Perioperative protocol to reduce blood transfusions in total knee o hip replacement patients / [Implementación de protocolo perioperatorio para disminuir tasa de transfusiones en pacientes sometidos a reemplazo total de cadera o rodilla primarios]

Introduction: Patient Blood Management (PBM) programs improve patient care and reduce health costs. It includes detection of presurgical anemia, reduction of blood loss and improvement of patient-specific anemic reserve. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of a PBM program on transfusion rate, length of stay (LOS) and adverse events. Methods: We developed a retrospective observational study. We included patients who underwent total hip (THR) o knee replacement (TKR). Our PBM involved preoperative assessment, administration of 2 doses of tranexamic acid, application of restrictive transfusion criteria and use of IV iron. We compared results between the group of patients before and the one after the PBM implementation. Results: We included 179 patients (80 TKR and 99 THR) who underwent surgery before PBM implementation from January to December 2014 (Group A), and 187 patients (103 TKR and 84 THR) who underwent arthroplasty after PBM application from January to November 2016 (Group B). In Group A, hemoglobin drop was larger than in Group B, for TKR (5.1±1.2 vs. 4.2±1.2 g/dl; p<0,05) and for THR (4.7±1.3 vs. 3.8±1.3 g/dl; p<0,05). In group A, more patients were transfused (31.8% vs. 2.7%; p<0.001). LOS was longer for patients in group A, in both surgeries (for TKA, 3.98±1.4days vs. 2.99±0.95 days; p<0.0001; for THA 3.68±1.06days vs. 2.88±0.75days; p<0.0001). No significant differences were found regarding adverse events. Conclusion: Our PBM program saved transfusions after primary TKR and THR and lowered LOS, without risking patients to higher number of complications or death.

Introducción: Los protocolos de manejo de anemia perioperatoria mejoran el cuidado del paciente y disminuyen los costos en salud. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar el efecto de dicho programa en pacientes sometidos a reemplazo total de cadera (RTC) o rodilla (RTR), en la tasa de transfusiones, tiempo de estadía hospitalaria y eventos adversos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo, incluyendo pacientes sometidos a RTC o RTR primarios. El programa abarcó la valoración preoperatoria, el uso de 2 dosis de ácido tranexámico, la aplicación de transfusiones restringidas, y el uso de hierro suplementario. Se compararon los resultados entre pacientes pre y post implementación del protocolo. Resultados: Se incluyeron 179 pacientes (80 RTR y 99 RTC) pre protocolo entre enero y diciembre 2014 (grupo A) y 187 casos (103 RTR y 84 RTC) post protocolo entre enero y noviembre 2016 (grupo B). En el grupo A, la caida de hemoglobina fue mayor que en el grupo B en RTR (5,1±1,2 vs. 4,2±1,2 g/dl; p<0,05) y en RTC (4,7±1.3 vs. 3,8±1.3 g/dl; p<0,05). Hubo mayor requerimiento transfusional en el grupo A (31,8% vs. 2,7%; p<0,001). El tiempo de estadía hospitalaria (TEH) fue mayor en el grupo A para ambas cirugías (en RTR 3,98±1,4días vs. 2,99±0,95 días; p<0,0001; en RTC 3,68±1,06días vs. 2,88±0,75días; p<0,0001). No se encontraron diferencias significativas respecto a eventos adversos. Conclusión: En ambas artroplastias, nuestro programa disminuyó la cantidad de transfusiones, la caída de hemoglobina y la estadía hospitalaria, sin aumentar el número de complicaciones.

Benefit of an electronic medical record-based alarm in the optimization of stress ulcer prophylaxis / Beneficio de una alarma electrónica de la historia clínica en la optimización de la profilaxis de la úlcera por estrés

BACKGROUND: The use of stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) has risen in recent years, even in patients without a clear indication for therapy. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of an electronic medical record (EMR)-based alarm to improve appropriate SUP use in hospitalized patients. METHODS: We conducted an uncontrolled before-after study comparing SUP prescription in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and non-ICU patients, before and after the implementation of an EMR-based alarm that provided the correct indications for SUP. RESULTS: 1627 patients in the pre-intervention and 1513 patients in the post-intervention cohorts were included. The EMR-based alarm improved appropriate (49.6% vs. 66.6%, p < 0.001) and reduced inappropriate SUP use (50.4% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.001) in ICU patients only. These differences were related to the optimization of SUP in low risk patients. There was no difference in overt gastrointestinal bleeding between the two cohorts. Unjustified costs related to SUP were reduced by a third after EMR-based alarm use. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an EMR-based alarm improved appropriate and reduced inappropriate use of SUP in ICU patients. This benefit was limited to optimization in low risk patients and associated with a decrease in SUP costs

ANTECEDENTES: El uso de la profilaxis de úlceras por estrés (PUE) ha aumentado en los últimos años, incluso en pacientes sin indicación. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la eficacia de una alarma electrónica en la historia clínica (AEHC) para mejorar el uso apropiado de la PUE en pacientes hospitalizados. MÉTODOS: Estudio no controlado antes-después para comparar la prescripción de la PUE en pacientes de la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y sala general, antes y después de la implementación de una AEHC que proporcionaba las indicaciones correctas de la PUE. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 1.627 pacientes en la cohorte previa a la intervención y 1.513 pacientes en la cohorte posterior a la intervención. La AEHC mejoró el uso apropiado (49,6 vs. 66,6%; p < 0,001) y redujo el uso inapropiado de la PUE (50,4 vs. 33,3%; p < 0,001) solo en pacientes de la UCI. Estas diferencias se relacionaron a la optimización del uso de la PUE en pacientes de bajo riesgo. No hubo diferencias en la frecuencia de hemorragia digestiva manifiesta entre ambas cohortes. El uso de la AEHC redujo un tercio del costo injustificado relacionado con la PUE. CONCLUSIONES: El uso de una AEHC mejoró el uso apropiado de la PUE y redujo el uso inapropiado de la PUE en pacientes de la UCI. Este beneficio fue limitado a la optimización del uso de la PUE en pacientes de bajo riesgo y se asoció a una disminución del costo de la PUE

Benefit of an electronic medical record-based alarm in the optimization of stress ulcer prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: The use of stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) has risen in recent years, even in patients without a clear indication for therapy. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of an electronic medical record (EMR)-based alarm to improve appropriate SUP use in hospitalized patients. METHODS: We conducted an uncontrolled before-after study comparing SUP prescription in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and non-ICU patients, before and after the implementation of an EMR-based alarm that provided the correct indications for SUP. RESULTS: 1627 patients in the pre-intervention and 1513 patients in the post-intervention cohorts were included. The EMR-based alarm improved appropriate (49.6% vs. 66.6%, p<0.001) and reduced inappropriate SUP use (50.4% vs. 33.3%, p<0.001) in ICU patients only. These differences were related to the optimization of SUP in low risk patients. There was no difference in overt gastrointestinal bleeding between the two cohorts. Unjustified costs related to SUP were reduced by a third after EMR-based alarm use. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an EMR-based alarm improved appropriate and reduced inappropriate use of SUP in ICU patients. This benefit was limited to optimization in low risk patients and associated with a decrease in SUP costs.

Perioperative management of vitamin K antagonists in patients with low thromboembolic risk undergoing elective surgery: A prospective experience. / Experiencia prospectiva en el uso perioperatorio de antagonistas de vitamina K en pacientes de bajo riesgo tromboembólico que reciben cirugía electiva.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To quantify thromboembolic and bleeding events in patients with low thromboembolic risk, who were chronically receiving vitamin K antagonists and undergoing elective surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive, prospective, single-center study was conducted between December 2010 and July 2014. Patients aged over 18 years old, chronically anticoagulated with vitamin K antagonists and admitted for elective surgery were included in the study. We excluded patients with a creatinine clearance<30ml/min, a body weight>120kg, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, pregnant women, carriers of an epidural catheter for analgesia, patients who underwent unscheduled surgery and high thromboembolic risk-patients. Vitamin K antagonists were discontinued 5 days prior to the procedure without administering anticoagulant enoxaparin. The NIR was measured 24h before the procedure. A single dose of 3mg of vitamin K was administered in cases of a NIR>1.5. Vitamin K antagonists was resumed according to the surgical bleeding risk. Events were registered between 5 days prior to the procedure until 30 days after it. RESULTS: A total of 75 procedures were included in the study. Fifty-six patients (74.7%) received vitamin K antagonists for atrial fibrillation, 15 suffered from venous thromboembolism (20%) and 4 had mechanical heart valves (5.3%). Twenty-six patients (34.5%) underwent high-bleeding risk surgeries and 49 (65.5%) underwent low risk procedures. No thromboembolic event was recorded. Four bleeding events (5.3%) were reported, 3 of which were considered major bleeding events (2 fatal). CONCLUSIONS: Suspending vitamin K antagonists with no bridging therapy performed in patients with a low thromboembolic risk does not expose such patients to a significant risk of embolic events.