Next day discharge after the Nuss procedure using intercostal nerve cryoablation, intercostal nerve blocks, and a perioperative ERAS pain protocol

BACKGROUND

The Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum has historically been associated with significant postoperative pain, which has been the major factor contributing to hospital length of stay (LOS).

METHODS

A single-institution, prospective study of 40 consecutive patients undergoing Nuss bar placement for pectus excavatum between November 2019 and January 2021 was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a multimodality pain management protocol. All patients received T3-T8 intercostal nerve cryoablation (INC), T3-T8 bupivacaine intercostal nerve blocks, Exparel at the skin incisions, and management with a perioperative analgesia regimen that minimized narcotic usage. The primary outcome was LOS. Secondary outcomes included opioid use, pain scores, and time to sensory recovery.

RESULTS

37/40 patients (92.5%) were discharged home on postoperative day (POD) 1, and 3/40 (7.5%) were discharged on POD 2 (mean LOS = 1.1 days). The median average postoperative pain score was 2/10. After eliminating IVPCA from our protocol, total oral morphine equivalent (OME) decreased by 73% (55.5 mg to 15 mg) with no change in pain scores or discharge timing.

CONCLUSIONS

INC combined with bupivacaine intercostal nerve blocks and a pre- and post-hospital analgesia protocol facilitated discharge one day after the Nuss procedure, achieved excellent pain control, and eliminated the need for intravenous opioids.

Hypoxemia in Young Children Undergoing One-lung Ventilation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

One-lung ventilation in children remains a specialized practice with low case numbers even at tertiary centers, preventing an assessment of best practices. The authors hypothesized that certain case factors may be associated with a higher risk of intraprocedural hypoxemia in children undergoing thoracic surgery and one-lung ventilation.

METHODS

The Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes database and a local quality improvement database were queried for documentation of one-lung ventilation in children 2 months to 3 yr of age inclusive between 2010 and 2020. Patients undergoing vascular or other cardiac procedures were excluded. All records were reviewed electronically for the presence of hypoxemia, oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (Spo2) less than 90% for 3 min or more continuously, and severe hypoxemia, Spo2 less than 90% for 5 min or more continuously during one-lung ventilation. Records were also assessed for hypercarbia, end-tidal CO2 greater than 60 mmHg for 5 min or more or a Paco2 greater than 60 on arterial blood gas. Covariates assessed for association with these outcomes included age, weight, American Society of Anesthesiologists (Schaumburg, Illinois) Physical Status 3 or greater, duration of one-lung ventilation, preoperative Spo2 less than 98%, bronchial blocker versus endobronchial intubation, left operative side, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, lower tidal volume ventilation (tidal volume less than or equal to 6 ml/kg plus positive end expiratory pressure greater than or equal to 4 cm H2O for more than 80% of the duration of one-lung ventilation), and type of procedure.

RESULTS

Three hundred six cases from 15 institutions were included for analysis. Hypoxemia and severe hypoxemia occurred in 81 of 306 (26%) patients and 56 of 306 (18%), respectively. Hypercarbia occurred in 153 of 306 (50%). Factors associated with lower risk of hypoxemia in multivariable analysis included left operative side (odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.251 to 0.78]) and bronchial blocker use (odds ratio, 0.351 [95% CI, 0.177 to 0.67]). Additionally, use of a bronchial blocker was associated with a reduced risk of severe hypoxemia (odds ratio, 0.290 [95% CI, 0.125 to 0.62]).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of a bronchial blocker was associated with a lower risk of hypoxemia in young children undergoing one-lung ventilation.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Intraoperative Hypotension and Acute Kidney Injury after Noncardiac Surgery in Infants and Children: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

BACKGROUND

Age- and sex-specific reference nomograms for intraoperative blood pressure have been published, but they do not identify harm thresholds. The authors therefore assessed the relationship between various absolute and relative characterizations of hypotension and acute kidney injury in children having noncardiac surgery.

METHODS

The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic data from two tertiary care centers. They included inpatients 18 yr or younger who had noncardiac surgery with general anesthesia. Postoperative renal injury was defined using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes definitions, based on serum creatinine concentrations. The authors evaluated potential renal harm thresholds for absolute lowest intraoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) or largest MAP reduction from baseline maintained for a cumulative period of 5 min. Separate analyses were performed in children aged 2 yr or younger, 2 to 6 yr, 6 to 12 yr, and 12 to 18 yr.

RESULTS

Among 64,412 children who had noncardiac surgery, 4,506 had creatinine assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. The incidence of acute kidney injury in this population was 11% (499 of 4,506): 17% in children under 6 yr old, 11% in children 6 to 12 yr old, and 6% in adolescents, which is similar to the incidence reported in adults. There was no association between lowest cumulative MAP sustained for 5 min and postoperative kidney injury. Similarly, there was no association between largest cumulative percentage MAP reduction and postoperative kidney injury. The adjusted estimated odds for kidney injury was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.94 to 1.05) for each 5-mmHg decrease in lowest MAP and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.97 to 1.03) for each 5% decrease in largest MAP reduction from baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

In distinct contrast to adults, the authors did not find any association between intraoperative hypotension and postoperative renal injury. Avoiding short periods of hypotension should not be the clinician's primary concern when trying to prevent intraoperative renal injury in pediatric patients.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Incidence of adverse events attributable to bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension or plain bupivacaine for postoperative pain in pediatric surgical patients: A retrospective matched cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Surgical wound infiltration with local anesthetics is common as part of multimodal analgesia and enhanced recovery pathways in pediatric surgical patients. Liposomal bupivacaine can provide up to 92 hours of pain relief, and was approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration for local infiltration in adults. It is also commonly used by pediatric surgeons, but its safety profile in this age group has not been described.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of local anesthetic systemic toxicity syndrome in pediatric surgical patients receiving liposomal bupivacaine compared to plain bupivacaine for surgical wound infiltration.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, single center, assessor blinded cohort study of pediatric surgical inpatients having open or laparoscopic surgery in the Cleveland Clinic between 2013 and 2017 and receiving wound infiltration with local anesthetics. We compared the incidence of local anesthetic systemic toxicity among those who received any dose of liposomal bupivacaine and those who received plain bupivacaine. Groups were matched 1:2 according to procedure type, age, and physical status score. Local anesthetic systemic toxicity was primarily defined as at least two signs or symptoms possibly related to anesthetic toxicity, as judged by two independent adjudicators blinded to the type of local anesthetic. A sensitivity analysis compared the incidence of a single sign/symptom possibly related to anesthetic toxicity.

RESULTS

A total of 924 surgical cases were included in the final analysis (356 liposomal bupivacaine and 568 plain bupivacaine cases). The primary outcome did not occur in any patient. The sensitivity analysis found three cases in the liposomal bupivacaine group and two cases in the plain bupivacaine group having a single sign/symptom possibly related to local anesthetic administration (relative risk 2.4, 95% CI 0.4-14.0, P = 0.38).

CONCLUSION

In a cohort of pediatric surgical patients receiving wound infiltration with either plain or liposomal bupivacaine, we identified no cases of local anesthetic systemic toxicity syndrome, and only few patients with any sign or symptom that could potentially be related to local anesthetic toxicity.

Safety of antifibrinolytics in 6583 pediatric patients having craniosynostosis surgery: A decade of data reported from the multicenter Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group

BACKGROUND

Antifibrinolytics such as tranexamic acid and epsilon-aminocaproic acid are effective at reducing blood loss and transfusion in pediatric patients having craniofacial surgery. The Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group has previously reported low rates of seizures and thromboembolic events (equal to no antifibrinolytic given) in open craniofacial surgery.

AIMS

To query the Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group database to provide an updated antifibrinolytic safety profile in children given that antifibrinolytics have become recommended standard of care in this surgical population. Additionally, we include the population of younger infants having minimally invasive procedures.

METHODS

Patients in the Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group registry between June 2012 and March 2021 having open craniofacial surgery (fronto-orbital advancement, mid and posterior vault, total cranial vault remodeling, intracranial LeFort III monobloc), endoscopic cranial suture release, and spring mediated cranioplasty were included. The primary outcome is the rate of postoperative complications possibly attributable to antifibrinolytic use (seizures, seizure-like activity, and thromboembolic events) in infants and children undergoing craniosynostosis surgery who did or did not receive antifibrinolytics.

RESULTS

Forty-five institutions reporting 6583 patients were included. The overall seizure rate was 0.24% (95% CI: 0.14, 0.39%), with 0.20% in the no Antifibrinolytic group and 0.26% in the combined Antifibrinolytic group, with no statistically reported difference. Comparing seizure rates between tranexamic acid (0.22%) and epsilon-aminocaproic acid (0.44%), there was no statistically significant difference (odds ratio = 2.0; 95% CI: 0.6, 6.7; p = .257). Seizure rate was higher in patients greater than 6 months (0.30% vs. 0.18%; p = .327), patients undergoing open procedures (0.30% vs. 0.06%; p = .141), and syndromic patients (0.70% vs. 0.19%; p = .009).

CONCLUSIONS

This multicenter international experience of pediatric craniofacial surgery reports no increase in seizures or thromboembolic events in those that received antifibrinolytics (tranexamic acid and epsilon-aminocaproic acid) versus those that did not. This report provides further evidence of antifibrinolytic safety. We recommend following pharmacokinetic-based dosing guidelines for administration.

Sugammadex Versus Neostigmine for Reversal of Residual Neuromuscular Blocks After Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis of Postoperative Side Effects

BACKGROUND

Sugammadex and neostigmine given to reverse residual neuromuscular blockade can cause side effects including bradycardia, anaphylaxis, bronchospasm, and even cardiac arrest. We tested the hypothesis that sugammadex is noninferior to neostigmine on a composite of clinically meaningful side effects, or vice versa.

METHODS

We analyzed medical records of patients who had general, cardiothoracic, or pediatric surgery and were given neostigmine or sugammadex from June 2016 to December 2019. Our primary outcome was a collapsed composite of bradycardia, anaphylaxis, bronchospasm, and cardiac arrest occurring between administration of the reversal agent and departure from the operation room. We a priori restricted our analysis to side effects requiring pharmacologic treatment that were therefore presumably clinically meaningful. Sugammadex would be considered noninferior to neostigmine (or vice versa) if the odds ratio for composite of side effects did not exceed 1.2.

RESULTS

Among 89,753 surgeries in 70,690 patients, 16,480 (18%) were given sugammadex and 73,273 (82%) were given neostigmine. The incidence of composite outcome was 3.4% in patients given sugammadex and 3.0% in patients given neostigmine. The most common individual side effect was bradycardia (2.4% in the sugammadex group versus 2.2% neostigmine). Noninferiority was not found, with an estimated odds ratio of 1.21 (sugammadex versus neostigmine; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.34; noninferiority P = .57), and neostigmine was superior to sugammadex with an estimated odds ratio of 0.83 (0.74-0.92), 1-side superiority P < .001.

CONCLUSIONS

The composite incidence was less with neostigmine than with sugammadex, but only by 0.4% (a negligible clinical effect). Since 250 patients would need to be given neostigmine rather than sugammadex to avoid 1 episode of a minor complication such as bradycardia or bronchospasm, we conclude that sugammadex and neostigmine are comparably safe.

Association between higher BMI and postoperative pain and opioid consumption in pediatric inpatients - A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Childhood and adolescent obesity increased in recent decades, and caregivers face an increasing number of obese pediatric surgical patients. Some clinical and pharmacogenetic data suggest that obese patients have altered pain sensitivity and analgesic requirements.

OBJECTIVE

To test the primary hypothesis that increased BMI in pediatric patients is associated with increased pain during the initial 48 postoperative hours. Secondarily, we tested whether BMI is associated with increased opioid consumption during the same period.

DESIGN

Retrospective single-center cohort study.

SETTING

Pediatric surgical wards in a tertiary medical center.

PATIENTS

A total of 808 opioid naïve patients aged 8 to 18 years having elective non-cardiac surgery with hospital stay of at least 48 h in the Cleveland Clinic between 2010 and 2015.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS

Using U.S. Centers for Disease Control definitions for childhood weight classifications, we retrospectively evaluated the association between body mass index (BMI) percentile and time-weighted average pain scores and opioid consumption. We used multivariable linear regression to test for an association with postoperative pain scores, and multivariable gamma regression to test for an association with postoperative opioid consumption (in mg morphine equivalents Kg^-1).

RESULTS

BMI was not associated with postoperative pain after general, orthopedic, or neuro-spinal surgeries. Pain increased by 0.07 [98.75% CI: (0.01, 0.13), P_adj < 0.05] points per 5 percentile increase in BMI after neuro-cranial surgery. Higher BMI was associated with a decrease in postoperative opioid consumption (mean change [95% CI] -2.12% [-3.12%, -1.10%] in morphine equivalents Kg^-1 per 5 percentile increase in BMI, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We found no clinically important increase in pain scores or opioid consumption in association with higher BMI in patients 8 to 18 years of age recovering from elective non-cardiac surgery.

Anomalous Drainage of Inferior Vena Cava into the Left Atrium

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

A survey of the global impact of COVID-19 on the practice of pediatric anesthesia: A study from the pediatric anesthesia COVID-19 Collaborative Group

BACKGROUND

Pediatric anesthesiology has been greatly impacted by COVID-19 in the delivery of care to patients and to the individual providers. With this study, we sought to survey pediatric centers and highlight the variations in care related to perioperative medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the availability of protective equipment, the practice of pediatric anesthesia, and economic impact.

AIM

The aim of the survey was to determine how COVID-19 directly impacted pediatric anesthesia practices during the study period.

METHODS

A survey concerning four major domains (testing, safety, clinical management/policy, economics) was developed. It was pilot tested for clarity and content by members of the Pediatric Anesthesia COVID-19 Collaborative. The survey was administered by email to all Pediatric Anesthesia COVID-19 Collaborative members on September 1, 2020. Respondents had six weeks to complete the survey and were instructed to answer the questions based on their institution's practice during September 1 - October 13, 2020.

RESULTS

Sixty-three institutions (100% response rate) participated in the COVID-19 Pediatric Anesthesia Survey. Forty-one hospitals (65%) were from the United States, and 35% included other countries. N95 masks were available to anesthesia teams at 91% of institutions (n = 57) (95% CI: 80%-96%). COVID-19 testing criteria of anesthesia staff and guidelines to return to work varied by institution. Structured simulation training aimed at improving COVID-19 safety and patient care occurred at 62% of institutions (n = 39). Pediatric anesthesiologists were economically affected by a reduction in their employer benefits and restriction of travel due to employer imposed quarantine regulations.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the testing, safety, clinical management, and economics of pediatric anesthesia practice. Further investigation into the long-term consequences for the specialty is indicated.

The Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group (PCCG) Consensus Conference Methodology

OBJECTIVE

This article describes the methodology used for the Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group (PCCG) Consensus Conference.

DESIGN

This is a novel Consensus Conference of national experts in Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery and Anesthesia, who will follow standards set by the Institute of Medicine and using the Research and Development/University of California, Los Angeles appropriateness method, modeled after the Pediatric Critical Care Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative. Topics related to pediatric craniofacial anesthesia for open cranial vault surgery were divided into twelve subgroups with a systematic review of the literature.

SETTING

A group of 20 content experts met virtually between 2019 and 2020 and will collaborate in their selected topics related to perioperative management for pediatric open cranial vault surgery for craniosynostosis. These groups will also identify where future research is needed.

CONCLUSIONS

Experts in pediatric craniofacial surgery and anesthesiology are developing recommendations on behalf of the Pediatric Craniofacial Collaborative Group for perioperative management of patients undergoing open cranial vault surgery for craniosynostosis and identifying future research priorities.

Association Between Age- and Sex-Specific Body Mass Index Percentile and Multiple Intubation Attempts: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

BACKGROUND

Obesity distorts airways and slightly complicates intubations in adults, but whether obesity complicates pediatric intubations remains unclear. We, therefore, tested the primary hypothesis that increasing age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) percentile is associated with difficult intubation, defined as >1 intubation attempt.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients between 2 and 18 years of age who had noncardiac surgery with oral endotracheal intubation. We assessed the association between BMI percentile and difficult intubation, defined as >1 intubation attempt, using a confounder-adjusted multivariable logistic regression model. Secondarily, we assessed whether the main association depended on preoperative substantial airway abnormality status or age group.

RESULTS

A total of 9339 patients were included in the analysis. Median [quartiles] age- and sex-specific BMI percentile was 70 [33, 93], and 492 (5.3%) patients had difficult intubation. There was no apparent association between age- and sex-specific BMI percentile and difficult intubation. The estimated odds ratio (OR) for having difficult intubation for a 10-unit increase in BMI percentile was 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.005) and was consistent across the 3 age groups of early childhood, middle childhood, and early adolescence (interaction P = .53). Patients with preoperative substantial airway abnormalities had lower odds of difficult intubation per 10-unit increase in BMI percentile, with OR (95% CI) of 0.83 (0.70-0.98), P = .01.

CONCLUSIONS

Age- and sex-specific BMI percentile was not associated with difficult intubation in children between 2 and 18 years of age. As in adults, obesity in children does not much complicate intubation.

Mild acute kidney injury after pediatric surgery is not-associated with long-term renal dysfunction: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY OBJECTIVE

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a sudden deterioration in renal function and is common in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac surgery. Few studies have investigated the association of postoperative AKI with kidney dysfunction seen long-term and other adverse outcomes in pediatric patients. The study aimed to determine the association between postoperative AKI (mild AKI vs. no AKI and mild AKI vs. moderate-severe AKI) and chronic kidney dysfunction (CKD) seen long-term in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac major surgery.

DESIGN

Restrospective, cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary care hospital.

PATIENTS

This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 2-18 years who underwent cardiac and non-cardiac major surgery lasting >2 h at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus between June 2005 and December 2020.

MEASUREMENTS

Postoperative AKI and CKD seen in long-term were defined and staged according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria.

MAIN RESULTS

Among 10,597 children who had cardiac and non-cardiac major surgery, 1,302 were eligible. A total of 682 patients were excluded for missing variables and baseline kidney dysfunction and 620 patients were included. The mean age was 11 years, and 307 (49.5%) were female. Postoperative mild AKI was detected in 5.8% of the patients, while moderate-severe AKI was detected in 2.4%. There was no significant difference in CKD seen in long-term between patients with and without postoperative AKI, p = 0.83. The CKD seen in long-term developed in 27.7% of patients with postoperative mild AKI and 33.3% of patients with postoperative moderate and severe AKI. Patients without postoperative AKI had an estimated 1.09 times higher odds of having CKD seen in long-term compared with patients who have postoperative mild AKI (odds ratio [95% CI] 1.09 [0.48,2.52]).

CONCLUSION

In contrast to adult patients, the authors did not find any association between postoperative AKI and CKD seen in long-term in pediatric patients.

Comparison of postoperative oxygenation in children receiving sugammadex versus neostigmine for reversal of neuromuscular blockade: a retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Residual neuromuscular blockade can impair postoperative respiratory mechanics, promoting hypoxemia and pulmonary complications. Sugammadex, with its unique mechanism of action, may offer a more effective reversal of neuromuscular blockade and respiratory function than neostigmine. We sought to test the primary hypothesis that children undergoing noncardiac surgery exhibit better initial recovery oxygenation when administered sugammadex than those administered neostigmine. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate if children administered sugammadex experience fewer in-hospital pulmonary complications.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from children aged 2-17 yr who underwent noncardiac surgery with general anesthesia and received neostigmine or sugammadex between January 2017 and April 2023 at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus. Our primary outcome was postoperative oxygenation defined by the mean SpO2/FIO2 ratio during the initial hour in the postanesthesia care unit. The secondary outcome was a composite of postoperative pulmonary complications during the hospital stay.

RESULTS

Among 3,523 cases, 430 (12.5%) involved sugammadex and 3,081 (87.5%) involved neostigmine. The median [interquartile range] of the mean SpO2/FIO2 ratio during the first postoperative hour was 403 [356-464] in the sugammadex group and 408 [357-462] in the neostigmine group, resulting in an estimated difference in means of -6.2 (95% confidence interval, -12.8 to 0.41; P = 0.07) after inverse probability of treatment weighting. Overall, 22/1,916 (1.1%) inpatients experienced postoperative pulmonary complications; 2.0% of patients given sugammadex and 1.0% of patients administered neostigmine developed postoperative pulmonary complications (P = 0.19).

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective cohort study, postoperative oxygenation was similar in children after reversal of neuromuscular blockade with sugammadex versus neostigmine.

Factors Associated With Decision to Use and Dosing of Sugammadex in Children: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Sugammadex was initially approved for reversal of neuromuscular blockade in adults in the United States in 2015. Limited data suggest sugammadex is widely used in pediatric anesthesia practice however the factors influencing use are not known. We explore patient, surgical, and institutional factors associated with the decision to use sugammadex versus neostigmine or no reversal, and the decision to use 2 mg/kg vs 4 mg/kg dosing.

METHODS

Using data from the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG) database, an EHR-derived registry, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study. Eligible cases were performed between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020, for children 0 to 17 years at US hospitals. Cases involved general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and administration of rocuronium or vecuronium. Using generalized linear mixed models with institution and anesthesiologist-specific random intercepts, we measured the importance of a variety of patient, clinician, institution, anesthetic, and surgical risk factors in the decision to use sugammadex versus neostigmine, and the decision to use a 2 mg/kg vs 4 mg/kg dose. We then used intraclass correlation statistics to evaluate the proportion of variance contributed by institution and anesthesiologist specifically.

RESULTS

There were 97,654 eligible anesthetics across 30 institutions. Of these 47.1% received sugammadex, 43.1% received neostigmine, and 9.8% received no reversal agent. Variability in the choice to use sugammadex was attributable primarily to institution (40.4%) and attending anesthesiologist (27.1%). Factors associated with sugammadex use (compared to neostigmine) include time from first institutional use of sugammadex (odds ratio [OR], 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.09, per month, P < .001), younger patient age groups (0-27 days OR, 2.59 [2.00-3.34], P < .001; 28 days-1 year OR, 2.72 [2.16-3.43], P < .001 vs 12-17 years), increased American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] physical status (ASA III: OR, 1.32 [1.23-1.42], P < .001 ASA IV OR, 1.71 [1.46-2.00], P < .001 vs ASA I), neuromuscular disease (OR, 1.14 (1.04-1.26], P = .006), cardiac surgery (OR, 1.76 [1.40-2.22], P < .001), dose of neuromuscular blockade within the hour before reversal (>2 ED95s/kg OR, 4.58 (4.14-5.07], P < .001 vs none), and shorter case duration (case duration <60 minutes OR, 2.06 [1.75-2.43], P < .001 vs >300 minutes).

CONCLUSIONS

Variation in sugammadex use was primarily explained by institution and attending anesthesiologist. Patient factors associated with the decision to use sugammadex included younger age, higher doses of neuromuscular blocking agents, and increased medical complexity.

Multicentre analysis of severe perioperative adverse events in children undergoing surgery who were infected with SARS-CoV-2: a propensity score-adjusted analysis

BACKGROUND

The incidence of severe adverse events in children with SARS-CoV-2 undergoing anaesthesia has not been well established. We examined the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe perioperative adverse events in children.

METHODS

This multicentre (21 North American institutions), retrospective cohort study included children <18 years old, with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA PS) of 1-4 and non-severe SARS-CoV-2, who underwent general anaesthesia between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe perioperative adverse events (admission to the intensive care unit for escalation of respiratory support, acute respiratory distress syndrome, postoperative pneumonia, cardiovascular arrest, extracorporeal life support, and death) within 7 days of the anaesthetic, assessed using multivariable analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting by the propensity score. A propensity score mixed-effects model included variables selected a priori. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to retain all data while balancing exposure groups on measured confounders.

RESULTS

We matched 1138 patients with SARS-CoV-2 positive testing within 10 days of the anaesthetic to 3396 non-infected controls. The cohort included 56.6% (2568/4534) male patients, 69.9% (2839/4060) White patients, and 63.5% (2879/4533) ASA PS 1-2 patients. General surgery cases comprised 38.4% (1739/4534) of the cohort, followed by orthopaedic surgery at 12.6% (573/4534) and ear, nose, and throat surgery at 8.2% (371/4534). In the overall sample of 4534 patients, 52 had a severe adverse event (0.01%). Children with SARS-CoV-2 had a higher risk of at least one severe adverse event (25/1138 [2.20%] vs 27/3396 [0.80%] in those non-infected; adjusted odds ratio 2.34; 95% confidence interval 1.25-4.39). None of the children with SARS-CoV-2 had a cardiac arrest, required extracorporeal life support, or died.

CONCLUSIONS

In the largest cohort to date of paediatric patients undergoing general anaesthesia, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with severe perioperative adverse events, but no children in the infected cohort died.

Patient and Process Outcomes among Pediatric Patients Undergoing Appendectomy during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 forced healthcare systems to make unprecedented changes in clinical care processes. The authors hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted timely access to care, perioperative processes, and clinical outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing primary appendectomy.

METHODS

A retrospective, international, multicenter study was conducted using matched cohorts within participating centers of the international PEdiatric Anesthesia COVID-19 Collaborative (PEACOC). Patients younger than 18 yr old were matched using age, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status, and sex. The primary outcome was the difference in hospital length of stay of patients undergoing primary appendectomy during a 2-month period early in the COVID-19 pandemic (April to May 2020) compared with prepandemic (April to May 2019). Secondary outcomes included time to appendectomy and the incidence of complicated appendicitis.

RESULTS

A total of 3,351 cases from 28 institutions were available with 1,684 cases in the prepandemic cohort matched to 1,618 in the pandemic cohort. Hospital length of stay was statistically significantly different between the two groups: 29 h (interquartile range: 18 to 79) in the pandemic cohort versus 28 h (interquartile range: 18 to 67) in the prepandemic cohort (adjusted coefficient, 1 [95% CI, 0.39 to 1.61]; P < 0.001), but this difference was small. Eight centers demonstrated a statistically significantly longer hospital length of stay in the pandemic period than in the prepandemic period, while 13 were shorter and 7 did not observe a statistically significant difference. During the pandemic period, there was a greater occurrence of complicated appendicitis, prepandemic 313 (18.6%) versus pandemic 389 (24.1%), an absolute difference of 5.5% (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.1 to 1.59]; P = 0.003). Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 testing was associated with significantly longer time-to-appendectomy, 720 min (interquartile range: 430 to 1,112) with testing versus 414 min (interquartile range: 231 to 770) without testing, adjusted coefficient, 306 min (95% CI, 241 to 371; P < 0.001), and longer hospital length of stay, 31 h (interquartile range: 20 to 83) with testing versus 24 h (interquartile range: 14 to 68) without testing, adjusted coefficient, 7.0 (95% CI, 2.7 to 11.3; P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

For children undergoing appendectomy, the COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly impact hospital length of stay.

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE