Subacute groin complications related to ECMO cannulation are associated with longer hospitalizations.

Subacute groin complications associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation are well recognized, yet their effects on clinical outcomes remain unknown. This single-center, retrospective study reviewed all patients receiving venoarterial ECMO from 01/2017 to 02/2020. Cohorts analyzed included transplanted patients (TPs) and non-transplanted patients (N-TPs) who did or did not develop ECMO-related subacute groin complications. Standard descriptive statistics were used for comparisons. Logistic regressions identified associated risk factors. Overall, 82/367 (22.3%) ECMO patients developed subacute groin complications, including 25/82 (30.5%) seromas/lymphoceles, 32/82 (39.0%) hematomas, 18/82 (22.0%) infections, and 7/82 (8.5%) non-specified collections. Of these, 20/82 (24.4%) underwent surgical interventions, most of which were muscle flaps (14/20, 70.0%). TPs had a higher incidence of subacute groin complications than N-TPs (14/28, 50.0% vs. 68/339, 20.1%, P = 0.001). Seromas/lymphoceles more often developed in TPs than N-TPs (10/14, 71.4% vs. 15/68, 22.1%, P = 0.001). Most patients with subacute groin complications survived to discharge (60/68, 88.2%). N-TPs who developed subacute groin complications had longer post-ECMO lengths of stay than those who did not (34 days, IQR 16-53 days vs. 17 days, IQR 8-34 days, P < 0.001). Post-ECMO length of stay was also longer among patients who underwent related surgical interventions compared to those who did not (50 days, IQR 35-67 days vs. 29 days, IQR 16-49 days, P = 0.007). Transplantation was the strongest risk factor for developing subacute groin complications (OR 3.91, CI95% 1.52-10.04, P = 0.005). Subacute groin complications and related surgical interventions are common after ECMO cannulation and are associated with longer hospital stays. When surgical management is warranted, muscle flaps may reduce lengths of stay compared to other surgical interventions.

Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Outcomes After Ventricular Assist Device Implantation Using the Area Deprivation Index.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) as a novel prognostic metric of socioeconomic status for patients with a left ventricular assist device. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective analysis of patients with a left ventricular assist device at a high-volume institution from 2007 to 2018 was conducted. Socioeconomic status was determined using the ADI, a multifactorial neighborhood-based metric where higher ADI denotes worse socioeconomic status. Patients were stratified into 4 ADI cohorts. Long-term survival was compared with multivariate analysis. Of the 380 patients stratified by ADI, 35 were in the 10th percentile or lower, 218 were in the 11th-50th percentile, 104 were in the 51st-89th percentile, and 23 were in the 90th percentile or higher. Baseline characteristics were comparable. On multivariate analysis, being male (hazard ratio [HR], 0.14; P = .01), bridge-to-transplant (HR, 0.14; P = .03), and not requiring biventricular support (HR, 0.02; P < .01) were protective, whereas chronic kidney disease (HR, 9.07; P < .01) and an elevated total bilirubin (HR, 3.56; P = .02) were harmful. The ADI as a continuous variable did not affect survival; however, categorically, a higher ADI was protective (ADI 90-100: HR, 0.07; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomically disadvantaged patients had noninferior outcomes given appropriate pre-implant optimization and workup.

Heart transplant waiting list implications of increased ventricular assist device use as a bridge strategy: A national analysis.

The use of ventricular assist devices (VADs) as a bridge to heart transplant (HT) is increasing, while HT volume remains stagnant. This may portend longer waiting times and an otherwise more competitive environment for all patients on the HT waiting list. A retrospective analysis of patients who were listed for HT in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database from 2000 to 2015 was conducted. Mean waiting time, proportion of HT reception (%HT), proportion of death (%death), and proportion of waiting list removal (%removal) were calculated across three eras: Era 1 (2000-2007), Era 2 (2008-2011), and Era 3 (2012-2015). During the study period, 29 728 patients successfully underwent HT. 19 127 (64.3%) were directly transplanted (direct HT); 4491 (15.1%) received VADs prior to listing as a bridge to decision (BTD); and 4593 (15.5%) received VADs after listing as a bridge to transplant (BTT). Across the three eras, the average number of registrants per year grew. Among all groups, waiting time increased across the eras. %HT generally decreased in the BTD and BTT groups but remained constant in the direct HT group. %removal increased, while %death decreased in all group across the eras. Waiting time for HT increased from 2000 to 2015. Patients with VADs as a bridge strategy experienced decreasing %HT and increasing %removal but stable survival. Improvements in VAD safety and durability will ensure their success as part of a bridge strategy to HT under the new UNOS allocation policy.

A Case Series of Devastating Intracranial Hemorrhage During Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Anticoagulation may be a challenge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to endothelial injury and dysregulation of coagulation, which may increase the risk of thrombotic and bleeding complications. This report was created to describe the authors' single institutional experience, with emphasis on the high rate of intracranial hemorrhage for the first 10 patients with COVID-19 placed on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO). DESIGN: Case series, retrospective analysis. SETTING: Single institution. PARTICIPANTS: Ten patients. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patient characteristics, mortality, stroke rate, and length of stay data were collected in all patients. In addition, laboratory values of D-dimer and C-reactive protein and standard measurements of prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin time were collected on all patients. Ten patients, each confirmed with COVID-19 via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, were supported on VV ECMO for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) for a mean duration of 9.4 ± 7 days. Four of 10 patients had hemorrhagic strokes, 3 of which resulted in death. At 30 days after initiation of VV ECMO, a total of 7 survivors included 6 patients discharged from the hospital and 1 patient who remained in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS: In this small study of 10 patients, intracranial hemorrhage was a common complication, resulting in a high rate of death. The authors urge caution in the anticoagulation management of VV ECMO for patients with severe ARDS and COVID-19 patients. Close monitoring of all hematologic parameters is recommended during ECMO support while awaiting larger, multicenter studies to examine the best practice.

Leaving Contaminated Trauma Laparotomy Wounds Open Reduces Wound Infections But Does Not Add Value.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) has become a key quality indicator following clean and clean/contaminated surgical procedures. In contrast, contaminated and dirty wounds have garnered little attention with this quality metric because of the expected higher complication incidence. We hypothesized that wound management strategies in this high-risk population vary significantly and might not add value to the overall care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational study of trauma patients who underwent an exploratory laparotomy at an urban, academic, level 1 trauma center from 2014 to 2016. Deaths before hospital discharge were excluded. Wounds were classified using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition on review of the operative reports. SSI was determined by review of the medical record, also per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition. Wound management strategies were categorized as either primary skin closure or closure by secondary intention. Outcomes were compared using Chi square or Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: There were 128 patients who met study criteria. Fifty-five (42.9%) wounds were left open to close by secondary intention. In the wounds that were closed primarily (n = 73), eight (10.9%) developed an SSI. There were significant differences in the average length of stay (25.0 versus 11.6 d, P = 0.032), number of office visits (3.0 versus 1.8, P = 0.008), and time from last laparotomy to the last wound care office visit (112.8 versus 57.4, P = 0.012) between patients who were treated with secondary intention closure compared to those closed primarily who did not suffer from SSI. CONCLUSIONS: There is significant incidence of SSI in contaminated and dirty traumatic abdominal wounds; however, wound management strategies vary widely within this cohort. Closure by secondary intention requires significantly more resource utilization. Isolating risk factors for SSI may allow additional patients to undergo primary skin closure and avoid the morbidity of closure by secondary intention.

Balancing quality and quaternary care imperative using a high-risk case review committee in adults.

OBJECTIVES: Quaternary care centres have an imperative to serve as hospitals of last resort and must also meet professional quality targets. We developed a high-risk committee (HRC) to evaluate cases meeting pre-defined predicted risk cut-offs as a part of an overall quality improvement drive. METHODS: We describe the structure, outcomes and effects of the Penn HRC. Using propensity-matching, we investigated whether the committee modifies or screens risk. We used multivariable analysis to examine the impact of unmeasured variables on clinical outcomes in this cohort. RESULTS: Institutional predicted and observed mortality had already been in decline prior to HRC institution in 2017, due to a multi-faceted quality improvement initiative. Between 2017 and 2020, the HRC discussed 205 patients with a median predicted risk of mortality of 10.6% (range 0.4-66%). Coronary artery bypass grafting was the most commonly presented operation. A total of 155 patients underwent operation (risk 10.3%), 12 had surgery deferred for optimization (risk 6%), 50 had surgery declined (risk 11.7%) and 12 patients had a deferred decision for further investigation. Overall 30-day survival was 86% for the entire cohort and 89% for operated patients. A matched analysis of similar patients prior to and following the HRC showed that the HRC did not directly modify outcomes. Most patients had better than expected survival (observed:expected mortality < 1). Predicted risk did not predict 30-day mortality among this high-risk cohort. CONCLUSIONS: HRCs serve as an important element in quality improvement by encouraging a thoughtful approach and channelling the collective experience of a group of senior surgeons. It may improve patient selection by identifying a cohort with extremely poor survival, while allowing safe operation with acceptable outcomes among a group with very high operative risk.

Coronary Endarterectomy: Analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database.

BACKGROUND: Coronary endarterectomy (CE) is an uncommon and often unplanned technique used to approach difficult targets during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We evaluated the outcomes of CABG with CE (CE-CABG) using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. METHODS: All isolated, first-time, elective or urgent CABG cases from July 2011 to September 2019 in the Adult Cardiac Surgery Database were retrospectively reviewed. Because of a higher risk profile in the patients undergoing CE-CABG, we performed propensity score matching. Primary outcomes included operative mortality and postoperative myocardial infarction. For patients ≥65 years, long-term mortality and rehospitalization were evaluated using linked data from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. RESULTS: Of the total 1 111 792 patients included, 32 164 (2.9%) had CE-CABG and 1 079 628 (97.1%) underwent CABG alone. The majority of CE-CABG involved a single-vessel endarterectomy (86.9%; n = 27 945); the left anterior descending was most common (40.9%; n = 13 161). Compared with propensity score-matched CABG, CE-CABG had increased operative mortality (3.2% vs 1.7%; P < .0001; odds ratio, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.63-2.01) and postoperative myocardial infarction (6.8% vs 3.9%; P < .0001; odds ratio, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.68-1.93). CE-CABG had higher risk of mortality in the first year and rehospitalization for myocardial infarction in the first 3 years but was comparable to CABG alone thereafter. Subgroup analysis showed no difference between CE-CABG of the left anterior descending compared with CE-CABG of other coronary arteries. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrates that CE-CABG has acceptable long-term outcomes and serves as a benchmark for what can be expected when this rare procedure is used.

Surgical management of an aneurysmal coronary cameral fistula to the right atrium.

Coronary artery aneurysm and coronary cameral fistula are both often incidentally discovered, and uncommon diagnoses. A coronary artery aneurysm is defined as being 1.5x the size of the adjacent normal coronary artery, while a coronary cameral fistula is a coronary artery that has an abnormal tract directly into a chamber of the heart. In this case report we describe the case of a 72-year-old female who was discovered to have an aneurysmal branch of her right coronary artery fistulized to her right atrium. The fistula had a serpiginous tract and in the midportion of the tract there was a giant aneurysm (3.4 × 3.3 × 3.0 cm) before emptying into the posterior aspect of the right atrium. The aneurysmal aberrant coronary artery was repaired by oversewing the afferent and efferent limbs from the inside. The aneurysm walls were then oversewn. This case demonstrates a unique pathology that was managed with surgical intervention where no standard therapy exists.