Does a collecting system injury with grade iv renal blunt trauma always need urinary intervention?

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the characteristics associated with the need for urinary intervention for a blunt renal injury with collection system involvement using a computed tomography (CT) protocol for trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Abdominal CT images of patients with blunt renal injuries from 2016 to 2020 were reviewed. Patients with low-grade renal trauma, non-collecting system involvement, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade V shattered kidney, and emergent nephrectomy were excluded. The largest perinephric mass thickness was measured in the axial view using CT, and a cutoff value was obtained using a receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Risk factors for further urinary intervention were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 70 patients included in this study, those with perinephric mass thicknesses < 25 mm (n = 36) had a significantly lower rate of urinary intervention than those with perinephric mass thicknesses ≥ 25 mm (0 vs. 5; p = 0.023). There was no significant difference in the follow-up durations of the groups (19 days vs. 38 days; p = 0.198). More than 90% of the perinephric mass in the < 25 mm group resolved within a median follow-up duration of 38 days, whereas nearly half of the ≥ 25 mm group had a residual perinephric mass during a median follow-up duration of 19 days. CONCLUSION: The initial CT protocol for trauma was useful for predicting the need for further urinary interventions for collecting system injuries. A perinephric mass thickness < 25 mm is predictive of a low likelihood of requiring urinary intervention.

Nuance and profound impact: Evaluating the effects of the unmet full coma scale in patients with mild subdural hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with subdural hemorrhage (SDH) and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13-15 are typically categorized as having mild traumatic brain injury. We hypothesize that patients without a maximum GCS score - specifically, patients with GCS scores of 13 and 14 - may exhibit poorer neurological outcomes. METHOD: Between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020, SDH patients with GCS scores ranging from 13 to 15 were retrospectively studied. We compared outcomes between patients with a maximum GCS score of 15 and those with scores of either 13 or 14. Independent factors associated with neurological deterioration among patients with a GCS score of 15 were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression (MLR) analysis. RESULTS: During the study period, 470 patients with SDH and GCS scores between 13 and 15 were examined. Compared to patients with a maximum GCS score (N = 375), those in the GCS 13-14 group (N = 95) showed significantly higher rates of neurological deterioration (33.7% vs. 10.4%, p value <0.001) and neurosurgical interventions (26.3% vs. 16.3%, p value <0.024). Moreover, the GCS 13-14 group had a significantly poorer prognosis than patients with a GCS score of 15 [mortality rate: 7.4% vs. 2.4%, p value <0.017; rate of impaired consciousness at discharge: 21.1% vs. 4.0%, p value <0.001; and rate of neurological disability at discharge: 29.5% vs. 6.9%, p value <0.001]. The MLR analysis revealed that SDH thickness (odds ratio = 1.127, p value = 0.006) was an independent risk factor for neurological disability at discharge in patients with a GCS score of 15. CONCLUSION: Among SDH patients with mild TBI, those with GCS scores of 13-14 exhibited poorer neurological outcomes than those with a maximum GCS score. The thickness of the SDH is positively associated with neurological disability in SDH patients with a maximum GCS score.

Evaluation of Concomitant Facial Fracture in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients-Simplification and External Validation of a Prediction Model.

BACKGROUND: Patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often experience concurrent facial bone fractures. In 2021, a prediction model with 10 variables was published and precisely predicted concomitant facial fractures in TBI patients. Herein, external validation and simplification of this model was performed. METHODS: Traumatic brain injury patients treated at a major referral trauma center were retrospectively reviewed for 1 year. The original prediction model (published in 2021), which was developed from a rural level II trauma center, was applied for external validation. A new and simplified model from our level I trauma center was developed and backwardly validated by rural level II trauma center data. RESULTS: In total, 313 TBI patients were enrolled; 101 (32.3%) had concomitant facial fractures. When the previous prediction model was applied to the validation cohort, it achieved acceptable discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.713 and good precision, with a Brier score of 0.083. A new and simplified model with 6 variables (age, tooth rupture, epistaxis, facial lesion, eye injury, and intracranial hemorrhage) was created with excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.836) and good precision (Brier score of 0.055). The backward validation of this new model also showed excellent discrimination in the cohort used to develop the original model (AUC = 0.875). CONCLUSION: The original model provides an acceptable and reproducible prediction of concomitant facial fractures among TBI patients. A simplified model with fewer variables and the same accuracy could be applied in the emergency department and at higher- and lower-level trauma centers.

Optimizing modern surgical simulation through instructor feedback - insights from a retrospective observational study in a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery is associated with a prolonged learning curve for emerging surgeons, and simulation-based training (SBT) has become increasingly prominent in this context due to stringent working time regulations and heightened concerns regarding patient safety. While SBT offers a safe and ethical learning environment, the accuracy of simulators in the context of evaluating surgical skills remains uncertain. This study aims to assess the precision of a laparoscopic simulator with regard to evaluating surgical performance and to identify the instructor's role in SBT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study focused on surgical residents in their 1st through 5th years at the Department of Surgery of Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The residents participated in a specially designed SBT program using the LapSim laparoscopic simulator. Following the training session, each resident was required to perform a laparoscopic procedure and received individualized feedback from an instructor. Both simulator and instructor evaluated trainees' performance on the LapSim, focusing on identifying correlations between the simulator's metrics and traditional assessments. RESULTS: Senior residents (n = 15), who employed more complex laparoscopic procedures, exhibited more significant improvements after receiving instructor feedback than did junior residents (n = 17). Notably, a stronger correlation between the simulator and instructor assessments was observed in the junior group (junior Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (GOALS) adjusted R2 = 0.285, p = 0.016), while no such correlations were observed among the senior group. CONCLUSION: A well-designed, step-by-step SBT can be a valuable tool in laparoscopic surgical training. LapSim simulator has demonstrated its potential in assessing surgical performances during the early stages of surgical training. However, instructors must provide intuitive feedback to ensure appropriate learning in later stages.

The Role of Diagnostic Laparoscopy in the Evaluation of Abdominal Trauma Patients: A Trauma Quality Improvement Program Study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to identify factors related to delayed intervention in abdominal trauma patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy using a nationwide databank. METHODS: From 2017 to 2019, abdominal trauma patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy were retrospectively evaluated using the Trauma Quality Improvement Program. Patients who underwent delayed interventions after a primary diagnostic laparoscopy were compared with those who did not. Factors associated with poor outcomes that are usually correlated with overlooked injuries and delayed interventions were also analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 5221 studied patients, 4682 (89.7%) underwent inspection without any intervention. Only 48 (0.9%) patients underwent delayed interventions after primary laparoscopy. Compared with patients receiving immediate interventions during primary diagnostic laparoscopy, patients receiving delayed interventions were more likely to have small intestine injuries (58.3% vs. 28.3%, p < 0.001). Among patients with hollow viscus injuries, a significantly higher probability of overlooked injuries that required delayed intervention was observed in patients with small intestine injuries (small intestine injury: 16.8%; gastric injury: 2.5%; large intestine injury: 5.2%). However, delayed small intestine repair did not significantly affect the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) (p = 0.249), acute kidney injury (AKI) (p = 0.998), or hospital length of stay (LOS) (p = 0.053). In contrast, significantly positive relationships between delayed large intestine repair and poor outcomes were observed (SSI, odds ratio = 19.544, p = 0.021; AKI, odds ratio = 27.368, p < 0.001; LOS, ß = 13.541, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most examinations and interventions (near 90%) were successful during primary laparoscopy for abdominal trauma patients. Small intestine injuries were easily overlooked. Delayed small intestine repair-related poor outcomes were not observed.

Speeding pelvic fracture fixation: CT scan with simultaneous 3-D pelvic reconstruction in the emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans are usually needed in the emergency department (ED) to evaluate intra-abdominal injuries associated with pelvic fractures. Three-dimensional (3-D) images for pelvis reconstruction are also needed for planning surgical fixation after admission. This study investigates the advantages integrating a one-stage computed tomography (CT) scan with these two diagnostic modalities simultaneously to reduce the time to surgery and improve the outcomes of pelvic fracture fixation. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study (2018-2021) of patients with pelvic fractures was performed. Patients were categorized into the one-stage CT group or the two-stage CT group, and propensity score matching was used to address biases. The outcome measures included time to surgical fixation, time to CT scan for 3-D pelvis reconstruction, and overall length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Four hundred forty-four pelvic fracture patients who underwent definite surgical fixation were identified. Of those, 320 underwent a one-stage CT scan, while the remaining 124 underwent a two-stage CT scan. After well-balanced matching, those in the one-stage CT group had a significantly shorter time to surgical fixation than those in the two-stage CT group (4.6 vs. 6.8 days, p < 0.001). Even among critically ill patients necessitating intensive care unit (ICU) admission, the one-stage CT scan group had a shorter time to definitive surgical fixation (5.5 vs. 7.2 days, p = 0.002) and a shorter hospital stay (19.0 vs. 32.7 days, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: A one-stage contrast-enhanced CT scan combined with simultaneous 3-D pelvis reconstruction is promising for expediting surgical fixation in pelvic fracture patients. This innovative strategy may improve patient outcomes by facilitating timely surgical interventions and minimizing delays associated with additional CT scans.

Sarcopenia provides extra value outside the PULP score for predicting mortality in older patients with perforated peptic ulcers.

BACKGROUND: Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) remains challenging surgically due to its high mortality, especially in older individuals. Computed tomography (CT)-measured skeletal muscle mass is a effective predictor of the surgical outcomes in older patients with abdominal emergencies. The purpose of this study is to assess whether a low CT-measured skeletal muscle mass can provide extra value in predicting PPU mortality. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled older (aged ≥ 65 years) patients who underwent PPU surgery. Cross-sectional skeletal muscle areas and densities were measured by CT at L3 and patient-height adjusted to obtain the L3 skeletal muscle gauge (SMG). Thirty-day mortality was determined with univariate, multivariate and Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2016, 141 older patients were included; 54.8% had sarcopenia. They were further categorized into the PULP score ≤ 7 (n=64) or PULP score > 7 group (n=82). In the former, there was no significant difference in 30-day mortality between sarcopenic (2.9%) and nonsarcopenic patients (0%; p=1.000). However, in the PULP score > 7 group, sarcopenic patients had a significantly higher 30-day mortality (25.5% vs. 3.2%, p=0.009) and serious complication rate (37.3% vs. 12.9%, p=0.017) than nonsarcopenic patients. Multivariate analysis showed that sarcopenia was an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality in patients in the PULP score > 7 group (OR: 11.05, CI: 1.03-118.7). CONCLUSION: CT scans can diagnose PPU and provide physiological measurements. Sarcopenia, defined as a low CT-measured SMG, provides extra value in predicting mortality in older PPU patients.

Does Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury Increase the Probability of Delayed Intra-abdominal Hemorrhage in Patients With Concomitant Blunt Abdominal Trauma?

PURPOSE: Most blunt thoracic aortic injuries (BTAIs) may be treated using thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), and most blunt abdominal traumas (BATs) are managed conservatively. We hypothesized that severe trauma that needs TEVAR may increase the risk of delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage in patients with concomitant BTAI and BAT because of the potential hemorrhagic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, blood loss, consequent need for blood transfusion, and procedure-associated heparinization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2015 to 2019, blunt trauma patients with concomitant severe chest trauma and abdominal trauma who could be managed conservatively were studied. The probability of delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage was compared between patients with concomitant BTAI who received or did not undergo TEVAR. Propensity score matching (PSM), inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), and multivariate logistic regression (MLR) were used to eliminate discrepancies between these 2 groups. RESULTS: Among the 341 studied patients, there were 26 patients with BTAI, and 19 of them underwent TEVAR. Delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage was observed in 4 patients (21.1%, 4/19) who underwent TEVAR. Both PSM and IPTW showed that patients who underwent TEVAR for concomitant BTAI had a greater delayed need for blood transfusions and a larger proportion of delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage than patients who did not undergo the procedure. The MLR analysis showed that TEVAR for BTAI was an independent risk factor for delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage (odds ratio: 10.534, 95%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: An increased probability of delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage in patients with BAT (who could be managed conservatively) was observed in patients who underwent TEVAR for concomitant BTAI. CLINICAL IMPACT: More attention should be give in patients with high grade aortic injuries and concomitant abdominal trauma.

Temporary or Permanent? A Clinical Challenge in the Evaluation of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients with Unconsciousness and Normal Initial Head CT.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with unconsciousness and normal initial head computed tomography (CT) present a clinical dilemma for physicians and neurosurgeons in the emergency department (ED). We recorded how long it took for patients to regain consciousness and evaluated the patients' characteristics. METHODS: From 2018 to 2020, TBI patients with unconsciousness and normal initial head CT [Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score < 13, negative CT scan and normal laboratory test results] were evaluated. Patients who regained consciousness were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) analyses were used to evaluate independent factors for regaining consciousness. RESULTS: A total of 77 patients were included in this study. Fifty-eight (75.3%) patients regained consciousness, most within one day (43.1%). Nineteen (24.7%) patients never regained consciousness. MLR analysis showed that initial GCS score (odds 1.85, p = 0.017), early airway protection in ED (odds 25.02, p = 0.018) and 72-h GCS score improvement by two points (odds 0.02, p = 0.001) were independent factors for regaining consciousness. Overall, 94.1% of patients who received early airway protection and improved 2 points in 72-h GCS score regained consciousness. The association between days to M5 status and days to M6 status (consciousness) was highly significant. Fewer days to M5 status were highly associated with needing fewer days to regain consciousness. CONCLUSIONS: For TBI patients with unconsciousness and normal initial head CT, a higher probability of regaining consciousness was observed in those who underwent early airway protection and who improved 2 points in 72-h GCS score. Regaining consciousness within a short period could be expected in patients with M5 status.

Positive signs on physical examination are not always indications for endotracheal tube intubation in patients with facial burn.

BACKGROUND: After clinical evaluation in the emergency department (ED), facial burn patients are usually intubated to protect their airways. However, the possibility of unnecessary intubation or delayed intubation after admission exists. Objective criteria for the evaluation of inhalation injury and the need for airway protection in facial burn patients are needed. METHODS: Facial burn patients between January 2013 and May 2016 were reviewed. Patients who were and were not intubated in the ED were compared. All the intubated patients received routine bronchoscopy and laboratory tests to evaluate whether they had inhalation injuries. The patients with and without confirmed inhalation injuries were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for inhalation injuries in the facial burn patients. The reasons for intubation in the patients without inhalation injuries were also investigated. RESULTS: During the study period, 121 patients were intubated in the ED among a total of 335 facial burn patients. Only 73 (60.3%) patients were later confirmed to have inhalation injuries on bronchoscopy. The comparison between the patients with and without inhalation injuries showed that shortness of breath (odds ratio = 3.376, p = 0.027) and high total body surface area (TBSA) (odds ratio = 1.038, p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for inhalation injury. Other physical signs (e.g., hoarseness, burned nostril hair, etc.), laboratory examinations and chest X-ray findings were not predictive of inhalation injury in facial burn patients. All the patients with a TBSA over 60% were intubated in the ED even if they did not have inhalation injuries. CONCLUSIONS: In the management of facial burn patients, positive signs on conventional physical examinations may not always be predictive of inhalation injury and the need for endotracheal tube intubation in the ED. More attention should be given to facial burn patients with shortness of breath and a high TBSA. Airway protection is needed in facial burn patients without inhalation injuries because of their associated injuries and treatments.

Evaluating the advantages of treating acute cholecystitis by following the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18): a study emphasizing clinical outcomes and medical expenditures.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a common surgical emergency. The Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18) provides a reliable algorithm for the treatment of AC patients to achieve optimal outcomes. However, the economic benefits have not been validated. We hypothesize that good outcomes and cost savings can both be achieved if patients are treated according to the TG18. METHOD: This retrospective study included 275 patients who underwent cholecystectomy in a 15-month span. Patients were divided into three groups (group 1: mild AC; group 2: moderate AC with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class ≤ 2 and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score ≤ 5; and group 3: moderate AC with ASA class ≥ 3, CCI score ≥ 6, or severe AC). Each group was further divided into two subgroups according to management (followed or deviated from the TG18). Patient demographics, clinical outcomes, and hospital costs were compared. RESULTS: For group 1 patients, 77 (81%) were treated according to the TG18 and had a significantly higher successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) rate (100%), lower hospital cost ($1896 vs $2388), and shorter hospital stay (2.9 vs 8 days) than those whose treatment deviated from the TG18. For group 2 patients, 50 (67%) were treated according to the TG18 and had a significantly lower hospital cost ($1926 vs $2856), shorter hospital stay (3.9 vs 9.9 days), and lower complication rate (0% vs 12.5%). For group 3 patients, 62 (58%) were treated according to the TG18 and had a significantly lower intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate (9.7% vs 25%), but a longer hospital stay (12.6 vs 7.8 days). However, their hospital costs were similar. Early LC in group 3 patients did not have economic benefits over gallbladder drainage and delayed LC. CONCLUSION: The TG18 are the state-of-the-art guidelines for the treatment of AC, achieving both satisfactory outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG)-Based Prospective Hospital Payment System can be well adopted for Acute Care Surgery: Taiwanese Experience with Acute Cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a common procedure for cholelithiasis paid by diagnostic-related groups (DRGs) systems. However, acute cholecystitis (AC) patients usually have heterogeneous conditions that compromise the successful implementation of DRGs. We evaluated the quality/efficiency of treating AC patients under the DRG system in Taiwan. METHODS: All AC patients who underwent LC between October 2015 and December 2016 were included. Patient demographics, treatment outcomes, and financial results were analyzed. Patients were reimbursed by one of the two DRG schemes based on their comorbidities/complications (CC): DRG-1, LC without CC; and DRG-2, LC with CC. Hospitals were reimbursed the costs incurred if they were below the lower threshold (balanced sector); with the outlier threshold if costs were between the lower and outlier thresholds (profitable sector); and with the outlier threshold plus 80% of the exceeding cost if costs were higher than the outlier threshold (profit-losing sector). RESULTS: Among 246 patients, 114 were paid by DRG-1, and 132 were by DRG-2. In total, 195 of 246 patients underwent LC within 1 day after admission, and patients with mild AC had shorter hospital stays than those with moderate or severe AC. The complication rate was 7.3% with only one mortality. In total, 92.1% of patients in DRG-1 and 90.9% of patients in DRG-2 were profitable. The average margin per patient was 11,032 TWD for DRG-1 and 24,993 TWD for DRG-2. CONCLUSIONS: DRGs can be well adopted for acute care surgery, and hospitals can still provide satisfactory services without losing profit.

Early brain computed tomographic angiography to screen for blunt cerebrovascular injuries in patients with polytrauma: Is it necessary?

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is among the most difficult challenges in trauma treatment. This study aimed to determine the optimal timing of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) screening for suspicious BCVI in patients with polytrauma. METHODS: We reviewed the trauma registry and medical records of patients with head and neck injuries from a Level I trauma center between January 2012 and December 2016. Those receiving CTA within 24 h of presentation at the emergency department were the primary CTA group; those who received CTA after 24 h were the delayed CTA group. The basic demographics, indications for CTA, CTA severity grading, and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: In all, 228 patients received brain CTA. Most were male (75%); the mean age was around 40 years. The 38 patients with positive BCVI had a significantly higher ratio of severe chest trauma (52.6% vs 25.8%, p = 0.001); 26 of them received primary CTA and 12 received delayed CTA. Patients with polytrauma predominated in the delayed CTA group (66.7% vs 30.8%, p = 0.037). Of the patients in the primary CTA group, 26.9% received CTA due to symptomatic presentation (p = 0.047). Patients in the delayed group had better neurological outcomes (83% neurologically intact, vs 38.5%, p = 0.01) and lower mortality (0% vs 26.9%, p = 0.047). The only independent positive prognostic factor was initial motor response ≥M5 (Odds Ratio 21.46, 95% Confidence Interval 2.01-228.71). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with polytrauma, performing brain CTA for BCVI screening in the first 24-h or after may not affect clinical outcome. Initial motor response is the sole indicator for outcome. Delaying the study for to the next 24-hour can be considered in such patients, when regarding hemodynamic stability, the dose of contrast medium, and the radiation exposure.

Predicting outcomes of abdominal surgical emergencies in the elderly population using a CT muscle gauge.

BACKGROUND: Frailty has been shown to be an independent negative predictor of surgical outcomes in geriatric patients. Traditional measurements of muscle strength and mass are impractical in emergency settings, and computed tomography (CT)-measured skeletal muscle mass has been proposed as an alternative. However, the cutoff values for low muscle mass are still unknown, and their impact on abdominal emergencies in the elderly population is unclear. METHODS: A total of 462 young trauma patients aged 18-40 years were analyzed to establish sex-specific reference cutoff values for the CT-measured muscle index (MI) and muscle gauge (MG) values. The impacts of low MI and MG values were investigated in 1192 elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years) undergoing abdominal surgery. RESULTS: The sex-specific cutoff values for MI and MG were determined by adopting European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 guidelines. The correlation between MG and aging was significantly stronger than that between MI and ageing. With regard to the MG, the L4 psoas muscle gauge (L4 PMG) was further investigated in an elderly cohort owing to its high predictive value and ease of use in the clinical setting. A low L4 PMG value was an independent risk factor for overall complications and mortality in elderly patients with abdominal emergencies. CONCLUSION: The current study was the largest study investigating the correlations between MG values and aging in the Asian population. A low L4 PMG value may help surgeons during preoperative decision making regarding geriatric patients with abdominal emergencies.

Systematic Review of Diagnostic Sensors for Intra-Abdominal Pressure Monitoring.

Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is defined as the steady-state pressure within the abdominal cavity. Elevated IAP has been implicated in many medical complications. This article reviews the current state-of-the-art in innovative sensors for the measurement of IAP. A systematic review was conducted on studies on the development and application of IAP sensors. Publications from 2010 to 2021 were identified by performing structured searches in databases, review articles, and major textbooks. Sixteen studies were eligible for the final systematic review. Of the 16 articles that describe the measurement of IAP, there were 5 in vitro studies (31.3%), 7 in vivo studies (43.7%), and 4 human trials (25.0%). In addition, with the advancement of wireless communication technology, an increasing number of wireless sensing systems have been developed. Among the studies in this review, five presented wireless sensing systems (31.3%) to monitor IAP. In this systematic review, we present recent developments in different types of intra-abdominal pressure sensors and discuss their inherent advantages due to their small size, remote monitoring, and multiplexing.

Unstable Hemodynamics is not Always Predictive of Failed Nonoperative Management in Blunt Splenic Injury.

BACKGROUND: The advanced technology of interventional radiology may contribute to a rapid and timely angioembolization for hemostasis. We hypothesized that unstable hemodynamics is no longer an absolute contraindication of nonoperative management (NOM) in blunt splenic injury patients using rapid angioembolization. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2019, blunt splenic injury patients with unstable hemodynamics [initial pulse >120 beats/min or systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg] were included. Either emergency surgery or angioembolization was performed for hemostasis because of their unstable status. The characteristics of patients who underwent angioembolization or surgery were compared in each group (all patients, patients with hypotension, patients without response to resuscitation and hypotensive patients without response to resuscitation). RESULTS: A total of 73 patients were included in the current study. With respect to all patients, 68.5% (N = 50) of patients underwent NOM with angioembolization for hemostasis. Patients who underwent angioembolization for hemostasis had a significantly lower base deficit (5.3 ± 3.8 vs. 8.3 ± 5.2 mmol/L, p = 0.006) and a higher proportion of response to resuscitation (82.0% vs. 30.4%, p < 0.001) than did patients who underwent surgery. However, there was no significant difference in the proportion of hypotension (58.0% vs. 65.2%, p = 0.558) between these two groups. There were 44 patients with hypotension, and the angioembolization could be performed in 65.9% (N = 29) of them. Patients who underwent angioembolization had a significantly higher proportion of response to resuscitation than did patients who underwent surgery (89.7% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.001). In hypotensive patients without response to resuscitation (N = 13), 23.1% (N = 3) of the patients underwent angioembolization successfully. There was no significant difference in time to hemostasis procedure between patients who underwent angioembolization or surgery (24.7 ± 2.1 vs. 26.3 ± 16.7 min, p = 0.769). The demographics, vital signs, blood transfusion amount, injury severity, mortality rate and length of stay of patients who underwent angioembolization were not significantly different from patients who underwent surgery in each group. CONCLUSIONS: With a short preparation time of angioembolization, the NOM could be performed selectively for hemodynamically unstable patients with blunt splenic injury. The base deficit serves as an early detector of the requirement of surgical treatment.

An Image-Based Mobile Health App for Postdrainage Monitoring: Usability Study.

BACKGROUND: The application of mobile health (mHealth) platforms to monitor recovery in the postdischarge period has increased in recent years. Despite widespread enthusiasm for mHealth, few studies have evaluated the usability and user experience of mHealth in patients with surgical drainage. OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to (1) develop an image-based smartphone app, SurgCare, for postdrainage monitoring and (2) determine the feasibility and clinical value of the use of SurgCare by patients with drainage. METHODS: We enrolled 80 patients with biliary or peritoneal drainage in this study. A total of 50 patients were assigned to the SurgCare group, who recorded drainage monitoring data with the smartphone app; and 30 patients who manually recorded the data were assigned to the conventional group. The patients continued to record data until drain removal. The primary aim was to validate feasibility for the user, which was defined as the proportion of patients using each element of the system. Moreover, the secondary aim was to evaluate the association of compliance with SurgCare and the occurrence of unexpected events. RESULTS: The average submission duration was 14.98 days, and the overall daily submission rate was 84.2%. The average system usability scale was 83.7 (SD 3.5). This system met the definition of "definitely feasible" in 34 patients, "possibly feasible" in 10 patients, and "not feasible" in 3 patients. We found that the occurrence rates of complications in the SurgCare group and the conventional group were 6% and 26%, respectively, with statistically significant differences P=.03. The rate of unexpected hospital return was lower in the SurgCare group (6%) than in the conventional groups (26%) (P=.03). CONCLUSIONS: Patients can learn to use a smartphone app for postdischarge drainage monitoring with high levels of user satisfaction. We also identified a high degree of compliance with app-based drainage-recording design features, which is an aspect of mHealth that can improve surgical care.

Serum asprosin levels and bariatric surgery outcomes in obese adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Asprosin is a novel fasting-induced glucogenic and orexigenic protein hormone. The clinical function of asprosin in obesity is currently unknown. This study investigated the association between asprosin abundance and the outcome of bariatric surgery. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Patients with body mass index more than 35 kg/m2 were recruited for the Obesity and Clock for Elegant Aging Registry in 2011-2016. Body weight changes, blood sugar, and asprosin were assessed in 117 patients receiving bariatric surgery and 57 non-obese subjects as normal control. Primary outcomes of excess weight loss percentage at 6 months after bariatric surgery were determined at follow-up. RESULTS: Asprosin levels were significantly higher in obese patients than in non-obese subjects (2360 ± 5094 vs. 307 ± 832 ng/ml, p < 0.0001). Multivariate analyses showed a significant association of asprosin abundance with excess body weight loss percentage at 6 months after surgery (p < 0.0001). After adjusted for age, sex, smoking, HbA1c, cholesterol, and triglyceride, serum asprosin level was the only independent predictor of 6 months excess weight loss percentage after bariatric surgery. Asprosin levels decreased significantly 6 months after bariatric surgery (162.2 ± 169.1 ng/ml). Furthermore, there was no association between asprosin and serum glucose levels in our study. CONCLUSION: This study provides novel evidence that higher asprosin concentrations before bariatric surgery were associated with the weight reduction magnitude at 6 months after surgery. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether asprosin has direct functions to modulate body weight regulation in humans after bariatric surgery.

Application of a deep learning algorithm for detection and visualization of hip fractures on plain pelvic radiographs.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the feasibility of using a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) for the detection and localization of hip fractures on plain frontal pelvic radiographs (PXRs). Hip fracture is a leading worldwide health problem for the elderly. A missed diagnosis of hip fracture on radiography leads to a dismal prognosis. The application of a DCNN to PXRs can potentially improve the accuracy and efficiency of hip fracture diagnosis. METHODS: A DCNN was pretrained using 25,505 limb radiographs between January 2012 and December 2017. It was retrained using 3605 PXRs between August 2008 and December 2016. The accuracy, sensitivity, false-negative rate, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were evaluated on 100 independent PXRs acquired during 2017. The authors also used the visualization algorithm gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) to confirm the validity of the model. RESULTS: The algorithm achieved an accuracy of 91%, a sensitivity of 98%, a false-negative rate of 2%, and an AUC of 0.98 for identifying hip fractures. The visualization algorithm showed an accuracy of 95.9% for lesion identification. CONCLUSIONS: A DCNN not only detected hip fractures on PXRs with a low false-negative rate but also had high accuracy for localizing fracture lesions. The DCNN might be an efficient and economical model to help clinicians make a diagnosis without interrupting the current clinical pathway. KEY POINTS: • Automated detection of hip fractures on frontal pelvic radiographs may facilitate emergent screening and evaluation efforts for primary physicians. • Good visualization of the fracture site by Grad-CAM enables the rapid integration of this tool into the current medical system. • The feasibility and efficiency of utilizing a deep neural network have been confirmed for the screening of hip fractures.

The effect of angioembolization for life-threatening retroperitoneal hemorrhage in patients with pelvic fracture.

BACKGROUND: Conventionally, pelvic fracture-related acute retroperitoneal hemorrhage (ARH) is life threatening and difficult to control. However, the use of angioembolization to treat fracture-associated ARH improves the hemodynamic stability of patients with pelvic fractures. The role of angioembolization in the management of patients with pelvic fracture-related ARH was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a large case series of patients with pelvic fractures between January 2010 and December 2014. Comparisons were made between patients with and without ARH. In addition, the characteristics of mortality were delineated, whereas the causes of death in patients with pelvic fracture were discussed and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1070 patient records were reviewed during the 60-month study period, and the overall mortality rate of pelvic fracture was 7.7% (82/1070). However, there were only seven patients who died due to uncontrolled ARH (0.7%). The patients with ARH had more injuries to other organs than did the patients without ARH (head: 79.7% vs. 31.7%, p < 0.001; chest: 50.3% vs. 10.9%, p < 0.001; abdomen: 72.0% vs. 22.7%, p < 0.001; spine: 12.6% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001; extremities: 69.2% vs. 44.3%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The treatment for pelvic fracture patients declared dead upon arrival remains limited. However, pelvic fracture-related ARH could be controlled effectively with angioembolization. In addition to ARH, injuries to other organs may play a key role in the mortality of patients with pelvic fractures.