Association of preoperative medication with postoperative length of stay in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery

Association between Preoperative Medication Lists and Postoperative Hospital Length of Stay after Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery

Background: Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery is the most common technique for the resection of pituitary adenoma. Data on factors associated with extended hospital stay after this surgery are limited. We aimed to characterize the relationship between preoperative medications and the risk of prolonged postoperative length of stay after this procedure. Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included all adult patients scheduled for transsphenoidal pituitary surgery from 1 July 2016 to 31 December 2019. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical codes were used to identify patients’ preoperative medications. The primary outcome was a prolonged postoperative hospital length of stay. Secondary outcomes included unplanned admission to the Intensive Care Unit, and in-hospital and one-year mortality. We developed a descriptive logistic model that included preoperative medications, obesity and age. Results: Median postoperative length of stay was 3 days for the 704 analyzed patients. Patients taking ATC-H drugs were at an increased risk of prolonged length of stay (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.26−1.95, p < 0.001). No association was found between preoperative ATC-H medication and unplanned ICU admission or in-hospital mortality. Patients with multiple preoperative ATC-H medications had a significantly higher mean LOS (5.4 ± 7.6 days) and one-year mortality (p < 0.02). Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware of the possible vulnerability of patients taking systemic hormones preoperatively. Future studies should test this medication-based approach on endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery populations from different hospitals and countries.

A new preoperative risk score for predicting mortality of elderly hip fracture patients: an external validation study

BACKGROUND

Hip fractures are common in the elderly and have a high risk of mortality. Several risk prediction models for mortality of hip fracture have been developed, but most of them are difficult to apply accurately in clinical practice.

AIMS

The objective of the present study was to perform an external validation of a new published preoperative risk score for predicting mortality.

METHODS

We carried out a retrospective cohort study from January 2014 to December 2018 for elderly hip fracture patients discharged from a orthopedic center in China. The preoperative risk score was calculated for each patient, and further divided into two groups: low-risk group (score < 24 points) and high-risk group (score ≥ 24 points) using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The outcome was 30-day, 6-month and 1-year all-cause mortality, and the relationship between the risk score and mortality was assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models. The area under the curve (AUC), Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration plots were used to test the discrimination and calibration.

RESULTS

A total of 460 consecutive patients were included in the study, and high-risk score was an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality [Hazard ratio (HR) 6.70; 95% Confidence interval (CI) 1.82-24.69; p = 0.004], 6-month mortality (HR 2.94; 95% CI 1.68-5.17; p < 0.001) and 1-year mortality (HR 3.30; 95% CI 2.09-5.20; p < 0.001). Also, each point increase in the risk score resulted in a 11% increase in 30-day mortality (HR 1.11; 95% CI 1.07-1.16; p < 0.001), 6% increase in 6-month mortality (HR 1.06; 95% CI 1.04-1.09; p < 0.001), and 5% increase in 1-year mortality (HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.03-1.07; p < 0.001). Moreover, the risk score had an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI 0.80-0.98) for 30-day mortality, 0.77 (95% CI 0.70-0.83) for 6-month mortality, and 0.76 (95% CI 0.70-0.81) for 1-year mortality. Calibration plots showed a good calibration between observed and predicted mortality, which was also demonstrated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.

CONCLUSION

Our present study findings indicated that the preoperative risk score was an accurate mortality risk assessment tool for elderly hip fracture patients, regardless of short- and long-term follow-up.

Anaesthesia for the elderly: a narrative review

As octogenarians in the operation room are no longer an exemption but the norm, perioperative management needs to be adopted to meet the special requirements of this group of patients. Anaesthesia does not need to be re-invented to fit the elderly. However, as elderly patients are among those most affected by adverse postoperative outcomes, the same diligence that is as a matter of course exercised in anaesthesiologic care of the youngest patients needs to be exercised for the eldest as well. Aging is associated with characteristic physiologic changes and an overall reduction in compensation width. However, the individual relevance of these changes varies distinctly. A comprehensive preoperative assessment is therefore essential to identify those at high risk. Maintaining functionality and preventing cognitive decline are central elements of perioperative care for frail elders, often only requiring unspectacular, but effective adjustments to established routine care processes. This review focuses on current recommendations in the perioperative anaesthesiologic management of elderly patients with a view towards assisting clinical anaesthesiologists in implementing respective structures in their setting and adjusting care pathways to meet the needs of this vulnerable but growing group of patients and improve their postoperative outcome.