COVID-19 second wave: appropriateness of admissions to the Emergency Department of a main metropolitan hospital in Milan.

BACKGROUND: In Europe, Italy and Lombardy, in autumn 2020, there was a steep increase in reported cases due to the second epidemic wave of SARS-Cov-2 infection. We aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of COVID-19 patients' admissions to the ED of the San Raffaele Hospital. METHODS: We compared data between the inter-wave period (IWP, from 1st to 30th September) and the second wave period (WP, 1st October to 15th November) focusing on the ED presentation, discharge priority colour code and outcomes. RESULTS: Out of 977 admissions with a SARS-Cov-2 positive swab, 6% were in the IWP and 94% in the WP. Red, yellow and white code increased (these latter from 1.8% to 5.4%) as well as self-presented in yellow and white code. Discharges home increased from 1.8% to 5.4%, while hospitalizations decreased from 63% to 51%. DISCUSSION: We found a rise in white codes (among self-presented patients), indicating inappropriateness of admissions. The increase in discharges suggests that several patients did not require hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic brought out the fundamental role of primary care to manage patients with low-intensity needs. The important increase in ED admissions of COVID-19 patients caused a reduction of NO-COVID-19 patients, with possible inadequate treatment.

Perioperative and oncologic outcomes of open radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava thrombectomy with liver mobilization and Pringle maneuver for Mayo III level tumor thrombus: single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Scarce data are available regarding the technique and outcomes for patients with RCC and Mayo III caval thrombi. The aim of this study was to report surgical and oncological outcomes of RCC patients with Mayo III thrombi treated with radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy after liver mobilization (LM) and Pringle maneuver (PM). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of surgical technique, outcomes and cancer control in 19 patients undergoing LM and PM in a single tertiary care institution were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 78% of the patients had performance status ECOG 1 and 58% had a Comorbidity Index >2. Median surgical time was 305 minutes (IQR 264-440). Intraoperative complications were reported for 39% of patients and postoperative complications for 58% (only grade 1 and 2). Intensive Care Unit support was necessary in 16% of the cases. Median length of hospital stay was 9 days (IQR: 7-11). Thirty- and 90-day mortality were 5% and 15%. Two-year overall survival and cancer-specific survival were 60% and 62%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We reported surgical techniques, intra- and perioperative complications and follow-up in the largest cohort of RCC patients requiring LM and PM.

Operative morbidity and mortality in octogenarians after carotid endarterectomy: a propensity score matching study.

BACKGROUND: Carotid endarterectomy remains the most effective surgical treatment for reducing the risk of stroke in patients with significant carotid stenosis. In fact, endovascular approach is associated with a higher incidence of perioperative and long-term minor stroke when compared to carotid endarterectomy although long-term functional outcome and risk of major stroke are similar. However, advanced age resulted to be associated with an increased risk of complications after carotid endarterectomy. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the outcome of carotid endarterectomy in octogenarians in our high-volume center. METHODS: Data of all patients who underwent CEA between June 2009 and December 2014 were retrospectively recorded. Patients were categorized as aged <80 or ≥80 years. Propensity score matching based on baseline clinical variables was performed to correct for any bias. Primary outcome was the difference in combined stroke and death. Secondary outcomes included incidence of myocardial infarction, surgical reintervention, unplanned intensive care unit admission and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: A total of 2463 carotid endarterectomies were performed, including 439 patients aged ≥80 years. After propensity score adjustment all octogenarians were matched one-to-one to younger patients. No differences in combined stroke and death were found (1.10% in octogenarians vs. 0.46% in younger patients; P=0.45). Octogenarians had an increased length of hospital stay when compared to younger patients (3.1±0.7 vs. 3.4±1.3 days; P=0.0001). No differences in other secondary outcomes were found. CONCLUSIONS: Age ≥80 years does not entail an increased perioperative risk after carotid endarterectomy. Hence, surgical carotid revascularization in octogenarians can be regarded as a safe and viable alternative to best medical therapy alone when performed in high-volume centers.

Examination of regional anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid endarterectomy is the most effective treatment for reducing the risk of stroke in patients with significant carotid stenosis. Few studies have focused on the failure rate of regional anesthesia. METHODS: Data of all patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (June 2009 to December 2014) in a single center were collected. Combined deep and superficial cervical plexus block or superficial plexus block alone was used according to the attending anesthesiologist's choice and the patient's characteristics (eg, dual antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy). Intraoperative remifentanil (0.025-0.05 µg/kg/min) was administered to maintain an adequate level of comfort, responsiveness, and cooperation. General anesthesia was planned only in the case of major contraindications or the patient's refusal of locoregional anesthesia. The primary end point of our study was the incidence of intraoperative conversion from locoregional to general anesthesia. RESULTS: A total of 2463 carotid endarterectomies were included in the analysis. Regional anesthesia was initially chosen in 2439 patients, whereas 24 patients received planned general anesthesia. In seven cases, regional anesthesia was converted to general anesthesia because of severe agitation of the patient (before clamping in four cases, after carotid clamping in two cases, and after declamping in one case). A shunt was used in 302 patients (12.3%) because of neurologic deterioration at the carotid clamping test. Intraoperative complications were emergent repeated surgical procedures in 13 cases (0.53%) because of acute neurologic deterioration, 1 intraoperative acute myocardial infarction (0.04%), and 3 cases (0.04%) of hemodynamically relevant supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. No intraoperative death occurred. In-hospital mortality was 0.12% (three patients). Major stroke occurred in 23 patients (0.93%); minor stroke occurred in 16 patients (0.65%). The combined stroke and death rate was 1.62% (40 patients). CONCLUSIONS: In our practice, carotid endarterectomy under regional anesthesia is safe and associated with a very low rate of conversion to general anesthesia.

Esmolol reduces perioperative ischemia in noncardiac surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

OBJECTIVE: Literature increasingly has suggested how beta-blockers could be associated with reductions of mortality and morbidity in noncardiac surgery. Recently, the POISE trial showed that beta-blockers could be harmful in the perioperative period. The authors performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the clinical effects of esmolol in noncardiac surgery. DESIGN: Meta-analysis. SETTING: Hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1765 patients from 32 randomized trials. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Three investigators independently searched BioMedCentral and PubMed. Inclusion criteria were random allocation to treatment and comparison of esmolol versus placebo, other drugs, or standard of care in noncardiac surgery. Exclusion criteria were duplicate publications, nonhuman experimental studies, and no data on clinical outcomes. The use of esmolol was associated with a significant reduction of myocardial ischemia episodes (5/283 [1.76%] in the esmolol group v 16/265 [6.03%] in the control arm, odds ratio [OR] = 0.16 [0.05-0.54], p = 0.003). The authors did not observe significant differences regarding episodes of arrhythmias (8/236 [3.38%] v 22/309 [7.11%], OR = 0.52 [0.23-1.18], p = 0.12) and in the incidence of myocardial infarction (0/148 [0%] v 1/169 [0.59%], OR = 0.23 [0.01-6.09], p = 0.38). Esmolol-treated patients did not experience more episodes of hypotension (17/384 [4.42%] v 38/439 [8.65%], OR = 0.41 [0.22-0.79], p = 0.17) and bradycardia (25/342 [7.30%] v 17/406 [4.18%], OR = 1.42 [0.74-2.74], p = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Esmolol seemed to reduce the incidence of myocardial ischemia in noncardiac surgery without increasing the episodes of hypotension and bradycardia. Large randomized trials are necessary to confirm these promising results.