Ratios of Neutrophils and Platelets to Lymphocytes as Predictors of Postoperative Intensive Care Unit Admission and Length of Stay in Bariatric Surgery Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the role of the pre- and postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting intensive care unit (ICU) admission and postoperative length of stay (LOS) in bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed 96 patients who underwent bariatric surgery at our institution. The NLR and PLR were calculated in the pre- and postoperative stages. Changes in pre- and postoperative hematological ratios were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The optimal cutoff values and area under the curve (AUC) for each ratio were calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between each ratio and the postoperative LOS after adjusting for age, sex, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score. Results: The median age of our patients was 35.50 years, and 54.2% were male. The preoperative NLR showed a significant increase from 1.44 to 6.38 postoperatively (p < 0.001). The PLR increased from 107.08 preoperatively to 183.58 postoperatively, p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that the postoperative NLR was a moderate to high predictor of ICU admission (AUC = 0.700, optimal cutoff point = 5.987). The postoperative PLR had less predictive power for ICU admission (AUC = 0.641, optimal cutoff point = 170.950). Ratios that had a statistically significant relationship with the postoperative LOS were the preoperative NLR (standardized ß [95% CI]: 0.296 [0.115-0.598]), postoperative NLR (0.311 [0.034-0.161]), and postoperative PLR (0.236 [0.000-0.005]). Conclusions: The NLR and PLR demonstrated an independent relationship with the postoperative LOS after bariatric surgery and the predictive ability of ICU admission. Both ratios might be useful as simple markers to predict patient outcome after surgery.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Liver Transplantation Recipients after Tranexamic Acid Treatment and Platelet Transfusion: A Retrospective Single-Centre Experience.

Background and Objectives: Patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) often require increased blood product transfusion due to pre-existing coagulopathy and intraoperative fibrinolysis. Strategies to minimise intraoperative bleeding and subsequent blood product requirements include platelet transfusion and tranexamic acid (TXA). Prophylactic TXA administration has been shown to reduce bleeding and blood product requirements intraoperatively. However, its clinical use is still debated. The aim of this study was to report on a single-centre practice and analyse clinical characteristics and outcomes of LT recipients according to intraoperative treatment of TXA or platelet transfusion. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational cohort study in which we reviewed 162 patients' records. Characteristics, intraoperative requirement of blood products, postoperative development of thrombosis and outcomes were compared between patients without or with intraoperative TXA treatment and without or with platelet transfusion. Results: Intraoperative treatment of TXA and platelets was 53% and 57.40%, respectively. Patients who required intraoperative administration of TXA or platelet transfusion also required more transfusion of blood products. Neither TXA nor platelet transfusion were associated with increased postoperative development of hepatic artery and portal vein thrombosis, 90-day mortality or graft loss. There was a significant increase in the median length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay in those who received platelet transfusion only (2.00 vs. 3.00 days; p = 0.021). Time to extubate was significantly different in both those who required TXA and platelet transfusion intraoperatively. Conclusions: Our analysis indicates that LT recipients still required copious intraoperative transfusion of blood products, despite the use of intraoperative TXA and platelets. Our findings have important implications for current transfusion practice in LT recipients and may guide clinicians to act upon these findings, which will support global efforts to encourage a wider use of TXA to reduce transfusion requirements, including platelets.

Reduction of NETosis by targeting CXCR1/2 reduces thrombosis, lung injury, and mortality in experimental human and murine sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) facilitate bacterial clearance but also promote thrombosis and organ injury in sepsis. We quantified ex vivo NET induction in septic humans and murine models of sepsis to identify signalling pathways that may be modulated to improve outcome in human sepsis. METHODS: NET formation in human donor neutrophils was quantified after incubation with plasma obtained from patients with sepsis or systemic inflammation (double-blinded assessment of extracellular DNA using immunofluorescence microscopy). NET formation (% neutrophils forming NETs) was correlated with plasma cytokine levels (MultiPlex assay). Experimental sepsis (caecal ligation and puncture or intraperitoneal injection of Escherichia coli) was assessed in C57/BL6 male mice. The effect of pharmacological inhibition of CXCR1/2 signalling (reparixin) on NET formation, organ injury (hepatic, renal, and cardiac biomarkers), and survival in septic mice was examined. RESULTS: NET formation was higher after incubation with plasma from septic patients (median NETs=25% [10.5-46.5%]), compared with plasma obtained from patients with systemic inflammation (14% [4.0-23.3%]; P=0.02). Similar results were observed after incubation of plasma from mice with neutrophils from septic non-septic mice. Circulating CXCR1/2 ligands correlated with NETosis in patients (interleukin-8; r=0.643) and mice (macrophage inflammatory protein-2; r=0.902). In experimental sepsis, NETs were primarily observed in the lungs, correlating with fibrin deposition (r=0.702) and lung injury (r=0.692). Inhibition of CXCR1/2 using reparixin in septic mice reduced NET formation, multi-organ injury, and mortality, without impairing bacterial clearance. CONCLUSION: CXCR1/2 signalling-induced NET formation is a therapeutic target in sepsis, which may be guided by ex vivo NET assays.

A Novel Assay for Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation Independently Predicts Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients.

Rationale: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are important in the host defense against infection, but they also promote intravascular coagulation and multiorgan failure in animal models. Their clinical significance remains unclear, and available assays for patient care lack specificity and reliability.Objectives: To establish a novel assay and test its clinical significance.Methods: A prospective cohort of 341 consecutive adult ICU patients was recruited. The NET-forming capacity of ICU admission blood samples was semiquantified by directly incubating patient plasma with isolated neutrophils ex vivo. The association of NET-forming capacity with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and 28-day mortality was analyzed and compared with available NET assays.Measurements and Main Results: Using the novel assay, we could stratify ICU patients into four groups with absent (22.0%), mild (49.9%), moderate (14.4%), and strong (13.8%) NET formation, respectively. Strong NET formation was predominantly found in sepsis (P < 0.0001). Adjusted by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, multivariate regression showed that the degree of NET formation could independently predict disseminated intravascular coagulation and mortality, whereas other NET assays (e.g., cell-free DNA, myeloperoxidase, and myeloperoxidase-DNA complexes) could not. IL-8 concentrations were found to be strongly associated with NET formation, and inhibiting IL-8 significantly attenuated NETosis. Mitogen-activated protein kinase activation by IL-8 has been identified as a major pathway of NET formation in patients.Conclusions: This assay directly measures the NET-forming capacity in patient plasma. This could guide clinical management and enable identification of NET-inducing factors in individual patients for targeted treatment and personalized ICU medicine.

The Ability of Emergency Medical Service Staff to Predict Emergency Department Disposition: A Prospective Study.

Purpose: Paramedics' decision to notify receiving hospitals and transport patients to an appropriate healthcare facility is based on the Prediction of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Hospital Admissions guide. This study aimed to assess the paramedics' gestalt on both ward and ICU admission. Patients and Methods: A prospective study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City between September 2021 and March 2022. Paramedics were asked several questions related to the prediction of the patient's hospital outcome, including emergency department (ED) discharge or hospital admission (ICU or ward). Additional data, such as the time of the ambulance's arrival and the staff years of experience, were collected. The categorical characteristics are presented by frequency and percentage for each category. Results: This study included 251 paramedics and 251 patients. The average age of the patients was 62 years. Of the patients, 32 (12.7%) were trauma, and 219 (87.3%) were non-trauma patients. Two-thirds of the patients (n=171, 68.1%) were predicted to be admitted to the hospital, and 80 (31.8%) of the EMS staff indicated that the patient do not need a hospital or an ambulance. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the emergency medical service (EMS) staffs' gestalt for patient admission to the hospital were, respectively (77%), (33%), (16%), and (90%). Further analysis was reported to defend the EMS staffs' gestalt based on the level of EMS staff and the nature of the emergency (medical vs trauma), are reported. Conclusion: Our study reports a low level of accurately predicting patient admission to the hospital, including the ICU. The results of this study have important implications for enhancing the accuracy of EMS staff predictive ability and ensuring that patients receive appropriate care promptly.

Mental Health and Sleep Quality of Healthcare Providers After Partial Relief of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: We aimed to assess sleep quality and psychological distress among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the context of mitigated governmental restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 370 HCWs from a single tertiary healthcare institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sleep quality and psychological distress were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21). Results: The median stress score for HCWs aged between 20 and 29 years was higher compared to HCWs aged between 30 and 39 years (p=0.002) and HCWs aged between 50 and 59 years (p<0.001). The median anxiety score of the age group between 20 and 29 years was also significantly higher compared to the age groups between 40 and 49 and 50-59 years (all p<0.05). HCWs living with family showed higher anxiety and depression scores compared to those living with non-family members (p=0.006 and p=0.005, respectively). Handling COVID-19 patients on multiple occasions during routine patient care was significantly associated with higher anxiety and depression scores among HCWs. The results also showed higher PSQI scores among younger HCWs (20-29 years) and trainees (all p<0.05). In addition, PSQI correlate significantly with depression (r=0.268) and anxiety (r=0.278) scores of DASS-21 scale (all p<0.001). Conclusion: Poor psychological well-being and sleep quality were observed among certain groups of HCWs, even after the mitigation of COVID-19 restrictions. This study highlights the need for strategies to manage HCWs at risk of developing psychological distress during future catastrophes.

The Value of Preoperative Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index as a Predictor of Prolonged Hospital Stay in Orthopedic Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Many risk factors, such as the duration of surgery and higher ASA scores, are associated with longer hospitalization in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. However, no studies have evaluated the relationship between the preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and length of hospital stay in orthopedic surgical patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether the SII is associated with the length of hospital stay in orthopedic surgery in adults. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study, and data were extracted from electronic health records. Patients were included if they were older than 18 years and had undergone orthopedic surgery between [2016-2021]. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median duration of hospitalization and according to SII cut-off value (high-SII group: ≥799.86, low-SII group: <799.86). Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to identify the association between SII and length of hospitalization. Results: A total of 196 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery were included, and 62 were hospitalized for >21 days. There were significant differences in terms of ASA score (P = 0.041). Patients who required a longer hospitalization of >21 days had significantly lower hemoglobin level (P < 0.001), higher duration of surgery (P = 0.015), and increased requirement of ICU admission (P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value for preoperative SII of 799.86 stratified the patients into high-SII and low-SII groups. Patients in high-SII group had higher median LOHS (22 days) compared to low-SII group (17 days; P = 0.006). In the multivariable linear regression analysis, the SII was significantly related to the length of hospital stay (ß = 0.246, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.000-0.005, P = 0.031). Conclusion: A high-SII value is associated with an increased risk of longer hospitalization after orthopedic surgery.