Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with early mortality after percutaneous coronary revascularization procedures, but its prognostic relevance to long-term clinical outcomes remains ...controversial.
We conducted a retrospective study of 14782 adults who received coronary angiography in the province of Alberta, Canada, between 2004 and 2006. AKI was identified on the basis of changes in serum creatinine concentration within 7 days of the procedure according to AKI Network criteria. The associations between AKI and long-term outcomes, including mortality, end-stage renal disease, and cardiovascular and renal hospitalizations, were studied with the use of Cox regression of multiple failure times. The adjusted risk of death increased with increasing severity of AKI; compared with no AKI, the adjusted hazard ratio for death was 2.00 (95% confidence interval, 1.69 to 2.36) with stage 1 AKI and 3.72 (95% confidence interval, 2.92 to 4.76) with stage 2 or 3 AKI. The adjusted risk of end-stage renal disease requiring renal replacement therapy also increased according to the severity of AKI (hazard ratio, 4.15 95% confidence interval, 2.32 to 7.42 and 11.74 95% confidence interval, 6.38 to 21.59, respectively), as did the risks of subsequent hospitalizations for heart failure and acute renal failure.
These findings inform the controversy surrounding AKI after angiography, demonstrating that it is a significant risk factor for long-term mortality, end-stage renal disease, and hospitalization for cardiovascular and renal events after coronary angiography.
To determine whether the reported clinical presentation of tension pneumothorax differs between patients who are breathing unassisted versus receiving assisted ventilation.
Animal studies suggest ...that the pathophysiology and physical signs of tension pneumothorax differ by subject ventilatory status.
We searched electronic databases through to October 15, 2013 for observational studies and case reports/series reporting clinical manifestations of tension pneumothorax. Two physicians independently extracted clinical manifestations reported at diagnosis.
We identified 5 cohort studies (n = 310 patients) and 156 case series/reports of 183 cases of tension pneumothorax (n = 86 breathing unassisted, n = 97 receiving assisted ventilation). Hypoxia was reported among 43 (50.0%) cases of tension pneumothorax who were breathing unassisted versus 89 (91.8%) receiving assisted ventilation (P < 0.001). Pulmonary dysfunction progressed to respiratory arrest in 9.3% of cases breathing unassisted. As compared to cases who were breathing unassisted, the adjusted odds of hypotension and cardiac arrest were 12.6 (95% confidence interval, 5.8-27.5) and 17.7 (95% confidence interval, 4.0-78.4) times higher among cases receiving assisted ventilation. One cohort study reported that none of the patients with tension pneumothorax who were breathing unassisted versus 39.6% of those receiving assisted ventilation presented without an arterial pulse. In contrast to cases breathing unassisted, the majority (70.4%) of those receiving assisted ventilation who experienced hypotension or cardiac arrest developed these signs within minutes of clinical presentation.
The reported clinical presentation of tension pneumothorax depends on the ventilatory status of the patient. This may have implications for improving the diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening disorder.
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to identify the factors that were associated with mortality among continuing care residents in Alberta, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We ...achieved this by leveraging and linking various administrative datasets together. Then, we examined pre-processing methods in terms of prediction performance. Finally, we developed several machine learning models and compared the results of these models in terms of performance. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all continuing care residents in Alberta, Canada, from March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. We used a univariable and a multivariable logistic regression (LR) model to identify predictive factors of 60-day all-cause mortality by estimating odds ratios (ORs) with a 95% confidence interval. To determine the best sensitivity–specificity cut-off point, the Youden index was employed. We developed several machine learning models to determine the best model regarding performance. In this cohort study, increased age, male sex, symptoms, previous admissions, and some specific comorbidities were associated with increased mortality. Machine learning and pre-processing approaches offer a potentially valuable method for improving risk prediction for mortality, but more work is needed to show improvement beyond standard risk factors.
To characterize and evaluate indications for use of damage control (DC) surgery in civilian trauma patients.
Although DC surgery may improve survival in select, severely injured patients, the ...procedure is associated with significant morbidity, suggesting that it should be used only when appropriately indicated.
Two investigators used an abbreviated grounded theory method to synthesize indications for DC surgery reported in peer-reviewed articles between 1983 and 2014 into a reduced number of named, content-characteristic codes representing unique indications. An international panel of trauma surgery experts (n = 9) then rated the appropriateness (expected benefit-to-harm ratio) of the coded indications for use in surgical practice.
The 1107 indications identified in the literature were synthesized into 123 unique pre- (n = 36) and intraoperative (n = 87) indications. The panel assessed 101 (82.1%) of these indications to be appropriate. The indications most commonly reported and assessed to be appropriate included pre- and intraoperative hypothermia (median temperature <34°C), acidosis (median pH <7.2), and/or coagulopathy. Others included 5 different injury patterns, inability to control bleeding by conventional methods, administration of a large volume of packed red blood cells (median >10 units), inability to close the abdominal wall without tension, development of abdominal compartment syndrome during attempted abdominal wall closure, and need to reassess extent of bowel viability.
This study identified a comprehensive list of candidate indications for use of DC surgery. These indications provide a practical foundation to guide surgical practice while studies are conducted to evaluate their impact on patient care and outcomes.
To determine whether active negative pressure peritoneal therapy with the ABThera temporary abdominal closure device reduces systemic inflammation after abbreviated laparotomy.
Excessive systemic ...inflammation after abdominal injury or intra-abdominal sepsis is associated with poor outcomes.
We conducted a single-center, randomized controlled trial. Forty-five adults with abdominal injury (46.7%) or intra-abdominal sepsis (52.3%) were randomly allocated to the ABThera (n = 23) or Barker's vacuum pack (n = 22). On study days 1, 2, 3, 7, and 28, blood and peritoneal fluid were collected. The primary endpoint was the difference in the plasma concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) 24 and 48 hours after temporary abdominal closure application.
There was a significantly lower peritoneal fluid drainage from the ABThera at 48 hours after randomization. Despite this, there was no difference in plasma concentration of IL-6 at baseline versus 24 (P = 0.52) or 48 hours (P = 0.82) between the groups. There was also no significant intergroup difference in the plasma concentrations of IL-1β, -8, -10, or -12 p70 or tumor necrosis factor α between these time points. The cumulative incidence of primary fascial closure at 90 days was similar between groups (hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-3.0; P = 0.17). However, 90-day mortality was improved in the ABThera group (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.93; P = 0.04).
This trial observed a survival difference between patients randomized to the ABThera versus Barker's vacuum pack that did not seem to be mediated by an improvement in peritoneal fluid drainage, fascial closure rates, or markers of systemic inflammation.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01355094.
Variation in the use of damage control (DC) surgery across trauma centers may partially be driven by uncertainty as to when the procedure is indicated. We sought to scope the literature on DC surgery ...and DC interventions, identify their reported indications, and examine the content and evidence upon which they are based.
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library (1950-February 14, 2014) and the grey literature for original and nonoriginal citations reporting indications for DC surgery or DC interventions in civilian trauma patients.
Among 27,732 citations identified, we included 270 peer-reviewed articles in the scoping review. Of these, 156 (57.8%) represented original research, primarily (75.0%) cohort studies. The articles reported 1,099 indications for DC surgery and 418 indications for 15 different DC interventions. The majority of indications for DC interventions were for abdominal (56.5%) procedures, including therapeutic perihepatic packing (56.5%), temporary abdominal closure/open abdominal management (40.7%), and staged pancreaticoduodenectomy (2.8%). Most DC surgery indications were based on intraoperative findings (71.7%) and represented characteristics of the injured patient (94.5%), including their physiology (57.6%), injuries (38.9%), and/or the amount or type of resuscitation provided (14.3%). Others were dependent on characteristics of the treating surgeon (12.1%), the patient's physiologic response to trauma care (9.6%), and/or the trauma care environment (1.5%). Approximately half (49.5%) included a decision threshold (e.g., pH < X) and, while most (74.7%) were based on a single clinical finding/injury, 25.3% required the presence of multiple findings concurrently. Only 87 indications were evaluated in original research studies and only 9 by more than one study.
The vast number, varying underlying content, and lack of original research relating to indications for DC suggests that substantial uncertainty exists around when the procedure is indicated and highlights the need to establish evidence-informed consensus indications.
Whether the benefits observed with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are similar in patients with versus those without atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. Furthermore, whether patients with AF ...receiving CRT should undergo atrioventricular nodal (AVN) ablation remains uncertain.
The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes in patients with and those without AF receiving CRT and to evaluate the influence of AVN ablation on outcomes in patients with AF.
A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. Outcomes included death, CRT nonresponse, and changes in left ventricular (LV) remodeling, quality of life (QoL), and 6-minute hall walk distance (6MWD).
Twenty-three observational studies were included and followed a total of 7,495 CRT recipients, 25.5% with AF, for a mean of 33 months. AF was associated with an increased risk of nonresponse to CRT (34.5% vs 26.7%; pooled relative risk RR 1.32; 95% confidence interval CI 1.12, 1.55; P = .001)) and all-cause mortality (10.8% vs 7.1% per year, pooled RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.08, 2.09; P = .015). The presence of AF was also associated with less improvement in QoL, 6-minute hall walk distance, and LV end-systolic volume but not LV ejection fraction. Among patients with AF, AVN ablation appeared favorable with a lower risk of clinical nonresponse (RR 0.40; 95% CI 0.28, 0.58; P <.001) and a reduced risk of death.
The benefits of CRT appear to be attenuated in patients with AF. The presence of AF is associated with an increased risk of clinical nonresponse and death than in patients without AF. AVN ablation may improve CRT outcomes in patients with AF.
Introduction
Pregnancy‐related medical complications are associated with a 2‐ to 5‐fold increased risk of preterm birth (PTB), but the nature of this etiologic relation in context with maternal ...factors remains poorly understood. Previous studies have generally treated maternal age as a confounder but overlooked its potential as an effect modifier, whereby the magnitude of the effect of complications on PTB could differ significantly across age groups. We investigated whether advanced maternal age (≥35 years) modified the association between pregnancy complications and PTB, and compared population‐attributable fractions of PTB from complications in women older vs younger than 35 years.
Material and methods
We analyzed population‐based, cross‐sectional data from the Alberta Discharge Database for women aged 18‐50 years with singleton live births in hospital between 2014 and 2017 (n = 152 246). Complications were preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and placental disorders identified using diagnostic codes. Outcomes were spontaneous (sPTB) or iatrogenic (iPTB) PTB before 37 weeks of gestation. We estimated risk ratios and risk differences using modified Poisson and log binomial regression, respectively, adjusting for confounders (pregnancy history, comorbidities). Population‐attributable fractions estimates were calculated from risk ratios. Age modification was tested using interaction terms and Z‐tests.
Results
Prevalence of advanced maternal age was 19.2%. Pregnancy complications and s/iPTB were more common among women aged ≥35 years. Age modified the risk of PTB from preeclampsia only, with risk differences of 9.9% (95% CI 7.2%‐12.6%) in older women vs 6.1% (95% CI 4.8%‐7.4%) in younger women (P‐interaction = 0.012) for sPTB, and 29.5% (95% CI 26.0%‐33.1%) vs 20.8% (95% CI 18.9%‐22.6%, P‐interaction <0.001) for iPTB. Population‐attributable fractions of s/iPTB types for all complications were consistently 2%‐5% larger in women aged ≥35 years, and significantly larger for preeclampsia (sPTB: 5.1% vs 2.7%, P = 0.002; iPTB: 18.8% vs 14.0%, P < 0.001) and placental disorders (sPTB: 12.5% vs 8.7%, P < 0.001; iPTB: 13.2% vs 8.9%, P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Of the pregnancy complications studied, advanced maternal age only modified the association between PTB and preeclampsia, such that older women with preeclampsia have a higher risk for s/iPTB than younger counterparts. Pregnancy complications contribute to a sizable proportion of PTBs in Alberta, especially among women aged ≥35 years. Findings may inform clinical risk assessment and population‐level policy targeting PTB.
Background Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a common problem associated with a poor quality of life, which improves when syncope frequency is reduced. Effective pharmacological therapies for VVS are ...lacking. Metoprolol is a β-adrenergic receptor antagonist that is ineffective in younger patients, but may benefit older (≥40 years) VVS patients. Given the limited therapeutic options, a placebo-controlled clinical trial of metoprolol for the prevention of VVS in older patients is needed. Structure of study The POST5 is a multicenter, international, randomized, placebo-controlled study of metoprolol in the prevention of VVS in patients ≥40 years old. The primary endpoint is the time to first recurrence of syncope. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive metoprolol 25 to 100 mg BID or matching placebo, and followed up for 1 year. Secondary end points include syncope frequency, presyncope, quality of life, and cost analysis. Primary analysis will be intention to treat, with a secondary on-treatment analysis. Power calculations A sample size of 222, split equally between the groups achieves 85% power to detect a hazard rate of 0.3561 when the event rates are 50% and 30% in the placebo and metoprolol arms. Allowing for 10% dropout, we propose to enroll 248 patients. Implications This study will be the first adequately powered trial to determine whether metoprolol is effective in preventing VVS in patients ≥40 years. If effective, metoprolol may become the first line pharmacological therapy for these patients.
Abstract
Background
Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) are known to be at increased risk of developing delirium, but the risk of subsequent neuropsychiatric disorders is unclear. We therefore ...sought to examine the association between the presence of delirium in the ICU and incident neuropsychiatric disorders (including depressive, anxiety, trauma-and-stressor-related, and neurocognitive disorders) post-ICU stay among adult medical-surgical ICU patients.
Methods
Retrospective cohort study utilizing clinical and administrative data from both inpatient and outpatient healthcare visits to identify the ICU cohort and diagnostic information 5 years prior to and 1 year post-ICU stay. Patients ≥ 18 years of age admitted to one of 14 medical-surgical ICUs across Alberta, Canada, January 1, 2014–June 30, 2016, and survived to hospital discharge were included. The main outcome of interest was a new diagnosis of any neuropsychiatric disorder 1 year post-ICU stay. The exposure variable was delirium during the ICU stay identified through any positive delirium screen by the Intensive Care Unit Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) during the ICU stay.
Results
Of 16,005 unique patients with at least one ICU admission, 4033 patients were included in the study of which 1792 (44%) experienced delirium during their ICU stay. The overall cumulative incidence of any neuropsychiatric disorder during the subsequent year was 19.7% for ICU patients. After adjusting for hospital characteristics using log-binomial regression, patients with delirium during the ICU stay had a risk ratio (RR) of 1.14 (95% confidence interval CI 0.98–1.33) of developing any neuropsychiatric disorder within 1 year post-ICU compared to those who did not experience delirium. Delirium was significantly associated with neurocognitive disorders (RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.08–2.35), but not depressive disorders (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.92–1.45), anxiety (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.92–1.47), and trauma-and-stressor-related (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.53–1.28) disorders.
Conclusions
The diagnosis of new onset of neurocognitive disorders is associated with ICU-acquired delirium. In this study, significant associations were not observed for depressive, anxiety, and trauma-and-stressor-related disorders.
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