Factors associated with unintended perianesthesia hypothermia.

Background: Our hypothesis was that total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is associated with an increase in hypothermia. Methods: Inclusion criteria were patients from the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry undergoing a general anesthetic during 2019. Data collected included patient age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system score (ASAPS), duration of anesthetic, use of TIVA, type of procedure, and hypothermia. Continuous variables were compared using Student's t test or Mann Whitney rank sum as appropriate. Mixed effects multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the association between independent variables and hypothermia. Results: There was a low incidence of hypothermia (1.2%). Patients who became hypothermic were older, had a higher median ASAPS, and had a higher rate of TIVA. TIVA patients had a significantly increased odds for hypothermia when controlling for covariates. Patients undergoing obstetrical, thoracic, or radiological procedures had increased odds for hypothermia. In a matched cohort subset, TIVA was associated with a greater rate and increased odds for hypothermia. Conclusions: The novel and noteworthy finding was the association between TIVA and perianesthesia hypothermia. Thoracic, radiologic, and obstetrical procedures were associated with greater rates of and odds for hypothermia. Other identified factors can help to stratify patients for risk for hypothermia.

Cross sectional study of Twitter (X) use among academic anesthesiology departments in the United States.

Twitter (recently renamed X) is used by academic anesthesiology departments as a social media platform for various purposes. We hypothesized that Twitter (X) use would be prevalent among academic anesthesiology departments and that the number of tweets would vary by region, physician faculty size, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding rank. We performed a descriptive study of Twitter (X) use by academic anesthesiology departments (i.e. those with a residency program) in 2022. Original tweets were collected using a Twitter (X) analytics tool. Summary statistics were reported for tweet number and content. The median number of tweets was compared after stratifying by region, physician faculty size, and NIH funding rank. Among 166 academic anesthesiology departments, there were 73 (44.0%) that had a Twitter (X) account in 2022. There were 3,578 original tweets during the study period and the median number of tweets per department was 21 (25th-75th = 0, 75) with most tweets (55.8%) announcing general departmental news and a smaller number highlighting social events (12.5%), research (11.1%), recruiting (7.1%), DEI activities (5.2%), and trainee experiences (4.1%). There was no significant difference in the median number of tweets by region (P = 0.81). The median number of tweets differed significantly by physician faculty size (P<0.001) with larger departments tweeting more and also by NIH funding rank (P = 0.005) with highly funded departments tweeting more. In 2022, we found that less than half of academic anesthesiology departments had a Twitter (X) account, and the median number of annual tweets per account was relatively low. Overall, Twitter (X) use was less common than anticipated among academic anesthesiology departments and most tweets focused on promotion of departmental activities or individual faculty. There may be opportunities for more widespread and effective use of Twitter (X) by academic anesthesiology departments including education about anesthesiology as a specialty.

Sugammadex and blood loss during cervical spine fusion surgery.

Background and Aims: Sugammadex (SUG) has been associated with changes in coagulation studies. Most reports have concluded a lack of clinical significance based on surgical blood loss with SUG use at the end of surgery. Previous reports have not measured its use intraoperatively during ongoing blood loss. Our hypothesis was that the use of SUG intraoperatively may increase bleeding. Material and Methods: This was a single site retrospective study. Inclusion criteria were patients undergoing a primary posterior cervical spine fusion, aged over 18 years, between July 2015 and June 2021. The primary outcomes compared were intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL) and postoperative drain output (PDO) between patients receiving SUG, neostigmine (NEO) and no NMB reversal agent. The objective was to determine if there was a difference in primary endpoints between patients administered SUG, NEO or no paralytic reversal agent. Primary endpoints were compared using analysis of variance with a P value of 0.05 used to determine statistical significance. Groups were compared using the Chi-squared test, rank sum or student's t test. A logistic regression model was constructed to account for differences between the groups. Results: There was no difference in median EBL or PDO between groups. The use of SUG was not associated with an increase in odds for >500 milliliters (ml) of EBL. Increasing duration of surgery and chronic kidney disease were both associated with an increased risk for EBL >500 ml. Conclusion: Intraoperative use of SUG was not associated with increased bleeding. Any coagulation laboratory abnormalities previously noted did not appear to have an associated clinical significance.

Modern readmission rates after head trauma.

Background: A report on head trauma using the 2014 National Readmission Database described a significant readmission rate of 8.9%. This study was undertaken to reevaluate the rate based on more granular ICD10 codes and to identify any factors associated with readmission that may be targeted to reduce readmission. Methods: Patients were identified from the 2019 National Readmission Database with an ICD10 code for head trauma. Readmission was defined as occurring within 30 days of initial hospital admission. Comparisons were made using chi square, Mann Whitney rank sum, or multivariable logistic regression. Results: The readmission rate was 5.0%. The rate was higher among men (5.6% vs 4.3%, P < 0.001) and patients ≥65 years of age (5.8% vs 3.9%, P < 0.001). Multiple injuries, discharge against medical advice, and government insurance were associated with higher rates. The mortality rate among those readmitted was 4.34%. Among patients readmitted, the most common primary nontrauma diagnoses were seizure disorder (7.7%) and cerebrovascular disease (3.4%). Younger patients had a higher rate of readmission for seizures (10.3% vs 6.1%, P < 0.001) and a lower rate of cerebrovascular disease (2.3% vs 6.4%, P = 0.004). Discussion: The readmission rate was lower than previously described. Quality metrics used by hospitals should use the revised numbers. Based on the data, we suggest possible interventions to reduce readmission, including a trial among younger men of empirical antiepileptic medications and of prophylactic or continued antibiotics among elderly patients. These interventions should be evaluated to determine if they could reduce readmission, particularly among patients who leave against medical advice.

In Vitro Analysis of Platelet Adhesion, Aggregation, and Surface GP1bα Expression in Stored Refrigerated Whole Blood: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Warm, fresh whole blood (WB) has been used by the US military to treat casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. Based on data in that setting, cold-stored WB has been used to treat hemorrhagic shock and severe bleeding in civilian trauma patients in the United States. In an exploratory study, we performed serial measurements of WB's composition and platelet function during cold storage. Our hypothesis was that in vitro platelet adhesion and aggregation would decrease over time. METHODS: WB samples were analyzed on storage days 5, 12, and 19. Hemoglobin, platelet count, blood gas parameters (pH, Po2, Pco2, and Spo2), and lactate were measured at each timepoint. Platelet adhesion and aggregation under high shear were assessed with a platelet function analyzer. Platelet aggregation under low shear was assessed using a lumi-aggregometer. Platelet activation was assessed by measuring dense granule release in response to high-dose thrombin. Platelet GP1bα levels were measured with flow cytometry, as a surrogate for adhesive capacity. Results at the 3 study timepoints were compared using repeat measures analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey tests. RESULTS: Measurable platelet count decreased from a mean of (163 + 53) × 109 platelets per liter at timepoint 1 to (107 + 32) × 109 at timepoint 3 (P = .02). Mean closure time on the platelet function analyzer (PFA)-100 adenosine diphosphate (ADP)/collagen test increased from 208.7 + 91.5 seconds at timepoint 1 to 390.0 + 148.3 at timepoint 3 (P = .04). Mean peak granule release in response to thrombin decreased significantly from 0.7 + 0.3 nmol at timepoint 1 to 0.4 + 0.3 at timepoint 3 (P = .05). Mean GP1bα surface expression decreased from 232,552.8 + 32,887.0 relative fluorescence units at timepoint 1 to 95,133.3 + 20,759.2 at timepoint 3 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated significant decreases in measurable platelet count, platelet adhesion, and aggregation under high shear, platelet activation, and surface GP1bα expression between cold-storage days 5 and 19. Further studies are needed to understand the significance of our findings and to what degree in vivo platelet function recovers after WB transfusion.

Factors Associated With a Discharge Against Medical Advice From an Emergency Department in Adult Patients With Appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Delays in care can lead to worsened outcomes with acute appendicitis. To get timely treatment, patients must consent. OBJECTIVE: To determine if there are racial and socioeconomic differences in discharge against medical advice (DAMA) rates from an emergency department after the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. METHODS: Patients were identified retrospectively from the 2019 National Emergency Department Sample. The inclusion criteria were patients 18 years of age or older with acute appendicitis. Rates were compared using chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Odds ratios were determined using multiple logistic regression. A p value of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: The overall rate of DAMA was low (0.37%). Black patients had the highest rate, and White patients had the lowest (0.72% and 0.28%, respectively, p < 0.001). When controlling for covariates, Black patients also had a higher odds ratio (OR) for DAMA (OR 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-2.97). Male patients had a higher unadjusted rate (0.47% vs. 0.26% in females, p < 0.001) and were at increased risk (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.32-2.41). Patients between 30 and 65 years old had an increased risk (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.10-2.0). Patients with government insurance or no insurance had higher rates than private insurance (0.57% and 0.56% vs. 0.23% respectively, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Race, insurance status, age, and male sex were all associated with increase in DAMA. Risk stratifying patients can help to determine how to best employ mitigations strategies. Reducing DAMA may be the next area for improving reducing disparities in appendicitis care.

Current status of point of care ultrasonography for the perioperative care of trauma patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The incorporation of point of care ultrasound into the field of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine is growing at rapid pace. The benefits of this modality align with the acuity of patient care and decision-making in anesthetic care of a trauma patient. RECENT FINDINGS: Cardiac ultrasound can be used to diagnose cardiac tamponade or investigate the inferior vena cava to assess volume status in patients who may suffer from hemorrhagic shock. Thoracic ultrasound may be used to rapidly identify pneumothorax or hemothorax in a patient suffering chest wall trauma. In addition, investigators are exploring the utility of ultrasonography in traumatic airway management and elevated intracranial pressure. In addition, the utility of gastric ultrasound on trauma patients is briefly discussed. SUMMARY: Incorporation of point of care ultrasound techniques into the practice of trauma anesthesiology is important for noninvasive, mobile and expeditious assessment of trauma patients. In addition, further large-scale studies are needed to investigate how point of care ultrasound impacts outcomes in trauma patients.

Preoperative Pressure Ulcers, Mortality, and Complications in Older Hip Fracture Surgery Patients.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of a preoperative pressure ulcer (PPU) in hip fracture patients on postoperative outcomes has not been well studied. We hypothesized that the presence of a PPU would be associated with increased mortality and serious complications in hip fracture surgery patients. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of 19,520 hip fracture patients from 2016 to 2019 with data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. The study exposure was the presence of a PPU. This study's primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, surgical site infection, pneumonia, and unplanned hospital readmission. Propensity score analysis and inverse probability of treatment weighting were used to control for confounding and reduce bias. RESULTS: The presence of a PPU was independently associated with a 21% increase in odds of 30-day mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 1.2, P = 0.004). The presence of a PPU was also independently associated with increased odds of DVT (OR = 1.59, P < 0.001), pneumonia (OR = 1.39, P < 0.001), and unplanned hospital readmission (OR = 1.43, P < 0.001) and a significant increase in the mean length of hospital stay of 0.4 days (P = 0.007). DISCUSSION: We found that PPUs were independently associated with increased 30-day mortality, DVT, pneumonia, hospital length of stay, and unplanned hospital readmission.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Method of Anesthesia for Knee Arthroplasties in the US.

INTRODUCTION: Knee arthroplasty (KA) can be performed using general anesthesia (GA), neuraxial anesthesia (NA) or regional anesthesia (RA). We believe proportion of types of anesthetics have changed but that there is a disparity based on socioeconomic factors. METHODS: Unadjusted rates and adjusted odds ratios for the use of RA or PNB were compared between groupings of patients based on socioeconomic status. RESULTS: General anesthesia is the most common (49.7%) while NA (39.4%) and RA (10.9%) were the second and third. University hospitals and patient home ZIP Code median income had the strongest association with RA as a (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 26.3, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 22.1-31.3, p<.01 and AOR 7.58, 95% CI 7.20-7.98, p<.01). CONCLUSION: General anesthesia is the most common but the rate of alternative forms of primary anesthesia type have changed over time. Disparities exist in anesthesia care which are associated with income levels.

Image Acquisition using Portable Sonography for Emergency Airway Management.

With its increasing popularity and accessibility, portable ultrasonography has been rapidly adapted not only to improve the perioperative care of patients, but also to address the potential benefits of employing ultrasound in airway management. The benefits of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) include its portability, the speed at which it can be utilized, and its lack of invasiveness or exposure of the patient to radiation of other imaging modalities. Two primary indications for airway POCUS include confirmation of endotracheal intubation and identification of the cricothyroid membrane in the event a surgical airway is required. In this article, the technique of using ultrasound to confirm endotracheal intubation and the relevant anatomy is described, along with the associated ultrasonographic images. In addition, identification of the anatomy of the cricothyroid membrane and the ultrasonographic acquisition of appropriate images to perform this procedure are reviewed. Future advances include utilizing airway POCUS to identify patient characteristics that might indicate difficult airway management. Traditional bedside clinical exams have, at best, fair predictive values. The addition of ultrasonographic airway assessment has the potential to improve this predictive accuracy. This article describes the use of POCUS for airway management, and initial evidence suggests that this has improved the diagnostic accuracy of predicting a difficult airway. Given that one of the limitations of airway POCUS is that it requires a skilled sonographer, and image analysis can be operator dependent, this paper will provide recommendations to standardize the technical aspects of airway ultrasonography and promote further research utilizing sonography in airway management. The goal of this protocol is to educate researchers and medical health professionals and to advance the research in the field of airway POCUS.

Citrate does not change viscoelastic haemostatic assays after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Context: Viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHA) are commonly used to identify specific cellular and humoral causes for bleeding in cardiac surgery patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) alterations to coagulation are observable on VHA. Citrated VHA can approximate fresh whole blood VHA when kaolin is used as the activator in healthy volunteers. Some have suggested that noncitrated blood is more optimal than citrated blood for point-of-care analysis in some populations. Aims: To determine if storage of blood samples in citrate after CPB alters kaolin activated VHA results. Settings and Design: This was a prospective observational cohort study at a single tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods and Material: Blood samples were subjected to VHA immediately after collection and compared to samples drawn at the same time and stored in citrate for 30, 90, and 150 min prior to kaolin activated VHA both before and after CPB. Statistical Analysis Used: VHA results were compared using paired T-tests and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Maximum clot strength and time to clot initiation were not considerably different before or after CPB using paired T-tests or Bland-Altman Analysis. Conclusions: Citrated samples appear to be a clinically reliable substitute for fresh samples for maximum clot strength and time to VHA clot initiation after CPB. Concerns about the role of citrate in altering the validity of the VHA samples in the cardiac surgery population seem unfounded.

Usefulness of preoperative point-of-care ultrasound measurement of the lateral parapharyngeal wall to predict difficulty in mask ventilation.

Measurement of the lateral parapharyngeal wall has been shown to correlate with severity of obstructive sleep apnea, which is believed to increase risk of difficulty in mask ventilation (MV). This study aimed to assess the efficacy of using ultrasound to measure the lateral parapharyngeal wall thickness (LPWT) to predict the difficulty of MV. The LPWT was measured as the distance between the inferior border of the carotid artery and the lateral wall of the pharynx. Difficulty of MV was assessed according to an MV scale. A total of 92 patients were enrolled. Measurements of the LPWT ranged from 1.52 to 4.43 cm. There was a significant correlation between LPWT and difficulty of MV (P = 0.004). Every increase in 1 cm of LPWT was associated with an odds of increase in MV score of 3.17 (P < 0.05). With a cutoff of 3.5 cm, the area under the curve for LPWT was 0.67. The negative predictive value was 0.89, and the positive predictive value was 0.57. Use of point-of-care ultrasound to measure the LPWT shows promise in its ability to aid in airway management planning. Ultrasonic measurements of the LPWT have reasonable accuracy for predicting difficulty of MV.

Racial-ethnic disparities in potentially preventable complications after cesarean delivery in Maryland: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Potentially preventable complications are monitored as part of the Maryland Hospital Acquired Conditions Program and are used to adjust hospital reimbursement. Few studies have evaluated racial-ethnic disparities in potentially preventable complications. Our study objective was to explore whether racial-ethnic disparities in potentially preventable complications after Cesarean delivery exist in Maryland. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational cohort study using data from the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission database. All patients having Cesarean delivery, who had race-ethnicity data between fiscal years 2016 and 2020 were included. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was performed to estimate risk-adjusted odds of having a potentially preventable complication in patients of different race-ethnicity. RESULTS: There were 101,608 patients who had Cesarean delivery in 33 hospitals during the study period and met study inclusion criteria. Among them, 1,772 patients (1.7%), experienced at least one potentially preventable complication. Patients who had a potentially preventable complication were older, had higher admission severity of illness, and had more government insurance. They also had more chronic hypertension and pre-eclampsia (both P<0.001). Median length of hospital stay was longer in patients who had a potentially preventable complications (4 days vs. 3 days, P<0.001) and median hospital charges were approximately $4,600 dollars higher, (P<0.001). The odds of having a potential preventable complication differed significantly by race-ethnicity group (P=0.05). Hispanic patients and Non-Hispanic Black patients had higher risk-adjusted odds of having a potentially preventable complication compared to Non-Hispanic White patients, OR=1.26 (95% CI=1.05 to 1.52) and OR=1.17 (95% CI=1.03 to 1.33) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In Maryland a small percentage of patients undergoing Cesarean delivery experienced a potentially preventable complication with Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black patients disproportionately impacted. Continued efforts are needed to reduce potentially preventable complications and obstetric disparities in Maryland.

Racial Disparities in the Use of Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Postoperative Analgesia After Total Mastectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) are used to provide postoperative analgesia after total mastectomy. PNBs improve patient satisfaction and decrease postoperative opioid use, nausea, and vomiting. Few studies have examined whether there is racial-ethnic disparity in the use of PNBs for patients having total mastectomy. We hypothesized that non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic patients of other races, and Hispanic patients would be less likely to receive a PNB for postoperative analgesia compared to non-Hispanic White patients having total mastectomy. Secondarily, we hypothesized that PNBs would be associated with reduced odds of major complications after total mastectomy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data from 2015 to 2019. Patients were included if they underwent total mastectomy under general anesthesia. Unadjusted rates of PNB use were compared between race-ethnicity groups. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine whether race-ethnicity group was independently associated with receipt of a PNB for postoperative analgesia. Secondarily, we calculated crude and risk-adjusted odds ratios for major complications in patients who received a PNB. RESULTS: There were 64,103 patients who underwent total mastectomy and 4704 (7.3%) received a PNB for postoperative analgesia. Patients who received a PNB were younger, more commonly women, were less likely to have diabetes and hypertension, and had less disseminated cancer (all P < .05). In our regression analysis, the odds of receiving a PNB differed significantly by race-ethnicity group (P < .001). Non-Hispanic Asian and non-Hispanic Black patients had reduced odds of receiving a PNB compared to non-Hispanic White patients (odds ratio [OR], 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.49 and OR, 0.37 [0.32-0.44]), respectively. Non-Hispanic patients of other races, including American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Pacific Islander, also had reduced odds of receiving a PNB (OR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.64-0.84]) compared to non-Hispanic White patients, as did Hispanic patients (OR, 0.62 [0.56-0.69]). Patients who received a PNB did not have reduced odds of major complications after mastectomy (crude OR, 0.83 [0.65-1.08]; P = .17 and adjusted OR, 0.85 [0.65-1.10]; P = .21). CONCLUSIONS: Significant disparity exists in the use of PNBs for postoperative analgesia in patients of different race-ethnicity who undergo total mastectomy in the United States. Continued efforts are needed to better understand the causes of disparity and to ensure equitable access to PNBs.

Association of Early Aspirin Use With In-Hospital Mortality in Patients With Moderate COVID-19.

Importance: Prior observational studies suggest that aspirin use may be associated with reduced mortality in high-risk hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but aspirin's efficacy in patients with moderate COVID-19 is not well studied. Objective: To assess whether early aspirin use is associated with lower odds of in-hospital mortality in patients with moderate COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: Observational cohort study of 112 269 hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19, enrolled from January 1, 2020, through September 10, 2021, at 64 health systems in the United States participating in the National Institute of Health's National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). Exposure: Aspirin use within the first day of hospitalization. Main Outcome and Measures: The primary outcome was 28-day in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. Odds of in-hospital mortality were calculated using marginal structural Cox and logistic regression models. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to reduce bias from confounding and balance characteristics between groups. Results: Among the 2 446 650 COVID-19-positive patients who were screened, 189 287 were hospitalized and 112 269 met study inclusion. For the full cohort, Median age was 63 years (IQR, 47-74 years); 16.1% of patients were African American, 3.8% were Asian, 52.7% were White, 5.0% were of other races and ethnicities, 22.4% were of unknown race and ethnicity. In-hospital mortality occurred in 10.9% of patients. After inverse probability treatment weighting, 28-day in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in those who received aspirin (10.2% vs 11.8%; odds ratio [OR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.79-0.92; P < .001). The rate of pulmonary embolism, but not deep vein thrombosis, was also significantly lower in patients who received aspirin (1.0% vs 1.4%; OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56-0.90; P = .004). Patients who received early aspirin did not have higher rates of gastrointestinal hemorrhage (0.8% aspirin vs 0.7% no aspirin; OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.82-1.33; P = .72), cerebral hemorrhage (0.6% aspirin vs 0.4% no aspirin; OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.92-1.88; P = .13), or blood transfusion (2.7% aspirin vs 2.3% no aspirin; OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.99-1.32; P = .06). The composite of hemorrhagic complications did not occur more often in those receiving aspirin (3.7% aspirin vs 3.2% no aspirin; OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.00-1.28; P = .054). Subgroups who appeared to benefit the most included patients older than 60 years (61-80 years: OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.72-0.87; P < .001; >80 years: OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.69-0.91; P < .001) and patients with comorbidities (1 comorbidity: 6.4% vs 9.2%; OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.55-0.83; P < .001; 2 comorbidities: 10.5% vs 12.8%; OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69-0.93; P = .003; 3 comorbidities: 13.8% vs 17.0%, OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68-0.89; P < .001; >3 comorbidities: 17.0% vs 21.6%; OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.66-0.84; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of US adults hospitalized with moderate COVID-19, early aspirin use was associated with lower odds of 28-day in-hospital mortality. A randomized clinical trial that includes diverse patients with moderate COVID-19 is warranted to adequately evaluate aspirin's efficacy in patients with high-risk conditions.

Racial disparities in catheter related urinary tract infections among elderly trauma patients in the US.

BACKGROUND: Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) have become a focus for reducing healthcare costs. Reimbursement may be reduced to hospitals with higher rates. The implementation of bundles or other efforts to reduce infection numbers may not be as robust at hospitals caring for more diverse patient populations. This may lead to a disparity in hospital-associated infections rates that may lead to lower reimbursement and a downward spiral of quality of care and racial disparities. METHODS: We analyzed patients in the National Trauma Data Bank from 2016 to 2017. The final analysis included patients 65 years or older with one or more day of mechanical ventilation. This was the population had the highest rate of CAUTI. We compared white patients to non-whites using students t test, Mann Whitney U test, or chi-square as appropriate. Logistic regression with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was computed to identify risk factors for of CAUTI. RESULTS: Risk factors for developing a CAUTI were race (OR 1.44, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.23-1.71), injury severity score (OR 1.10 per increase of one, 95% CI 1.01-1.02), care at a teaching hospital (OR 1.17, 95%CI 1.02-1.35), private insurance (OR 1.28, 95%CI 1.09-1.51), hypertension (OR 1.18, 95%CI 1.02-1.37), female gender (OR 1.54, 95%CI 1.33-1.77). Non-white patients received care at teaching hospitals more often and had a higher rate of government insurance or no insurance. DISCUSSION: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has put in place a reimbursement modification 87 plan based on the rates of hospital-associated infections including CAUTIs. We have demonstrated non-white 88 patients have higher odds for developing a CAUTI. CONCLUSION: CMS may potentially worsen the racial disparity by further cutting reimbursement to hospitals who care for higher proportions of non-whites.

Pediatric Thoracic Trauma Mortality in Iraq and Afghanistan Compared to the United States National Trauma Data Bank.

INTRODUCTION: The authors compared pediatric thoracic patients in the Joint Theatre Trauma Registry (JTTR) to those in the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) to assess differences in patient mortality rates and mortality risk accounting for age, injury patterns, and injury severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients less than 19 years of age with thoracic trauma were identified in both the JTTR and NTDB. Multiple logistic regression, χ2, Student's t-test, or Mann-Whitney U test were used as indicated to compare the two groups. RESULTS: Pediatric thoracic trauma patients seen in Iraq and Afghanistan (n = 955) had a significantly higher mortality rate (15.1 vs. 6.0%, P <.01) than those in the NTDB (n = 9085). After controlling for covariates between the JTTR and the NTDB, there was no difference in mortality (odds ratio for mortality for U.S. patients was 0.74, 95% CI 0.52-1.06, P = .10). The patients seen in Iraq or Afghanistan were significantly younger (8 years old, interquartile ratio (IQR) 2-13 vs. 15, IQR 10-17, P <.01) had greater severity of injuries (injury severity score 17, IQR 12-26 vs. 12, IQR 8-22, P <.01), had significantly more head injuries (29 vs. 14%, P <.01), and over half were exposed to a blast. DISCUSSION: Pediatric patients with thoracic trauma in Iraq and Afghanistan in the JTTR had similar mortality rates compared to the civilian population in the NTDB after accounting for confounding covariates. These findings indicate that deployed military medical professionals are providing comparable quality of care in extremely challenging circumstances. This information has important implications for military preparedness, medical training, and casualty care.

Association of prehospital antiplatelet therapy with survival in patients hospitalized with COVID-19: A propensity score-matched analysis.

PURPOSE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with hypercoagulability and increased thrombotic risk. The impact of prehospital antiplatelet therapy on in-hospital mortality is uncertain. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study of 34 675 patients ≥50 years old from 90 health systems in the United States. Patients were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between February 2020 and September 2020. For all patients, the propensity to receive prehospital antiplatelet therapy was calculated using demographics and comorbidities. Patients were matched based on propensity scores, and in-hospital mortality was compared between the antiplatelet and non-antiplatelet groups. RESULTS: The propensity score-matched cohort of 17 347 patients comprised of 6781 and 10 566 patients in the antiplatelet and non-antiplatelet therapy groups, respectively. In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in patients receiving prehospital antiplatelet therapy (18.9% vs. 21.5%, p < .001), resulting in a 2.6% absolute reduction in mortality (HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.76-0.87, p < .005). On average, 39 patients needed to be treated to prevent one in-hospital death. In the antiplatelet therapy group, there was a significantly lower rate of pulmonary embolism (2.2% vs. 3.0%, p = .002) and higher rate of epistaxis (0.9% vs. 0.4%, p < .001). There was no difference in the rate of other hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications. CONCLUSIONS: In the largest observational study to date of prehospital antiplatelet therapy in patients with COVID-19, there was an association with significantly lower in-hospital mortality. Randomized controlled trials in diverse patient populations with high rates of baseline comorbidities are needed to determine the ultimate utility of antiplatelet therapy in COVID-19.