Perioperative Guidelines on Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Agents: 2022 Update

Machine learning-based prediction of postoperative mortality risk after abdominal surgery

BACKGROUND

Preoperative risk assessments are vital for identifying patients at high risk of postoperative mortality. However, traditional scoring systems can be time consuming. We hypothesized that the use of machine learning models would enable rapid and accurate risk assessments to be performed.

AIM

To assess the potential of machine learning algorithms to develop predictive models of mortality risk after abdominal surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 230 individuals who underwent abdominal surgery at the Seventh People’s Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2023 and December 2023. Demographic and surgery-related data were collected and used to develop nomogram, decision-tree, random-forest, gradient-boosting, support vector machine, and naïve Bayesian models to predict 30-day mortality risk after abdominal surgery. Models were assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves and compared using the DeLong test.

RESULTS

Of the 230 included patients, 52 died and 178 survived. Models were developed using the training cohort (n = 161) and assessed using the validation cohort (n = 68). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the nomogram, decision-tree, random-forest, gradient-boosting tree, support vector machine, and naïve Bayesian models were 0.908 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.824-0.992], 0.874 (95%CI: 0.785-0.963), 0.928 (95%CI: 0.869-0.987), 0.907 (95%CI: 0.837-0.976), 0.983 (95%CI: 0.959-1.000), and 0.807 (95%CI: 0.702-0.911), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Nomogram, random-forest, gradient-boosting tree, and support vector machine models all demonstrate strong performances for the prediction of postoperative mortality and can be selected based on the clinical circumstances.

Efficacy of Intravenous Lidocaine and Magnesium in the Management of Herpes Zoster Neuritis and Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Case Series

OBJECTIVES

Herpes zoster is a common disease encountered in clinical practice. The neuropathic pain caused by herpes zoster can be severe enough to interfere with daily life in challenging cases. Although it is said that intervening as early as possible after the onset of the disease improves outcomes, there are some cases that are difficult to treat as immediate interventional therapy is not possible. While there are some reports on the efficacy of intravenous magnesium and lidocaine, we investigated the efficacy of intravenous magnesium and lidocaine in patients with herpes zoster neuritis and postherpetic neuralgia. Patient criteria: A total of 23 patients with herpes zoster neuritis and postherpetic neuralgia were included in the study. We included only cases in which immediate interventional therapy was not possible.

METHODS

The treatment protocol was an intravenous infusion of a combination of 1.2 g of magnesium and 100 mg of lidocaine for one hour every week for four weeks (five times in total). Patients were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pain before and after the treatment at week zero and before the treatment at weeks one, two, three, and four.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference between the median NRS before treatment at week zero and the median NRS before treatment at week one. Similarly, there was a statistically significant difference between the median NRS before treatment at week zero and the median NRS before treatment at weeks two, three, and four. In addition, the NRS tended to decrease as the number of treatments increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous lidocaine and magnesium may be effective for herpes zoster neuritis and postherpetic neuralgia. It may be a treatment method for when immediate interventional therapy is not possible.

The effect of anticoagulation therapy on the surgical outcomes of minimally invasive major gastrointestinal surgery

BACKGROUND

The surgical outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in patients receiving anticoagulation therapy (ACT) are unknown. We investigated the effect of ACT on the surgical outcomes of minimally invasive major GI surgery, with a particular focus on postoperative bleeding and thromboembolic complications.

METHODS

A total of consecutive 1290 patients undergoing elective minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) major GI surgery (esophagogastric and colorectal resection for malignancy) between 2014 and 2023 were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups: patients without receiving anticoagulation therapy (non-ACT, n = 1076), patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC, n = 144), and patients receiving warfarin (WF, n = 70). Outcome variables were compared between the groups and the risk factors of postoperative bleeding complications were assessed using logistic multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The overall rate of thromboembolic complication was 0.5%, and the operative mortality was zero in the whole cohort. The incidences of postoperative bleeding in the non-ACT, DOAC, and WF groups were 1.0%, 6.9% and 11.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). Among 8 DOAC-received patients with postoperative GI bleeding, 75% of cases occurred on postoperative day 5 or later. Multivariate analysis showed DOAC (odds ratio = 5.420, P < 0.001) and perioperative heparinization (odds ratio = 3.770, P = 0.048) were significant risk factors for major postoperative bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Although minimally invasive major GI surgery can be safely performed in patients receiving ACT, attention should be paid for the occurrence of delayed GI bleeding especially in the DOAC-received patients. Patients treated with DOAC or perioperative heparinization still represent a challenging group in the present cohort, and need to be carefully managed.

Cessation vs. no cessation of acetylsalicylic acid preoperatively in laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (CAPTAIN): interim report from a multicentre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Given the increasing prevalence of antiplatelet agent use and the lack of high-quality evidence, the CAPTAIN trial aimed to investigate the safety and provide recommendations on continuing acetylsalicylic acid perioperatively in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (LIHR).

METHODS

The CAPTAIN trial was a multicentre, surgeon blind, randomized controlled trial conducted from April 2016 to April 2023. Patients undergoing LIHR were eligible for inclusion. Participants were randomized to either the acetylsalicylic acid cessation group or the continued acetylsalicylic acid group. The primary endpoint was the incidence of hematoma formation at discharge.

RESULTS

After a total of 69 patients were randomized, four patients dropped out, leaving 35 patients in the acetylsalicylic acid cessation group and 30 in the continued acetylsalicylic acid group. The baseline characteristics of both groups were similar. While the distribution of hernia types was largely comparable, there were significantly more direct inguinal hernias in the continued acetylsalicylic acid group (p < 0.001). The primary outcome, hematoma formation at discharge, was similar between groups (3.3% vs. 2.9%, p = 1.000). Secondary outcomes, including wound bruising, post-discharge hematomas, pain, seroma formation, wound infection rates, and length of hospital stay, did not differ significantly between groups. No thromboembolic complications, readmissions, chronic pain, or recurrences were observed during follow-up in either group.

CONCLUSION

This study found that it is safe to continue acetylsalicylic acid perioperatively in selected patients undergoing LIHR without an increased risk of complications.

Efficacy of Fibrin Sealant in Submental Liposuction: A Prospective Randomized Study

BACKGROUND

The incidence rate of submental liposuction has been increasing in recent years. Although this procedure is relatively simple, serious complications, including fatalities, have been reported, primarily owing to intraoperative and postoperative bleeding.

METHODS

To enhance the safety of liposuction, we examined the efficacy of Beriplast® P (CSL Behring, Melbourne, Australia), a physiological tissue adhesive fibrin sealant, in reducing postoperative swelling. Swelling was measured using the image analysis software VECTRA® (Vectra AI, Inc., CA, USA). Twenty-nine cases of submental liposuction performed from February to August 2024 were analyzed for tissue volume changes immediately postoperatively and at the time of suture removal, comparing those who received the fibrin sealant to those who did not.

RESULTS

The group using the fibrin sealant had significantly less postoperative swelling compared to the group that did not use the fibrin sealant (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The fibrin sealant may be used to effectively suppress postoperative swelling, reducing the risk of complications and improving patient satisfaction, thereby enhancing the overall safety and effectiveness of cosmetic surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE I

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Apixaban removal during emergency surgery for type A acute aortic dissection: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) has a high mortality, and acute aortic repair is the only curative treatment. In patients treated with factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors, the risk of severe disease-related complications such as cardiac tamponade and hemodynamic shock must be balanced against the potential for severe perioperative bleeding. The aim was to study intraoperative changes in plasma levels of the FXa inhibitor apixaban when using hemoadsorption during acute thoracic aortic repair.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a single-center prospective cohort study. Eight apixaban-treated patients presenting with ATAAD underwent acute thoracic aortic repair with intraoperative hemoadsorption with CytoSorb. Apixaban concentrations were measured at the start of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and after 5, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min of CPB, at CPB weaning, 30 min after CPB weaning and 24 h postoperatively, using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).

RESULTS

After 30 min of CPB with hemoadsorption, mean apixaban concentration (±SD) was reduced by 59% from 108 (±69) µg/l to 44 (±20) µg/l (P=0.009). There was a further reduction to 37 (±17) µg/l at CPB weaning (P=0.008). Apixaban concentration displayed an increase to 56 (±29) µg/l 24 h postoperatively (P=0.01). In-hospital mortality was 25%. The mean 24H chest tube drainage volume was 621 (±136) ml.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative hemoadsorption lowers apixaban levels in patients undergoing emergency surgery for ATAAD. Further research is needed to determine its impact on perioperative bleeding complications and mortality.

Proximal femoral nailing for intertrochanteric fracture combined with contralateral femoral neck local osteo-enhancement procedure (LOEP) for severe osteoporotic bone loss: An original Italian case series

Proximal femoral fractures in elderly women are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and a public health concern. Although pharmacological therapies have shown potential in improving bone mineral density (BMD) and decreasing fracture risk, the current research effort is focused on developing a procedure that can ensure both immediate and long-term efficacy. A minimally-invasive surgical approach, known as AGN1 local osteo-enhancement procedure (LOEP), has been recently developed to promote bone augmentation. The procedure implies the preparation of an enhancement site, a specific location where new bone is required within a local bony area weakened by osteoporotic bone loss, and the insertion of a triphasic, resorbable, calcium-based implant material. The results of this procedure have shown a significant and sustainable long-term increase in the proximal femur BMD and consequently in bone strength, thereby improving the femoral neck's resistance to compression and distraction forces that may result in fall-related fractures. A preliminary case series of ten women, suffering from intertrochanteric fracture and contralateral proximal femur severe osteoporotic bone loss, who underwent a combined procedure of proximal femoral nailing and AGN1 local osteo-enhancement procedure, has been developed over the course of a year of clinical and radiological data collection.

[Coagulation disorders in liver cirrhosis - Diagnostics and management]

Patients with liver cirrhosis often exhibit complex alterations in their hemostatic system that can be associated with both bleeding and thrombotic complications. While prophylactic correction of abnormal coagulation parameters should be avoided, an individualized approach is recommended prior to invasive procedures, whereby specific preventive measures to stabilize hemostasis should be based on the periprocedural bleeding risk. While the haemostatic system of patients with compensated cirrhosis is often in a rebalanced haemostatic state due to a parallel decline in both pro- and anti-haemostatic factors, a decompensation of liver cirrhosis can lead to destabilization of this fragile equilibrium. Since conventional coagulation tests do not adequately capture the complex changes in the hemostatic system in cirrhosis, functional analysis methods such as viscoelastic tests or thrombin generation assays can be used for evaluating the coagulation status. This review describes the underlying pathophysiological changes in the hemostatic system in liver cirrhosis, provides an overview of diagnostic methods and discusses therapeutic measures in case of bleeding and thrombotic complications.

Pharmacotherapy for Coronary Artery Disease and Acute Coronary Syndrome in the Aging Population

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide a comprehensive summary of relevant studies and evidence concerning the utilization of different pharmacotherapeutic and revascularization strategies in managing coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome specifically in the older adult population.

RECENT FINDINGS

Approximately 30% to 40% of hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome are older adults, among whom the majority of cardiovascular-related deaths occur. When compared to younger patients, these individuals generally experience inferior clinical outcomes. Most clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of various therapeutics have primarily enrolled patients under the age of 75, in addition to excluding those with geriatric complexities. In this review, we emphasize the need for a personalized and comprehensive approach to pharmacotherapy for coronary heart disease and acute coronary syndrome in older adults, considering concomitant geriatric syndromes and age-related factors to optimize treatment outcomes while minimizing potential risks and complications. In the realm of clinical practice, cardiovascular and geriatric risks are closely intertwined, with both being significant factors in determining treatments aimed at reducing negative outcomes and attaining health conditions most valued by older adults.

Self-Administration of Aspirin After Chest Pain for the Prevention of Premature Cardiovascular Mortality in the United States: A Population-Based Analysis

BACKGROUND

Aspirin, an effective, low-cost pharmaceutical, can significantly reduce mortality if used promptly after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, many AMI survivors do not receive aspirin within a few hours of symptom onset. Our aim was to quantify the mortality benefit of self-administering aspirin at chest pain onset, considering the increased risk of bleeding and costs associated with widespread use.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We developed a population simulation model to determine the impact of self-administering 325 mg aspirin within 4 hours of severe chest pain onset. We created a synthetic cohort of adults ≥ 40 years old experiencing severe chest pain using 2019 US population estimates, AMI incidence, and sensitivity/specificity of chest pain for AMI. The number of annual deaths delayed was estimated using evidence from a large, randomized trial. We also estimated the years of life saved (YOLS), costs, and cost per YOLS. Initiating aspirin within 4 hours of severe chest pain onset delayed 13 016 (95% CI, 11 643-14 574) deaths annually, after accounting for deaths due to bleeding (963; 926-1003). This translated to an estimated 166 309 YOLS (149391-185 505) at the cost of $643 235 (633 944-653 010) per year, leading to a cost-effectiveness ratio of $3.70 (3.32-4.12) per YOLS.

CONCLUSIONS

For <$4 per YOLS, self-administration of aspirin within 4 hours of severe chest pain onset has the potential to save 13 000 lives per year in the US population. Benefits of reducing deaths post-AMI outweighed the risk of bleeding deaths from aspirin 10 times over.

Haemorrhagic Complications After Microsurgical Treatment for Intracranial Aneurysms Under Acetylsalicylic Acid: An Impact Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with intracranial aneurysms often have comorbidities that require them to take acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). In recent years, many patients with aneurysms have been prescribed ASA to prevent aneurysm enlargement. ASA is also prescribed to patients with intracranial aneurysms in preparation for surgical revascularization.

METHODS

From 2016 to 2021, 64 patients underwent microsurgical aneurysm clipping without revascularization, and an additional 20 patients underwent extracranial to intracranial (EC-IC) bypass. The following parameters were analysed: the frequency of hemorrhagic complications, the blood loss volume, the duration of surgery and inpatient treatment, the change in hemoglobin level (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), erythrocytes, and clinical outcomes according to the modified Rankin scale (mRS).

RESULTS

At the time of surgery, laboratory-confirmed effect of the ASA was registered in 22 patients (main group). In 42 patients, the ASA was not functional on assay (control group). Hemorrhagic complications were noted in two patients in the ASA group. In both cases, the hemorrhagic component did not exceed 15 ml in volume and did not require additional surgical interventions. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in hemorrhagic postoperative complications.

CONCLUSION

Taking low doses of acetylsalicylic acid during planned microsurgical clipping of cerebral aneurysms does not affect intraoperative blood loss volume, risk of postoperative hemorrhagic complications, length of stay in the hospital, or functional outcomes.

Perioperative Management of Traditional and Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Hip Fracture Patients

Hip fractures are an increasingly common injury in the senior population and almost always require surgical fixation or prosthetic replacement. These surgeries, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, are considered high-risk for bleeding, especially in a population fraught with comorbidities and often presenting on anticoagulation medications. Direct oral anticoagulants represent a class of drugs that have been becoming more popular in use in this population, with many benefits over the historically used Warfarin. There are recommendations for preoperative discontinuation and postoperative resumption of these medications, which can be more readily managed for elective surgeries. However, there is a paucity of literature detailing best practice guidelines for the perioperative management of direct oral anticoagulants when a patient presents with a hip fracture. This review article summary of the periprocedural management of DOACs for hip surgery was developed by examining the American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, Perioperative Guidelines on Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Agents written by anesthesiologists, various retrospective studies, and drug labels for pharmacokinetic data. These recommendations should be used as a guideline, along with the collaboration of multidisciplinary hospital teams during inpatient admission, to manage these complex patients.

Evaluating the safety profile of anti-platelet therapy in patients undergoing elective inguinal hernia repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

There remains no consensus surrounding the safety of prescribing anti-platelet therapies (APT) prior to elective inguinal hernia repair (IHR).

AIMS

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the safety profile of APT use in patients indicated to undergo elective IHR.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analyses were performed using the Mantel-Haenszel method using the Review Manager version 5.4 software.

RESULTS

Five studies including outcomes in 344 patients were included. Of these, 65.4% had APT discontinued (225/344), and 34.6% had APT continued (119/344). The majority of included patients were male (94.1%, 288/344). When continuing or discontinuing APT, there was no significant difference in overall haemorrhage rates (odds ratio (OR): 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29-11.78, P = 0.130) and in sensitivity analysis using only RCT data (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.03-12.41, P = 0.760). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in reoperation rates (OR: 6.27, 95% CI: 0.72-54.60, P = 0.590); however, a significant difference was observed for readmission rates (OR: 5.67, 95% CI: 1.33-24.12, P = 0.020) when APT was continued or stopped pre-operatively. There was no significant difference in the estimated blood loss, intra-operative time, transfusion of blood products, rates of complications, cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarctions, or mortality observed.

CONCLUSION

This study illustrates the safety of continuing APT pre-operatively in patients undergoing elective IHR, with similar rates of haemorrhage, reoperation, and readmission observed. Clinical trials with larger patient recruitment will be required to fully establish the safety profile of prescribing APT in the pre-operative setting prior to elective IHR.

Preoperative hypocoagulative state is an independent risk factor for wound complications and infection in gender-affirming bottom surgeries

BACKGROUND

Bottom gender affirmation surgery (GAS) involves the risks of bleeding and associated complications. Effective preoperative blood management is paramount across surgical disciplines with international normalized ratio (INR)≤1.5 advised prior to certain surgeries. This study aimed to examine the proportion of patients who were hypocoagulative before they underwent bottom GAS and assess the influence of hypocoagulability on their 30-day post-operative outcomes.

METHOD

A retrospective study on female-to-male (FtM) and male-to-female (MtF) bottom GAS was performed based on American college of surgeons national surgical quality improvement program (ACS-NSQIP) database from 2005 to 2021. Patients with hypocoagulation were identified when PTT> 60 s, PT > 30 s, and/or INR> 2. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the 30-day perioperative outcomes between patients with hypocoagulation and controls.

RESULTS

In this study, 380 patients (182 FtM, 198 MtF) with hypocoagulation and 1176 controls (886 FtM, 310 MtF) were included. Mortality and organ system complications were infrequent in both groups. Patients with hypocoagulation had higher wound complication rates (13.68% vs. 2.64%, aOR 2.858, p < 0.01), especially wound dehiscence (10.00% vs. 0.60%, aOR 4.424, p < 0.01) and organ space infection rates (2.11% vs. 0.26%, aOR 12.77, p < 0.01). Additionally, patients with hypocoagulation had higher sepsis (0.79% vs. 0.09%, aOR 15.508, p = 0.04) and readmission rates (4.74% vs. 2.47%, aOR 1.919, p = 0.03), but lower rates of discharge not to home (7.92% vs. 25.38%, aOR 0.324, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative hypocoagulative state is observed in approximately a quarter of the patients undergoing bottom GAS and is an independent risk factor for increased risks of 30-day wound complications and infections. Therefore, meticulous monitoring of preoperative hemostasis and implementing hemostasis control before surgery may be necessary. Thus, it may be advisable to discontinue oral anticoagulants before the surgery.

Perioperative Optimization and Management of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Patient: A Narrative Review on Updates in Anticoagulation, Hypertension and Diabetes Medications

PURPOSE

The preoperative management guidelines of surgical patients are constantly evolving as newer evidence-based research is published. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons need to be current with the increasingly more complex new drug therapies and updated national association(s) guidelines. This narrative review provides a synopsis with important reference tables for updated preoperative optimization guidelines for anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, antihypertensive management, and glycemic control in the preoperative period for the oral and maxillofacial surgery patient. It also includes the most current anesthesia guidelines on glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists.

METHODS

The search strategy utilized pubmed.gov to identify the most recent national society guidelines and review articles pertinent to perioperative anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy, antihypertensive management, and glycemic control.

RESULTS

The search identified 75 articles from the American College of Surgeons, American Heart Association, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American College of Cardiologists, in addition to recent reviews discussing the standard of care for optimization of patients in the perioperative period.

CONCLUSION

Medical optimization prior to surgery is important for safe and efficient surgical practice and has been shown to improve overall mortality. This narrative review provides a summary of the current data with recommendations focusing on four key points.

Association between direct oral anticoagulant concentrations and clinical outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Current guidelines suggest preoperative direct oral anticoagulant levels of < 30-50 ng/ml. However, there is limited evidence to guide this expert consensus. Reviewing assay titres and clinical outcomes may be able to inform perioperative care of the anticoagulated patient. This review aimed to determine whether DOAC assay plasma concentrations are associated with bleeding or systemic embolic events to better appreciate a possible therapeutic or hazardous reference range.

Methods

Systematic search, performed by an information specialist using a peer-reviewed search. Main search concepts were direct oral anticoagulant therapy for atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism. Data synthesised in narrative and tabular format whilst data that could be pooled was subjected to meta-analysis, using a random effects model. Meta regression was conducted for DOAC peak levels and clinical events. PRISMA guidelines were adhered to.

Results

Of 6717 retrieved publications, a total of 17 studies were included in the systematic review and 14 in the meta-analysis/regression. Studies report clinical outcome follow up ranging from 28 to 128 weeks. For every 10 ng/ml increase in DOAC assay trough and peak levels, the mean number of bleeding cases increases by 0.03(95 %CI: -0.32 -0.38, P = 0.84) and 0.09(95 %CI: -3.4 -5.3, P = 0.55) respectively, the mean number of major bleed cases increases by 0.01(95 %CI: -0.05 -0.07, P = 0.62) and 0.011(95 %CI: -0.32 -0.34, P = 0.74) respectively and the mean number of systemic embolic event cases decreases by 0.00039(95 %CI: -0.06 -0.0054, P = 0.88) and 0.04(95 %CI: -0.56 -0.48, P = 0.77) respectively.

Conclusion

There exists no significant, independent relationship, as determined by a univariate meta regression, between DOAC assay concentrations and a patient's risk of bleeding or systemic embolic embolism. This review also highlights the possibility of an absolute, patient specific DOAC assay concentration that may indicate adequate anticoagulation, above which further increases do not confer an increased risk of bleeding. However, further research to characterise this and its utility in the perioperative setting is required.

Perioperative hemostatic management of patients with type A aortic dissection

Coagulopathy is common in patients undergoing thoracic aortic repair for Stanford type A aortic dissection. Non-critical administration of blood products may adversely affect the outcome. It is therefore important to be familiar with the pathologic conditions that lead to coagulopathy in complex cardiac surgery. Adequate care of these patients includes the collection of the medical history regarding the use of antithrombotic and anticoagulant drugs, and a sophisticated diagnosis of the coagulopathy with viscoelastic testing and subsequently adapted coagulation therapy with labile and stable blood products. In addition to the above-mentioned measures, intraoperative blood conservation measures as well as good interdisciplinary coordination and communication contribute to a successful hemostatic management strategy.

Influence of compliance to antithrombotic agents on perioperative morbidity and mortality

For patients on antithrombotic medication, the outcome of a planned surgery depends on the adjustment of their daily treatment. This study aimed to assess the impact of non-compliance to published recommendations about antithrombotic agents, specifically those provided by the Groupement d'Intérêt pour l'hémostase Peri-opératoire (GIHP), on patient morbidity and mortality.A prospective cohort observational monocentric study was conducted over a 7-month period in 2019 in an academic hospital. The study included patients on antithrombotic agents scheduled for elective surgery, excluding cardiac surgery. The primary endpoints were morbidity and mortality at 1 month according to GIHP guidelines compliance. Blood loss during surgery and length of hospital stay were secondary endpoints.Among the 589 patients included in the study, 87 complications were recorded, resulting in a morbidity rate of 14.8%. Thirty-six patients experienced hemorrhagic events, leading to 8 deaths, while 33 patients suffered from ischemic events, resulting in 3 deaths. Additionally, 18 patients died from causes unrelated to hemorrhage or ischemia. Compliance with GIHP guidelines was observed in 62% of patients. Statistical analysis did not reveal a significant association between adherence to guidelines and morbidity (p value = 0.923), nor between adherence and 1-month survival (p value = 0.698). Similarly, no statistically significant relationships were found between compliance and intraoperative bleeding volume (p value = 0.087), postoperative bleeding (p value = 0.460), or length of hospital stay (p value = 0.339).This study did not identify any substantial associations between non-strict adherence to GIHP recommendations and patient outcomes, including morbidity, mortality, and bleeding. However, it is important to interpret these findings with caution, considering the study's limitations and the need for further research in this area.

Perioperative Management of Heart Transplantation: A Clinical Review

In this clinical review, the authors summarize the perioperative management of heart transplant patients with a focus on hemodynamics, immunosuppressive strategies, hemostasis and hemorrage, and the prevention and treatment of infectious complications.

Morbidity and mortality related to type II odontoid fractures in octogenarians undergoing surgery: a retrospective study with 5 year follow up

Introduction

The prevalence of trauma is increasing in the geriatric population. The optimal therapy for type II odontoid fractures in the elderly is controversial. This study aims to assess the morbidity and mortality associated with odontoid fractures in octogenarians undergoing C1/C2 posterior screw fixation and describe the perioperative and post-operative complications and risk factors associated with mortality.

Materials and methods

Electronic medical records from a single institution pertaining to the period between September 2005 and December 2020 were retrieved. Data on patient demographics, neurological conditions, surgical characteristics, complications, hospital course, and 90-day mortality were collected.

Results

Over a 16-year period, 60 patients aged ≥80 years diagnosed with type II odontoid fractures were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 85.0 ± 1.9 years. The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was >6 indicating a poor baseline reserve (8.5 ± 1.9), while cardiovascular diseases were the most prevalent among comorbidities. The mean surgical duration was 217.5 ± 65.9 min, with a mean blood loss of 725.5 ± 275.7 mL. The in-hospital was 5-0% and the 90-day mortality rates increased at 10.0%. No revision surgery was needed in any of the cases. Intraoperative and post-operative X-ray and computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed correct screw placement. Proper alignment of the atlantoaxial spine and fusion could be achieved in all cases. The unique risk factors for mortality included the presence of comorbidities and the occurrence of post-operative complications.

Conclusion

The complication and mortality rates associated with odontoid fractures in octogenarians are relatively high. However, the therapeutic goals in this population also include bone union and preservation of neurological status. Despite the often-high comorbidity rate, we still recommend that surgery should be considered in patients over 80 years. However, it is necessary to evaluate several approaches when treating such frail patients.

Salivary Complaints in Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Cross Sectional Study on 500 Patients

BACKGROUND

Xerostomia and sialorrhea often accompany Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) despite no change in saliva quantity. This study analyzed BMS patients with different symptom combinations: burning only (B), burning and xerostomia (BX), burning and sialorrhea (BS), and burning with xerostomia and sialorrhea (BXS), using a large sample of 500 patients from the University of Naples Federico II.

METHODS

After a medical evaluation, patients were divided into four groups based on their reported symptoms: B (140), BX (253), BS (49), and BXS (58). Patient data on education, BMI, smoking/alcohol habits, comorbidities, medication use, pain intensity, quality, and psychological profile were collected.

RESULTS

The BX group showed a higher prevalence of patients taking blood thinners. Additional symptoms varied among groups, with the BX group experiencing more dysgeusia and globus, and the BS group reporting more tingling. Multivariate analysis identified BMI, dysgeusia, globus, and blood thinner use as significant factors in the B and BX groups, while male gender, tingling, alcohol use, and pain quality were significant in the BS and BXS groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, BMS patients display a complex range of symptoms, with xerostomia being the most frequent additional symptom. Sociodemographic, psychological, and medical factors cannot fully explain the variations in symptomatology among different patient subgroups. Further research is needed to understand the underlying causes and develop tailored treatment approaches.

Urgent Revascularization of the Left Proximal Circumflex Following Cessation of Cangrelor Within Six Hours of Procedure

Patients undergoing procedures are often transitioned off anticoagulants using anti-platelet agents with short half-lives as a "bridge." We present the case of a patient with a history of in-stent thromboses who experienced a thrombotic event following a literature-guided bridging protocol. This case is one of the first to show that stopping cangrelor within six hours led to a need for urgent revascularization and suggests that the timing for discontinuing bridging agents should be customized based on the patient's history of increased blood clotting.

Recognition of Strokes in the ICU: A Narrative Review

Despite the remarkable progress in acute treatment for stroke, in-hospital stroke is still devastating. The mortality and neurological sequelae are worse in patients with in-hospital stroke than in those with community-onset stroke. The leading cause of this tragic situation is the delay in emergent treatment. To achieve better outcomes, early stroke recognition and immediate treatment are crucial. In general, in-hospital stroke is initially witnessed by non-neurologists, but it is sometimes challenging for non-neurologists to diagnose a patient's state as a stroke and respond quickly. Therefore, understanding the risk and characteristics of in-hospital stroke would be helpful for early recognition. First, we need to know "the epicenter of in-hospital stroke". Critically ill patients and patients who undergo surgery or procedures are admitted to the intensive care unit, and they are potentially at high risk for stroke. Moreover, since they are often sedated and intubated, evaluating their neurological status concisely is difficult. The limited evidence demonstrated that the intensive care unit is the most common place for in-hospital strokes. This paper presents a review of the literature and clarifies the causes and risks of stroke in the intensive care unit.

Impact of perioperative direct oral anticoagulant assays: a multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence to guide the perioperative management of patients on a direct oral anticoagulant(DOAC) in the absence of a last known dose. Quantitative serum titers may be ordered but there is little evidence supporting this.

AIMS

This multi-center retrospective cohort study of consecutive surgical in-patients with a DOAC assay, performed over a five-year period, aimed to characterize preoperative DOAC assay orders and their impact on perioperative outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patientsprescribed regular DOAC (both prophylactic and therapeutic dosing) with apreoperative DOAC assay were included. DOAC assay titer was evaluated againstendpoints. Further, patients with an assay were compared against anticoagulatedpatients who did not receive a preoperative DOAC assay. The primary endpointwas major bleeding. Secondary endpoints included perioperative hemoglobinchange, blood transfusions, idarucizumab or prothrombin complex concentrateadministration, postoperative thrombosis, in-hospital mortality andreoperation. Adjusted and unadjusted linear regression models were used forcontinuous data. Binary logistic models were performed for dichotomous outcomes.

RESULTS

1065 patientswere included, 232 had preoperative assays. Assays were ordered most commonlyby Spinal (11.9%), Orthopedics (15.4%) and Neurosurgery (19.4%). For every10ng/ml increase in titer, the hemoglobin decreases by 0.5066g/L and the oddsof a preoperative reversal increases by 13%. Compared to those without anassay, patients with preoperative DOAC assays had odds 1.44x higher for majorbleeding, 2.98x higher for in-hospital mortality and 16.3x higher for receivinganticoagulant reversal.

CONCLUSION

A preoperativeDOAC assay order was associated with worse outcomes despite increased reversaladministration. However, the DOAC assay titer can reflect the patient'slikelihood of bleeding.

Thrombosis Models: An Overview of Common In Vivo and In Vitro Models of Thrombosis

Occlusions in the blood vessels caused by blood clots, referred to as thrombosis, and the subsequent outcomes are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In vitro and in vivo models of thrombosis have advanced our understanding of the complex pathways involved in its development and allowed the evaluation of different therapeutic approaches for its management. This review summarizes different commonly used approaches to induce thrombosis in vivo and in vitro, without detailing the protocols for each technique or the mechanism of thrombus development. For ease of flow, a schematic illustration of the models mentioned in the review is shown below. Considering the number of available approaches, we emphasize the importance of standardizing thrombosis models in research per study aim and application, as different pathophysiological mechanisms are involved in each model, and they exert varying responses to the same carried tests. For the time being, the selection of the appropriate model depends on several factors, including the available settings and research facilities, the aim of the research and its application, and the researchers' experience and ability to perform surgical interventions if needed.

Emergency surgical decompression for spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in octogenarians: risk factors, clinical outcomes, and complications

PURPOSE

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is a rare but disabling disease. Although several cases have been reported in the literature, their treatment remains unclear, especially in patients with advanced age. We, therefore, aimed to describe the clinical outcomes of cervical SSEH in octogenarians with an acute onset of neurological illness undergoing laminectomy.

METHODS

Electronic medical records from a single institution between September 2005 and December 2020 were retrieved. Data on patient demographics, neurological conditions, functional status, surgical characteristics, complications, hospital course, and 90-day mortality were also collected.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients aged ≥ 80 years with SSEH undergoing laminectomy were enrolled in this study. The mean Charlson comorbidity index was 9.1 ± 2.0, indicating a poor baseline reserve. Ten individuals (45.5%) were taking anticoagulant agents with a pathologic partial thromboplastin time (PTT) of 46.5 ± 3.4 s. Progressive neurological decline, as defined by the motor score (MS), was observed on admission (63.8 ± 14.0). The in-hospital and 90-day mortality were 4.5% and 9.1%, respectively. Notably, the MS (93.6 ± 8.3) improved significantly after surgery (p < 0.05). Revision surgery was necessary in 5 cases due to recurrent hematoma. Anticoagulant agents and pathological PTT are significant risk factors for its occurrence. Motor weakness and comorbidities were unique risk factors for loss of ambulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Laminectomy and evacuation of the hematoma in octogenarians with progressive neurological decline induce clinical benefits. Emergent surgery seems to be the "state of the art" treatment for SSEH. However, potential complications associated with adverse prognostic factors, such as the use of anticoagulants, should be considered.

Removal of Apixaban during Emergency Cardiac Surgery Using Hemoadsorption with a Porous Polymer Bead Sorbent

Background: Patients on direct oral anticoagulants are at high risk of perioperative bleeding complications. We analyzed the results of intraoperative hemoadsorption (HA) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery who were also on concurrent therapy with apixaban. Methods: we included 25 consecutive patients on apixaban who underwent cardiac surgery with the use of cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) at three sites. The first 12 patients underwent surgery without hemoadsorption (controls), while the next 13 consecutive patients were operated with the Cytosorb® (Princeton, NJ, USA) device integrated into the CPB circuit (HA group). The primary outcome was perioperative bleeding assessed by the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) definition and secondary outcomes included 24 h chest-tube-drainage (CTD) and need for 1-deamino-8-d-arginine-vasopressin (desmopressin (DDAVP)) administration to achieve hemostasis. Results: Preoperative mean daily dose of apixaban was higher in the HA group (8.5 ± 2.4 vs. 5.6 ± 2.2 mg, p = 0.005), while time since last apixaban dose was longer in the controls (1.3 ± 0.9 vs. 0.6 ± 1.2 days, p < 0.001). No BARC-4 bleeding events and no repeat-thoracotomies occurred in the HA group compared with 3 and 1, respectively, in the controls. Postoperative 24 h CTD volume was significantly lower in the HA group (510 ± 152 vs. 893 ± 579 mL, p = 0.03) and there was no need for DDAVP compared to controls, who received an average of 10 ± 13.6 mg (p = 0.01). Conclusions: In patients on apixaban undergoing emergent cardiac surgery, the intraoperative use of hemoadsorption was feasible and safe. Compared to patients operated on without hemoadsorption, BARC-4 bleeding complications did not occur and the need for 24 h CTD and DDAVP was significantly lower.

Coagulation and Transfusion Updates From 2021

2021 and the COVID 19 pandemic have brought unprecedented blood shortages worldwide. These deficits have propelled national efforts to reduce blood usage, including limiting elective services and accelerating Patient Blood Management (PBM) initiatives. A host of research dedicated to blood usage and management within cardiac surgery has continued to emerge. The intent of this review is to highlight this past year's research pertaining to PBM and COVID-19-related coagulation changes.