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Background: Previous studies have assessed the impact of age and body mass index (BMI) on surgery outcomes separately. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the combined effect of age and BMI on postoperative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: Data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database for laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients between 2008 and 2020 were analyzed. Patient demographics, functional status, admission sources, preoperative risk factors, laboratory data, perioperative variables, and 30-day postoperative outcomes were included in the dataset. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of age, BMI, and age/BMI with mortality and morbidity. Patients were stratified into different subcategories based on their age and BMI, and the age/BMI score was calculated. The chi-square test, independent sample t-test, and ANOVA were used as appropriate for each category. Results: The study included 435,052 laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a higher age/BMI score was associated with an increased risk of mortality (adj OR 13.13 95% CI, 9.19-18.77, p < 0.0001) and composite morbidity (adj OR 2.57, 95% CI 2.23-2.95, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Older age, especially accompanied by a low BMI, appears to increase the post-operative mortality and morbidity risks in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients, while paradoxically, a higher BMI seems to be protective. Our hypothesis is that a lower BMI, perhaps secondary to malnutrition, can carry a greater risk of surgery complications for the elderly. Age/BMI is strongly and positively associated with mortality and morbidity and could be used as a new scoring system for predicting outcomes in patients undergoing surgery. Nevertheless, laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains a very safe procedure with relatively low complication rates.
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SUMMARY: The use of antihypertensive medications in patients with pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PCC/PG) is usually a challenge. We report a case of familial paraganglioma that was successfully treated by esmolol and other antihypertensive medications without associated perioperative complications. Our patient was an 11-year-old girl who presented with classic symptoms and signs of PCC/PG and a CT scan of the abdomen that showed a right-sided paravertebral mass. Her father was diagnosed with paraganglioma a few years ago. Prazosin had been started but she continued to experience uncontrolled paroxysms of blood pressure (BP). She was known to have asthma; hence, she developed serious bronchospasm with atenolol. She was, therefore, switched to esmolol that successfully controlled her BP in addition to prazosin and intermittent doses of hydralazine prior to laparoscopic surgery with no side effects of medications or postoperative complications. Esmolol could be a good alternative to routinely used beta-blockers in children with PCC/PG with labile hypertension and related symptoms in the pre and intra-operative periods. It is titrable, effective, and can be weaned rapidly helping to avoid postoperative complications. Further larger studies on the use of esmolol in children with PCC/PG are needed to confirm our observation. LEARNING POINTS: In addition to alpha-blockers, esmolol could be a good alternative for routinely used beta-blockers to control paroxysmal hypertension and tachycardia in the pre- and intra-operative periods. Esmolol is titrable and an effective beta-blocker. It can be weaned rapidly helping to avoid postoperative complications in children with PCC/PG. Children with PCC/PG and other comorbidity like asthma may particularly benefit from the use of esmolol due to no or less side effects on airway resistance and the advantage of rapid titration of the medication compared to other beta-blockers.