Development of prognostic scoring system for predicting 1-year mortality among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in South India.

BACKGROUND: Development of a prediction model using baseline characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) patients at the time of diagnosis will aid us in early identification of the high-risk groups and devise pertinent strategies accordingly. Hence, we did this study to develop a prognostic-scoring model for predicting the death among newly diagnosed drug sensitive pulmonary TB patients in South India. METHODS: We undertook a longitudinal analysis of cohort data under the Regional Prospective Observational Research for Tuberculosis India consortium. Multivariable cox regression using the stepwise backward elimination procedure was used to select variables for the model building and the nomogram-scoring system was developed with the final selected model. RESULTS: In total, 54 (4.6%) out of the 1181 patients had died during the 1-year follow-up period. The TB mortality rate was 0.20 per 1000 person-days. Eight variables (age, gender, functional limitation, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, diabetes, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) were selected and a nomogram was built using these variables. The discriminatory power was 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.75-0.86) and this model was well-calibrated. Decision curve analysis showed that the model is beneficial at a threshold probability ~15-65%. CONCLUSIONS: This scoring system could help the clinicians and policy makers to devise targeted interventions and in turn reduce the TB mortality in India.

RT-PCR negative COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a multi-system infection with emerging evidence-based antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapies to improve disease prognosis. However, a subset of patients with COVID-19 signs and symptoms have repeatedly negative RT-PCR tests, leading to treatment hesitancy. We used comparative serology early in the COVID-19 pandemic when background seroprevalence was low to estimate the likelihood of COVID-19 infection among RT-PCR negative patients with clinical signs and/or symptoms compatible with COVID-19. METHODS: Between April and October 2020, we conducted serologic testing of patients with (i) signs and symptoms of COVID-19 who were repeatedly negative by RT-PCR ('Probables'; N = 20), (ii) signs and symptoms of COVID-19 but with a potential alternative diagnosis ('Suspects'; N = 15), (iii) no signs and symptoms of COVID-19 ('Non-suspects'; N = 43), (iv) RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients (N = 40), and (v) pre-pandemic samples (N = 55). RESULTS: Probables had similar seropositivity and levels of IgG and IgM antibodies as propensity-score matched RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients (60.0% vs 80.0% for IgG, p-value = 0.13; 50.0% vs 72.5% for IgM, p-value = 0.10), but multi-fold higher seropositivity rates than Suspects and matched Non-suspects (60.0% vs 13.3% and 11.6% for IgG; 50.0% vs 0% and 4.7% for IgM respectively; p-values < 0.01). However, Probables were half as likely to receive COVID-19 treatment than the RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients with similar disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study indicate a high likelihood of acute COVID-19 among RT-PCR negative with typical signs/symptoms, but a common omission of COVID-19 therapies among these patients. Clinically diagnosed COVID-19, independent of RT-PCR positivity, thus has a potential vital role in guiding treatment decisions.

Older Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: National Variability in Palliative Care.

BACKGROUND: Older patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have higher mortality and morbidity than their younger counterparts. Palliative care (PC) is recommended for all patients with a serious or life-limiting illness. However, its adoption for trauma patients has been variable across the nation. The goal of this study was to assess PC utilization and intensity of care in older patients with severe TBI. We hypothesized that PC is underutilized despite its positive effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database (2009-2013) was queried for patients aged ≥55 y with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for TBI with loss of consciousness ≥24 h. Outcome measures included PC rate, in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and intensity of care represented by craniotomy and or craniectomy, ventilator use, tracheostomy, and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. RESULTS: Of 5733 patients, 78% died in hospital with a median LOS of 1 d, and 85% of the survivors were discharged to facilities. The overall PC rate was 35%. Almost 40% of deaths received PC, with nearly half within 48 h of admission. PC was used in 26% who had neurosurgical procedures, compared with 35% who were nonoperatively managed (P = 0.003). PC was associated with less intensity of care in the entire population. For survivors, those with PC had significantly shorter LOS, compared with those without PC. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high mortality, only one-third of older patients with severe TBI received PC. PC was associated with decreased use of life support and lower intensity of care. Significant efforts need to be made to bridge this quality gap and improve PC in this high-risk population.

The Palliative Performance Scale predicts mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a substantial mortality risk with increased rates in the elderly. We hypothesized that age is not sufficient, and that frailty measured by preadmission Palliative Performance Scale would be a predictor of outcomes. Improved ability to identify high-risk patients will improve clinicians' ability to provide appropriate palliative care, including engaging in shared decision-making about life-sustaining therapies. AIM: To evaluate whether preadmission Palliative Performance Scale predicts mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort study of patients admitted with COVID-19. Palliative Performance Scale was calculated from the chart. Using logistic regression, Palliative Performance Scale was assessed as a predictor of mortality controlling for demographics, comorbidities, palliative care measures and socioeconomic status. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Patients older than 18 years of age admitted with COVID-19 to a single urban public hospital in New Jersey, USA. RESULTS: Of 443 admitted patients, we determined the Palliative Performance Scale score for 374. Overall mortality was 31% and 81% in intubated patients. In all, 36% (134) of patients had a low Palliative Performance Scale score. Compared with patients with a high score, patients with a low score were more likely to die, have do not intubate orders and be discharged to a facility. Palliative Performance Scale independently predicts mortality (odds ratio 2.89; 95% confidence interval 1.42-5.85). CONCLUSIONS: Preadmission Palliative Performance Scale independently predicts mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Improved predictors of mortality can help clinicians caring for patients with COVID-19 to discuss prognosis and provide appropriate palliative care including decisions about life-sustaining therapy.

Bleeding and Thromboembolism After Traumatic Brain Injury in the Elderly: A Real Conundrum.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients presenting with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) often have comorbidities that increase risk of thromboembolic (TE) disease and recurrent TBI. A significant number are on anticoagulant therapy at the time of injury and studies suggest that continuing anticoagulation can prevent TE events. Understanding bleeding, recurrent TBI, and TE risk after TBI can help to guide therapy. Our objectives were to 1) evaluate the incidence of bleeding, recurrent TBI, and TE events after an initial TBI in older adults and 2) identify which factors contribute to this risk. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of Medicare claims between May 30, 2006 and December 31, 2009 for patients hospitalized with TBI was performed. We defined TBI for the index admission, and hemorrhage (gastrointestinal bleeding or hemorrhagic stroke), recurrent TBI, and TE events (stroke, myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism) over the following year using ICD-9 codes. Unadjusted incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Risk factors of these events were identified using logistic regression. RESULTS: Among beneficiaries hospitalized with TBI, incidence of TE events (58.6 events/1000 person-years; 95% CI 56.2, 60.8) was significantly higher than bleeding (23.6 events/1000 person-years; 95% CI 22.2, 25.1) and recurrent TBI events (26.0 events/1000 person-years; 95% CI 24.5, 27.6). Several common factors predisposed to bleeding, recurrent TBI, and TE outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Among Medicare patients hospitalized with TBI, the incidence of TE was significantly higher than that of bleeding or recurrent TBI. Specific risk factors of bleeding and TE events were identified which may guide care of older adults after TBI.

Breast radiology malpractice suits: Characteristics of frequency and outcomes- national and statewide distinctions.

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and outcomes of breast malpractice suits among all enrollees in One Call Medical Inc.'s panel of interpreting radiologists nationally and to evaluate state-by-state variations. The 8401 radiologists enrolled had 4764 suits, of which 826 were related to breast disease. In New York and New Jersey, the ratio of breast suits to One Call Radiologists was 0.28 and 0.27, twice as much as in any other state. Breast suits in radiology have a wide variation in frequency across the country with New York and New Jersey far exceeding all others in relative frequency and number of radiologists with multiple breast suits.

Socioeconomic factors and mortality in emergency general surgery: trends over a 20-year period.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic factors such as race, insurance, and income quartiles have been identified as independent risk factors in emergency general surgery (EGS), but this impact has not been studied over time. We sought to identify trends in disparities in EGS-related operative mortality over a 20-y period. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample was used to identify patient encounters coded for EGS in 1993, 2003, and 2013. Logistic regression models were used to examine the adjusted relationship between race, primary payer status, and median income quartiles and in-hospital mortality after adjusting for patients' age, gender, Elixhauser comorbidity score, and hospital region, size, and location-cum-teaching status. RESULTS: We identified 391,040 patient encounters. In 1993, Black race was associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.35 [1.20-1.53]) than White race, although this difference dissipated in subsequent years. Medicare, Medicaid, and underinsured patients had a higher odds of mortality than those with private insurance for the entire 20-y period; only the disparity in the underinsured decreased over time (1993, 1.63 [1.35-1.98]; 2013, 1.41 [1.20-1.67]). In 2003 (1.23 [1.10-1.38]) and 2013 (1.23 [1.11-1.37]), patients from the lowest income quartile were more likely to die after EGS than patients from the highest income quartile. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic disparities in EGS-related operative morality followed inconsistent trends. Over time, while gaps in in-hospital mortality among Blacks and Whites have narrowed, disparities among patients belonging to lowest income quartile have worsened. Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries continued to experience higher odds of in-hospital mortality relative to those with private insurance.

Social and clinically-relevant cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Americans adults: NHANES 2011-2014.

Little evidence exists examining cardiovascular risk factors among Asian Americans and how social determinants such as nativity status and education pattern risk in the United States (U.S.) context. We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which purposely oversampled Asian Americans from 2011 to 2014, and examined prevalence of Type II diabetes, smoking and obesity for Asian Americans (n=1363) and non-Latino Whites (n=4121). We classified Asian Americans as U.S. or foreign-born and by years in the U.S. Obesity status was based on standard body mass index (BMI) cut points of ≥30kg/m2 and Asian-specific cut points (BMI≥25kg/m2) that may be more clinically relevant for this population. We fit separate logistic regression models for each outcome using complex survey design methods and tested for the joint effect of race, nativity and education on each outcome. Diabetes and obesity prevalence (applying Asian-specific BMI cut points) were higher among Asian Americans when compared to non-Latino Whites but smoking prevalence was lower. These patterns remained in fully adjusted models and showed small increases with longer duration in the U.S. Joint effects models showed higher odds of prevalent Type II diabetes and obesity (Asian-specific) for foreign-born Asians, regardless of years in the U.S. and slightly higher risk for low education, when compared to non-Latino Whites with high education. Smoking models showed significant interaction effects between race and education for non-Latino Whites only. Our study supports the premise that social as well as clinical factors should be considered when developing health initiatives for Asian Americans.

What Pertussis Mortality Rates Make Maternal Acellular Pertussis Immunization Cost-Effective in Low- and Middle-Income Countries? A Decision Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite longstanding infant vaccination programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pertussis continues to cause deaths in the youngest infants. A maternal monovalent acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine, in development, could prevent many of these deaths. We estimated infant pertussis mortality rates at which maternal vaccination would be a cost-effective use of public health resources in LMICs. METHODS: We developed a decision model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of maternal aP immunization plus routine infant vaccination vs routine infant vaccination alone in Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Brazil. For a range of maternal aP vaccine prices, one-way sensitivity analyses identified the infant pertussis mortality rates required to make maternal immunization cost-effective by alternative benchmarks ($100, 0.5 gross domestic product [GDP] per capita, and GDP per capita per disability-adjusted life-year [DALY]). Probabilistic sensitivity analysis provided uncertainty intervals for these mortality rates. RESULTS: Infant pertussis mortality rates necessary to make maternal aP immunization cost-effective exceed the rates suggested by current evidence except at low vaccine prices and/or cost-effectiveness benchmarks at the high end of those considered in this report. For example, at a vaccine price of $0.50/dose, pertussis mortality would need to be 0.051 per 1000 infants in Bangladesh, and 0.018 per 1000 in Nigeria, to cost 0.5 per capita GDP per DALY. In Brazil, a middle-income country, at a vaccine price of $4/dose, infant pertussis mortality would need to be 0.043 per 1000 to cost 0.5 per capita GDP per DALY. CONCLUSIONS: For commonly used cost-effectiveness benchmarks, maternal aP immunization would be cost-effective in many LMICs only if the vaccine were offered at less than $1-$2/dose.

The Geriatric Patient One Year After Trauma: Palliative Performance Scale Predicts Functional Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Frailty in trauma has been found to predict poor outcomes after injury including additional in-hospital complications, mortality, and discharge to dependent care. These gross outcome measures are insufficient when discussing long-term recovery as they do not address what is important to patients including functional status and quality of life. The purpose of this study is to determine if the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) predicts mortality and functional status one year after trauma in geriatric patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study of trauma survivors, age ≥55 years. Patients were stratified by pre-injury PPS high (>70) or low (≤70). Outcomes were functional status at 1 year measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE), Euroqol-5D and SF-36. Adjusted relative risks (aRR) were obtained using modified Poisson regression. RESULTS: Follow-up was achieved on 215/301 patients. Mortality was 30% in low PPS group vs 8% in the high PPS group (P<0.001). A greater percentage of patients in the high group had a good functional outcome at one year compared to patients in the low group (78% vs 30% p<0.001). The high PPS patients were more likely to have improvement of GOSE at 1 year from discharge compared to low group (66% vs 27% P<0.001). Low PPS independently predicted poor functional outcome (aRR, 2.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.79-3.89) and death at 1 year (aRR, 3.64; 95% confidence interval 1.68-7.92). An increased percentage of low PPS patients reported difficulty with mobility (91% vs 46% p<0.0001) and usual activities (82% vs 56% p=0.002). Both groups reported pain (65%) and anxiety/depression (47%). CONCLUSION: Low pre-Injury PPS predicts mortality and poor functional outcomes one year after trauma. Low PPS patients were more likely to decline, rather than improve. Regardless of PPS, most patients have persistent pain, anxiety, and limitations in performing daily activities.

Handling Missing Data in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR): A Systematic Review and Practical Recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Missing data in costs and/or health outcomes and in confounding variables can create bias in the inference of health economics and outcomes research studies, which in turn can lead to inappropriate policies. Most of the literature focuses on handling missing data in randomized controlled trials, which are not necessarily always the data used in health economics and outcomes research. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to provide an overview on missing data issues and how to address incomplete data and report the findings of a systematic literature review of methods used to deal with missing data in health economics and outcomes research studies that focused on cost, utility, and patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: A systematic search of papers published in English language until the end of the year 2020 was carried out in PubMed. Studies using statistical methods to handle missing data for analyses of cost, utility, or patient-reported outcome data were included, as were reviews and guidance papers on handling missing data for those outcomes. The data extraction was conducted with a focus on the context of the study, the type of missing data, and the methods used to tackle missing data. RESULTS: From 1433 identified records, 40 papers were included. Thirteen studies were economic evaluations. Thirty studies used multiple imputation with 17 studies using multiple imputation by chained equation, while 15 studies used a complete-case analysis. Seventeen studies addressed missing cost data and 23 studies dealt with missing outcome data. Eleven studies reported a single method while 20 studies used multiple methods to address missing data. CONCLUSIONS: Several health economics and outcomes research studies did not offer a justification of their approach of handling missing data and some used only a single method without a sensitivity analysis. This systematic literature review highlights the importance of considering the missingness mechanism and including sensitivity analyses when planning, analyzing, and reporting health economics and outcomes research studies.

Origin and Dynamics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Subpopulations That Predictably Generate Drug Tolerance and Resistance.

Initial responses to tuberculosis treatment are poor predictors of final therapeutic outcomes in drug-susceptible disease, suggesting that treatment success depends on features that are hidden within a small minority of the overall infecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis population. We developed a multitranswell robotic system to perform numerous parallel cultures of genetically barcoded M. tuberculosis exposed to steady-state concentrations of rifampicin to uncover these difficult-to-eliminate minority populations. We found that tolerance emerged repeatedly from at least two subpopulations of barcoded cells, namely, one that could not grow on solid agar media and a second that could form colonies, but whose kill curves diverged from the general bacterial population within 4 and 16 days of drug exposure, respectively. These tolerant subpopulations reproducibly passed through a phase characterized by multiple unfixed resistance mutations followed by emergent drug resistance in some cultures. Barcodes associated with drug resistance identified an especially privileged subpopulation that was rarely eliminated despite 20 days of drug treatment even in cultures that did not contain any drug-resistant mutants. The association of this evolutionary scenario with a defined subset of barcodes across multiple independent cultures suggested a transiently heritable phenotype, and indeed, glpK phase variation mutants were associated with up to 16% of the resistant cultures. Drug tolerance and resistance were eliminated in a ΔruvA mutant, consistent with the importance of bacterial stress responses. This work provides a window into the origin and dynamics of bacterial drug-tolerant subpopulations whose elimination may be critical for developing rapid and resistance-free cures. IMPORTANCE Tuberculosis is unusual among bacterial diseases in that treatments which can rapidly resolve symptoms do not predictably lead to a durable cure unless treatment is continued for months after all clinical and microbiological signs of disease have been eradicated. Using a novel steady-state antibiotic exposure system combined with chromosomal barcoding, we identified small hidden Mycobacterium tuberculosis subpopulations that repeatedly enter a state of drug tolerance with a predisposition to develop fixed drug resistance after first developing a cloud of unfixed resistance mutations. The existence of these difficult-to-eradicate subpopulations may explain the need for extended treatment regimen for tuberculosis. Their identification provides opportunities to test genetic and therapeutic approaches that may result in shorter and more effective TB treatments.

Combined Effect of Deceased Donor Macrovesicular and Microvesicular Steatosis on Liver Transplantation Outcomes: Analysis of SRTR Data Between 2010 and 2018.

BACKGROUND: Because of the rising prevalence of obesity, the use of steatotic grafts in orthotopic liver transplantation is becoming increasingly obligatory. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative distribution of microvesicular steatosis (MiS) burden across categories of macrovesicular steatosis (MaS) and the effect of biopsy-sourced MaS and MiS on graft failure, recipient death, and retransplantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 13,889 adults with deceased donor liver transplantations from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients between 2010 and 2018. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were run to examine the independent and combined effects of MaS and MiS on major transplantation outcomes. RESULTS: Recipients had a mean age of 56.5 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 29.2 kg/m2; 70% were men, and 74% were non-Hispanic white. Considering the independent effect of MaS, recipients of livers with 30% to 60% MaS had 97% and 129%, 71% and 81%, 39% and 43%, and 40% and 19% increased risks of graft failure and death at 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years post-transplantation, respectively. Considering the combined effects of MaS and MiS, 16% to 60% MaS increased the risk of graft failure and recipient death regardless of MiS burden within the first 3 months post-transplantation. These risks were also increased among recipients of livers with 5% to 15% MaS and the additional burden of 16% to 60% MiS. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that risk threshold of adverse transplantation outcomes owing to steatosis appears to be lower than previously recognized and currently practiced. These risks must be weighed and mitigated against the duress of organ shortage and saving lives.

Matched Cohort Study of Convalescent COVID-19 Plasma Treatment in Severely or Life Threateningly Ill COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The utility of convalescent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) plasma (CCP) in the current pandemic is not well defined. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CCP in severely or life threateningly ill COVID-19 patients when matched with a contemporaneous cohort. METHODS: Patients with severe or life-threatening COVID-19 were treated with CCP according to Food and Drug Administration criteria, prioritization by an interdisciplinary team, and based on CCP availability. Individual-level matched controls (1:1) were identified from patients admitted during the prior month when no CCP was available. The safety outcome was freedom from adverse transfusion reaction, and the efficacy outcome was a composite of death or worsening O2 support. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were analyzed by univariate and multivariable regression analyses accounting for matched design. RESULTS: Study patients (n = 94, 47 matched pairs) were 62% male with a mean age of 58, and 98% (90/94) were minorities (53% Hispanic, 45% Black, non-Hispanic) in our inner-city population. Seven-day composite and mortality outcomes suggested a nonsignificant benefit in CCP-treated patients (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.23-2.12; P = .52; aHR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.04-1.51; P = .13, respectively). Stratification by pretransfusion mechanical ventilation status showed no differences between groups. No serious transfusion reactions occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In this short-term matched cohort study, transfusion with CCP was safe and showed a nonsignificant association with study outcomes. Randomized and larger trials to identify appropriate timing and dosing of CCP in COVID-19 are warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04420988.

Pulmonary complications in trauma patients with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing pelvic or lower limb operation.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly prevalent in the range of 2% to 24% in the US population. OSA is a well-described predictor of pulmonary complications after elective operation. Yet, data are lacking on its effect after operations for trauma. We hypothesized that OSA is an independent predictor of pulmonary complications in patients undergoing operations for traumatic pelvic/lower limb injuries (PLLI). METHODS: Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2009-2013) was queried for International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for PLLI requiring operation. Elective admissions and those with concurrent traumatic brain injury with moderate to prolonged loss of consciousness were excluded. Outcome measures were pulmonary complications including ventilatory support, ventilator-associated pneumonia, pulmonary embolism (PE), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and respiratory failure. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used, adjusting for OSA, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and specific comorbidities (obesity, chronic lung disease, and pulmonary circulatory disease). P<0.01 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Among the 337 333 patients undergoing PLLI operation 3.0% had diagnosed OSA. Patients with OSA had more comorbidities and were more frequently discharged to facilities. Median length of stay was longer in the OSA group (5 vs 4 days, p<0.001). Pulmonary complications were more frequent in those with OSA. Multivariable logistic regression showed that OSA was an independent predictor of ventilatory support (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.37; 95% CI,1.24 to 1.51), PE (aOR 1.40; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.70), ARDS (aOR 1.36; 95% CI,1.23 to 1.52), and respiratory failure (aOR 1.90; 95% CI, 1.74 to 2.06). CONCLUSION: OSA is an independent and underappreciated predictor of pulmonary complications in those undergoing emergency surgery for PLLI. More aggressive screening and identification of OSA in trauma patients undergoing operation are necessary to provide closer perioperative monitoring and interventions to reduce pulmonary complications and improve outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV.

The Health Care Burden of Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a major neuropsychiatric complication of liver disease that affects 30% to 40% of cirrhotic patients. Hepatic encephalopathy is characterized by a brain dysfunction that is associated with neurologic complications. Those complications are associated with cognitive impairments, which negatively impacts patients' physical and mental health. In turn, hepatic encephalopathy poses a substantial economic and use burdens to the health care system. This article reviews the multidimensional aspects of the health care burden posed by hepatic encephalopathy.

Minimally Invasive Sleeve Gastrectomy as a Surgical Treatment for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Liver Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major public health burden that affects the transplant community because of its key role in fatty liver disease and transplantation outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of sleeve gastrectomy in treating recurrent and de novo nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in liver transplant recipients. SETTING: A university hospital. METHODS: We describe 2 obese liver transplant recipients with recurrent and de novo NAFLD who underwent minimally invasive metabolic and bariatric surgery. RESULTS: The surgery was performed successfully, with much of the operative time consumed by enterolysis. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. At last follow-up appointment (16 months postoperatively), there was a mean reduction in weight (31.98 kg), body mass index (10.2 kg/m2), glycosylated hemoglobin (1.05%), alanine aminotransferase (38 IU/L), steatosis score (0.34), and fibrosis score (0.05). The mean decrease in 6-month postoperative hepatic fat quantification was 6%. CONCLUSIONS: These cases show that metabolic and bariatric surgery in obese, posttransplant recipients with recurrent and de novo nonalcoholic steatohepatitis lead to improved steatosis and reduced obesity and obesity-associated comorbidities.

Emergency abdominal surgery in patients presenting from skilled nursing facilities: Opportunities for palliative care.

BACKGROUND: Residents of skilled nursing facilities (SNF) with acute abdomen present with more comorbidities and frailty than community-dwelling (CD) counterparts. Outcomes in this population are poorly described. METHODS: We hypothesized that SNF patients have higher mortality and morbidity than CD patients. This retrospective review of the NSQIP database from 2011 to 2015 compared outcomes of SNF and CD patients presenting with bowel obstruction, ischemia and perforation. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and 30-day mortality and failure-to-rescue (FTR). RESULTS: 18,326 patients met inclusion criteria. 904 (5%) presented from SNF. In-hospital (26% vs 10%) and 30-day mortality (33% vs 26%) was higher in SNF patients (p < 0.001). The FTR rate was 34% for SNF patients and 20% for CD patients (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Presentation from SNF is an independent predictor of mortality and FTR. Presentation from SNF is a potential trigger for early, concurrent palliative care to assist surgeons, patients, and families in decision making and goal-concordant treatment.

Palliative Care in trauma: Not just for the dying.

BACKGROUND: Palliative Care (PC) is indicated in patients with functional dependency and advanced care needs in addition to those with life-threatening conditions. Older trauma patients have PC needs due to increased risk of mortality and poor long-term outcomes. We hypothesized that older trauma patients discharged alive with poor outcomes are not easily identified nor receive PC interventions. METHODS: Prospective observational study of trauma patients 55 years or older. Patients with poor functional outcomes defined by discharge Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) 1-4 or death at 6-month follow-up were analyzed for rate and timing of PC interventions including goals of care conversation (GOCC), do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, do not intubate (DNI) order, and withdrawal of life supporting measures. Logistic regression was performed for having and timing of GOCC. RESULTS: Three hundred fifteen (54%) of 585 patients had poor outcomes. Of patients who died, 94% had GOCC compared with 31% of patients who were discharged with GOSE 3 or 4. In patients who died, 85% had DNR order, 18% had DNI order, and 56% had withdrawal of ventilator. Only 24% and 9% of patients with GOSE of 3 or 4, respectively, had DNR orders. Fifty percent of the patients who were dead at 6-month follow-up had GOCC during initial hospitalization. The median time to DNR in patients that died was 2 days compared with 5 days and 1 day in GOSE 3 and 4 (p = 0.046). Age, injury severity scale, and preexisting limited physiological reserve were predictive of having a GOCC. CONCLUSION: The PC utilization was very high for older trauma patients who died in hospital. In contrast, the majority of those who were discharged alive, but with poor outcomes, did not have PC. Development of triggers to identify older trauma patients, who would benefit from PC, could close this gap and improve quality of care and outcomes.