrombotic cessation and restart timing were based on the surgeon's discretion. Methods of achieving intraoperative hemostasis consisted of no-cautery balloon tamponade or cautery. Primary endpoints included immediate postoperative hematuria rates and changes in hemoglobin. Secondary endpoints included 90-day bleeding complications and nonbleeding postoperative adverse events. RESULTS: Forty-one men took antithrombotic medications in the perioperative period while 75 men had no antithrombotic medication. Preoperative hemoglobin levels were comparable between both groups. Postoperative hemoglobin change from baseline (drop of 1.8 ± 1.5 g/dL among the antithrombotic group vs 1.8 ± 1.7 g/dL among the antithrombotic-naïve group) did not differ between both groups (P = .896). In total, 4 (9.8%) men in the antithrombotic group and 4 (5.3%) patients in the antithrombotic-naïve group experienced a Clavien-Dindo grade 1 complication (P = .451) in the 3-month postoperative period. Eight (19.5%) patients in the antithrombotic group and 11 (14.7%) patients in the antithrombotic-naïve group experienced a Clavien-Dindo grade 2 complication (P = .601), none of which is associated with bleeding in both groups. No men in either group demonstrated de novo erectile dysfunction. One patient (2.4%) in the antithrombotic group and none in the antithrombotic-naïve group required blood products (P = .353). CONCLUSION: Aquablation demonstrates comparable postoperative bleeding outcomes and other adverse effects for men with benign prostatic hypertrophy who are on antithrombotic therapy.

Invited Commentary: Achieving Post-Bypass Hemostasis in Young Children: At What Cost?

Young children requiring bypass often develop coagulopathy resulting in major postoperative blood loss. Increased post-bypass bleeding and donor exposures are independently associated with adverse outcomes. When transfusion of hemostatic blood products fails to reduce bleeding to an acceptable level, rescue therapies including prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs), and/or recombinant activated factor VII are being given "off-label" with increasing frequency. A number of studies attempting to determine the safety and efficacy of PCCs in neonates and young children are being published. These studies are most commonly retrospective, observational, performed in a single center with varying doses, indications for, and timing of administration in a small number of patients with varying results. The results of these individual studies are questionable and are not to be generalized to other center's patients. Because factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA) contains the activated form of factor VII and factor X there are concerns regarding the potential for thrombotic events in a population with a known risk of postoperative thromboembolism. Currently, there is no validated assay with which to measure the efficacy of FEIBA in vivo to determine dose titration. Well-designed multicenter randomized control trials are needed to determine the optimal dose and risk-benefit of PCCs after pediatric cardiac surgery. Until such data are available the decision to give a procoagulant to neonates and young children after bypass needs to be made when the consequences of blood loss and replacement pose more risk than the risk of thrombotic complications from the drug.

Assessment of delayed bleeding after endoscopic submucosal dissection of early-stage gastrointestinal tumors in patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants.

Delayed bleeding is a major and serious adverse event of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastrointestinal tumors. The rate of post-ESD bleeding for gastric cancer is higher (around 5%-8%) than that for esophagus, duodenum and colon cancer (around 2%-4%). Although investigations into the risk factors for post-ESD bleeding have identified several procedure-, lesion-, physician- and patient-related factors, use of antithrombotic drugs, especially anticoagulants [direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and warfarin], is thought to be the biggest risk factor for post-ESD bleeding. In fact, the post-ESD bleeding rate in patients receiving DOACs is 8.7%-20.8%, which is higher than that in patients not receiving anticoagulants. However, because clinical guidelines for management of ESD in patients receiving DOACs differ among countries, it is necessary for endoscopists to identify ways to prevent post-ESD delayed bleeding in clinical practice. Given that the pharmacokinetics (e.g., plasma DOAC level at both trough and Tmax) and pharmacodynamics (e.g., anti-factor Xa activity) of DOACs are related to risk of major bleeding, plasma DOAC level and anti-FXa activity may be useful parameters for monitoring the anti-coagulate effect and identifying DOAC patients at higher risk of post-ESD bleeding.

Epidemiology of severe bleeding in children following cardiac surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass: use of Bleeding Assessment Scale for critically Ill Children (BASIC).

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology of severe bleeding in the immediate post-operative period in children who undergo cardiopulmonary bypass surgery using the Bleeding Assessment Scale for critically Ill Children (BASIC). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study in a paediatric ICU from 2015 to 2020. RESULTS: 356 children were enrolled; 59% were male with median (IQR) age 2.1 (0.5-8) years. Fifty-seven patients (16%) had severe bleeding in the first 24 hours post-operatively. Severe bleeding was observed more frequently in younger and smaller children with longer bypass and cross-clamp times (p-values <0.001), in addition to higher surgical complexity (p = 0.048). Those with severe bleeding received significantly more red blood cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate in the paediatric ICU following surgery (all p-values <0.001). No laboratory values obtained on paediatric ICU admission were able to predict severe post-operative bleeding. Those with severe bleeding had significantly less paediatric ICU-free days (p = 0.010) and mechanical ventilation-free days (p = 0.013) as compared to those without severe bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Applying the BASIC definition to our cohort, severe bleeding occurred in 16% of children in the first day following cardiopulmonary bypass. Severe bleeding was associated with worse clinical outcomes. Standard laboratory assays do not predict bleeding warranting further study of available laboratory tests.

Comparative assessment of woven endobridge embolization and standard coil occlusion for the treatment of ruptured basilar tip aneurysms.

PURPOSE: Endovascular coil occlusion represents the standard treatment for basilar tip aneurysms. Recently, this role has been rivalled by intrasaccular flow disruptors across numerous centres. We retrospectively compared WEB embolization and coiling for the treatment of ruptured basilar tip aneurysms. METHODS: Patients treated with WEB or coiling at four neurovascular centres were reviewed. Procedure-related complications, clinical outcome, and angiographic results were retrospectively compared. RESULTS: The study included 23 patients treated with the WEB (aneurysm size: 6.6 ± 1.9 mm) and 56 by coiling (aneurysm size: 6.7 ± 2.5 mm). Stent-assistance was more often necessary with coiling than with WEB embolization (32% vs. 4%, p = 0.009). A modified Rankin scale score ≤ 2 at discharge had 21 (37.5%) patients in the coiling group and 12 (52.2%) in the WEB group (p = 0.235). Immediate complete and adequate occlusion rates were 52% for the WEB and 87% for coiling. At short-term follow-up, these rates were 87% for the WEB and 72% for coiling, respectively. There was no delayed aneurysm re-bleeding during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Both coiling and WEB seem to prevent rebleeding in ruptured BTA aneurysms. WEB embolization required less frequently stent-support than coiling, potentially advantageous for SAH patients to avoid anti-platelet therapy in the light of concomitant procedures like ventricular drainage.

Assessment of Rotational Thromboelastometry and Thrombin Generation Assay to Identify Risk of High Blood Loss and Re-Operation After Cardiac Surgery.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate parameters for prediction of post-operative blood loss and re-operation in patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: Thrombin generation assay, activated partial thromboplastin time, activated clotting time and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) tests were performed at 4 time points in 65 patients: before skin incision (T1), after heparin injection (T2), after protamine reversal (T3) and before skin closure (T4). Results: Pre-operative endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) and peak thrombin levels were significantly lower in patients with high post-operative blood loss (≥ 800 mL) within 24 h than in those with low blood loss (< 800 mL). Clotting time (CT), maximal clotting firmness, clotting firmness time and alpha angle values of ROTEM measured at T2, T3 or T4 were significant predictors for high post-operative blood loss. An increase in CT-EXTEM over 4 time points was significant in patients who had a re-operation within 48 h compared to their counterparts. Conclusions: This study indicates that pre-operative ETP could predict high post-operative blood loss and that intra-operative ROTEM also helps to stratify risks of high post-operative blood loss and re-operation.

Early Bleeding After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Management - a 21-Year Experience.

PURPOSE: Morbidity and mortality associated with bariatric surgery are considered low. The aim of this study is to assess the incidence, clinical presentation, risk factors, and management of early postoperative bleeding (POB) after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric by-pass (RYGB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive patients who underwent RYGB in 2 expert bariatric centers between January 1999 and April 2020, with a common bariatric surgeon. RESULTS: A total of 2639 patients underwent RYGB and were included in the study. POB occurred in 72 patients (2.7%). Intraluminal bleeding (ILB) was present in 52 (72%) patients and extra-luminal bleeding (ELB) in 20 (28%) patients. POB took place within the first 3 postoperative days in 79% of patients. The most frequent symptom was tachycardia (63%). Abdominal pain was more regularly seen with ILB, compared to ELB (50% vs. 20%, respectively, p = 0.02). Male sex was an independent risk factor of POB on multivariate analysis (p < 0.01). LOS was significantly longer in patients who developed POB (8.3 vs. 3.8 days, p < 0.01). Management was conservative for most cases (68%). Eighteen patients with ILB (35%) and 5 patients with ELB (25%) required reoperation. One patient died from multiorgan failure after staple-line dehiscence of the excluded stomach (mortality 0.04%). CONCLUSION: The incidence of POB is low, yet it is the most frequent postoperative complication after RYGB. Most POB can be managed conservatively while surgical treatment is required for patients with hemodynamic instability or signs of intestinal obstruction due to an intraluminal clot.

Incidence and Contemporary Management of Delayed Bleeding Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Delayed bleeding after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a life-threatening complication. However, the optimal management remains unclear. We summarize our experience of the management of delayed bleeding after PD and define the outcomes associated with different types of management. METHODS: All patients who underwent a PD between January 1987 and June 2020 at Johns Hopkins University were retrospectively reviewed. Delayed bleeding was defined as bleeding on or after postoperative day 5 following PD. Incidence, outcomes, and trends were reported. RESULTS: Among the 6201 patients that underwent PD, delayed bleeding occurred in 130 (2.1%) at a median of 12 days (IQR: 9, 24) postoperation. The pattern of bleeding was classified as intraluminal (51.5%), extraluminal (40.8%), and mixed (7.7%). A clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula and an intraabdominal abscess preceded the delayed bleeding in 43.1% and 31.5% of cases, respectively. Arterial pseudoaneurysm or bleeding from peripancreatic vessels was the most common reason (54.6%) with the gastroduodenal artery being the most common source (18.5%). Endoscopy, angiography, and reoperation were performed as a first-line approach in 35.4%, 52.3%, and 6.2% of patients, respectively. The overall mortality was 16.2% and decreased over the study period (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed bleeding following PD remains a life-threatening complication. The most common location of delayed bleeding is from the gastroduodenal artery. Angiography with embolization should be the initial approach for urgent bleeding with surgical re-exploration reserved for unstable patients or failed control of bleeding after interventional angiography or endoscopy.

Assessment of Pretreatment With Oral P2Y12 Inhibitors and Cardiovascular and Bleeding Outcomes in Patients With Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: The practice of pretreatment with oral P2Y12 inhibitors in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) remains common; however, its association with improved cardiovascular outcomes is unclear. Objective: To assess the association between oral P2Y12 inhibitor pretreatment and cardiovascular and bleeding outcomes in patients with NSTEACS. Data Sources: On March 20, 2021, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, clinicaltrials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials were searched from database inception. Study Selection: Randomized clinical trials of patients with NSTEACS randomized to either oral P2Y12 inhibitor pretreatment (defined as prior to angiography) or no pretreatment (defined as following angiography, once coronary anatomy was known) among patients undergoing an invasive strategy. Data Extraction and Synthesis: This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Data on publication year, sample size, clinical characteristics, revascularization strategy, P2Y12 inhibitor type and dosage, time from pretreatment to angiography, and end point data were independently extracted by 2 authors. A random-effects model was used, including stratification by (1) P2Y12 inhibitor type, (2) revascularization strategy, and (3) access site. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). Secondary end points were 30-day myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiovascular death. The primary safety end point was 30-day major bleeding (defined according to individual studies). Results: A total of 7 trials randomizing 13 226 patients to either pretreatment (6603 patients) or no pretreatment (6623 patients) were included. The mean age of patients was 64 years and 3598 (27.2%) were female individuals. Indication for P2Y12 inhibitors was non-ST elevation myocardial infarction in 7430 patients (61.7%), radial access was used in 4295 (32.6%), and 10 945 (82.8%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. Pretreatment was not associated with a reduction in 30-day MACE (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.78-1.15; I2 = 28%), 30-day MI (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.72-1.12; I2 = 19%), or 30-day cardiovascular death (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.49-1.27; I2 = 0%). The risk of 30-day major bleeding was increased among patients who underwent pretreatment (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.16-1.97; I2 = 41%). The number needed to harm to bring about 1 major bleeding event with oral P2Y12 inhibitor pretreatment was 63 patients. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, pretreatment with oral P2Y12 inhibitors among patients with NSTEACS prior to angiography, compared with treatment once coronary anatomy is known, was associated with increased bleeding risk and no difference in cardiovascular outcomes. Routine pretreatment with oral P2Y12 inhibitors in patients with NSTEACS receiving an early invasive strategy is not supported by this study.

Socioeconomic factors associated with readmission following pediatric tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to analyze factors associated with readmission after tonsillectomy to understand socioeconomic factors associated with readmission. METHODS: Single institution retrospective study of pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy over an 8 year study period, comparing patients who required readmission for bleeding concerns or pain/dehydration to those who did not require readmission. RESULTS: Of the 14,152 tonsillectomy patients, 508 (3.6%) were readmitted with 423 (83.3%) for bleeding concerns and 85 (16.7%) for pain or dehydration. Overall readmission was more likely in age >6 years (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.34-1.92, P < 0.001), while poverty level below 10% (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66-0.94, P = 0.008) and parental college education above 25% (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.96, P = 0.016) were associated with lower incidence of overall readmission. For patients readmitted for bleeding concerns, age >6 years (OR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.37-2.02, P < 0.001) was associated with readmission on multivariate analysis. Within the pain/dehydration group, African American race was associated with increased readmission rates, while poverty level below 10% and parental college education above 25% were associated with decreased readmission rates. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors and age play a role in readmission rates following pediatric tonsillectomy.

Comparison of In-Hospital Outcomes of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair in Patients With vs Without Pulmonary Hypertension (From the National Inpatient Sample).

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common in patients with left heart disease and is present in varying degrees in patients with severe mitral valve disease. There is paucity of data regarding outcomes following transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) in patients with PH. For this study, we analyzed NIS data from 2014 to 2018 using the ICD-9-CM and 10-CM codes. Baseline characteristics were compared using a Pearson chi-squared test for categorical variables and independent samples t-test for continuous variables. To account for selection bias, a 1:1 propensity match cohort was derived using logistic regression. Trend analysis was- done using linear regression. Of 21,505 encounters, 6780 encounters had PH. 6610 PH encounters were matched with 6610 encounters without PH. In-hospital mortality (3.3% versus 1.9%, p <0.01) was higher in PH population. Complications such as blood transfusion (3.6% versus 1.7%, p <0.01), GI bleed (1.4% versus 1%, p = 0.04), vascular complications (5.3% versus 3.3%, p <0.01), vasopressors use (2.9% versus 1.7%, p <0.01) and pacemaker placement (1.3% versus 0.8%, p = 0.01) remained significantly higher for encounters with PH. Multiple Logistic regression showed PH was associated with higher mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.68 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-2.05], p <0.01). The mean length of stay (6.2 versus 5.3 days, p <0.01) and cost per hospitalization ($53,780 versus $50,801, p <0.01) remained significantly higher in the PH group when compared to group without PH. In conclusion, TMVr in PH as compared to without PH is associated with higher mortality, post-procedure complication rates, length of stay, and cost of stay.

Complications of colonoscopy in Japan: An analysis using large-scale health insurance claims data.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In Japan, screening colonoscopy for colorectal cancer is expected to reduce colorectal cancer mortality, although its complication rate has not been sufficiently examined. The aim of this study is to analyze severe complications due to colonoscopy. METHODS: As a study population, we retrospectively used commercially anonymized health insurance claims data covering 5.71 million patients from January 2005 to August 2018. We extracted patients who received colonoscopy with lesions resection or without treatment. Main outcomes were rates of hemorrhage, perforation, fatal events, and their risk factors. RESULTS: Among 341 852 colonoscopy without treatment in 260 128 patients (mean age: 49.6 ± 11.7 years), the rates of hemorrhage, perforation, and fatal events were 0.0059% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0031-0.0085), 0.0032% (95% CI 0.0011-0.0052), and 0.00029% (95% CI 0-0.0012), respectively. Regarding hemorrhage, compared with the rate for patients <50 years old (0.0050%), the rates for those 50-59, 60-69, and ≥70 years old were 0.0095% (P = 0.17), 0.0031% (P = 0.17), and 0%, respectively. Regarding perforation, compared with patients <50 years old (0.0056%), the rates for those 50-59, 60-69, and ≥70 years old were 0%, 0.0015% (P = 0.99), and 0.0102% (P = 0.99), respectively. A multivariate analysis for risk factors showed no significant findings for hemorrhage and perforation without treatment. Among 123 087 colonoscopy with lesions resection in 102 058 patients (mean age: 53.7 ± 9.3 years), the rates of hemorrhage, perforation, and fatal events were 0.136% (95% CI 0.1157-0.1572), 0.033% (95% CI 0.0228-0.0437), and 0.00081% (95% CI 0-0.0035), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis using health insurance claims data demonstrated the safety of colonoscopy.

Tonsillitis, tonsillectomy, and deep neck space infections in England: the case for a new guideline for surgical and non-surgical management.

INTRODUCTION: Tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure performed chiefly for recurrent tonsillitis. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidance Network (SIGN) introduced guidelines in 1998 to improve patient selection for tonsillectomy and reduce the potential harm to patients from surgical complications such as haemorrhage. Since the introduction of the guidance, the number of admissions for tonsillitis and its complications has increased. National Hospital Episode Statistics over a 20-year period were analysed to assess the trends in tonsillectomy, post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage, tonsillitis and its complications with reference to the guidance, procedures of limited clinical value and the associated costs and benefits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted via PubMed and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant research. Hospital Episode Statistics data were interrogated and relevant data compared over time to assess trends related to the implementation of national guidance. RESULTS: Over the period analysed, the incidence of deep neck space infections has increased almost five-fold, mediastinitis ten-fold and peritonsillar abscess by 1.7-fold compared with prior to SIGN guidance. Following procedures of limited clinical value implementation, the incidence of deep neck space infections has increased 2.4-fold, mediastinitis 4.1-fold and peritonsillar abscess 1.4-fold compared with immediately prior to clinical commissioning group rationing. The rate of tonsillectomy and associated haemorrhage (1-2%) has remained relatively constant at 46,299 (1999) compared with 49,447 (2009) and 49,141 (2016), despite an increase in the population of England by seven million over the 20-year period. DISCUSSION: The rise in admissions for tonsillitis and its complications appears to correspond closely to the date of SIGN guidance and clinical commissioning group rationing of tonsillectomy and is on the background of a rise in the population of the UK. The move towards daycase tonsillectomy has reduced bed occupancy after surgery but this has been counteracted by an increase in admissions for tonsillitis and deep neck space infections, sometimes requiring lengthy intensive care stays and a protracted course of rehabilitation. The total cost of treating the complications of tonsillitis in England in 2017 is estimated to be around £73 million. The cost of tonsillectomy and treating post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage is £56 million by comparison. The total cost per annum for tonsillectomy prior to the introduction of SIGN guidance was estimated at £71 million with tonsillitis and its complications accounting for a further £8 million.