Association of Hospital-level Neuraxial Anesthesia Use for Hip Fracture Surgery with Outcomes

Effects of dexmedetomidine-ropivacaine assisted combined spinal-epidural anesthesia on neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and postoperative delirium in elderly patients with intertrochanteric femoral fracture

Objective

Intertrochanteric femoral fracture (IFF) is a public issue in the old. Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) is commonly utilized for lower limb orthopedic surgery in elderly patients. Therefore, this study explored the application of dexmedetomidine (Dex) and ropivacaine (Rop) assisted CSEA in elderly IFF patients.

Methods

Totally 187 elderly IFF patients were assigned into the Rop assisted CSEA (Rop-CSEA), low-dose Dex-Rop assisted CSEA (low Dex and Rop-CSEA) and high-dose Dex-Rop assisted CSEA (high Dex and Rop-CSEA) groups. We compared block effects, hemodynamic indicators [heart rate (HR)/respiratory rate (RR)/mean arterial pressure (MAP)] at time before anesthesia (T0)/skin incision (T1)/10 min postoperatively (T2)/suture postoperatively (T3)/anesthesia recovery (T4), postoperative pain mediator release [substance P (SP)/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)/5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)], neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), adverse reactions, delirium and cognitive dysfunction incidence.

Results

Compared with the Rop-CSEA group, low/high Dex and Rop-CSEA groups had shortened onset times, prolonged recovery times in sensory/motor block, elevated HR/RR/MAP, repressed pain mediator release, and reduced postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction incidences. HR/RR/MAP exhibited reductions followed by elevations at T2-T4, and SP/PGE2/5-HT levels revealed elevations in all groups postoperatively. NLR level displayed enhancement followed by reduction, and NLR in the low/high Dex and Rop-CSEA groups was abated on postoperative days 1-5. Total incidence of adverse reactions in the high Dex and Rop-CSEA group was enhanced.

Conclusion

Dex and Rop assisted CSEA shortens the onset time of anesthesia, maintains perioperative hemodynamic stability, inhibits pain mediator release, reduces postoperative NLR level and the incidence of delirium and cognitive dysfunction in IFF patients.

Economic evaluation of a strategy to shorten the time to surgery with neuraxial anaesthesia compared with usual clinical practice in patients on chronic antiplatelet therapy with a proximal femur fracture

Introduction

Before implementing a new health care strategy, it is important to assess effectiveness but also to perform an economic evaluation. The goal of the present study was to perform a comparative economic evaluation of a new strategy aimed at using proposed implementation of the Plateletworks guidance (measurement of platelet function) with usual practice (delayed time to surgery) in patients on chronic antiplatelet treatment and scheduled for surgery with neuraxial anaesthesia due to proximal femur fracture.

Methods

This is an economic evaluation carried out alongside a randomised controlled clinical trial at four centres in Spain. Patients were randomised to undergo either early platelet function-guided surgery (experimental group) or delayed surgery (control group). As AFFEcT trial results demonstrated significative difference between groups in the primary efficacy endpoint, the median time to surgery, a cost-effectiveness analysis was performed. Direct costs associated with hospitalisation until one-month post-discharge were considered and measured from a hospital perspective. All costs were reported in euros. Analyses were performed on a per protocol basis. Effectiveness outcome measures were the incremental cost and incremental cost per reduction in days to surgery. A deterministic sensitivity analysis was implemented to quantify uncertainty.

Results

A total of 156 patients were randomized to the two groups (n = 78 per group). A total of 143 patients were included in the per protocol population (75 and 68 patients in the experimental and control groups, respectively). The median time to surgery was 2.30 days (IQR: 1.53-3.73) in the experimental group and 4.87 days (4.36-5.60) in the control group (a reduction of 2.40 days). Total costs during the 1-month study perioperative period were higher in the delayed surgery group (€18,495.19) than for the early surgery group (€16,497.59). The incremental cost was negative (€1,997.60), a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). As measured by the reduction in time (days) to surgery, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for early surgery was negative (777.28€/day). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated consistent cost saving.

Conclusion

For patients on chronic antiplatelet treatment scheduled to undergo surgery for proximal femur fracture, an individualised strategy guided by a platelet function testing is a cost-saving and cost-effective strategy.

Trends in hip fracture surgery in the United States from 2016 to 2021: patient characteristics, clinical management, and outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Hip fractures are a serious health concern and a major contributor to healthcare resource utilisation. We aimed to investigate nationwide trends in the USA in patient characteristics and outcomes in patients after hip fracture repair surgery.

METHODS

From the Premier Healthcare dataset, we extracted patient encounters for surgical hip fracture repair from 2016 to 2021. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, complications, and anaesthetic and surgical details were analysed. Cochran-Armitage trend tests and simple linear regression were used to determine trends.

RESULTS

We included 347 086 hip fracture repair encounters. Notable trends included the following: median patient age declined from 82 yr [interquartile range: 73-88 yr] to 81 yr [interquartile range: 73-88 yr], (P-value=0.002), the proportion of female patients decreased from 68% to 66.2% (P-value=0.019); internal fixation was the most common intervention initially, but with a declining percentage from 49.9% to 43.8% (P-value <0.001); in general, patients carried a greater comorbidity burden, with the proportion with three or more Elixhauser comorbidities increasing from 56.4% to 58.6% (P-value=0.006); general anaesthesia remained the most common anaesthetic technique, from 68.90% to 56.80% without a significant trend; per 1000 inpatient days, the most common complication remained acute renal failure; despite a higher comorbidity burden, no complication showed a statistically significant upward trend, and many showed downward trends.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the 6-yr period from 2016 to 2021, a majority of hip fracture repairs continued to be performed under general anaesthesia but with that percentage declining over time. Notable trends included a lower percentage of female patients, an increase in femoral neck fractures, a higher comorbidity burden among patients, and a decrease in complications.

Racial and ethnic disparities in regional anesthesia in the United States: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

Racial and ethnic disparities exist in the delivery of regional anesthesia in the United States. Anesthesiologists have ethical and economic obligations to address existing disparities in regional anesthesia care.

OBJECTIVES

Current evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in regional anesthesia utilization in adult patients in the United States is presented. Potential contributors and solutions to racial disparities are also discussed.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

Literature search was performed for studies examining racial and ethnic disparities in utilization of regional anesthesia, including neuraxial anesthesia and/or peripheral nerve blocks.

FINDINGS

While minoritized patients are generally less likely to receive regional anesthesia than white patients, the pattern of disparities for different racial/ethnic groups and for types of regional anesthetics can be complex and varied. Contributors to racial/ethnic disparities in regional anesthesia span hospital, provider, and patient-level factors. Potential solutions include standardization of regional anesthetic practices via Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways, increasing patient education, health literacy, language translation services, and improving diversity and cultural competency in the anesthesiology workforce.

CONCLUSION

Racial and ethnic disparities in regional anesthesia exist. Contributors and solutions to these disparities are multifaceted. Much work remains within the subspecialty of regional anesthesia to identify and address such disparities.

Effects of general and spinal anesthesia on postoperative rehabilitation in older adults after lower limb surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Objective

To investigate the effects of perioperative general anesthesia (GA) and spinal anesthesia (SA) on postoperative rehabilitation in elderly patients with lower limb surgery.

Methods

This retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study included patients aged 65 years or older who underwent lower limb surgery between January 1, 2020, and May 31, 2023. The GA and SA were selected at the request of the orthopedic surgeon, patient, and their family members. The main outcomes included the incidence of the patient's inability to self-care at discharge, postoperative complications including pulmonary infection, thrombus of lower extremity veins, infection of incisional wound and delirium, length of hospital stay, and incidence of severe pain in the first 2 days postoperatively.

Results

In total, 697 patients met the inclusion criteria, and 456 were included in the final analysis after propensity score matching. In the GA and SA groups, 27 (11.84%) and 26 (11.40%) patients, respectively, could not care for themselves at discharge. The incidence rates did not differ between the groups (p = 0.884). In contrast, the incidence of postoperative complications (GA: 10.53% and SA: 4.39%; p = 0.013) and the length of hospital stay (GA: 16.92 ± 10.65 days and SA: 12.75 ± 9.15 days; p < 0.001) significantly differed between the groups.

Conclusion

The choice of anesthesia is independent of the loss of postoperative self-care ability in older patients (>65 years) and is not a key factor affecting postoperative rehabilitation after lower limb surgery. However, compared with GA, SA reduces the incidence of postoperative complications and a prolonged hospital stay. Thus, SA as the primary anesthetic method is a protective factor against a prolonged hospital stay.

Would surgical Apgar score be useful to predict postoperative complications after proximal femoral fracture surgery? - A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The surgical Apgar score (SAS) is a perioperative risk evaluation score, which considers intraoperative minimum heart rate, minimum mean arterial pressure and estimated blood loss. Although validated in multiple surgical fields, SAS remains quite controversial in the orthopedic one. The main purpose of this study was to investigate if SAS relates with the occurrence of complications during the first 30-days after proximal femoral fracture surgery.

METHODS

Retrospective study including all consecutive patients submitted to proximal femoral fracture surgery between January and July 2019. Patients with no information about SAS were excluded. Patients were divided in two groups, based on the occurrence of complications during the first 30 post-operative days and their SAS calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess SAS power as a predictive model of complications.

RESULTS

Forty-two percent (n = 76) of the 181 patients included in the study developed complications during the first 30 postoperative days. Eight patients (4,4%) died during that period. The patient's mean age was 79 years and 30,9% (n = 56) were men. Heart failure, pacemaker use, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and dementia were significantly associated with post-operative morbidity. There was no significant correlation between SAS and the occurrence of complications during the first 30 postoperative days. The AUC of SAS as a predictive model for postoperative complications after proximal femoral fracture surgery was 0,522, being insufficient to be considered an accepted model of prediction.

CONCLUSION

Based on this study, we conclude that SAS is not predictive of the development of complications in the first 30 post-operative days in patients submitted to proximal femoral fracture surgery. However, other clinical factors have been identified as associated with postoperative morbidity. In the future, prospective-based studies with higher samples may better clarify the role of SAS in this context.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of anesthesia type on hip fracture post-surgery outcomes

Objective

To compare technical, clinical, and safety outcomes among hip fracture patients treated with procedures supplemented by general anesthesia (GA) or spinal/regional anesthesia (S/R).

Data sources

We searched for original studies on PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and Cochrane databases.

Study selection

Studies that reported clinical outcomes in patients that underwent hip fracture surgery, had available data on type of anesthesia administered, and clinical follow-up data were selected for data extraction.

Data extraction

The primary outcomes of interest were odds of mortality, including in-hospital, 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year mortality. Various adverse events (AEs) were also compared.

Data synthesis

Twenty-eight studies met our selection criteria, including 190,394 patients. A total of 107,314 (56.4%) patients were treated with procedures involving GA while 83,080 (43.6%) were treated with procedures involving S/R. There was no difference in 30-day or >1-year mortality rates between the GA and SR groups; however, compared to S/R group, the GA group had a significantly higher odds of in-hospital (P = .004) and 90-day mortality (P = .004). There was no difference in odds of adverse events between the GA and the S/R group.

Conclusions

Patients administered S/R for hip fracture procedures demonstrate lower risk of in-hospital mortality and 90-day mortality compared to patients administered GA.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic level III.

An Overview of Commonly Used Data Sources in Observational Research in Anesthesia

Anesthesia research using existing databases has drastically expanded over the last decade. The most commonly used data sources in multi-institutional observational research are administrative databases and clinical registries. These databases are powerful tools to address research questions that are difficult to answer with smaller samples or single-institution information. Given that observational database research has established itself as valuable field in anesthesiology, we systematically reviewed publications in 3 high-impact North American anesthesia journals in the past 5 years with the goal to characterize its scope. We identified a wide range of data sources used for anesthesia-related research. Research topics ranged widely spanning questions regarding optimal anesthesia type and analgesic protocols to outcomes and cost of care both on a national and a local level. Researchers should choose their data sources based on various factors such as the population encompassed by the database, ability of the data to adequately address the research question, budget, acceptable limitations, available data analytics resources, and pipeline of follow-up studies.

OUP accepted manuscript

Background

The relationship between anaesthetic technique and graft patency after open lower limb revascularization is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between 30-day graft patency after elective infrainguinal bypass and anaesthetic technique (regional anaesthesia (RA, i.e. neuraxial and/or peripheral nerve blockade) compared with general anaesthesia (GA)).

Methods

Patients who underwent elective infrainguinal bypass in the 2014–2019 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Vascular Procedure Targeted Lower Extremity Open data set were included. Excluded patients were those under 18 years old, those who did not receive RA or GA, and/or had an international normalized ratio of 1.5 of greater, a partial thromboplastin time more than 35 s, or a platelet count less than 80 × 10⁹/L. The primary outcome was primary graft patency without reintervention. The relationship between anaesthetic technique and patency was analysed with multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Included were 8893 patients with a mean(s.d.) age of 68(11) years and 31.5 per cent female. Within the cohort, 7.7 per cent (n = 688) patients received RA only, 90.4 per cent (n = 8039) GA only, and 1.9 per cent (n = 166) both GA and RA. In the RA-only group, 91.7 per cent (631 of 688) received neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary patency rate was 93.2 per cent (573 of 615) for RA only, and 91.5 per cent (6390 of 6983) for GA only (standardized mean difference, 0.063). RA was not associated with a higher rate of patency compared with GA (adjusted OR, 1.16; 95 per cent c.i., 0.83 to 1.63; P = 0.378).

Conclusion

There was no association between anaesthetic technique and 30-day graft patency after elective infrainguinal bypass surgery. Further prospective studies would be useful to study the impact of anaesthesia technique on important patient-centred outcomes such as long-term patency and non-home discharge.

Early Surgery with Neuraxial Anaesthesia in Patients on Chronic Antiplatelet Therapy with a Proximal Femur Fracture: Multicentric Randomised Clinical Trial

Background: Patients with proximal femur fracture on antiplatelet treatment benefit from early surgery. Our goal was to perform early surgery under neuraxial anaesthesia when indicated by the platelet function test. Methods: We conducted a multicentre randomised open-label parallel clinical trial. Patients were randomised to either early platelet function-guided surgery (experimental group) or delayed surgery (control group). Early surgery was programmed when the functional platelet count (as measured by Plateletworks) was >80 × 10⁹/L. The primary outcome was the emergency admission-to-surgery interval. Secondary outcomes were platelet function, postoperative bleeding, medical and surgical complications, and mortality. Results: A total of 156 patients were randomised, with 78 in each group, with a mean (SD) age of 85.96 (7.9) years, and 67.8% being female. The median (IQR) time to surgery was 2.3 (1.5–3.7) days for the experimental group and 4.9 (4.4–5.6) days for the control group. One-third of patients did not achieve the threshold functional platelet count on the first day of admission, requiring more than one test. There was no difference in clinical outcomes between groups. Conclusions: A strategy individualised according to the platelet function test shortens the time to proximal femur fracture surgery under neuraxial anaesthesia in patients on chronic antiplatelet treatment. Better powered randomised clinical trials are needed to further evaluate the clinical impact and safety of this strategy.

Hospital-, anaesthetist-, and patient-level variation in peripheral nerve block utilisation for hip fracture surgery: a population-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Unwarranted variation in anaesthesia practice is associated with adverse outcomes. Despite high-certainty evidence of benefit, a minority of hip fracture surgery patients receive a peripheral nerve block. Our objective was to estimate variation in peripheral nerve block use at the hospital, anaesthetist, and patient levels, while identifying predictors of peripheral nerve block use in hip fracture patients.

METHODS

After protocol registration (https://osf.io/48bvp/), we conducted a population-based cross-sectional study using linked administrative data in Ontario, Canada. We included adults >65 yr of age having emergency hip fracture surgery from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2018. Logistic mixed models were used to estimate the variation in peripheral nerve block use attributable to hospital-, anaesthetist-, and patient-level factors with use of peripheral nerve block, quantified using the variance partition coefficient and median odds ratio. Predictors of peripheral nerve block use were estimated and temporally validated.

RESULTS

Of 50 950 patients, 9144 (18.5%) received a peripheral nerve block within 1 day of surgery. Patient-level factors accounted for 14% of variation, whereas 42% and 44% were attributable to the hospital and anaesthetist providing care, respectively. The median odds ratio for receiving a peripheral nerve block was 5.73 at the hospital level and 5.97 at the anaesthetist level. No patient factors had large associations with receipt of a peripheral nerve block (odds ratios significant at the 5% level ranged from 0.86 to 1.35).

CONCLUSIONS

Patient factors explain the minimal variation in peripheral nerve block use for hip fracture surgery. Interventions to increase uptake of peripheral nerve blocks for hip fracture patients will likely need to focus on structures and processes at the hospital and anaesthetist levels.

Perioperative outcomes following preoperative epidural analgesia in hip fracture patients undergoing surgical repair: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effectiveness and safety of epidural analgesia in the presurgical period on hip fracture patients undergoing surgical repair.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

The study protocol was registered with the PROSPERO systematic reviews register: CRD42019140396. Electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing preoperative epidural analgesia to other forms of pain management in hip fracture patients. The primary outcomes included perioperative cardiac events and mortality. Pain, non-cardiac complications, and adverse effects were also examined as secondary outcomes. Heterogeneity of the included studies was assessed using the I2 statistic and a random-effects meta-analysis was conducted once sufficient homogeneity was demonstrated.

RESULTS

Four studies met the inclusion criteria, which included a total of 221 patients. Preoperative epidural analgesia resulted in fewer cardiac events, which was a reported outcome in two included studies (RR 0.30; 95% CI 0.14-0.63; I2 = 0%). Preoperative epidural analgesia was also associated with decreased perioperative mortality in a meta-analysis of two studies (RR 0.13; 95% CI 0.02-0.98; I2 = 0%). Pain was not pooled due to variability in assessment methods, but preoperative epidural analgesia was associated with reduced pain in all four studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative epidural analgesia for hip fracture may reduce perioperative cardiac events and mortality, but the number of included studies in this systematic review was low. More research should be done to determine the benefit of early epidural analgesia for hip fractured patients.

Using Lumbar X-Ray to Facilitate Modified Taylor's Approach of Spinal Anesthesia in an Elderly Patient With Scoliosis

In geriatric patients scheduled for hip or knee surgery, neuraxial anesthesia is a safe and effective anesthesia method and may be a better option than general anesthesia. Unfortunately, establishing neuraxial anesthesia is not always easy in this group of patients. Anatomical abnormalities, such as spinal stenosis, scoliosis, and narrowed interspaces, contribute to the difficulties that anesthesiologists face while performing these procedures. The classic Taylor’s approach targets the widest interspace, L5-S1, as the needle insertion site and accordingly has an increased success rate in difficult neuraxial anesthesia. As this technique historically relies solely on palpation, it might be difficult in patients with less prominent or distorted anatomic landmarks. Ultrasonography or fluoroscopy guidance may help to better target the epidural or subarachnoid space, but both have limitations due to equipment availability or provider expertise. The modified Taylor’s approach we propose in this case report is based on preoperative lumbar x-ray interpretation when point-of-care image guidance cannot be performed. By measuring on the patient’s preoperative lumbar x-ray, we successfully performed a modified Taylor's approach of spinal anesthesia on an elderly patient with severe scoliosis. She underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the left femur with satisfactory pain control and no complications.

Association between neuraxial anaesthesia or general anaesthesia for lower limb revascularisation surgery in adults and clinical outcomes: population based comparative effectiveness study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the associations between neuraxial anaesthesia or general anaesthesia and clinical outcomes, length of hospital stay, and readmission in adults undergoing lower limb revascularisation surgery.

DESIGN

Comparative effectiveness study using linked, validated, population based databases.

SETTING

Ontario, Canada, 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2015.

PARTICIPANTS

20 988 patients Ontario residents aged 18 years or older who underwent their first lower limb revascularisation surgery in hospitals performing 50 or more of these surgeries annually.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome was 30 day all cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were in-hospital cardiopulmonary and renal complications, length of hospital stay, and 30 day readmissions. Multivariable, mixed effects regression models, adjusting for patient, procedural, and hospital characteristics, were used to estimate associations between anaesthetic technique and outcomes. Robustness of analyses were evaluated by conducting instrumental variable, propensity score matched, and survival sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

Of 20 988 patients who underwent lower limb revascularisation surgery, 6453 (30.7%) received neuraxial anaesthesia and 14 535 (69.3%) received general anaesthesia. The percentage of neuraxial anaesthesia use ranged from 0.6% to 90.6% across included hospitals. Furthermore, use of neuraxial anaesthesia declined by 17% over the study period. Death within 30 days occurred in 204 (3.2%) patients who received neuraxial anaesthesia and 646 (4.4%) patients who received general anaesthesia. After multivariable, multilevel adjustment, use of neuraxial anaesthesia compared with use of general anaesthesia was associated with decreased 30 day mortality (absolute risk reduction 0.72%, 95% confidence interval 0.65% to 0.79%; odds ratio 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.57 to 0.83; number needed to treat to prevent one death=139). A similar direction and magnitude of association was found in instrumental variable, propensity score matched, and survival analyses. Use of neuraxial anaesthesia compared with use of general anaesthesia was also associated with decreased in-hospital cardiopulmonary and renal complications (odds ratio 0.73, 0.63 to 0.85) and a reduced length of hospital stay (-0.5 days, -0.3 to-0.6 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of neuraxial anaesthesia compared with general anaesthesia for lower limb revascularisation surgery was associated with decreased 30 day mortality and hospital length of stay. These findings might have been related to reduced cardiopulmonary and renal complications after neuraxial anaesthesia and support the increased use of neuraxial anaesthesia in patients undergoing these surgeries until the results of a large, confirmatory randomised trial become available.

Landmark-guided versus modified ultrasound-assisted Paramedian techniques in combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures: a randomized controlled trial

Background

Combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anesthesia is considerably challenging for elderly patients with hip fractures due to spine degeneration and limitations in positioning. This study aimed to investigate the ability of a modified preprocedural ultrasound-guided technique to improve the success rate and efficacy of CSE anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures.

Methods

This prospective, single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial included 80 patients (aged ≥65 years) who were scheduled for elective hip fracture surgery with CSE anesthesia. Patients were randomly allocated into landmark group (n = 40) or the ultrasound group (n = 40). The primary outcome was first-pass success rate. Secondary outcomes included first-attempt success rate; number of needle insertion attempts; number of needle passes; locating, puncture, and total time; level of block; procedural adverse reactions and postoperative complications; and patient satisfaction score. Patients were blinded to group allocation.

Results

Eighty patients completed the study and were included in the final analysis. The first-pass success rates for the landmark and ultrasound groups were 20 and 70%, respectively (P < 0.001). The first-attempt success rates in the landmark and ultrasound groups were 42.5 and 85%, respectively (P < 0.001). The median number of attempts was lower in ultrasound-assisted group (1 [1]) than landmark-guided group (2 [1, 2]), P < 0.001). The median number of needle passes was lower in ultrasound group (1 [1, 2]) than in landmark-guided group (3 [2, 4], P < 0.001). The locating time (P < 0.001) and total time (P = 0.001) were longer in the ultrasound group, while puncture time was shorter (P = 0.003). No significant difference was found regarding the incidence of adverse reactions and complications. More patients in the ultrasound group had a high satisfaction score of 4–5 (P = 0.007). Interestingly, subgroup analysis demonstrated benefits for ultrasound in patients with scoliosis.

Conclusions

Modified ultrasound-assisted CSE anesthesia increases first-pass and first-attempt success rates, and reduces needle insertion attempts, passes, and puncture time for elderly patients with hip fracture, especially those with scoliosis. This technique improves patient satisfaction and warrants consideration for application in clinical practice.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Register (identifier, ChiCTR1900020819; date of registration, January 20, 2019).

From ER to OR: Results After Implementation of Multidisciplinary Pathway for Fragility Hip Fractures at a Level I Trauma Center

Introduction:

Hip fractures are one of the most common indications for hospitalization and orthopedic intervention. Fragility hip fractures are frequently associated with multiple comorbidities and thus may benefit from a structured multidisciplinary approach for treatment. The purpose of this article was to retrospectively analyze patient outcomes after the implementation of a multidisciplinary hip fracture pathway at a level I trauma center.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective review of 263 patients over the age of 65 with fragility hip fracture was performed. Time to surgery, hospital length of stay, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), American Society of Anesthesiologists, complication rates, and other clinical outcomes were compared between patients treated in the year before and after implementation of a multidisciplinary hip fracture pathway.

Results:

Timing to OR, hospital length of stay, and complication rates did not differ between pre- and postpathway groups. The postpathway group had a greater CCI score (pre: 3.10 ± 3.11 and post: 3.80 ± 3.18). Fewer total blood products were administered in the postpathway group (pre: 1.5 ± 1.8 and post: 0.8 ± 1.5).

Discussion:

The maintenance of clinical outcomes in the postpathway cohort, while having a greater CCI, indicates the same quality of care was provided for a more medically complex patient population. With a decrease in total blood products in the postpathway group, this highlights the economic importance of perioperative optimization that can be obtained in a multidisciplinary pathway.

Conclusion:

Implementation of a multidisciplinary hip fracture pathway is an effective strategy for maintaining care standards for fragility hip fracture management, particularly in the setting of complex medical comorbidities.

Hypotension during hip fracture surgery and postoperative morbidity

Background

Hip fracture is a growing healthcare challenge, with 6–8% 30-day mortality and 20–30% of patients incurring major morbidity, including impaired mobilisation and ability to live independently. While observational studies have shown no benefit of general versus spinal anaesthesia on 30-day mortality, intraoperative hypotension during hip fracture surgery is associated with increased 30-day mortality regardless of anaesthetic technique. Although a recent trial on younger patients demonstrated reduced postoperative complications by maintaining intraoperative arterial blood pressure close to preoperative baseline, there are no data correlating intraoperative hypotension during hip fracture surgery with postoperative morbidity.

Objective

We evaluated the hypothesis that duration and severity of intraoperative hypotension during hip fracture surgery is associated with increased postoperative morbidity.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was carried out on n = 52 patients undergoing hip fracture surgery between January and June 2017. Measurements of patients’ intraoperative systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during anaesthesia, logged electronically through an anaesthesia information management system, were reviewed. We calculated the total duration of time where SAP or MAP were below pre-defined thresholds for hypotension (MAP < 75 mmHg, MAP < 55 mmHg, SAP ≤ 80% admission baseline or SAP ≤ 80% pre-induction baseline). Univariate and bivariate descriptive statistics were generated for all relevant variables. With multivariable regression models containing known predictors, cumulative duration of hypotension was correlated with postoperative comorbidities as quantified by the Clavien-Dindo and Comprehensive Complication Indices.

Results

Mean age (± SD) was 78 ± 13 years, 75% were female, 87% were ASA II or III and 60% underwent spinal anaesthesia. Mean Comprehensive Complication Index was 20.4 ± 19.2. Lowest absolute SAP and MAP values were 82 ± 18 mmHg and 55 ± 12 mmHg respectively. Cumulative time of SAP < 80% pre-induction value adjusted to gender, age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index was associated with progression to a higher Clavien-Dindo classification (odds ratio 1.020 per additional minute; 95% CI 1.008–1.035; P = 0.003).

Conclusions

In this exploratory retrospective analysis, the cumulative time of hypotension during hip fracture surgery correlated with extensive postoperative morbidity when adjusting to other known predictors. Intraoperative cumulative time of hypotension may be a good candidate for larger prediction studies as a predictor of postoperative complications. A randomised controlled trial evaluating the effect of actively minimising intraoperative hypotension on postoperative morbidity in hip fracture patients seems warranted.

The effect of anesthetic technique on mortality and major morbidity after hip fracture surgery: a retrospective, propensity-score matched-pairs cohort study

Introduction

Spinal anesthesia (SA) has physiological benefits over general anesthesia (GA), but there is insufficient evidence regarding a mortality benefit. We performed a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study to evaluate the impact of anesthetic technique on mortality and major morbidity in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

Materials and methods

Clinical, laboratory and outcome data were extracted from electronic databases for patients who underwent hip fracture surgery over a 13-year period at the University Health Network in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The anesthetic technique was documented (SA or GA), and the primary outcome was 90-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included mortality at 30 and 60 days, hospital length of stay, pulmonary embolism (PE), major blood loss and major acute cardiac events. A propensity-score matched-pair analysis was performed following a non-parsimonious logistic regression model.

Results

Of the 2591 patients identified, 883 patients in the SA group were matched to patients in the GA group in a 1:1 ratio. There was a weak association between SA and lower 90-day mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.74, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.96, 99% CI 0.48 to 1.00, p=0.037). SA was also associated with a lower incidence of both PE (1.3% vs 0.5%, p<0.001) and major blood loss (7.7% vs 4.8%, p<0.001) and a shorter hospital length of stay by about 2 days (median 11.9 vs 10 days, p=0.024). There was no difference in major cardiac events or mortality at 30 and 60 days.

Discussion

This propensity-score matched-pairs cohort study suggests that SA is weakly associated with a lower 90-day mortality following hip fracture surgery. SA was also associated with improved morbidity evidenced by a lower rate of PE and major blood loss and a shorter hospital length of stay. Given the retrospective nature of the study, these results are not proof of causality.

Hospital safety net burden is associated with increased inpatient mortality and postoperative morbidity after total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective multistate review, 2007-2014

BACKGROUND

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most widely performed surgical procedures in the USA. Safety net hospitals, defined as hospitals with a high proportion of cases billed to Medicaid or without insurance, deliver a significant portion of their care to vulnerable populations, but little is known about the effects of a hospital's safety net burden and its role in healthcare disparities and outcomes following THA. We quantified safety net burden and examined its impact on in-hospital mortality, complications and length of stay (LOS) in patients who underwent THA.

METHODS

We analyzed 500 189 patient discharge records for inpatient primary THA using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's State Inpatient Databases for California, Florida, New York, Maryland and Kentucky from 2007 to 2014. We compared patient demographics, present-on-admission comorbidities and hospital characteristics by hospital safety net burden status. We estimated mixed-effect generalized linear models to assess hospital safety burden status' effect on in-hospital mortality, patient complications and LOS.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing THA at a hospital with a high or medium safety net burden were 38% and 30% more likely, respectively, to die in-hospital compared with those in a low safety net burden hospital (high adjusted OR: 1.38, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.73; medium adjusted OR: 1.30, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.57). Compared with patients treated in hospitals with a low safety net burden, patients treated in high safety net hospitals were more likely to develop a postoperative complication (adjusted OR: 1.11, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.24) and require a longer LOS (adjusted IRR: 1.06, 95% CI 1.05, 1.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study supports our hypothesis that patients who underwent THA at hospitals with higher safety net burden have poorer outcomes than patients at hospitals with lower safety net burden.

Evidence Review Conducted for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery: Focus on Anesthesiology for Hip Fracture Surgery

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols represent patient-centered, evidence-based, multidisciplinary care of the surgical patient. Although these patterns have been validated in numerous surgical specialities, ERAS has not been widely described for patients undergoing hip fracture (HFx) repair. As part of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Improving Surgical Care and Recovery, we have conducted a full evidence review of interventions that form the basis of the anesthesia components of the ERAS HFx pathway. A literature search was performed for each protocol component, and the highest levels of evidence available were selected for review. Anesthesiology components of care were identified and evaluated across the perioperative continuum. For the preoperative phase, the use of regional analgesia and nonopioid multimodal analgesic agents is suggested. For the intraoperative phase, a standardized anesthetic with postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis is suggested. For the postoperative phase, a multimodal (primarily nonopioid) analgesic regimen is suggested. A summary of the best available evidence and recommendations for inclusion in ERAS protocols for HFx repair are provided.

Evaluation of a strategy to shorten the time to surgery in patients on antiplatelet therapy with a proximal femur fracture (AFFEcT Study): Study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Patients with femur fracture benefit from early surgery. Recent reports suggest that regional anesthesia may be superior to general anesthesia in these patients. Early surgery under spinal anesthesia could be performed safely by determining platelet function in patients receiving antiplatelet agents.

METHODS

Multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel clinical trial expected to include 156 patients ≥ 18 years of age under chronic treatment with antiplatelet agents who develop a proximal femur fracture.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

presence of multiple or pathological fractures, current treatment with vitamin K antagonists or new oral anticoagulants, and congenital or acquired coagulopathy.Patients will be randomized to eitherThe primary endpoint is time (hours) from admission to surgery. Secondary endpoints include: platelet function; postoperative bleeding; medical-surgical complications; perioperative and 1-year mortality; quality of life; length of hospital stay; cost-effectiveness; and cost-utility. Follow-up assessments will be performed during hospital admission and at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery.

POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The determination of platelet function at admission to the emergency department in patients with femoral fracture receiving antiplatelet therapy may permit earlier surgery under spinal anesthesia, thus shortening the hospital stay and reducing the risk of complications. These advantages associated with early surgery could positively impact patient well-being and also reduce treatment-related healthcare costs.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the ethics committees at all participating centers. Their results will be disseminated in congresses and published in peer reviewed journals.

Hospital-, Anesthesiologist-, and Patient-level Variation in Primary Anesthesia Type for Hip Fracture Surgery

Editor’s Perspective

What We Already Know about This Topic

What This Manuscript Tells Us That Is New

Background

Substantial variation in primary anesthesia type for hip fracture surgery exists. Previous work has demonstrated that patients cared for at hospitals using less than 20 to 25% neuraxial anesthesia have decreased survival. Therefore, the authors aimed to identify sources of variation in anesthesia type, considering patient-, anesthesiologist-, and hospital-level variables.

Methods

Following protocol registration (NCT02787031), the authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a population-based cohort using linked administrative data in Ontario, Canada. The authors identified all people greater than 65 yr of age who had emergency hip fracture surgery from April 2002 to March 2014. Generalized linear mixed models were used to account for hierarchal data and measure the adjusted association of hospital-, anesthesiologist-, and patient-level factors with neuraxial anesthesia use. The proportion of variation attributable to each level was estimated using variance partition coefficients and the median odds ratio for receipt of neuraxial anesthesia.

Results

Of 107,317 patients, 57,080 (53.2%) had a neuraxial anesthetic. The median odds ratio for receiving neuraxial anesthesia was 2.36 between randomly selected hospitals and 2.36 between randomly selected anesthesiologists. The majority (60.1%) of variation in neuraxial anesthesia use was explained by patient factors; 19.9% was attributable to the anesthesiologist providing care and 20.0% to the hospital where surgery occurred. The strongest patient-level predictors were absence of preoperative anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents, absence of obesity, and presence of pulmonary disease.

Conclusions

While patient factors explain most of the variation in neuraxial anesthesia use for hip fracture surgery, 40% of variation is attributable to anesthesiologist and hospital-level practice. Efforts to change practice patterns will need to consider hospital-level processes and anesthesiologists’ intentions and behaviors.

Anesthesia interventions that alter perioperative mortality: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

With over 230 million surgical procedures performed annually worldwide, better application of evidence in anesthesia and perioperative medicine may reduce widespread variation in clinical practice and improve patient care. However, a comprehensive summary of the complete available evidence has yet to be conducted. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature investigating perioperative anesthesia interventions and their potential impact on patient mortality, to inform future knowledge translation and ultimately improve perioperative clinical practice.

METHODS

Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases from inception to March 2015. Study inclusion criteria were adult patients, surgical procedures requiring anesthesia, perioperative intervention conducted/organized by a professional with training in anesthesia, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and patient mortality as an outcome. Studies were screened for inclusion, and data was extracted in duplicate by pairs of independent reviewers. Data were extracted, tabulated, and reported thematically.

RESULTS

Among the 10,505 publications identified, 369 RCTs (n = 147,326 patients) met the eligibility criteria. While 15 intervention themes were identified, only 7 themes (39 studies) had a significant impact on mortality: pharmacotherapy (n = 23), nutritional (n = 3), transfusion (n = 4), ventilation (n = 5), glucose control (n = 1), medical device (n = 2), and dialysis (n = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

By mapping intervention themes, this scoping review has identified areas requiring further systematic investigation given their potential value for reducing patient mortality as well as areas where continued investment may not be cost-effective given limited evidence for improving survival. This is a key starting point for future knowledge translation to optimize anesthesia practice.

Acute hip fracture surgery anaesthetic technique and 30-day mortality in Sweden 2016 and 2017: A retrospective register study

Background: Hip fractures affect 1.6 million patients yearly worldwide, often elderly with complex comorbidity. Mortality following surgery for acute hip fracture is high and multifactorial; high age, comorbidities and complication/deterioration in health following surgery. Whether the anaesthesia technique affects the 30-day mortality rate has been studied widely without reaching a consensus. The primary aim of this study was to determine anaesthetic techniques used in Sweden and their impact on the 30-day mortality rate in elderly undergoing acute hip fracture surgery. Other aims were to study the impact of age, gender, ASA class, fracture type and delay in surgery on the 30-day mortality rate. Methods: Data from 13,649 patients ≥50 years old who had undergone acute hip fracture surgery and been reported to Swedish perioperative register (SPOR) between 2016 and 2017 were analysed.     Results: The most commonly used anaesthetic technique was neuraxial anaesthesia (NA; 11,257, 82%), followed by general anaesthesia (GA; 2,190, 16%) and combined general and neuraxial anaesthesia (CA; 202, 1.5%) out of the 13,649 studied. The 30-day mortality rate was 7.7% for the entire cohort; GA 7.8%, NA 7.7% and CA 7.4%. Mortality was higher in elderly patients, those with a high ASA class, pertrochanteric fracture and males.     Conclusions: The present study showed that NA is by far the most common anaesthetic technique for acute hip fracture surgery in Sweden. However, the anaesthetic technique used during this type of surgery had no impact on the 30-day mortality rate in patients. Increasing age, ASA class and male gender increased the 30-day mortality.

Acute hip fracture surgery anaesthetic technique and 30-day mortality in Sweden 2016 and 2017: A retrospective register study

Background: Hip fractures affect 1.6 million patients yearly worldwide, often elderly with complex comorbidity. Mortality following surgery for acute hip fracture is high and multifactorial; high age, comorbidities and complication/deterioration in health following surgery. Whether the anaesthesia technique affects the 30-day mortality rate has been studied widely without reaching a consensus. The primary aim of this study was to determine anaesthetic techniques used in Sweden and their impact on the 30-day mortality rate in elderly undergoing acute hip fracture surgery. Other aims were to study the impact of age, gender, ASA class, fracture type and delay in surgery on the 30-day mortality rate.

Methods: Data from 13,649 patients ≥50 years old who had undergone acute hip fracture surgery and been reported to Swedish perioperative register (SPOR) between 2016 and 2017 were analysed.    

Results: The most commonly used anaesthetic technique was neuraxial anaesthesia (NA; 11,257, 82%), followed by general anaesthesia (GA; 2,190, 16%) and combined general and neuraxial anaesthesia (CA; 202, 1.5%) out of the 13,649 studied. The 30-day mortality rate was 7.7% for the entire cohort; GA 7.8%, NA 7.7% and CA 7.4%. Mortality was higher in elderly patients, those with a high ASA class, pertrochanteric fracture and males.    

Conclusions: The present study showed that NA is by far the most common anaesthetic technique for acute hip fracture surgery in Sweden. However, the anaesthetic technique used during this type of surgery had no impact on the 30-day mortality rate in patients. Increasing age, ASA class and male gender increased the 30-day mortality.

Reduction techniques for difficult subtrochanteric fractures

Subtrochanteric fractures can result from high-energy trauma in young patients or from a fall or minor trauma in the elderly. Intramedullary nails are currently the most commonly used implants for the stabilization of these fractures. However, the anesthetic procedure for the patients, the surgical reduction and osteosynthesis for the fractures are challenging. The anesthetic management of orthopedic trauma patients should be based upon various parameters that must be evaluated before the implementation of any anesthetic technique. Surgery- and patient-related characteristics and possible comorbidities must be considered during the pre-anesthetic evaluation. Adequate fracture reduction and proper nail entry point are critical. Understanding of the deforming forces acting on various fracture patterns and knowledge of surgical reduction techniques are essential in obtaining successful outcomes. This article discusses the intraoperative reduction techniques for subtrochanteric fractures in adults and summarizes tips and tricks that the readers may find useful and educative.

Reducing risk of spinal haematoma from spinal and epidural pain procedures

Background and aims:

Central neuraxial blocks (CNB: epidural, spinal and their combinations) and other spinal pain procedures can cause serious harm to the spinal cord in patients on antihaemostatic drugs or who have other risk-factors for bleeding in the spinal canal. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide a practise advisory on how to reduce risk of spinal cord injury from spinal haematoma (SH) during CNBs and other spinal pain procedures. Scandinavian guidelines from 2010 are part of the background for this practise advisory.

Methods:

We searched recent guidelines, PubMed (MEDLINE), SCOPUS and EMBASE for new and relevant randomised controlled trials (RCT), case-reports and original articles concerning benefits of neuraxial blocks, risks of SH due to anti-haemostatic drugs, patient-related risk factors, especially renal impairment with delayed excretion of antihaemostatic drugs, and specific risk factors related to the neuraxial pain procedures.

Results and recommendations:

Epidural and spinal analgesic techniques, as well as their combination provide superior analgesia and reduce the risk of postoperative and obstetric morbidity and mortality. Spinal pain procedure can be highly effective for cancer patients, less so for chronic non-cancer patients. We did not identify any RCT with SH as outcome. We evaluated risks and recommend precautions for SH when patients are treated with antiplatelet, anticoagulant, or fibrinolytic drugs, when patients’ comorbidities may increase risks, and when procedure-specific risk factors are present. Inserting and withdrawing epidural catheters appear to have similar risks for initiating a SH. Invasive neuraxial pain procedures, e.g. spinal cord stimulation, have higher risks of bleeding than traditional neuraxial blocks. We recommend robust monitoring routines and treatment protocol to ensure early diagnosis and effective treatment of SH should this rare but potentially serious complication occur.

Conclusions:

When neuraxial analgesia is considered for a patient on anti-haemostatic medication, with patient-related, or procedure-related risk factors, the balance of benefits against risks of bleeding is decisive; when CNB are offered exclusively to patients who will have a reduction of postoperative morbidity and mortality, then a higher risk of bleeding may be accepted. Robust routines should ensure appropriate discontinuation of anti-haemostatic drugs and early detection and treatment of SH.

Implications:

There is an on-going development of drugs for prevention of thromboembolic events following surgery and childbirth. The present practise advisory provides up-to-date knowledge and experts’ experiences so that patients who will greatly benefit from neuraxial pain procedures and have increased risk of bleeding can safely benefit from these procedures. There are always individual factors for the clinician to evaluate and consider. Increasingly it is necessary for the anaesthesia and analgesia provider to collaborate with specialists in haemostasis. Surgeons and obstetricians must be equally well prepared to collaborate for the best outcome for their patients suffering from acute or chronic pain. Optimal pain management is a prerequisite for enhanced recovery after surgery, but there is a multitude of additional concerns, such as early mobilisation, early oral feeding and ileus prevention that surgeons and anaesthesia providers need to optimise for the best outcome and least risk of complications.