Impact of socioeconomic deprivation on incidence and outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection repair in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic deprivation (SED) has been associated with increased 30-day mortality and reduced long-term survival after surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). The study aimed to determine the incidence rate ratio of ATAAD in New Zealand population with higher and lower SED indices and to evaluate any association between SED and outcomes after ATAAD repair. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent ATAAD repair from March 2003 to May 2020 were identified. Overseas patients, those with chronic aortic dissection, and those who died in hospital before the operation were excluded. The total number of New Zealand residents was estimated based on the national 2018 Census. RESULTS: A total of 363 ATAAD patients met the eligibility criteria. The incidence of ATAAD was 70% greater in those who were more socioeconomically deprived (higher SED) compared with less socioeconomically deprived (lower SED) New Zealanders (odds ratio = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4-2.1; p < .0005). Postoperative cardiogenic shock, renal failure, pulmonary embolism, and respiratory failure were more common in the higher than in the lower SED group. Both groups had similar operative and in-hospital mortality and time intervals in the intensive care unit and hospital. Both groups had similar freedom from reoperation (hazards ratio [HR] = 1.1; 95% CI = 0.5-2.6; p = .746) and long-term survival (HR = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.5-1.1; p = .115). CONCLUSION: The incidence of ATAAD is greater in more socioeconomically deprived New Zealand residents. Following ATAAD repair, SED is not associated with worse short- or long-term outcomes in the universal health care system.

Impact of the Duration of Global Cardiac Ischaemia on Outcomes of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Repair.

BACKGROUND: The current management of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAD) repair does not consider the safe duration of cardiac ischaemia as an operative strategy. We aimed to evaluate whether the duration of cardiac ischaemia during ATAD repair can predict operative mortality and to determine the optimum cardiac ischaemia time that is associated with better outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study. Patients who underwent ATAD repair from 2003 to 2020 were identified from our hospital records. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty three (363) ATAD patients met eligibility criteria. The median patient age was 61 years, 221 (61%) patients were male. Duration of cardiac ischaemia was associated with operative mortality (Odds ratio [OR] =1.01; p<0.0005). Its optimal cut-off point was equal to or above 149.5 minutes (95% CI: 126.2-172.8). In patients with a shorter period (less than 150 mins) of cardiac ischaemia, a valve-sparing root repair was used more often (OR=2.5; 95% CI: 1.6-3.9; p<0.001). Procedures that had the longer period of cardiac ischaemia included the Bentall procedure (OR=10.9; 95% CI: 4.9-27.4; p<0.001), descending thoracic aorta replacement (OR=4.3; 95% CI: 1.007-18.7; p=0.049) and concomitant cardiac surgery (OR=4.7; 95% CI: 2-11.1; p<0.001). Operations associated with shorter cardiac ischaemia were associated with lower in-hospital mortality and better long-term survival. CONCLUSION: This study determined that the duration of cardiac ischaemia in ATAD repair is linked to operative mortality. Further studies are required to confirm that ATAD patients with surgical repair involving less than 150 minutes of cardiac ischaemic time have lower in-hospital mortality and better long-term survival.

Socio-Economic Disparity is Not Linked to Outcome Following Heart Transplantation in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Socio-economic deprivation (SED) is emerging as a risk factor for acute graft rejection (AR) and reduced survival of heart transplant (HT) recipients. The study aim was to evaluate any association between SED status of HT recipients and the development of early AR and long-term survival in New Zealand. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Over a 30-year period, 329 HT recipients were identified from the Australian and New Zealand Heart Transplant Registry. All patients were divided into two groups according to the 2013 New Zealand Deprivation Index (NZDep2013) Score. Heart transplant recipients with NZDep2013 scores of 1,030 and above that corresponded to the eighth, ninth and tenth NZDep2013 deciles were allocated to the higher SED group and those with NZDep2013 scores below 1,030 to the lower SED group. RESULTS: The incidence of early AR in the higher SED group was 1.158/person-years and in the lower SED group 1.156/person-years. The crude incidence rate ratio was 1.0 (95% CI: 0.71-1.44; p = 0.9997). The prevalence of early AR in the higher SED group was 1.13/person-years and 1.15/person-years in the lower SED group. The crude prevalence rate ratio was 0.98/person-year (95% CI: 0.68-1.41/person-years; p = 0.468). In the higher SED group, mortality was 5.6/100 person-years (95% CI: 4.3-7.4/100 person-years) and 5.2/100 person-years (95% CI: 4.3-6.3/100 person-years) in the lower SED group. The adjusted mortality rate ratio estimate was 1.2 (95% CI: 0.8-1.7; p = 0.426). The higher and lower SED groups had similar survival (p = 0.196). CONCLUSION: Socio-economic disparity in New Zealand HT recipients has no negative impact on the development of AR or survival.

Diagnostic inflammatory markers in acute cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: The 2018 Tokyo guidelines for acute cholangitis (AC) use white cell count (WCC) as one of the diagnostic criteria. However, the 2018 Tokyo guidelines grading does not provide guidance for AC patients with normal WCC. In this situation, other inflammatory biomarkers also can be used to diagnose AC and grade severity, but their diagnostic values are yet undetermined. The aims of this study were to evaluate the discriminative powers of common inflammatory markers compared with WCC for diagnosing AC and to determine their diagnostic cutoff levels. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Over 2 y, 96 patients who underwent endoscopic biliary decompression were identified from the Auckland City Hospital Radiology Department database. Only patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AC were included in the study. Thirty-four patients with AC and 18 controls met eligibility criteria. RESULTS: Comparing areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves, it was the lymphocyte count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) that had the highest discriminative powers in diagnosing AC. Values of WCC for diagnosing AC were equal to or above 9.6 × 109/L, neutrophil count equal to or exceeding 4.9 × 109/L, lymphocyte count equal to or below 1.3 × 109/L, NLR 5.3 and above, albumin equal to or below 30.5 g/L, and CRP concentration 23.5 mg/L or above. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphocyte count, NLR, and CRP have superior discriminative powers to WCC, albumin, and neutrophil count and can be useful in the diagnosis of AC.

Evaluation of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a potential biomarker for acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of acute cholecystitis (AC) is frequently associated with an increase in white cell count (WCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP). However, one or both of these inflammatory biomarkers can be normal in AC. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the discriminative powers of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with WCC and CRP in diagnosing AC. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. For more than a period of 5 y, 1959 patients were identified from the cholecystectomy Registry. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients with histologic evidence of AC were included if they also had preoperative WCC and CRP measurements. Eligibility criteria were met by 177 patients. These patients were compared with 45 control subjects who had normal gallbladder histology. RESULTS: One unit of increase in the NLR was associated with a 2.5 times increase in the odds of AC (odds ratio = 2.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-4.1; P < 0.0005). NLR cutoff values of 4.1 (95% CI, 3.42-4.79), 3.25 (95% CI, 1.95-4.54), and 4.17 (95% CI, 3.76-4.58) were diagnostic for the overall AC, mild, and moderate-severe AC, respectively. The NLR areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve in AC, mild, and moderate-severe AC were 94% (95% CI, 91%-97%), 87% (95% CI, 81%-93%), and 98% (95% CI, 96%-100%), respectively. The discriminative power of an NLR was superior to that of the WCC and similar to CRP for diagnosing AC and different grades of severity. CONCLUSIONS: NLR can be considered as a potential inflammatory biomarker for AC.

The association of socioeconomic deprivation with access and survival after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic deprivation (SED) is a risk factor for reduced survival of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. This study aimed to evaluate access and long-term survival of HSCT recipients. METHODS: This was a hospital HSCT Registry-based retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent HSCT from January 2010 to June 2020 were identified. HSCT recipients younger than 16 years of age, patients who reported their residential address as a post office box or the Department of Corrections, and those who left the country after HSCT were excluded from the study. HSCT recipients with the 2018 New Zealand deprivation index (NZDep2018) deciles 8, 9, and 10 were assigned to the higher SED group and those with NZDep2018 deciles from 1 to 7 were allocated to the lower SED group. The total number of New Zealanders in the higher and lower SED strata was obtained from the 2018 Census. RESULTS: Eight hundred fifty-one HSCT recipients met the eligibility criteria. HSCT recipients from the higher and lower SED strata of the New Zealand population had similar access to HSCT (odds ratio = .9; 95% confidence interval (CI): .77-1.04; p = .155). Mortality in the higher and lower SED groups of HSCT recipients was 9.6/100 person-years (95% CI: 7.7-12/100 person-years) and 8.1/100 person-years (95% CI: 6.9-9.4/100 person-years), respectively. The mortality ratio was 1.2 (95% CI: .9-1.6), p = .098. Both groups had similar survival. CONCLUSION: New Zealand residents from the higher and lower SED strata have similar access to HSCT. SED is not associated with reduced survival in adult HSCT recipients.

Accuracy of ultrasound in the estimation of customised birth weight in a public hospital service.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown that ultrasound estimated foetal weight (EFW) in small for gestational age (SGA) babies tends to be less-accurate when compared to appropriate (AGA) and large (LGA) for gestational age babies. We aimed to analyse the accuracy of ultrasound EFW overall, and by customised birth weight centile category (severe SGA, SGA, AGA, LGA). Also, the accuracy of estimating the centile category using calculated customised EFW centiles. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of pregnant women between 20-43 weeks gestation who underwent ultrasound within 7 days of delivery at a large tertiary maternity unit between January 2018 and December 2020. Stillbirths, major foetal anomalies and multiple pregnancies were excluded. The EFW and birth weight were compared, and an accurate estimate defined as ≤15% difference. The customised EFW and birth weight centiles were calculated and used to analyse the accuracy of category prediction. RESULTS: Of 2061 foetuses included, 92% (n = 1902) were born weighing within 15% of their EFW. Accuracy was not affected by maternal BMI, ethnicity, parity or gestation. 87% of SGA babies were within 15% of their EFW. Ultrasound sensitivity for SGA was 51% (95% CI: 46-55%). The specificity and positive predictive values were 97% (95% CI: 96-98%) and 87% (95% CI: 82-90%) respectively. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of Ultrasound EFW overall is good, however, is reduced in SGA babies whose EFW and birth weight centile categories tended to be overestimated. The high specificity for SGA supports monitoring with a lowered threshold to intervene in pregnancies identified by ultrasound as SGA.

Trends in computed tomography aortography and acute aortic syndrome in an emergency department within Aotearoa New Zealand.

OBJECTIVE: Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) comprises a triad of life-threatening aortic conditions that are difficult to diagnose because of their non-specific clinical presentations. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography aortography (CTA) has a high sensitivity and specificity for these conditions. However, under- and over-investigation of patients with suspected AAS using CTA carries significant risk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic imaging practices of CTA use for patients presenting to an ED with suspected AAS. METHODS: All atraumatic thoracic CTAs performed on patients aged ≥15 years old with suspected AAS who presented to Auckland City Hospital between 2009 and 2019 were included. Outcomes of interest were the annual ED and population incidences of AAS, and the rate of CTAs performed. RESULTS: A total of 1646 CTAs were included. There were 135 (8.2%) cases of at least one AAS diagnosis and 220 (13.4%) cases where an alternative diagnosis was made. The population-adjusted number of AAS diagnoses remained relatively stable over the study period, with a mean annual AAS incidence of 19.6 (95% confidence interval 9.9-33.7) per 100 000 patients, and 3.2 (95% confidence interval 1.6-5.4) per 100 000 population. The number of ED presentations increased during the study period, along with the population-adjusted rate of CTAs performed, from approximately 150 per 100 000 patients (2009) to 350 per 100 000 patients (2019). CONCLUSIONS: Thoracic CTA use for investigating suspected AAS in our ED has recently increased. However, the annual incidence of AAS did not increase over the same period, but was higher than reported in overseas institutions.

Ethnic Disparities in CT Aortography Use for Diagnosing Acute Aortic Syndrome.

Purpose: To determine whether CT aortography was performed in proportion to patient risk for acute aortic syndrome (AAS) and incidence of AAS for different ethnic groups. Materials and Methods: All atraumatic thoracic aorta CT aortographic examinations performed in adults (age > 15 years) suspected of having AAS between January 2009 and December 2019 at Auckland City Hospital (New Zealand) were included. Patients were risk stratified using the aortic dissection detection risk score (ADD-RS). The primary outcomes were the ratio of CT aortography rates to rates of positive CT aortographic examinations and the incidence of AAS. Population census data were used to determine age-standardized incidence of AAS in the emergency department (ED). Results: In total, 1646 CT aortographic examinations were performed in 1543 patients (mean age, 62 years ± 16 [SD]; 877 male patients). Maori (34% [68 of 203]) and Pacific Islanders (35% [80 of 229]) were more likely to be at high risk of AAS (ADD-RS > 1) compared with patients from other ethnic groups (25% [308 of 1214]); in the ED catchment population, age-standardized AAS incidence was significantly higher in Maori (6.9 per 100 000 person-years [95% CI: 4.3, 10.4]) and Pacific Islanders (5.3 [95% CI: 3.4, 7.8]) than in other ethnic groups (2.3 [95% CI: 1.8, 2.8]). Despite this higher incidence, disproportionately fewer CT aortographic examinations were requested in the ED for Maori (9.2 CT aortographic examinations per AAS diagnosis) and Pacific Islanders (9.2 CT aortographic examinations per AAS diagnosis) compared with other ethnic groups (13.8 CT aortographic examinations per AAS diagnosis). Conclusion: Maori and Pacific Islanders were at disproportionately higher risk of AAS but had fewer requested CT aortographic examinations compared with other ethnic groups. This increased risk of AAS in Pacific Islander and indigenous Maori patients should be considered by clinicians when investigating AAS.Keywords: Ethnicity, Maori, Pacific Islander, Aortic Dissection Detection Risk Score, Acute Aortic Syndrome, Aortic Dissection, CT Angiography Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2022.

Diagnostic inflammatory markers of acute cholangitis in liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholangitis (AC) after liver transplantation occurs in 8-12% patients and remains a significant cause of patients' morbidity and mortality. The 2018 Tokyo guidelines use white blood cell count and C-reactive protein (CRP) as diagnostic criteria in AC. However, these and other common inflammatory markers have not been assessed in immunosuppressed liver transplant (LT) recipients with AC. The aims of this study were to compare the discriminative powers of common inflammatory markers, define the best inflammatory marker and determine the diagnostic cut-off values for the inflammatory markers in LT recipients with AC. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Over 16 years 212 LT recipients who underwent endoscopic biliary decompression were identified from hospital records. Thirty LT recipients with AC and 30 LT recipients without AC were randomly drawn in a 1:1 ratio. RESULTS: Among inflammatory markers, CRP had the highest discriminative power for diagnosing AC. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves for CRP, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were 95% (95% confidence interval (CI): 91-98), 59% (95% CI: 50-68), 65% (95% CI: 53-77) and 70% (95% CI: 59-80), respectively. The cut-off value of CRP for diagnosing AC was equal to or above 9.5 mg/L. CONCLUSION: CRP has the best discriminative power compared with other commonly used inflammatory markers for diagnosing AC in LT recipients. The optimal cut-off value for CRP concentration in diagnosing AC is equal to or above 9.5 mg/L.

Accuracy of ultrasound in estimating fetal weight in New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound estimation of fetal weight is an important factor guiding antenatal management. We aimed to review the accuracy of ultrasound in predicting fetal weight and birthweight category and identify influencing factors. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of term pregnant women who underwent ultrasound within 7 days of delivery at National Women's Health between January 2019 and January 2020. Stillbirths, major fetal anomalies and multiple pregnancies were excluded. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) was calculated using Hadlock formula and compared with birthweights. We evaluated change in weight categories due to these errors. RESULTS: Of 560 fetuses included, three quarters (n = 425, 76%) of EFWs were within 10% of birthweight. 135 fetuses had EFWs either less than 90% (n = 19) or greater than 110% (n = 116). Fetuses with EFW < 90% had longer times between scanning and delivery, lower EFW and higher maternal BMI. Fetuses with EFW > 110% were associated with higher EFW, later gestational age and older maternal age. US incorrectly estimated 71 (12.7%) fetal birthweight categories. Underestimated weight category (8.9%) was associated with higher maternal BMI. DISCUSSION: Inaccurate EFWs were more common at the extremes of fetal weight. A significant association was underestimation birthweight in mothers with increased BMI, who are at increased risk for perinatal and surgical complications. CONCLUSION: Our accuracy of 76% correctly predicted EFWs compares favourably with previous studies. Clinicians and sonographers should be aware of the increased risk for inaccurate categorisation of fetuses at the extremes of EFW and in mothers with increased BMI.

Thoracic manifestations of inhalational injury caused by the Whakaari/White Island eruption.

INTRODUCTION: Thoracic imaging of people who have survived exposure to a volcanic pyroclastic flow has not been described. In December 2019, an active volcano in New Zealand erupted with loss of life and severe burns to groups of people who were within one kilometre of a new fissure. Our aim was to describe the range of pulmonary abnormality in patients admitted to the Burns unit at Middlemore Hospital. METHODS: We describe the initial radiographic and computed tomography (CT) appearance of lung injuries in 14 people close to this fissure who were transported to our national burns centre in Middlemore hospital. We compared these appearances with bronchoscopy findings and A-a gradients as a measure of oxygen utilisation. RESULTS: All patients had chest radiographs and eight had CT scans within two days after admission. Nine had bronchoscopies within the first week. Two were repatriated to Australia, one of whom did not survive. Two died within 3 days after admission, and the remaining ten patients survived the first week. Eight patients required ongoing ventilation, seven of whom had abnormal CXRs or CT scans on admission. Two of these patients developed an ARDS pattern of oedema reflecting lung injury from the toxic surge but they recovered. In the five patients who survived the first week with relatively minor evidence of lung injury, bibasal atelectasis was the most common finding. CONCLUSION: Pyroclastic flow effect caused a variety of lung abnormalities most likely due to toxic gas emissions. Upper airway burns were seen at bronchoscopy in only 5 patients. An ARDS response in the lungs of two patients improved within three months.

Socioeconomic inequality: accessibility and outcomes after renal transplantation in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic deprivation (SED) is a risk factor for worse outcomes after renal transplantation (RTx). This study aimed to evaluate access to RTx in different SED strata of the New Zealand population. We also assessed patient survival, acute cellular allograft rejection (AR) and allograft loss. METHODS: This was an Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplantation and Organ Donation Registries-based retrospective cohort study. Patients who underwent RTx in New Zealand from 2008 to 2018 were identified. Patients younger than 16 years of age and those who left the country after RTx were excluded. RESULTS: In the higher SED stratum of New Zealanders, the rate of RTx was 53% greater than in the lower SED stratum (odds ratio = 1.53; 95% confidence interval: 1.33-1.76; p < 0.00005). RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen (23%) patients from the lower SED group and 51 (14.8%) patients from the higher SED group underwent living unrelated RTx, p = 0.0033. In 233 (67.5%) patients from the higher SED group and 265 (53.9%) patients from the lower SED group, transplanted kidneys were from deceased donors RTx, p = 0.0001. The incidence of allograft loss and patient survival were similar in these groups. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated a lower overall survival in the more socioeconomically deprived patients than in the lower SED group however this was not statistically significant after adjustment for covariates. A larger study is required to determine whether SED is associated with reduced survival.

Regional healthcare costs and burden of injury associated with electric scooters.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of shared electric scooters (e-scooters) to New Zealand has resulted in a large number of injuries. Within the past year, there have been studies addressing some of the impact of these e-scooter injuries, but none have included outpatient data or total regional costs. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of e-scooter associated injuries presenting to Auckland region healthcare providers in the seven months since their introduction using Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Claims data. The type of injuries and key metrics of their overall hospital burden were assessed between September 2018 and April 2019. The financial cost of these injuries was also estimated. RESULTS: A total of 770 patient presentations associated with e-scooters were identified during the study period. Of these, 524 (68.1%) were treated in the community by primary care physicians and 246 (31.9%) were treated in Auckland hospitals. The 246 hospital presentations used a total of 5,569 hospital bed-hours with 75 patients (30.5%) requiring admission and inpatient care. Of the hospital presentations, 49 patients (19.9%) required at least one operation, and 105 (42.7%) required specialist follow up care. 26.8% of injuries were thought to be associated with alcohol use. The estimated injury rate was 60 per 100,000 trips and hospital presentation rate was 20 per 100,000 trips. The combined cost attributable to these injuries was $608,843 (NZD) for Auckland City Hospital and $1,303,155 for the whole Auckland region. CONCLUSIONS: The overall burden of care due to the introduction of e-scooters to New Zealand has had significant impact both on the primary urban trauma center as well as community care facilities. E-scooter related injuries have had a large impact on regional healthcare costs.

Impact of e-scooter injuries on Emergency Department imaging.

INTRODUCTION: Since the introduction of a shared e-scooter service to Auckland in October there have been multiple media reports of associated injuries, but no quantitation of the number or severity of these injuries, or the impact on hospital emergency department services in Auckland. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review on all patients referred to Auckland hospital ED radiology with the indication containing 'e-scooter' between 15 August 2018 and 15 December 2018. All requests were screened to ensure that the injury was caused by an e-scooter. Recorded data included patient demographics, type of imaging utilised, injury type, and whether admission or surgery was required. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients met the inclusion criteria, only one of these was prior to introduction of shared e-scooters on 15 October 2018. Of these, there were 27 limb fractures, 3 dislocations, a fractured spine, 12 patients with concussion, 1 extra-dural bleed, 9 facial/skull fractures and multiple soft tissue injuries. Almost 40% of the patients required admission to a specialty service following imaging, and 25.4% required surgery. A total of 221 plain films and 47 CT scans were performed for e-scooter injuries in the 2-month period after their introduction. CONCLUSION: Introduction of shared e-scooters has resulted in a large number of serious related injuries that have required urgent radiology imaging. Many of these patients required further specialist consultation or surgery, and place an increased burden on overstretched emergency department services.

Screening acute cholangitis patients for sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholangitis (AC) complicated by septic shock is associated with 40% mortality. The best screening method for diagnosing sepsis in patients with AC is unknown. In this study, we aimed to compare the discriminative powers of systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (SIRS test) and the 2018 Tokyo Guidelines for moderate cholangitis (TG18 test) in screening AC patients for sepsis and to estimate their predictive abilities. METHODS: This was a retrospective diagnostic accuracy study in which the TG18 and SIRS tests were applied to two groups of patients; 52 patients with 70 hospital admissions had AC with shock index ≥0.7 and 46 patients with 57 hospital admissions had AC with shock index <0.7, uncomplicated choledocholithiasis, obstructive jaundice and biliary stent removal. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity for the TG18 test in identifying AC patients with sepsis were 69% and 68%, respectively. The SIRS test applied to the same patient cohort yielded 93% sensitivity and 79% specificity. The SIRS test had a larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 86% and 69%, respectively (P = 0.0004). With a sepsis prevalence of 23% in patients with biliary tract infections, the positive predictive value (PPV) for the SIRS test was 57% (95% confidence interval (CI) 44-69%) and the negative predictive value was 97% (95% CI 94-99%). The PPV and negative predictive value for the TG18 criteria were 39% (95% CI 30-50%) and 88% (95% CI 83-92%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The SIRS test had better discriminative power in identifying AC patients with sepsis than the TG18 criteria, but had a low PPV.

Sonographic findings in acute puerperal endometritis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reliability of the sonographic subserosal hypoechoic rim sign and endomyometrial junction indistinctness in distinguishing patients with acute puerperal endometritis from other common postpartum complications, particularly those with retained products of conception. METHODS: Radiographic coding identified all patients presenting to Auckland City Hospital over a 12-month period between 1 March 2016 and 28 February 2017 who had pelvic ultrasound scans to assess for postpartum complications. Clinical notes were reviewed to identify those patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute endometritis. After exclusion criteria were applied, the ultrasound images of 31 patients with acute endometritis and 31 randomly selected controls from the remaining pool of postpartum patients were randomised and anonymised. Ultrasound images were retrospectively reviewed by two independent radiologists to identify the presence or absence of the hypoechoic subserosal rim and endomyometrial junction indistinctness signs. RESULTS: The average sensitivity and specificity for readers identifying the subserosal hypoechoic rim sign in full-term postpartum patients with acute endometritis were 76.9% and 92.1%, respectively. Interobserver reliability was moderate with a kappa value of 0.5. The average sensitivity and specificity for endomyometrial junction indistinctness were 89.0% and 95.2%, respectively, with substantial inter-observer agreement, Kappa 0.7. These signs remained specific but were less frequently observed in postpartum patients scanned during early pregnancy. CONCLUSION: We have shown that identifying the subserosal hypoechoic rim and endomyometrial junction indistinctness on ultrasound scans can reliably help to distinguish patients with acute postpartum endometritis from other complications, particularly in full-term postpartum patients.

Low-dose erythropoietin treatment is not associated with clinical benefits in severely anaemic Jehovah's Witnesses: a plea for a change.

BACKGROUND: Jehovah's Witnesses who refuse blood transfusion have high mortality. Erythropoietin (EPO) has been used as an alternative to blood transfusion. The optimal dosing of EPO in anaemic Jehovah's Witnesses is unknown. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical benefits of treatment with a low dose (<600 IU/kg/week) of epoietin beta (EPO-ß). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational study, retrospectively considering a 10-year period during which 3,529 adult Jehovah's Witnesses with a total of 10,786 hospital admissions were identified from databases of four major public hospitals in New Zealand. Patients with severe symptomatic anaemia (haemoglobin <80 g/L) who were unable to tolerate physical activity were included in the study. Patients treated without EPO were assigned to the conventional therapy group and those treated with EPO to the EPO treatment group. RESULTS: Ninety-one Jehovah's Witnesses met the eligibility criteria. Propensity score matching yielded a total of 57 patients. Patients treated with conventional therapy and those treated with EPO had similar durations of severe anaemia (average difference 6.25 days, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.77-16.27 days; p=0.221). The mortality rate among Jehovah's Witnesses treated with conventional therapy was 4.68 per year (95% CI: 2.23-9.82), while that in those treated with EPO was 2.77 per year (95% CI: 0.89-8.60). Treatment with EPO was associated with a mortality ratio of 0.59 (95% CI: 0.1-2.6; p=0.236). Both groups of patients had similar in-hospital survival (p=0.703). DISCUSSION: Treatment with low-dose EPO-ß was not associated with either shorter duration of severe anaemia or a reduction in mortality.