Outcomes of Patients With COPD Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: Don't Hold Your Breath

A nationwide analysis on the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following primary total shoulder arthroplasty for glenohumeral osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients have been shown in orthopedic literature to have poorer outcomes and higher rates of complications from surgery. In this retrospective review, medical complications, length of stay, and costs were obtained to explore the effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on patients undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty.

METHODS

Total shoulder arthroplasty cases from January 2005 to March 2014 were queried and analyzed from a nationwide database. Study patients were matched 1:5 to controls by age, sex, and medical comorbidities associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In-hospital length of stay, 90-day medical complications, day of surgery, and total global 90-day episode of care costs were obtained for comparison.

RESULTS

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were found to have higher incidence and odds (53.91 vs. 11.95%; OR: 3.58, 95%CI: 3.18-3.92, p < 0.0001) of 90-day medical complications, longer in-hospital length of stay (3 vs. 2 days, p < 0.0001), and significantly higher 90-day costs ($14,768.37 vs. $13,379.20, p < 0.0001) following primary total shoulder arthroplasty compared to matched controls.

DISCUSSION

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty have higher rates of medical complications, in-hospital length of stay, and costs of care. This represents an important factor that will allow orthopedic surgeons to adequately manage expectations and educate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients of the potential complications which may occur following total shoulder arthroplasty.

Predictors of Hospital Readmission within 30 Days after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Data Analysis of 2,272 Brazilian Patients

Introduction

In order to reduce readmission rates after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), its predictors should be known in different contexts. The objective of this study was to identify predictive factors of hospital readmission within 30 days after CABG in a Brazilian center.

Methods

A secondary analysis of an electronic database of patients submitted to isolated CABG was performed. The relationship between readmission within 30 days and demographic, anthropometric, clinical, and surgery-related characteristics was investigated by univariate analyses. Predictors were identified by multiple logistic regression.

Results

Data from 2,272 patients were included, with an incidence of readmission of 8.6%. The predictors of readmission were brown skin color (Beta=1.613; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.047-2.458; P=0.030), African-American ethnicity (Beta=0.136; 95% CI 0.019-0.988; P=0.049), chronic kidney disease (Beta=2.214; 95% CI 1.269-3.865; P=0.005), postoperative use of blood products (Beta=1.515; 95% CI 1.101-2.086; P=0.011), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Beta=2.095; 95% CI 1.284-3.419; P=0.003), and use of acetylsalicylic acid (Beta=1.418; 95% CI 1.000-2.011; P=0.05). Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis (Beta=0.742; 95% CI 0.5471.007; P=0.055) was marginally significant.

Conclusion

The predictors identified may support a closer postoperative follow-up and individualized planning for a safe discharge.