Time to initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation affects the patient survival prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the cornerstone intervention for cardiac arrest, with extracorporeal CPR (ECPR) demonstrating enhanced survival and neurologic outcomes in in-hospital cardiac arrest. This study explores the time interval between CPR initiation and the onset of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in ECPR recipients, investigating its impact on survival outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 1950 adults who received CPR at a single medical center between March 2019 and April 2023. Data from 198 adult patients who had ECMO inserted during CPR were analyzed. The interval from CPR initiation to ECMO initiation was quantified and categorized as ≤20, 20-40, and >40 min. Cox regression analysis assessed associations between CPR-to-ECMO time and short- and long-term mortalities. RESULTS: Among the 198 patients who underwent ECPR, 116 (58.6%) experienced 30-day mortality. Initiation of ECMO within 20 min occurred in 46 (23.2%), whereas 74 (37.4%) had ECMO initiated after 40 min. Cox regression revealed a significant association between time from CPR to ECMO initiation and 30-day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.20 in >40 min, HR: 2.63 in 20-40 min, p = 0.006) and 6-month mortality (HR: 1.81, in >40 min, HR: 1.99 in 20-40 min, p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that, in ECPR recipients, a shorter duration between CPR initiation and ECMO flow commencement is associated with improved short- and long-term patient prognoses. These findings emphasize the critical role of timely ECMO application in optimizing outcomes for patients undergoing ECPR.

Electroencephalographic features of elderly patients during anesthesia induction with remimazolam: a sub-study of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Although remimazolam is used as a general anesthetic in elderly patients due to its hemodynamic stability, the electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics of remimazolam are not well-known. The purpose of this study was to identify the EEG features of remimazolam-induced unconsciousness in elderly patients and compare them with propofol. METHODS: Remimazolam (n=26) or propofol (n=26) were randomly administered for anesthesia induction in surgical patients. The hypnotic agent was blinded only to the patients. During the induction of anesthesia, remimazolam was administered at a rate of 6 mg/kg/h, and propofol was administered at a target effect-site concentration of 3.5 µg/ml. The EEG signals from 8 channels (Fp1,Fp2,Fz,F3,F4,Pz,P3,P4, referenced to A2, using the 10-20 system) were acquired during the induction of anesthesia and in the postoperative care unit. Power spectrum analysis was performed, and directed functional connectivity between frontal and parietal regions was evaluated using normalized symbolic transfer entropy. Functional connectivity in unconscious processes induced by remimazolam or propofol was compared with baseline. To compare each power of frequency over time of the two hypnotic agents, a permutation test with t statistic was conducted. RESULTS: Compared to the baseline in the alpha band, the feedback connectivity decreased by an average of 46% and 43%, respectively, after the loss of consciousness induced by remimazolam and propofol (95% CI for the mean difference:-0.073 to -0.044 for remimazolam, P<0.001,-0.068 to -0.042 for propofol,P<0.001). Asymmetry in the feedback and feedforward connectivity in the alpha band was suppressed after the loss of consciousness induced by remimazolam and propofol. There were no significant differences in the power of each frequency over time between the two hypnotic agents (minimum q-value=0.4235). CONCLUSIONS: Both regimens showed a greater decrease in feedback connectivity compared to a decrease in feedforward connectivity after loss of consciousness, leading to a disruption of asymmetry between the frontoparietal connectivity.

Association between visceral obesity and tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma recipients undergoing liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Excessive visceral obesity in recipients of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is associated with mortality, and a recent study reported the correlation between visceral adiposity of male LDLT recipients and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. However, there is no study on the relationship between the donor's visceral adiposity and surgical outcomes in LDLT recipients. We investigated the association of the visceral-to-subcutaneous fat area ratio (VSR) in donors and recipients with HCC recurrence and mortality in LDLT. METHODS: We analyzed 1386 sets of donors and recipients who underwent LDLT between January 2008 and January 2018. The maximal chi-square method was used to determine the optimal cutoff values for VSR for predicting overall HCC recurrence and mortality. Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of donor VSR and recipient VSR with overall HCC recurrence and mortality in recipients. RESULTS: The cutoff values of VSR was determined as 0.73 in males and 0.31 in females. High donor VSR was significantly associated with overall HCC recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.93, p = 0.019) and mortality (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03-1.76, p = 0.030). High recipient VSR was significantly associated with overall HCC recurrence (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.04-1.88, p = 0.027) and mortality (HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.14-1.96, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Both recipient VSR and donor VSR were significant risk factors for HCC recurrence and mortality in LDLT recipients. Preoperative donor VSR and recipient VSR may be strong predictors of the surgical outcomes of LDLT recipients with HCC.

Association of sex-specific donor skeletal muscle index with surgical outcomes in living donor liver transplantation recipients.

BACKGROUND: A recent study reported a correlation between the muscle mass of male donors and graft failure in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) recipients. We investigated the association of sex-specific donor skeletal muscle index (SMI) with mortality and graft failure in LDLT recipients. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 2750 sets of donors and recipients between January 2008 and January 2018. The recipient outcomes were analysed by dividing the data according to donor sex. Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between donor SMI by sex and 1-year mortality and graft failure in recipients. RESULTS: In the male donor group, robust donor (increased SMI) was significantly associated with higher risks for mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.06, p = .023) and graft failure (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06, p = .007) at 1 year. In the female donor group, the robust donor was significantly associated with lower risks for mortality (HR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.97, p = .003) and graft failure (HR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.90-1.00, p = .032) at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Donor SMI was associated with surgical outcomes in recipients. Robust male and female donors were a significant negative and protective factor for grafts respectively.

Relationship between Preoperative Echocardiographic Parameters and the Incidence of Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Clipping of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background and Objectives: Preoperative echocardiography is widely performed in patients undergoing major surgeries to evaluate cardiac functions and detect structural abnormalities. However, studies on the clinical usefulness of preoperative echocardiography in patients undergoing cerebral aneurysm clipping are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between preoperative echocardiographic parameters and the incidence of postoperative complications in patients undergoing clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Materials and Methods: Electronic medical records of patients who underwent clipping of an unruptured intracranial aneurysm from September 2018 to April 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Data on baseline characteristics, laboratory variables, echocardiographic parameters, postoperative complications, and hospital stays were obtained. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent variables related to the occurrence of postoperative complications and prolonged hospital stay (≥8 d). Results: Among 531 patients included in the final analysis, 27 (5.1%) had postoperative complications. In multivariable logistic regression, the total amount of crystalloids infused (1.002 (1.001-1.003), p = 0.001) and E/e' ratio (1.17 (1.01-1.35), p = 0.031) were significant independent factors associated with the occurrence of a postoperative complication. Additionally, the maximal diameter of a cerebral aneurysm (1.13 (1.02-1.25), p = 0.024), total amount of crystalloids infused (1.001 (1.000-1.002), p = 0.031), E/A ratio (0.22 (0.05-0.95), p = 0.042), and E/e' ratio (1.16 (1.04-1.31), p = 0.011) were independent factors related to prolonged hospitalization. Conclusions: Echocardiographic parameters related to diastolic function might be associated with postoperative complications in patients undergoing clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Associations of sarcopenia with graft failure and mortality in patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation.

Recent studies have reported that sarcopenia influences morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. However, few studies have investigated the associations of sarcopenia with short-term and long-term graft failure in recipients after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). In this study, we investigated the associations between sarcopenia and graft failure/mortality in patients undergoing LDLT. We retrospectively examined 2816 recipients who underwent LDLT between January 2008 and January 2018. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the associations between sarcopenia and graft failure/mortality in recipients at 60 days, 180 days, and 1 year and overall. Sarcopenia in the recipient was significantly associated with 60-day graft failure (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.61; p = 0.03), 180-day graft failure (HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.19-2.88; p = 0.01), 1-year graft failure (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.01-2.17; p = 0.05), and overall graft failure (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.08-1.87; p = 0.01). In addition, recipient sarcopenia was associated with 180-day mortality (HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.17-3.01; p = 0.01), 1-year mortality (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.01-2.29; p = 0.04), and overall mortality (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.08-1.90; p = 0.01). Preoperative sarcopenia was associated with high rates of graft failure and mortality in LDLT recipients. Therefore, preoperative sarcopenia may be a strong predictor of the surgical prognosis in LDLT recipients.

Association of skeletal muscle index with postoperative acute kidney injury in living donor hepatectomy: A retrospective single-centre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is the standard treatment option for patients with end-stage liver disease, it always entails ethical concerns about the risk of living donors. Recent studies have reported a correlation between sarcopenia and surgical prognosis in recipients. However, there are few studies of donor sarcopenia and the surgical prognosis of donors. This study investigated the association between sarcopenia and postoperative acute kidney injury in liver donors. METHODS: This retrospective study analysed 2892 donors who underwent donor hepatectomy for LDLT between January 2008 and January 2018. Sarcopenia was classified into pre-sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia, which were determined to be -1 standard deviation (SD), and -2 SD from the mean baseline of the skeletal muscle index, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between donor sarcopenia and postoperative AKI. Additionally, we assessed the association between donor sarcopenia and delayed recovery of liver function (DRHF). RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis, donor sarcopenia was significantly associated a higher incidence of postoperative AKI (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-6.11, P = .022 in pre-sarcopenia, OR: 5.59, 95% CI: 1.11-28.15, P = .037 in severe sarcopenia, respectively). Additionally, hypertension and synthetic colloid use were significantly associated with postoperative AKI. In the multivariate analysis, risk factors of DRHF were male gender, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes, and graft type, however, donor sarcopenia was not a risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Donor sarcopenia is associated with postoperative AKI following donor hepatectomy.

Postoperative Anemia Is Associated with Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Replacement Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic and acute anemia are both correlated with an increased risk of injury to major organs, such as the brain, heart, and kidney. We evaluated the association between postoperative anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] < 10 g/dL) and acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing total hip replacement arthroplasty (THRA). METHODS: Patients who underwent THRA between January 2005 and February 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. We divided patients into 2 groups: Hb < 10 (n = 938) and Hb ≥ 10 (n = 1529). They were then categorized according to changes in plasma creatinine concentration within 48 hours of THRA using Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. To evaluate the association between postoperative anemia and postoperative AKI, an inverse-probability-of-treatment weighted method was used and both univariate and multivariable analyses were performed. RESULTS: Postoperative anemia was significantly associated with postoperative AKI (multivariate odds ratio, 2.036; 95% confidence interval, 1.369-3.028; P < 0.001; inverse probability-of-treatment weighted odds ratio, 1.817; 95% confidence interval, 1.169-2.826; P = 0.011). In patients with a normal glomerular filtration rate, postoperative AKI was also related to postoperative anemia (P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative anemia was associated with postoperative AKI after THRA. Although our study was limited by its retrospective design, our observation suggests that postoperative anemia may play a role in postoperative AKI.

Development of a machine learning approach for prediction of red blood cell transfusion in patients undergoing Cesarean section at a single institution.

Despite recent advances in surgical techniques and perinatal management in obstetrics for reducing intraoperative bleeding, blood transfusion may occur during a cesarean section (CS). This study aims to identify machine learning models with an optimal diagnostic performance for intraoperative transfusion prediction in parturients undergoing a CS. Additionally, to address model performance degradation due to data imbalance, this study further investigated the variation in predictive model performance depending on the ratio of event to non-event data (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 model datasets and raw data).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC) were evaluated to compare the predictive accuracy of different machine learning algorithms, including XGBoost, K-nearest neighbor, decision tree, support vector machine, multilayer perceptron, logistic regression, random forest, and deep neural network. We compared the predictive performance of eight prediction algorithms that were applied to five types of datasets. The intraoperative transfusion in maternal CS was 7.2% (1020/14,254). XGBoost showed the highest AUROC (0.8257) and AUPRC (0.4825) among the models. The most significant predictors for transfusion in maternal CS as per machine learning models were placenta previa totalis, haemoglobin, placenta previa partialis, and platelets. In all eight prediction algorithms, the change in predictive performance based on the AUROC and AUPRC according to the resampling ratio was insignificant. The XGBoost algorithm exhibited optimal performance for predicting intraoperative transfusion. Data balancing techniques employed to alter the event data composition ratio of the training data failed to improve the performance of the prediction model.

Association between De Ritis ratio and intraoperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing surgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: a single center, retrospective, propensity score-matched study.

BACKGROUND: Although elective surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) has increased, few studies have evaluated the risk factors for transfusion during UIA surgery. We evaluated the association between the preoperative De Ritis ratio (aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase) and the incidence of intraoperative transfusion in patients who had undergone surgical UIA clipping. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgical clipping of UIA were stratified into two groups according to the preoperative De Ritis ratio cutoff levels (< 1.54 and ≥ 1.54), and the propensity score (PS)-matching analysis was performed to compare the incidence of intraoperative transfusion. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors for intraoperative transfusion. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) analyses were performed to verify the improvement in the intraoperative transfusion predictive model upon addition of the De Ritis ratio. RESULTS: Intraoperative transfusion incidence was 15.4% (77/502). We observed significant differences in the incidence of intraoperative transfusion (16.2% vs. 39.7%, P = 0.004) between the groups after matching. In the logistic regression analyses, the De Ritis ratio ≥ 1.54 was an independent risk factor for transfusion (odds ratio [OR]: 3.04, 95% CI [1.53, 6.03], P = 0.002). Preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) value was a risk factor for transfusion (OR: 0.33, 95% CI [0.24, 0.47], P < 0.001). NRI and IDI analyses showed that the De Ritis ratio improved the intraoperative blood transfusion predictive models (P = 0.031 and P = 0.049, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: De Ritis ratio maybe a significant risk factor for intraoperative transfusion in UIA surgery.

Total Intravenous Anesthesia Protocol for Decreasing Unacceptable Movements during Cerebral Aneurysm Clipping with Motor-Evoked Potential Monitoring: A Historical Control Study and Meta-Analysis.

Injury can occur during intraoperative transcranial motor-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring caused by patient movement related to insufficient neuromuscular blocking agent use. Here, we evaluated the incidence of unacceptable movements in patients undergoing intraoperative MEP monitoring following our anesthetic protocol. We reviewed the anesthesia records of 419 patients who underwent unruptured cerebral aneurysm clipping with intraoperative MEP monitoring. The anesthetic protocol included target-controlled infusion with a fixed effect-site propofol concentration of 3 µg/mL and an adjustable effect-site remifentanil concentration of 10-12 ng/mL. We compared our findings of the intraoperative parameters and incidence of spontaneous movement and respiration with those of published meta-analysis studies. Spontaneous movement and respiration occurred in one (0.2%) patient each. The meta-analysis included six studies. The pooled proportions of spontaneous movement and respiration were 6.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-16.5%) and 4.1% (95% CI, 0.5-14.1%), respectively. The proportion of spontaneous movement in our study was significantly lower than that in previous studies (p = 0.013), with no significant difference in spontaneous respiration (p = 0.097). Following our center's anesthesia protocol during cerebral aneurysm clipping resulted in a low incidence of spontaneous respiration and movement, indicating its safety for patients undergoing intraoperative MEP monitoring.

Association of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio with postoperative delirium and mortality in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery: A retrospective cohort study in a single large center.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium is a common complication in elderly patients who have undergone hip fracture surgery. Since postoperative delirium is associated with poor outcomes and the treatment is very complicated, identifying the patients at high risk for delirium and providing more attentive care to prevent postoperative delirium is essential. In this study, we aimed to assess the association of an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio with the increased incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly people who had undergone hip fracture surgery. METHODS: A total of 629 patients who underwent hip fracture surgery between January 2014 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were classified into two groups according to preoperative CRP/albumin cut-off levels (<1.5 and ≥1.5). We performed a propensity score matching analysis to compare the incidence of postoperative delirium and overall mortality between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were performed to examine the association of the preoperative CRP/albumin ratio with postoperative delirium and overall mortality. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the incidence of postoperative delirium (18.0 % vs. 35.8 %, P < 0.001) and overall mortality (26.7 % vs. 46.9 %, P < 0.001) between the groups before matching. We also observed significant differences in the incidence of postoperative delirium (20.7 % vs. 32.7 %, P = 0.019) and overall mortality (34.7 % vs. 46.0 %, P = 0.046) between the groups after matching. A high CRP/albumin ratio (≥1.5) was significantly associated with a higher incidence of postoperative delirium (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.11, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.40-3.18, P < 0.001) and a higher rate of overall mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.44, 95 % CI: 1.07-1.93, P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Preoperative CRP/albumin ratio might be an independent risk factor of postoperative delirium and surgical prognosis in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

Effect of intraoperative blood transfusion on inflammatory response in parturients with placenta previa undergoing cesarean section: A prospective observational study.

Background: The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and red cell distribution width (RDW) have been reported as useful biomarkers for evaluating inflammation and a predictor of surgical prognosis. Although there have been recent reports that transfusion may affect inflammatory responses, studies on the post-transfusion inflammatory response in parturients are rare. Therefore, this study aimed to observe changes in inflammatory response after transfusion during cesarean section (C-sec) through NLR, PLR, and RDW. Methods: Parturients aged 20-50 years who underwent C-sec under general anesthesia due to placenta previa totalis from March 4, 2021, to June 10, 2021 were participated in this prospective observational study. We compared postoperative NLR, PLR, and RDW between the transfusion and non-transfusion groups. Results: A total of 53 parturients were included in this study, of which 31 parturients received intraoperative transfusions during C-sec. There were no significant difference in preoperative NLR (3.6 vs. 3.4, p = 0.780), PLR (132.8 vs. 111.3, p = 0.108), and RDW (14.2 vs. 13.6, p = 0.062) between the two groups. However, postoperative NLR was significantly higher in the transfusion group than in the non-transfusion group (12.2 vs. 6.8, p < 0.001). Postoperative RDW was significantly higher in the transfusion group than in the non-transfusion group (14.6 vs. 13.9, p = 0.002) whereas postoperative PLR was not significantly different between the two groups (108.0 vs. 117.4, p = 0.885). Conclusions: Postoperative NLR and RDW, the inflammatory biomarkers, were significantly higher in the transfused C-sec parturients. These results suggest a significant association between postoperative inflammatory response and transfusion in obstetric practice.

Association between red blood cell distribution width and mortality in patients with metastatic brain tumors: A retrospective single-center cohort study.

Metastatic brain tumor has been associated with high mortality and poor prognosis. However, information on indicators predicting surgical prognosis in patients with brain metastases is limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between preoperative red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and mortality in patients who underwent surgery for metastatic brain tumors. This study analyzed 282 patients who underwent metastatic brain tumor surgery between August 1999 and March 2020. Patients were divided into two groups based on preoperative RDW cut-off values (<13.2 and ≥13.2). The surgical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Additionally, we performed Cox regression analysis to assess the association between preoperative RDW and 1-year and overall mortality. There were significant differences in 180-day mortality (6.2% vs. 28.7%, P<0.001), 1-year mortality (23.8% vs. 46.7%, P<0.001), and overall mortality (75.0% vs. 87.7%, P=0.012) between the two groups. In the Cox regression analysis, RDW ≥ 13.2 was significantly associated with higher 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-3.30; P<0.001) and overall mortality (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.09-1.90; P=0.010). Preoperative RDW is strongly associated with high mortality in metastatic brain tumor surgery.

Association of red cell distribution width/albumin ratio with intraoperative blood transfusion in cervical cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Although minimally invasive surgical techniques have reduced intraoperative bleeding, the risk of transfusion exists. However, few studies have evaluated risk factors for transfusion in radical hysterectomy. We aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative red cell distribution width/albumin ratio (RDW/albumin) and transfusion in cervical cancer patients. METHODS: We analyzed 907 patients who underwent radical hysterectomy between June 2006 and February 2015. Logistic regression and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors for transfusion and mortality at 5-year and overall. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated identification improvement (IDI) analyses were performed to verify the improvement of the intraoperative transfusion model upon the addition of RDW/albumin. RESULTS: RDW/albumin was an independent risk factor for transfusion (odds ratio [OR]: 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.77, p = 0.035). Additionally, body mass index, operation time, laparoscopic surgery, total fluids, and synthetic colloid were risk factors for transfusion. RDW/albumin was an independent risk factor for 5-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.07-2.14, p = 0.020), and overall mortality (HR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.06-2.07, p = 0.021). NRI and IDI analyses showed the discriminatory power of RDW/albumin for transfusion (p<0.001 and p = 0.046, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: RDW/albumin might be a significant factor in transfusion and mortality in cervical cancer patients.

Association between red blood cell distribution width and blood transfusion in patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation: Propensity score analysis.

BACKGROUND: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been associated with massive transfusion. However, information on indicators predicting transfusion in LDLT is limited. This study investigates the association between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and intraoperative transfusion in LDLT recipients. METHODS: This study analyzed 2546 patients who underwent LDLT between January 2010 and October 2019. The patients were divided into two groups based on preoperative RDW cutoff level (<14.4 and ≥14.4). We performed multivariate regression analysis to assess the association between RDW and intraoperative transfusion. We also performed propensity score matching analysis to compare the incidence of intraoperative transfusion between the two groups. The predictive power of RDW was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and net reclassification improvement (NRI) analysis. RESULTS: In the multivariate logistic analysis, RDW ≥14.4 was significantly associated with intraoperative transfusion (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-2.06, P = .005). There were significant differences in incidence of intraoperative transfusion between the two groups before (54.1% vs 91.6%, P < .001) and after (71.6% vs 79.8%, P = .004) matching. RDW had predictive power for intraoperative transfusion (P < .001 in NRI, P = .035 in IDI). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative RDW is a potential predictor of intraoperative transfusion in LDLT recipients.

Comparison of contralateral oblique view with the lateral view for fluoroscopic-guided cervical epidural steroid injection: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Cervical epidural steroid injection is associated with rare but potentially catastrophic complications. The contralateral oblique (CLO) view may be a safe and feasible alternative to the lateral (LAT) view for fluoroscopic-guided cervical epidural steroid injection. However, evidence for the clinical usefulness of the CLO view for cervical epidural steroid injection is lacking. We assessed the clinical usefulness of the CLO view for cervical epidural steroid injection in managing cervical herniated intervertebral discs. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive fluoroscopic-guided cervical epidural steroid injection under LAT view or CLO view at 50±5° degrees groups. The primary outcome was the needling time comparison between the two groups. Secondary outcomes were comparison of first-attempt success rate, needle tip visualization and location, total number of needle passes, final success rate, crossover success rate and false-positive/negative loss of resistance. Complications and radiation dose were also compared. RESULTS: The needling time significantly decreased in the CLO than in the LAT group. The first-attempt success rate was significantly higher in the CLO compared with the LAT group. The needle tip was clearly visualized (p<0.001) and located more often on (or just anterior to) the ventral interlaminar line (p<0.001) in the CLO than in the LAT group. There were significantly fewer needle passes (p=0.019) in the CLO than in the LAT group. There were no significant differences in the final success, crossover success, false-positive/negative loss of resistance or radiation dose between the groups. Two (5.9%) cases in the LAT group experienced complications. CONCLUSION: The CLO view may be recommended for fluoroscopic-guided cervical epidural steroid injection, considering its better clinical usefulness over the LAT view.

Effectiveness of Epidural Balloon Neuroplasty in Patients With Chronic Spinal Stenosis Accompanied by Redundant Nerve Roots: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic patients with chronic lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) accompanied by redundant nerve roots (RNR) have poor treatment outcomes. Recently, epidural balloon neuroplasty has been shown to be effective in patients with chronic LSS. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of epidural balloon neuroplasty in patients with chronic LSS accompanied by RNR. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A single pain clinic of a tertiary medical center in Seoul, Republic of Korea. METHODS: Patients with chronic LSS were divided into groups with (RNR group) and without RNR (non-RNR group). The generalized estimating equations (GEE) model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of epidural balloon neuroplasty in both groups based on Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11) score for pain intensity, Medication Quantification Scale III (MQS III), and proportion of functional improvement at one, 3, and 6 months postprocedure. RESULTS: GEE analyses showed a significant reduction of pain intensity in NRS-11 and functional improvement compared to baseline throughout the 6-month follow-up period in both groups (P < 0.001), without differences between groups. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the NRS-11 of leg pain one month after the procedure in the RNR group was reduced less than that in the non-RNR group (P = 0.016), although we did not find a significant time and group interaction. After adjustment, less functional improvement was observed 3 months after the procedures in the RNR group than in the non-RNR group (P = 0.001), with a significant interaction between time and group (P = 0.003). The estimated mean MQS III values were unchanged at 6 months regardless of adjustment in both groups. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design and a lack of information on adjuvant nonpharmacologic therapies. CONCLUSION: Epidural balloon neuroplasty may be an effective option for reducing pain in patients with chronic LSS accompanied by RNR.

Association of Preoperative Prognostic Nutritional Index and Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Surgery.

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been reported to be associated with postoperative complications and prognosis in cancer surgery. However, few studies have evaluated the association between preoperative PNI and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in colorectal cancer patients. This study evaluated association of preoperative PNI and postoperative AKI in patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery. This study retrospectively analyzed 3543 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery between June 2008 and February 2012. The patients were classified into four groups by the quartile of PNI: Q1 (≤43.79), Q2 (43.79-47.79), Q3 (47.79-51.62), and Q4 (≥51.62). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for AKI and 1-year mortality. AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes classification (KDIGO) criteria. Additionally, we assessed surgical outcomes such as hospital stay, ICU admission, and postoperative complications. The incidence of postoperative AKI tended to increase in the Q1 group (13.4%, 9.2%, 9.4%, 8.8%). In the multivariate analysis, high preoperative PNI was significantly associated with low risk of postoperative AKI (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.93-0.99, p = 0.003) and low 1-year mortality (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86-0.98, p = 0.011). Male sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were risk factors for AKI. The Q1 (≤43.79) group had poor surgical outcomes, such as postoperative AKI (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.18-1.95, p = 0.001), higher rates of ICU admission (OR: 3.13, 95% CI: 1.82-5.39, p < 0.001) and higher overall mortality (OR: 3.81, 95% CI: 1.86-7.79, p < 0.001). In conclusion, low preoperative PNI levels, especially in the Q1 (≤43.79), were significantly associated with postoperative AKI and surgical outcomes, such as hospital stay, postoperative ICU admission, and mortality.

Comparison of the Effects of Laparoscopic and Open Surgery on Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: Propensity Score Analysis.

Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication that increases patient morbidity and mortality. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of laparoscopic surgery on postoperative AKI. This study compared the incidence of postoperative AKI between laparoscopic and open surgery in patients with colorectal cancer. This study retrospectively analyzed 3637 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery between June 2008 and February 2012. The patients were classified into laparoscopic (n = 987) and open (n = 2650) surgery groups. We performed multivariable regression analysis to assess the risk factors for AKI and propensity score matching analysis to compare the incidence of AKI between the two groups. We also assessed postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) admission, complications, hospital stay, and 1-year mortality. We observed no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative AKI between the two groups before (8.8% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.406) and after (8.8% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.406) matching. Laparoscopic surgery was not associated with AKI even after adjusting for intraoperative variables (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84-1.62, p = 0.355). Body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and albumin were risk factors for AKI. ICU admission (0.6% vs. 2.5%, p = 0.001), complications (0.2% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.002), hospital stay (6.89 days vs. 8.61 days, p < 0.001), and 1-year mortality (0.1% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.021) were significantly better in the laparoscopic than in the open group. The incidence of postoperative AKI did not differ significantly between laparoscopic and open surgery. However, considering its better surgical outcomes, laparoscopic surgery may be recommended for patients with colorectal cancer.