Thermoregulation-Focused Implementation of Delayed Cord Clamping among <34 Weeks' Gestational Age Neonates.

OBJECTIVE: Delayed cord clamping (DCC) is recommended for all neonates; however, adapting such practice can be slow or unsustainable, especially among preterm neonates. During DCC neonates are exposed to a cool environment, raising concerns for neonatal hypothermia. Moderate hypothermia may induce morbidities that counteract the potential benefits of DCC. A quality improvement project on a thermoregulation-focused DCC protocol was implemented for neonates less than 34 weeks' gestational age (GA). The aim was to increase the compliance rate of DCC while maintaining normothermia. STUDY DESIGN: The DCC protocol was implemented on October 1, 2020 in a large Level III neonatal intensive care unit. The thermoregulation measures included increasing delivery room temperature and using heat conservation supplies (sterile polyethylene suit, warm towels, and thermal pads). Baseline characteristics, the compliance rate of DCC, and admission temperatures were compared 4 months' preimplementation and 26 months' postimplementation RESULTS: The rate of DCC increased from 20% (11/54) in preimplementation to 57% (240/425) in postimplementation (p < 0.001). The balancing measure of admission normothermia remained unchanged. In a postimplementation subgroup analysis, the DCC cohort had less tendency to experience admission moderate hypothermia (<36°C; 9.2 vs. 14.1%, p = 0.11). The DCC cohort had more favorable secondary outcomes including higher admission hematocrit, less blood transfusions, less intraventricular hemorrhage, and lower mortality. Improving the process measure of accurate documentation could help to identify implementation barriers. CONCLUSION: Performing DCC in preterm neonates was feasible and beneficial without increasing admission hypothermia. KEY POINTS: · Thermoregulation-focused DCC protocol was implemented to increase DCC while maintaining normothermia.. · DCC rate increased from 20 to 57% while admission normothermia rate remained the same.. · DCC practice on preterm neonates is safe and feasible while maintaining normothermia..

Improvement Initiative: End-Tidal Carbon Monoxide Measurement in Newborns Receiving Phototherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine, as part of our Utah Newborn Nursery Bilirubin Management Program, whether end-tidal carbon monoxide concentration (ETCOc) measurements in all newborns in our nursery receiving phototherapy were associated with outcomes related to the management of hyperbilirubinemia, including time (hours after birth) when phototherapy was initiated, total duration of phototherapy during the nursery stay, repeat phototherapy treatments, and hospital readmission for phototherapy. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a planned interim analysis of a component of our program in which we measured ETCOc noninvasively using CoSense on each newborn in our nursery receiving phototherapy and recorded specific outcomes related to phototherapy management. RESULTS: Of 1856 newborns admitted to our nursery in a 6-month period in 2020, 170 (9.8%) were treated with phototherapy. An ETCOc reading was successfully obtained in 145 of 151 attempts (96%). Higher ETCOc values were associated with earlier institution of phototherapy and longer duration of phototherapy. For every 1-ppm increase in ETCOc, phototherapy was started 9 hours earlier (95% CI, 3.3-14.8; P = .002) and was administered for an additional 9.3 hours (95% CI, 4.1-14.6; P < .001). Three newborns were readmitted to the hospital for intensive phototherapy; while in the nursery, all 3 had an elevated ETCOc (2.2, 2.6, and 2.9 ppm). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide answers to questions raised in the 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics bilirubin guidelines. In our neonatal nursery, measuring ETCOc in all phototherapy recipients was feasible and safe, and the results were associated with multiple aspects of phototherapy management. Higher ETCOc values predicted earlier and longer phototherapy courses.

Are there differences between stemless and conventional stemmed shoulder prostheses in the treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis?

BACKGROUND: Conventional stemmed anatomical shoulder prostheses are widely used in the treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis. The stemless shoulder prosthesis, in contrast, is a new concept, and fewer outcome studies are available. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate the early functional outcome and postoperative proprioception of a stemless prosthesis in comparison with a standard stemmed anatomic shoulder prosthesis. METHODS: Twelve patients (mean age 68.3 years [SD ± 5.4]; 5 female, 7 male) with primary glenohumeral osteoarthritis of the shoulder were enrolled, who underwent total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) with a stemless total shoulder prosthesis, Total Evolution Shoulder System (TESS; Biomed, France). The control group consisted of twelve (age and gender matched) patients (mean age 67.8 years; [SD ± 7.1]; 9 female, 3 male), getting a TSA with a standard anatomic stemmed prosthesis, Aequalis Shoulder (Tournier, Lyon, France). Patients were examined the day before and six months after surgery. The pre- and postoperative Constant Score (CS) was evaluated and proprioception was measured in a 3D video motion analysis study using an active angle-reproduction (AAR) test. RESULTS: Comparing the postoperative CS, there was no significant difference between the groups treated with the TESS prosthesis (48.0 ± 13.8 points) and the Aequalis prosthesis (49.3 ± 8.6 points; p = 0.792). There was no significant difference in postoperative proprioception between the TESS group (7.2° [SD ± 2.8]) and the Aequalis group(8.7° [SD ± 2.7]; p = 0.196), either. Comparison of in the results of CS and AAR test pre- and postoperatively showed no significant differences between the groups. DISCUSSION: In patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis, treated with TSA, the functional and the proprioceptive outcome is comparable between a stemless and a standard stemmed anatomic shoulder prosthesis at early followup. CONCLUSION: Further follow-up is necessary regarding the long-term performance of this prosthesis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials DRKS 00007528 . Registered 17 November 2014.

Low preoperative Constant score is a negative predictive factor for postoperative proprioception after total shoulder arthroplasty in osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder proprioception in patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis and the effect of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) on proprioception have been evaluated previously. Measuring proprioception with an active angle reproduction (AAR) test, proprioception remained unchanged or deteriorated in a short follow-up period after shoulder replacement. Therefore, the purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the influence of the preoperative Constant score (CS) on postoperative proprioceptive outcome after TSA in patients with primary osteoarthritis to address the question of whether the preoperative state of shoulder function influences postoperative proprioceptive outcome. METHODS: Twenty-four patients who received total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) (n = 24) for primary osteoarthritis of the shoulder were enrolled. After retrospectively analyzing the preoperative CS for 120 patients with primary osteoarthritis of the shoulder who received TSA, the patient group was divided into three subgroups according to preoperative functional assessment of the shoulder using the CS. Group one consisted of patients with CS < 20, group two patients with CS 20-30, and group three patients with the best preoperative CS (>30). In all patients proprioception was examined 1 day before the operation and 3 months after surgery by 3D motion analysis with an AAR test and also CS. RESULTS: Postoperatively, proprioception in group one (CS < 20) deteriorated significantly from 5.2° (SD 2.2) to 8.1° (SD 1.8); p = 0.018. In group two, there were no significant changes from preoperative to postoperative status [8.7° (SD 2.1) vs. 9.3° (SD 2.7) (p = 0.554)], likewise in group three [6.3° (SD 2.3) preoperatively vs. 6.9° (SD 3.3) postoperatively (p = 0.617)]. Comparing the postoperative results, the best proprioception [6.9° (SD 3.3)] was found in the group that had the best preoperative CS (group three, CS > 30). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, a low preoperative CS is a negative predictive factor for postoperative proprioception after TSA. We should keep that in mind when determining the best timepoint for shoulder replacement in patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis.

Can rotational thromboelastometry predict thrombotic complications in reconstructive microsurgery?

Thrombotic occlusion of the microvascular pedicle is the major reason for flap loss. Thus, identifying patients who are at risk for such events is paramount. Rotational thromboelastometry (RTE) is widely used to detect coagulopathy and hypercoagulable states. The aim of our study was to assess its diagnostic value in reconstructive microsurgery. In all 181 patients undergoing free tissue transfer at our department between February 2010 and November 2011 preoperative RTE was performed. In addition, coagulation values as well as patient's demographic data, cause and localization of defect, type of flap and surgical revisions were recorded. The majority of patients was male (59.6%) with traumatic (59.7%) defects located on the lower extremity (60.3%). ALT was the most often used flap (35.9%). Preoperatively, 36.5% of patients had a hypercoagulable RTE (higher than physiological RTE values; intrinsic (ICPT) or extrinsic (ECPT) mean clot firmness (MCF) >72mm or functional fibrinogen (ICF) MCF >25mm). A total of 28 primary thrombosis of the microvascular pedicle occurred, 11 of those in-patients with a hypercoagulable state. Total flap loss rate because ofthrombosis was 7.7% (n = 14). Both a hypercoagulable RTE assay and a functional fibrinogen to platelet ratio (FPR) of >43 (MCF value of ICF divided by the MCF value of ICPT) were significant predictors of thrombotic flap loss when performing multivariate binary logistic regression, co-factoring for age, sex, and comorbidities (p = 0.036 and 0.003, respectively). RTE seems to be able to identify patients that are prone to thrombotic complications and might be used as a screening tool.