Clinical guideline on reversal of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with life threatening bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulation is essential for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic events. Current guidelines recommend direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over vitamin K antagonists in DOAC-eligible patients. The major complication of anticoagulation is serious or life-threatening haemorrhage, which may necessitate prompt haemostatic intervention. Reversal of DOACs may also be required for patients in need of urgent invasive procedures. This guideline from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) aims to provide evidence-based recommendations and suggestions on how to manage patients on DOACs undergoing urgent or emergency procedures including the treatment of DOAC-induced bleeding. DESIGN: A systematic literature search was performed, examining four drug comparators (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) and clinical scenarios ranging from planned to emergency surgery with the outcomes of mortality, haematoma growth and thromboembolic complications. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Consensus on the wording of the recommendations was achieved by a Delphi process. RESULTS: So far, no results from prospective randomised trials comparing two active comparators (e.g. a direct reversal agent and an unspecific haemostatic agent such as prothrombin complex concentrate: PCC) have been published yet and the majority of publications were uncontrolled and observational studies. Thus, the certainty of evidence was assessed to be either low or very low (GRADE C). Thirty-five recommendations and clinical practice statements were developed. During the Delphi process, strong consensus (>90% agreement) was achieved in 97.1% of recommendations and consensus (75 to 90% agreement) in 2.9%. DISCUSSION: DOAC-specific coagulation monitoring may help in patients at risk for elevated DOAC levels, whereas global coagulation tests are not recommended to exclude clinically relevant DOAC levels. In urgent clinical situations, haemostatic treatment using either the direct reversal or nonspecific haemostatic agents should be started without waiting for DOAC level monitoring. DOAC levels above 50 ng ml-1 may be considered clinically relevant necessitating haemostatic treatment before urgent or emergency procedures. Before cardiac surgery under activated factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors, the use of andexanet alfa is not recommended because of inhibition of unfractionated heparin, which is needed for extracorporeal circulation. In the situation of DOAC overdose without bleeding, no haemostatic intervention is suggested, instead measures to eliminate the DOACs should be taken. Due to the lack of published results from comparative prospective, randomised studies, the superiority of reversal treatment strategy vs. a nonspecific haemostatic treatment is unclear for most urgent and emergency procedures and bleeding. Due to the paucity of clinical data, no recommendations for the use of recombinant activated factor VII as a nonspecific haemostatic agent can be given. CONCLUSION: In the clinical scenarios of DOAC intake before urgent procedures and DOAC-induced bleeding, practitioners should evaluate the risk of bleeding of the procedure and the severity of the DOAC-induced bleeding before initiating treatment. Optimal reversal strategy remains to be determined in future trials for most clinical settings.

Appraisal of the clinical practice guidelines on thromboprophylaxis in orthopaedic procedures; Do we AGREE (II)?

OBJECTIVE: Optimal thromboprophylaxis in orthopaedic procedures is crucial in an attempt to lower the risk of venous thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. We aim to: 1) identify clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and recommendations (CPRs) on thromboprophylaxis in adult patients undergoing orthopaedic procedures, and 2) assess the methodological quality and reporting clarity of these guidelines. METHODS: The study was conducted following the 2020 PRISMA guidelines for a systematic review and has been registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) under the registration number (CRD42023406988). An electronic search was conducted using Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Google Scholar and medRxiv. The search terms used were ""adults", "orthopedic surgery", "orthopedic surgeries", "orthopedic surgical procedure", "orthopedic surgical procedures" "english language", "venous thromboembolism", in all possible combinations (January 2013 to March 2023). The eligible studies were evaluated by four blind raters, employing the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE-II) analysis tool. RESULTS: The literature research resulted in 931 studies. Finally, a total of 16 sets of guidelines were included in the current analysis. There were 8 national and 8 international CPGs. Eight CPGs made specific recommendations for orthopaedic surgery and referred mostly to joints; one guideline focused on pelvi-acetabular trauma, while the rest were more inclusive and non-specific. Four guidelines, one from the American Society of Hematology (ASH), two from the United Kingdom (UK) and one from India were found to have the highest methodological quality and reporting clarity according to the AGREE-II tool. Inter-rater agreement was very good with a mean Cohens Kappa 0.962 (95 % CI, 0.895-0.986) in the current analysis. So, the reliability of the measurements can be interpreted as good to excellent. CONCLUSION: Optimal thromboprophylaxis in orthopaedic procedures is crucial. The available guidelines were found to be mostly of high methodological quality and inter-rater agreement was very good, according to our study.

Predicting the Outcome of Patients with Severe COVID-19 with Simple Inflammatory Biomarkers: The Utility of Novel Combined Scores-Results from a European Tertiary/Referral Centre.

Background: The clinical significance of combinations of inflammatory biomarkers in severe COVID-19 infection is yet to be proved. Although several studies have evaluated the prognostic value of biomarkers in patients with COVID-19, there are limited data regarding the value of the combination scores that could take full advantage of the prognostic value of several biomarkers and that could account for the heterogeneity of patients with severe COVID-19. We investigated the prognostic value of combination scores of admission values of inflammatory biomarkers in adults with severe COVID-19. Methods: Adults admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine of the UHL with severe COVID-19 (April-September 2021, NCT05145751) were included. Demographics, medical history, laboratory tests and outcome (high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), admission to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or death) were recorded. The optimal cut-off points of on admission values of C-reactive protein (CRP), CRP to lymphocyte ratio (CLR), lymphocyte to neutrophil ratio (LNR) and derived variation of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dv-NLR (neutrophil/white blood count-lymphocyte)) for the predetermined outcome were defined. Based on the cut-off of CRP, LNR, dv-NLR and CLR, which were found to be predictors for HFNC, 3 scores were defined: CRP and LNR (C-CRP #1), CRP and dv-NLR (C-CRP #2), CRP and CLR (C-CRP #3). Likewise, based on the cut-off of CRP and CLR, which were found to be predictors for death, the score of CRP and CLR (C-CRP #3*) was defined. The combination scores were then classified as: 2 points (both biomarkers elevated); 1 point (one biomarker elevated) and 0 points (normal values). None of the biomarkers was predictive for the ICU admission, so no further analysis was performed. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to establish the predictive role for each biomarker. Results: One hundred and fifteen patients (60% males, mean age 57.7 years) were included. Thirty-seven (32.2%) patients required HFNC, nine (7.8%) died and eight (7%) were admitted to ICU, respectively. As far as HFNC is concerned, the cut-off point was 3.2 for CRP, 0.231 for LNR, 0.90 for dv-NLR and 0.004 for CLR. Two points of C-CRP #1 and 2 points of C-CRP #3 predicted HFNC with a probability as high as 0.625 (p = 0.005) and 0.561 (p < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, 1 point of C-CRP #2 and 2 points of C-CRP #2 predicted HFNC with a probability of 0.333 and 0.562, respectively. For death, the optimal cut-off point for CRP was 1.11 and for CLR 3.2*1033. Two points of C-CRP #3* with an accuracy of 0.922 predicted mortality (p = 0.0038) in severe COVID-19. Conclusions: The combination scores of CRP and inflammatory biomarkers, based on admission values, are promising predictors for respiratory support using HFNC and for mortality in patients suffering from severe COVID-19 infection.

Femoral-Obturator-Sciatic (FOS) Nerve Block as an Anesthetic Triad for Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction: Is This the Magic Trick We Were Missing?

Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with hamstring grafting is a common orthopedic procedure that is associated with moderate-to-severe pain. Peripheral nerve blockade as an anesthetic technique is an appealing option in the era of modern anesthesia. The aim of this narrative review is to document the efficacy and safety of the combination of femoral, obturator, and sciatic (FOS) nerve blocks as an exclusive method for anesthesia in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. An electronic search of the literature published up to October 2023 was conducted in the Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases to find studies on ACL reconstruction and peripheral obturator nerve block. Overall, 8 prospective studies-with a total of 315 patients-published between 2007 and 2022 were included in this review. Ultrasound-guided peripheral FOS nerve blockade is an effective anesthetic technique for ACL reconstruction, offering good perioperative pain management, minimal opioid consumption, and an excellent safety profile. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to determine the best approach for obturator nerve blockade and the appropriate type and dosage of local anesthetic.

Perioperative management of antithrombotics in elective intracranial procedures: systematic review, critical appraisal.

PURPOSE: Perioperative management of patients medicated with antithrombotics requiring elective intracranial procedures is challenging. We ought to (1) identify the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and recommendations (CPRs) on perioperative management of antithrombotic agents in elective intracranial surgery and (2) assess their methodological quality and reporting clarity. METHODS: The study was conducted following the 2020 PRISMA guidelines for a systematic review and has been registered (PROSPERO, CRD42023415710). An electronic search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search terms used were "adults," "antiplatelets," "anticoagulants," "guidelines," "recommendations," "english language," "cranial surgery," "brain surgery," "risk of bleeding," "risk of coagulation," and "perioperative management" in all possible combinations. The search period extended from 1964 to April 2023 and was limited to literature published in the English language. The eligible studies were evaluated by three blinded raters, by employing the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE-II) analysis tool. RESULTS: A total of 14 sets of guidelines were evaluated. Two guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and one from the American College of Chest Physicians found to have the highest methodological quality and reporting clarity according to the AGREE-II tool. The interrater agreement was good with a mean Cohens Kappa of 0.70 (range, 46.5-94.4%) in the current analysis. CONCLUSION: The perioperative management of antithrombotics in intracranial procedures may be challenging, complex, and demanding. Due to the lack of high quality data, uncertainty remains regarding the optimal practices to balance the risk of thromboembolism against that of bleeding.

Predictors of 30-Day Postoperative Outcome after Elective Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Tertiary Referral Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the 30-day postoperative outcome after elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and the possible predictors for the 30-day postoperative outcome. MATERIALS: Demographics, medical history, laboratory values, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 30-day complications classified as major (major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), acute kidney injury (AKI) and death of any cause) and minor (postimplantation syndrome (PIS), postoperative delirium (POD), urinary tract infection (UTI) and technical graft failure) were documented (March 2016 to February 2019). RESULTS: We included 322 patients. The majority were managed under general anesthesia (83%) with femoral cutdown (98.1%). Overall, 121 (37.5%) complications, mostly minor (n = 103, 31.9%), were recorded. In total, 11 patients (3.4%) developed MACEs, 5 (1.6%) experienced AKI and 2 (0.6%) died in the ICU. Moreover, 77 patients (23.9%) suffered from PIS, 11 from POD, 11 from UTI and 4 from technical graft failure. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that aneurysm diameter (p = 0.01) and past smoking (p = 0.003) were predictors for complications. PAD was an independent predictor of MACEs (p = 0.003), preoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of AKI (p = 0.003) and past smoking of PIS (p = 0.008), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the 30-day morbidity after EVAR exceeded 35%. However, the majority of complications were minor, and the associated mortality was low. Aneurysm diameter and past smoking were independent predictors for postoperative outcome.

Complete Vascular Replacement of the Infrarenal Inferior Vena Cava and Abdominal Aorta during Post-Chemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection for a Non-Seminomatous Germ Cell Tumor.

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the leading cause of cancer-related death in males between the ages of 20 and 40. In the advanced stages, the combination of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and surgical excision of the remaining tumor can cure many of these patients. Vascular procedures may be required during retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) in order to achieve the complete excision of all residual retroperitoneal masses. Careful assessment of pre-operative imaging and the identification of patients who could benefit from additional procedures are important for minimizing peri- and postoperative complications. We report on a case of a 27-year-old patient with non-seminomatous TGCT, who successfully underwent post-chemotherapy RPLND with additional infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC) and complete abdominal aorta replacement using synthetic grafts.

Risk Factors for Postdischarge Major Thromboembolism and Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 with Cardiovascular Comorbidities: Insights from the CORE-19 Registry.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with venous and arterial thromboembolism (VTE and ATE) and all-cause mortality (ACM) in hospitalized patients. High-quality data are needed on postdischarge outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVES: To analyze outcomes and identify risk factors for ATE, VTE, and ACM in a high-risk subgroup of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with baseline cardiovascular disease. METHODS: We investigated postdischarge rates and associated risk factors of ATE, VTE, and ACM in 608 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with coronary artery disease, carotid artery stenosis (CAS), peripheral arterial disease (PAD), or ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Through 90 days postdischarge, outcome rates were: ATE 27.3% (10.2% myocardial infarction, 10.1% ischemic stroke, 13.2% systemic embolism, 12.7% major adverse limb event); VTE 6.9% (4.1% deep vein thrombosis, 3.6% pulmonary embolism); composite of ATE, VTE, or ACM 35.2% (214/608). Multivariate analysis showed significant association between this composite endpoint and age >75 years (odds ratio [OR]: 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.94, p = 0.004), PAD (OR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.80-5.81, p ≤ 0.0001), CAS (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.11-2.75, p = 0.017), congestive heart failure (CHF) (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.02-3.35, p = 0.044), previous VTE (OR: 3.08, 95% CI: 1.75-5.42, p < 0.0001), and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.81-4.75, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 inpatients with cardiovascular disease experience high rates of ATE, VTE, or ACM through 90 days postdischarge. Age >75 years, PAD, CAS, CHF, previous VTE, and ICU admission are independent risk factors.

The Impact of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol Implementation on Postoperative Pain Management in the Era of Opioid Crisis: The Postchemotherapy Open RPLND Experience.

AIM: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been proven to optimize postoperative outcomes; however, misuse of opioid analgesics can still hinder postoperative recovery due to related side effects and potential complications. INTRODUCTION: To determine if the implementation of ERAS protocol in post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND) patients could help with reducing postoperative pain and opioid use. METHODS: A case-control study of consecutive testicular cancer patients with indications for PCRLPND, who were offered Conventional Post-operative Management (CPM) or ERAS protocol. Outcomes of interest included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)-assessed pain level at postoperative days 3, 7, and 30, and Morphine-Equivalent Doses (MEDs)/postoperative day. Intraoperative parameters and postoperative complications were recorded. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In total, 100 opioid-naïve PC-RPLND patients were studied. CPM and ERAS groups (36 and 64 patients, respectively) had similar demographic and baseline clinical characteristics). ERAS group patients had significantly lower blood loss (p = 0.005), blood transfusion rate (p < 0.001), and duration of the procedure (p < 0.001). Post-operative complications were comparable between groups. Nausea and bowel disorders were numerically but not statistically more frequent in the CPM group. ERAS patients had shorter mean hospital stay (5.3 ± 1.4 vs. 7.4 ± 1.6 days, p < 0.001), lower daily MEDs (4.73 ± 2.63 vs. 7.04 ± 2.29, p < 0.001), and lower VAS scores on post-operative day 7 (3.89 ± 1.07 vs. 4.67 ± 1.17, p = 0.001). Post-operative pain was similar between groups on post-operative days 3 and 30. CONCLUSION: Systematic implementation of ERAS protocol after PC-RPLND improves pain management, optimizes patient recovery, and prevents over-prescription of opioid analgesics.

GReek Anaesthesiologists's Burnout EPidemic within the COVID-19 pandemic (GRABEP study); a multicenter study on burn out prevalence among Greek anesthesiologists and association with personality traits.

COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented crisis with extreme distress for the frontline physicians and increased risk of developing burnout. Burnout has a negative impact on patients and physicians, posing a substantial risk in patient safety, quality of care and physicians' overall wellbeing. We evaluated burnout prevalence and possible predisposing factors among anaesthesiologists in the COVID-19 referral university/tertiary hospitals in Greece. In this multicenter, cross-sectional study we have included anaesthesiologists, involved in the care of patients with COVID-19, during the fourth peak of the pandemic (11/2021), in the 7 referral hospitals in Greece. The validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) were used. The response rate was 98% (116/118). More than half of the respondents were females (67.83%, median age 46 years). The overall Cronbach's alpha for MBI and EPQ was 0.894 and 0.877, respectively. The majority (67.24%) of anaesthesiologists were assessed as "high risk for burnout" and 21.55% were diagnosed with burnout syndrome. Almost half participants experienced high levels of all three dimensions of burnout; high emotional exhaustion (46.09%), high depersonalization (49.57%) and high levels of low personal accomplishment (43.49%). Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that neuroticism was an independent factor predicting "high risk for burnout" as well as burnout syndrome, whereas the "Lie scale" of EPQ exhibited a protective effect against burnout. Burnout prevalence in Greek anaesthesiologists working in COVID-19 referral hospitals during the fourth peak of the pandemic was high. Neuroticism was predictive of both "high risk for burnout" and "burnout syndrome".

Appraisal of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Use of Antithrombotic Therapy in Elective Spinal Procedures: Do We AGREE (II)?

The perioperative management of patients medicated with antithrombotic agents who require elective spinal surgery is extremely challenging because of the increased risk of surgical bleeding and the concurrent need to minimize the thromboembolic risk. The aims of the present systematic review are to: (1) identify clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and recommendations (CPRs) on this topic and (2) assess their methodological quality and reporting clarity. An electronic systematic search of the English Medical Literature up to January 31, 2021 was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Two raters assessed the methodological quality and reporting clarity of the gathered CPGs and CPRs using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool. The agreement between the two raters was assessed using Cohen's kappa. Of the initially gathered 38 CPGs and CPRs, 16 fulfilled our eligibility criteria and were evaluated using the AGREE II instrument. The reports published by "Narouze 2018" and "Fleisher 2014" were scored as being of "high-quality" and having an adequate interrater agreement (Cohen's kappa ≥0.60). Overall, the AGREE II domains of "clarity of presentation" and "scope and purpose" yielded the highest scores (100%), whereas the domain "stakeholder involvement" scored the lowest score (48.5%). The perioperative management of antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents in elective spine surgery may be challenging. Because of the lack of high-quality data in this field, uncertainty remains regarding the optimal practices to balance the risk of thromboembolism against that of bleeding.

Conical Aortic Neck as a Predictor of Outcome after Endovascular Aneurysm Exclusion: Midterm Results.

BACKGROUND: Conical neck may affect endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) outcomes. The aim of this study was to present EVAR neck adverse events [endoleak type Ia (ET Ia) and graft migration], in patients with conical neck morphology compared to patients with non-conical necks. An additional analysis of the factors that may affect neck adverse events in patients with conical necks, during the first postoperative year, was executed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospective data was conducted, including patients that underwent elective EVAR, between 2017 and 2019. All patients completed the clinical and imaging follow-up of the initial 12 months. Regarding imaging, all cases underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA), preoperatively, at the 1st and 12th month of follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative aneurysm anatomic characteristics (supra-renal and infra-renal aortic diameters, aneurysm diameter, neck angle, thrombus, and calcification) were recorded. Proximal neck was defined as the infrarenal aortic segment, with a diameter less than 30 mm. Conical neck was any neck with a diameter increase ≥2 mm per cm of length (from outer-to-outer aortic wall). The proximal 15 mm of the neck length were considered the zone of endograft sealing. Migration was any ≥10 mm caudal movement of the endograft, relative to its position detected at the CTA of the first month. Neck adverse events were defined as the composite event of ET Ia and migration. RESULTS: The cohort included 150 patients; 66 (44%) presented conical neck morphology. No significant difference was detected regarding the preoperative anatomic characteristics between the conical and non-conical groups. Only distal (15 mm) neck diameter was wider in the conical group (P < 0.001). Supra-renal active fixation was used in 63.3% of the total cohort; 59.5% in patients with non-conical necks and 68.2% in patients with conical morphology (P = 0.275). Graft oversizing was 18.2% and 18.7% in the non-conical and conical group, respectively (P = 0.248). Oversizing >20% was equal between groups [37.8% vs. 33.3%% (P = 0.608) while oversizing ≥30% was more common among patients with conical necks (3.5% vs. 10.6%, P < 0.001, 3.2 odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 0.79, 12.91). Regarding ET Ia and migration, no difference was recorded between the groups. In a subanalysis among patients with conical necks, a lower graft migration rate was detected among patients with higher oversizing rate (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: EVAR may offer similarly good midterm outcomes in patients with conical and non-conical neck anatomy. An oversizing to the higher suggested rate may be preventive of graft migration during the first postoperative year in necks with conical morphology. Aggressive oversizing (>20%) do not offer any benefit regarding the prevention of adverse events among patients with conical necks.

The Impact of Iliac Artery Anatomy on Distal Landing Zone After EVAR During the 12-Month Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: Proximal sealing zone has been the main interest in endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), although the distal landing zone remodeling may also affect EVAR durability. The aim of this study was to assess iliac anatomy and its potential impact on distal landing zone adverse events after EVAR during the 12-month follow-up. METHODS: A prospective data collection of patients treated with standard bifurcated EVAR devices for abdominal aortic aneurysm was undertaken between 2017 and 2019. Patients that received extension to the external iliac artery were excluded. Follow-up included computed tomography angiography (CTA) at the 1st and 12th month postoperatively. The common iliac artery (CIA) diameter was assessed in three levels: origin (just below the aortic bifurcation), distally (just above the iliac bifurcation) and the middle of the distance between these two landmarks. Iliac angle, tortuosity indexes, relining and oversizing were also analyzed. Distal landing zone-related adverse events were any limb related re-intervention, endoleak type Ib, graft migration, limb stenosis, or occlusion. RESULTS: In total, 268 iliac limbs (134 patients) were included. In all three levels, the mean iliac artery diameters increased at 12-month follow-up. At the origin of the CIA, the diameter increased from 18.7 ± 10.5 mm to 19.9 ± 9.4 mm (P = 0.04), at the middle portion of the CIA, the diameter changed significantly from 15.5 ± 5.1 mm to 17.4 ± 5.4 mm (P < 0.001) and at the distal CIA, from 14.6 ± 3.3 mm to 15.1 ± 3.9 mm (P = 0.03). The iliac angle remained stable (P = 0.14) while the CIA index decreased significantly from 1.17 ± 0.13 to 1.11 ± 0.09 (P < 0.001). The mean value of oversizing was 21.5 ± 14.5% and affected distal iliac diameter increase (P < 0.001). The composite outcome of distal landing zone adverse events was not associated to diameter changes at any level. In 57 cases, a distal iliac diameter ≥18 mm was recorded. The estimated oversizing was lower (16.3 ± 11.8%) compared to <18 mm arteries (22.5 ± 14.9%, P = 0.01). At 12-month follow-up, iliac diameters remained stable in the ≥18 mm group. Endoleak type Ib was more common in iliac arteries ≥18 mm [3 (5.3%) vs. 1 (0.5%) (P = 0.04)] at 12-months. CONCLUSIONS: Post-EVAR iliac artery dilation does not seem to have an impact on distal landing zone adverse events during the 12-month follow-up. Aggressive oversizing may be related to iliac dilation. EVAR patients with iliac arteries ≥18 mm are at higher risk for ET Ib.

Venous thromboembolism and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with hip fractures suffering from SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Hip fractures represent 1 of the most common injuries in older adults. They are associated with increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. Additionally, current research suggests that SARS-COV-2 infection may worsen the prognosis of the hip fracture patients who undergo hip fixation. The aims of the present study were: (1) to determine the rate of specific adverse events including VTE (venous thromboembolism) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with hip fracture and concomitant SARS-CoV-2 infection undergoing surgery; and (2) to examine if the aforementioned population is at increased risk for VTE and MACEs, when compared to SARS-CoV-2 free patients with hip fracture. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, Google scholar and medRxiv were searched from March 2020 to January 2021 for English language studies with patients suffering from hip fractures and SARS-COV-2 -CoV-2. 2 researchers were involved in the data extraction and the quality assessment of the studies respectively. RESULTS: The literature search yielded a total of 1256 articles of which 14 were included in the systematic review and 7 in the meta-analysis respectively. The estimated pooled rate for VTE and MACE were 4.3% and 6.3% respectively. Patients with hip fracture and concomitant SARS-CoV-2 infection who undergo surgery are at increased risk for VTE, when compared to SARS-CoV-2 free patients (odds ratio 2.8 [95% CI, 1.1-7.1]). These patients are also at increased risk for MACE postoperatively as indicated by the odds ratio 2.4 (95% CI, 1.0-5.8). The quality of the studies was moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is a lack of high-quality data it seems that patients with hip fractures and concomitant SARS-CoV-2 infection are facing a 2.8 and 2.4 times increased risk for VTE and MACE.

Risk factors and adverse events related to supra- and infra-renal aortic dilation at twelve months after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Aortic remodeling and its effect on adverse events after endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair (EVAR) remain under investigation. This study aimed to assess aortic diameter alterations after EVAR, related risk factors and consequences to proximal sealing at 12 months. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis of consecutive EVAR patients was undertaken. All patients underwent computed tomography angiography, preoperatively, at 1st and 12th month. The infrarenal diameter was measured just below the inferior renal artery, at 7 mm and 15 mm while the suprarenal, just above the superior renal artery (SRA), superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and just below the celiac trunk. Neck-related adverse events included migration and endoleak Ia. RESULTS: A hundred fifty patients were included. At 1st month, no significant diameter alteration was recorded at any level. At 12th month, all infra-renal diameters increased (P<0.001) and diameters at SRA and SMA also augmented (P=0.024 and P=0.007, respectively). Neck diameter >29 mm, supra-renal fixation and oversizing >20% were associated to dilation at 12th month. Neck adverse events were related to diameter alterations below the inferior renal artery (P=0.017), SRA (P=0.007) and SMA (P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: During the 12-month follow-up, aortic dilation may be detected from the supra-renal aorta to the total neck length. Neck dilation may be attributed to large neck diameter, supra-renal fixation, and aggressive oversizing. Neck-related adverse events are more common in patients with aortic dilation at 12 months.

The effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on perioperative neurocognitive disorders in patients undergoing elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia. A prospective cohort study.

Background and Aims: Preliminary evidence suggests a possible relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and perioperative neurocognitive disorders (NCD). We sought to investigate whether patients with T2DM, undergoing elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia, are at increased risk of perioperative NCD. Material and Methods: A prospective cohort study was designed. One-hundred and forty-four patients with T2DM and 144 healthy controls were recruited. Controls were matched for sex, age, type of operation, and educational background. Postoperative delirium (POD), delayed neurocognitive recovery and postoperative NCD were evaluated. Results: Two hundred twenty-eight patients were analyzed. Compared to controls, patients with T2DM were diagnosed with higher rates of NCD preoperatively (n = 96 vs. n = 26, P < 0.05) and higher POD up to 4 days postoperatively (n = 204 vs. n = 68, P < 0.05). Increased rates of delayed neurocognitive recovery and postoperative NCD were recorded in patients with T2DM up to 9 months postoperatively (n = 473 vs. n = 192, P < 0.05). Insulin-dependent patients had higher rates of POD on the second (n = 38 vs. n = 24, P < 0.05) and third day (n = 27 vs. n = 16, P < 0.05) when compared to noninsulin-dependent patients. Logistic multivariable analysis revealed that patients with T2DM are at increased risk for postoperative cognitive disorders. Conclusion: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus appear to be at a higher risk of perioperative NCDs up to 9 months after elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia.

The WHOQOL-BREF instrument: Psychometric evaluation of the Greek version in patients with advanced cancer and pain and associations with psychological distress.

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of the psychometric characteristics of the Greek version of the brief World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) in patients with advanced cancer and pain, and exploration of the association between psychological distress and quality of life (QoL). METHOD: The sample consisted of 145 patients with advanced cancer and pain who completed the WHOQOL-BREF, the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), and the Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). In analysis, the following methods were used: Cronbach's alpha, Item Response Theory (IRT), polychoric, Pearson and polyserial correlation, t-test, and Linear regression. RESULTS: The internal consistency was high for all domains of the WHOQOL-BREF (Cronbach's α ≥ 0.731). Similarly, with the exception of three items, the WHOQOL-BREF items has large discrimination parameters suggesting that they have a high ability in differentiating subjects. On SCL-90, the three dimensions with the highest scores were Depression, Somatization, and Anxiety. The overall score for psychological distress, the Global Severity Index (GSI), showed significant negative association with all the WHOQOL-BREF factor scores (Physical Health: B = -1.488, p < 0.001, Psychological Health: B = -1.688, p < 0.001, Social Relationships: B = -0.910, p < 0.001, Environment: B = -1.064, p < 0.001). Male gender was associated with lower scores for Social Relationships (B = -0.358, p = 0.007) and Environment (B = -0.293, p = 0.026). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The Greek version of the WHOQOL-BREF showed good psychometric properties in patients with advanced cancer and can be used as a reliable instrument in clinical practice. The level of psychological distress can be considered a determinant of QoL in patients with advanced cancer and pain, independently of pain intensity or other clinical characteristics. In cancer, the disease process can activate multiple physiological and psychological mechanisms that lead to a wide range of symptoms of psychological distress. To improve their QoL, psychological intervention focused on the identification and alleviation of psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer, and help in finding meaning in their experience, should be provided.

Association of Preoperative Basal Inflammatory State, Measured by Plasma suPAR Levels, with Intraoperative Sublingual Microvascular Perfusion in Patients Undergoing Major Non-Cardiac Surgery.

It remains unknown whether chronic systemic inflammation is associated with impaired microvascular perfusion during surgery. We evaluated the association between the preoperative basal inflammatory state, measured by plasma soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels, and intraoperative sublingual microcirculatory variables in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery. Plasma suPAR levels were determined in 100 non-cardiac surgery patients using the suPARnostic® quick triage lateral flow assay. We assessed sublingual microcirculation before surgical incision and every 30 min during surgery using Sidestream Darkfield (SDF+) imaging and determined the De Backer score, the Consensus Proportion of Perfused Vessels (Consensus PPV), and the Consensus PPV (small). Elevated suPAR levels were associated with lower intraoperative De Backer score, Consensus PPV, and Consensus PPV (small). For each ng mL−1 increase in suPAR, De Backer score, Consensus PPV, and Consensus PPV (small) decreased by 0.7 mm−1, 2.5%, and 2.8%, respectively, compared to baseline. In contrast, CRP was not significantly correlated with De Backer score (r = −0.034, p = 0.36), Consensus PPV (r = −0.014, p = 0.72) or Consensus PPV Small (r = −0.037, p = 0.32). Postoperative De Backer score did not change significantly from baseline (5.95 ± 3.21 vs. 5.89 ± 3.36, p = 0.404), while postoperative Consensus PPV (83.49 ± 11.5 vs. 81.15 ± 11.8, p < 0.001) and Consensus PPV (small) (80.87 ± 13.4 vs. 78.72 ± 13, p < 0.001) decreased significantly from baseline. In conclusion, elevated preoperative suPAR levels were associated with intraoperative impairment of sublingual microvascular perfusion in patients undergoing elective major non-cardiac surgery.

Prevalence of postpartum depression and antenatal anxiety symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic: An observational prospective cohort study in Greece.

INTRODUCTION: A significant proportion of pregnant women and women in the early postpartum period suffer from mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic represents a unique stressor during this period and many studies across the world have shown elevated rates of postpartum depression (PPD). METHODS: In this multicenter two-phase observational prospective cohort study, we aim to assess the prevalence of anxiety prior to labor (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), as well as PPD at 6-8 weeks postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). RESULTS: Of the 330 women analyzed, 13.2% reported symptoms of depression using EPDS cut-off score ≥13. High antenatal levels of anxiety (24.8% scored ≥10 in GAD-7) were documented. A significant proportion of postpartum women reported a decrease in willingness to attend antenatal education courses (36%) and fewer antenatal visits to their obstetrician (34%) due to pandemic. Higher antenatal anxiety increased the odds of being depressed at 6-8 weeks postpartum (EPDS ≥13). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to reported prevalence of PPD from previous studies before the COVID-19 era in Greece, we did not find elevated rates during the first wave of the pandemic. High anxiety levels were observed indicating that there is a need for close monitoring in pregnancy during the pandemic and anxiety screening to identify women who need support in the pandemic era. A well-planned maternity program should be employed by all the associated care providers to maintain the proper antenatal care adjusted to the pandemic strains as well as a follow-up after labor.