Identification of myocardial injury using perioperative troponin surveillance in major noncardiac surgery and net benefit over the Revised Cardiac Risk Index.

BACKGROUND: Patients with perioperative myocardial injury are at risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The primary aim of this study was to determine optimal thresholds of preoperative and perioperative changes in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) to predict MACCE and mortality. METHODS: Prospective, observational, cohort study in patients ≥50 yr of age undergoing elective major noncardiac surgery at seven hospitals in Sweden. The exposures were hs-cTnT measured before and days 0-3 after surgery. Two previously published thresholds for myocardial injury and two thresholds identified using receiver operating characteristic analyses were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models and externally validated. The weighted comparison net benefit method was applied to determine the additional value of hs-cTnT thresholds when compared with the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI). The primary outcome was a composite of 30-day all-cause mortality and MACCE. RESULTS: We included 1291 patients between April 2017 and December 2020. The primary outcome occurred in 124 patients (9.6%). Perioperative increase in hs-cTnT ≥14 ng L-1 above preoperative values provided statistically optimal model performance and was associated with the highest risk for the primary outcome (adjusted odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.8-4.7). Validation in an independent, external cohort confirmed these findings. A net benefit over RCRI was demonstrated across a range of clinical thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative increases in hsTnT ≥14 ng L-1 above baseline values identifies acute perioperative myocardial injury and provides a net prognostic benefit when added to RCRI for the identification of patients at high risk of death and MACCE. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03436238.

Introduction of a rapid sequence induction checklist and its effect on compliance to guidelines and complications.

BACKGROUND: Current evidence for the conduct of rapid sequence induction (RSI) is weak. This increases the risk of clinicians modifying the RSI procedure according to personal preferences. Checklists may help increase compliance to best practice guidelines and reduce complication rates. Their value during RSI, a critical procedure in anaesthesia, is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate compliance to local guidelines and frequency of RSI-related complications before and after introduction of an RSI checklist. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational, pre- and post-intervention study conducted at two hospitals. There were two interventions: the first was a standardized educational lecture to all staff at both hospitals, consisting of an educational instruction of the checklist and general information about RSI, and the second intervention was the introduction of a RSI checklist. The checklist consisted of 16 items. Compliance to guidelines was categorized as high, moderate and low, and was assessed pre- and post-intervention. The frequency of RSI-related complications was also measured. RESULTS: We registered 811 RSI procedures of which 412 were pre-intervention. After intervention, the proportion of procedures with high compliance to RSI guidelines increased from 49% to 70% (P < .001). The proportion with partial and low compliance decreased from 37% to 26% (P < .001) and 13% to 3.3% (P < .001) respectively. No change in RSI-related complication rates was detectable post-intervention (16.6%-16.7% P = .56). CONCLUSION: The introduction of a structured RSI checklist significantly increased compliance to RSI guidelines. A change in RSI-related complications could not be detected due to the size of the study. A checklist may be a useful tool to reduce variance during the RSI procedure.

Incidence and trajectories of subclinical and KDIGO-defined postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Background: Postoperative acute kidney injury is a common occurrence among patients undergoing major abdominal surgery and is associated with adverse outcomes. The effect of an incremental increase in serum creatinine concentration not meeting the KDIGO criteria for acute kidney injury is poorly studied. We evaluated the incidence and trajectories of postoperative subclinical acute kidney injury (sPO-AKI), acute kidney injury (PO-AKI), acute kidney disease (PO-AKD), and their relationships with chronic kidney disease (CKD), major adverse kidney events (MAKE30), and all-cause mortality at 30 days after surgery. Methods: In a pre-planned, nested cohort sub study of the Myocardial Injury in Noncardiac Surgery in Sweden (MINSS) study, we included 588 patients from two hospitals. We determined the incidence of PO-AKI, PO-AKD, and CKD according to the ADQI-POQI consensus criteria. sPO-AKI was defined as a 25-49% increase in serum creatinine concentration within 7 days of surgery. Results: A total of 59 (10.2%) patients fulfilled the criteria for sPO-AKI, 41 (7.1%) patients for PO-AKI, 29 (6.2%) for PO-AKD, and 6 (1.2%) for CKD. Similar proportions of patients with sPO-AKI and PO-AKI developed PO-AKD. An association was identified between the combined group of sPO-AKI and PO-AKI and 30-day mortality (Cramer's V: 0.1, P=0.037). PO-AKD (Cramer's V: 0.4, P<0.001) was associated with MAKE30 and 30-day mortality. All patients with CKD had pre-existing PO-AKD. Conclusions: Subclinical postoperative kidney injury not fulfilling the KDIGO criteria occurred in every 10th patient, and one in 14 suffered from PO-AKI after major abdominal surgery. A majority of PO-AKD cases was preceded by sPO-AKI and PO-AKI. Early kidney injuries were associated with longer-term adverse outcomes including MAKE30, 30-day mortality, and CKD.