Complications after total knee replacement in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A nationwide case-control study

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is Associated With Serious Infection and Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Undergoing Hip or Knee Arthroplasties: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

BACKGROUND

Although previous studies evaluated postoperative outcomes of arthroplasty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), no meta-analysis has been conducted.

METHODS

An electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies published from inception to May 1, 2022. To assess the impact of COPD on postoperative outcomes, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated; pooled results were calculated using a random effects model. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were carried out according to surgical type and statistical method. A total of 11 retrospective cohort studies involving patients with COPD who underwent hip or knee arthroplasties were included in the meta-analysis. There were 195,444 patients with COPD and 1,592,908 patients without COPD.

RESULTS

A pooled analysis showed that the COPD group was at higher risk for mortality, readmission, pneumonia, sepsis, septic shock, and surgical site infection within 30 days following hip arthroplasties than the non-COPD group. Moreover, COPD patients were more likely to experience mortality, readmission, pneumonia, sepsis, septic shock, and surgical site infection 30 days after knee arthroplasties.

CONCLUSION

In this study, coexisting COPD was associated with worse outcomes in patients with lower extremity joint arthroplasties. The findings highlighted the importance of preoperative optimization and proactive interventions for COPD in the perioperative period.

Impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Outcomes After Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

Background

Comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasingly common and may have an adverse impact on outcomes in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) of lower extremity. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the postoperative complications between COPD and non-COPD patients undergoing primary TJA including total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for relevant studies published before December 2021. Postoperative outcomes were compared between patients with COPD versus those without COPD as controls. The outcomes were mortality, re-admission, pulmonary, cardiac, renal, thromboembolic complications, surgical site infection (SSI), periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), and sepsis.

Results

A total of 1,002,779 patients from nine studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. Patients with COPD had an increased risk of mortality (OR [odds ratio] = 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.42-2.02), re-admission (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.38-1.71), pulmonary complications (OR = 2.73, 95% CI 2.26-3.30), cardiac complications (OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.15-1.69), thromboembolic complications (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.15-1.28), renal complications (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.14-1.26), SSI (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.18-1.30), PJI (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.15-1.38), and sepsis (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.22-1.52).

Conclusion

Patients with comorbid COPD showed an increased risk of mortality and postoperative complications following TJA compared with patients without COPD. Therefore, orthopedic surgeons can use the study to adequately educate these potential complications when obtaining informed consent. Furthermore, preoperative evaluation and medical optimization are crucial to minimizing postoperative complications from arising in this difficult-to-treat population.

Level of evidence

Level III.

Registration

None.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-022-00794-2.

Unplanned intubation after total hip and total knee arthroplasty: Assessing preoperative risk factors

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to assess preoperative patient attributes as risk factors for unplanned intubation after primary total knee and total hip arthroplasty.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of data collected from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Patients undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) or Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) who experienced postoperative intubation were included in the study. A multivariate regression was used to assess preoperative characteristics as risk factors for postoperative intubation.

RESULTS

Multivariate regression determined that perioperative transfusion of packed RBC's, cardiac comorbidities, patients older than 73, dyspnea with moderate exertion, dyspnea while at rest, diabetes mellitus requiring medical therapy, pulmonary comorbidities, current dialysis usage, body mass index greater than 29.9, and current smoker within the last year were variables associated with an increased risk of unplanned intubation after THA. Additionally, multivariate regression determined that anemia, perioperative transfusion of packed RBC's, cardiac comorbidities, patients older than 73, dyspnea with moderate exertion, diabetes mellitus requiring medical therapy, pulmonary comorbidities, and current dialysis usage were associated with unplanned intubation after TKA.

CONCLUSION

This study identifies numerous risk factors for intubation after THA or TKA.

Preoperative risk factors for postoperative cardiac arrest following primary total hip and knee arthroplasty: A large database study

BACKGROUND

Cardiac arrest (CA) has been identified as a potential complication following Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) and Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). This retrospective, case-controlled study aims to identify risk factors in order to improve the management of patients undergoing THA or TKA with known preoperative comorbidities.

METHODS

CPT codes were used to investigate the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database for patients who underwent THA or TKA from 2010 to 2017. Patients were classified as having cardiac arrest (CA) by the NSQIP guidelines. Patient samples with all possible covariates were included for the multivariate logistic regression analysis and assessed for independent association.

RESULTS

Patients receiving perioperative transfusion, experiencing dyspnea with moderate exertion, dyspnea at rest, patients currently on dialysis, and patients aged ≥72 are all independently associated with increased rates of cardiac arrest (CA) following THA. Patients receiving perioperative transfusion, patients with anemia, bleeding disorders, dyspnea with moderate exertion, cardiac comorbidities, pulmonary comorbidities, and patients aged ≥73 are all associated with increased rates of cardiac arrest (CA) following TKA.

CONCLUSION

Patients with the identified risk factors are at a greater risk of suffering cardiac arrest within 30 days following THA and TKA. It is imperative that we recognize which risk factors may precipitate CA in THA and TKA recipients so that prophylactic management can be employed. Furthermore, management guidelines should be updated for patients at high risk of CA following THA and TKA to prevent this complication.

Patient-Related Risk Factors for Unplanned 30-Day Hospital Readmission Following Primary and Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a highly effective procedure for advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. Thirty-day hospital readmission is an adverse outcome related to complications, which can be mitigated by identifying associated risk factors. We aimed to identify patient-related characteristics associated with unplanned 30-day readmission following TKA, and to determine the effect size of the association between these risk factors and unplanned 30-day readmission. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to 8 September 2020 for English language articles. Reference lists of included articles were searched for additional literature. Patients of interest were TKA recipients (primary and revision) compared for 30-day readmission to any institution, due to any cause, based on patient risk factors; case series were excluded. Two reviewers independently extracted data and carried out critical appraisal. In-hospital complications during the index admission were the strongest risk factors for 30-day readmission in both primary and revision TKA patients, suggesting discharge planning to include closer post-discharge monitoring to prevent avoidable readmission may be warranted. Further research could determine whether closer monitoring post-discharge would prevent unplanned but avoidable readmissions. Increased comorbidity burden correlated with increased risk, as did specific comorbidities. Body mass index was not strongly correlated with readmission risk. Demographic risk factors included low socioeconomic status, but the impact of age on readmission risk was less clear. These risk factors can also be included in predictive models for 30-day readmission in TKA patients to identify high-risk patients as part of risk reduction programs.

Comorbidities Associated With Poor Outcomes Following Operative Hammertoe Correction in a Geriatric Population

Background:

Although complications following hammertoe correction surgery are rare, older patients with comorbid conditions are often considered poorer operative candidates compared with younger, healthier patients because of a suspected increased risk of adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine if the presence of multiple comorbidities was associated with increased complications or unsuccessful patient-reported outcomes following operative hammertoe correction in geriatric patients.

Methods:

Prospectively collected data was reviewed on 78 patients aged 60 years or older who underwent operative correction of hammertoe deformity. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were recorded. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale for pain and Short Form Health Survey Physical and Mental Component Summary with 1 year of follow-up. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on number of comorbidities (0 or 1 vs > 2) and then compared. The average age of patients was 69.4 years and the prevalence of comorbidities in the study population was as follows: 11.5% smokers, 25.6% on blood thinners, 15.4% with rheumatoid arthritis, 7.7% with diabetes mellitus, 2.6% with peripheral arterial disease, 6.4% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 11.5% with coronary artery disease, and 23.1% with osteoporosis.

Results:

Fifty-three patients (67.9%) had 0 or 1 comorbidity and 25 (32.1%) had 2 or more comorbidities. Compared to the 0 or 1 comorbidity group, the presence of multiple comorbidities was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) for superficial wound infection of 4.18 (P = .045) and deformity recurrence requiring surgery OR of 23.15 (P = .032). Patient-reported outcomes were similar between comorbidity groups.

Conclusions:

This study further informs foot and ankle specialists to maintain increased surveillance for postoperative complications and unsuccessful outcomes in patients with multiple comorbidities. Although geriatric patients still report significant improvements in both pain and function, patients with underlying medical conditions should be counseled about their increased risks when pursuing operative hammertoe correction.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative series.

RATeS (Re-Admissions in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery): a prospective regional service evaluation of complications and readmissions

INTRODUCTION

All the surgeries carry risks, which may lead to readmission at a later date. At present, there is limited Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) specific data in the literature. As a result, a prospective regional service evaluation aimed to discover the current complication and readmission rates across all T&O procedures and identify any factors associated with these outcomes.

METHODS

Data were collected at six sites across Yorkshire and Humber for all T&O procedures during October 2016. Patient demographics and procedure-specific data were collected. Post-operative complications and length of stay were recorded. All the patients were then followed up for 30 days post-discharge to determine if they experienced complications which resulted in readmission and further surgical intervention.

RESULTS

1411 patients having a total of 64 operations were recorded with 1391 completing follow-up (98.5%). Overall in-patient complication rate was 8.4% with the readmission rate being 4.4%. An ASA grade of three or more was found to be associated with readmission. Procedure-related factors such as the use of VTE prophylaxis and prophylactic antibiotics, as well as the elective nature of certain operations were negatively associated with readmission. The largest subgroup of patients was those undergoing total hip (THR) or knee replacements (TKR). For these 234 patients, the readmission rate for TKR and THR being 3.77% and 3.13%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This large, multi-centre project describes readmission rates following trauma and orthopaedic surgery. In the presented study, the elective nature of the procedure was associated with a reduced risk of readmission.

Hemiarthroplasty versus total hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

PURPOSE

This study sought to delineate whether total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hip hemiarthroplasty (HHA) had more complication rates following the treatment of femoral neck fractures (FNF) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ACS-NSQIP database was queried for all patients with a history of COPD who had undergone THA and HHA with FNFs, isolated by CPT codes and ICD-9/ICD-10 codes. Propensity score matching without replacement in a 1:1 manner was done to control for patient demographics/preoperative comorbidities. Multivariate logistic regression models were utilized to assess the independent effect of HHA in comparison to THA.

RESULTS

The propensity-matched (PM) HHA cohort was significantly older (76.14 years vs. 73.33 years, p = 0.001) and had significantly higher rates of pneumonia (p = 0.017), extended length of stay (LOS) (p = 0.017), and mortality (p = 0.002), but lower rates of blood transfusions (p = 0.016) and reoperation (p = 0.020). HHA was independently associated with an increased risk of pneumonia (p = 0.043), extended LOS (p = 0.050), and death (p = 0.044) but a decreased risk for blood transfusions (p = 0.008) and reoperation (p = 0.028) when compared to THA.

DISCUSSION

Patients with more comorbidities are more likely to receive HHA than THA, which may explain some of the increased complications and mortality associated with HHA for FNFs compared to THA. Patients undergoing THA were at increased risk for blood transfusion and reoperation. THA does not appear to result in increased morbidity in this population compared to HHA. While THA should be considered in these patients given improved functional outcomes, further prospective studies are needed to establish superiority.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

The Impact of Medical Comorbidities on Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Reimbursements

Medical comorbidities have been shown to cause an increase in peri-and postoperative complications following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the increase in cost associated with these complications has yet to be determined. Factors that influence cost have been of great interest particularly after the initiation of bundled payment initiatives. In this study, we present and quantify the influence of common medical comorbidities on the cost of care in patients undergoing primary TKA. A retrospective level of evidence III study was performed using the PearlDiver supercomputer to identify patients who underwent primary TKA between 2007 and 2015. Patients were stratified by medical comorbidities and compared using analysis of variance for reimbursements for the day of surgery and over 90 days postoperatively. A cohort of 137,073 US patients was identified as having undergone primary TKA between 2007 and 2015. The mean entire episode-of-care reimbursement was $23,701 (range: $21,294-26,299; standard deviation [SD] $2,611). The highest reimbursements were seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (mean $26,299; SD $3,030), hepatitis C (mean $25,662; SD $2,766), morbid obesity (mean $25,450; SD $2,154), chronic kidney disease (mean $25,131, $3,361), and cirrhosis (mean $24,890; SD $2,547). Medical comorbidities significantly impact reimbursements, and therefore cost, after primary TKA. Comprehensive preoperative optimization for patients with medical comorbidities undergoing TKA is highly recommended and may reduce perioperative complications, improve patient outcome, and ultimately reduce cost.

Outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with and without COPD

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of patients with COPD after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Patients and methods: All COPD patients who underwent LC from 2000 to 2010 were identified from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. The outcomes of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and use of mechanical ventilation and life support measures in COPD and non-COPD populations were compared.

Results: A total of 3,954 COPD patients who underwent LC were enrolled in our study. There were significant differences in the hospitalization period, ICU stay, and use of mechanical ventilation and life support measures between the COPD and non-COPD populations. The mean hospital stay, ICU stay and number of mechanical ventilation days in the COPD and non-COPD groups were 7.81 vs 6.01 days, 5.5 vs 4.5 days and 6.40 vs 4.74 days, respectively. The use of life support measures, including vasopressors and hemodialysis, and the rates of hospital mortality, acute respiratory failure and pneumonia were also increased in COPD patients compared with those in non-COPD patients.

Conclusion: COPD increased the risk of mortality, lengths of hospital and ICU stays, ventilator days and poor outcomes after LC in this study.

The association of neuraxial versus general anesthesia with inpatient admission following arthroscopic knee surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Arthroscopic knee procedures are increasingly being performed in an outpatient setting. Appropriate intraoperative anesthesia is vital to prevent complications such as unanticipated hospital admission. We examined differences in complications between general (GA) vs neuraxial anesthesia (NA) as the primary anesthetic for patients undergoing arthroscopic knee procedures.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study. We queried the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for arthroscopic knee procedures performed between 2007 and 2016. We compared postoperative complication rates between propensity-matched cohorts (NA vs GA). The anesthesia groups were matched based on age, race, BMI, gender, diabetes, smoking history, COPD, CHF, functional status, HTN, ASA class, steroid use, bleeding disorder history, and readmission status. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to compare factors associated with inpatient admission - defined as hospital length of stay >1 day.

PATIENTS

A total of 57,494 patients were included - 55,257 GA and 2237 NA patients.

MAIN RESULTS

Among the matched cohorts, NA patients were significantly more likely to be admitted to the hospital postoperatively (p < 0.001). Neuraxial anesthesia (OR 5.93, 95% CI 4.90-7.21) use was also significant in the final multivariable regression model for inpatient admission. Additional significant predictors for inpatient admission included history of bleeding disorder (OR 5.44, 95% CI 2.14-12.76), Asian race (OR 6.47, 95% CI 4.90-8.56), COPD (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.94-4.82), diabetes (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.43-2.49), and increased operation time (OR 3.01, 95% CI 2.69-3.37).

CONCLUSIONS

NA was significantly associated with inpatient admission following knee arthroscopy. Further research should focus on examining the reason for this association and methods to reduce inpatient admission for patients undergoing arthroscopic knee procedures using neuraxial anesthesia.

Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Are at Higher Risk for Pneumonia, Septic Shock, and Blood Transfusions After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been associated with several complications after surgery, including pneumonia, myocardial infarction, septic shock, and mortality. To the authors' knowledge, there has been no work analyzing the impact of COPD on complications after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Although previous work has elucidated the complications COPD has on TKA and THA, extrapolating the results of lower extremity arthroplasty to TSA may prove to be inaccurate. Compared with lower extremity arthroplasty, TSA is a relatively new procedure that has only recently gained popularity. Therefore, this study seeks to elucidate COPD's effects on complications in TSA specifically so that postoperative care can be tailored for these patient populations. Assessing these patients may enable surgeons to implement preoperative precautionary measures to prevent serious adverse events in these patients.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

What serious postoperative complications are patients with COPD at risk for within the 30-day postoperative period after TSA?

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program® (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried to identify 14,494 patients who had undergone TSA between 2005 and 2016, excluding patients who had undergone hemiarthroplasties of the shoulder and revision shoulder arthroplasties. The ACS-NSQIP database was utilized in this study for the comprehensive preoperative and postoperative medical histories it provides for each patient for 274 characteristics. Among the 14,494 patients undergoing TSA, 931 (6%) patients who had a history of COPD were identified, and the two cohorts-COPD and non-COPD-were analyzed for differences in their demographic factors, comorbidities, and acute complications occurring within 30 days of their procedure. Univariate analyses were utilized to assess differences in the prevalence of demographic features, comorbidities, and perioperative/postoperative outcomes after surgery. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess COPD as an independent risk factor associated with complications.

RESULTS

COPD is an independent risk factor for three complications after TSA: pneumonia (odds ratio [OR], 2.793; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.426-5.471; p = 0.003), bleeding resulting in transfusion (OR, 1.577; 95% CI, 1.155-2.154; p = 0.004), and septic shock (OR, 9.259; 95% CI, 2.140-40.057; p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

In light of the increased risk of these serious complications, surgeons should have a lower threshold of suspicion for infection in patients with COPD after TSA so that adequate measures can be taken before developing severe infectious complications including pneumonia and septic shock. Surgeons may also consider administering tranexamic acid in patients with COPD undergoing TSA to reduce the amount of blood transfusions necessary. Future work through randomized control trials analyzing (1) the effectiveness of more aggressive infection prophylaxis in decreasing the risk of pneumonia/septic shock; and (2) the use of tranexamic acid in decreasing blood transfusion requirements in patients with COPD undergoing TSA is warranted.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Fatigue in Chronic Respiratory Diseases: Theoretical Framework and Implications For Real-Life Performance and Rehabilitation

Fatigue is a primary disabling symptom in chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) with major clinical implications. However, fatigue is not yet sufficiently explored and is still poorly understood in CRD, making this symptom underdiagnosed and undertreated in these populations. Fatigue is a dynamic phenomenon, particularly in such evolving diseases punctuated by acute events which can, alone or in combination, modulate the degree of fatigue experienced by the patients. This review supports a comprehensive inter-disciplinary approach of CRD-related fatigue and emphasizes the need to consider both its performance and perceived components. Most studies in CRD evaluated perceived fatigue as a trait characteristic using multidimensional scales, providing precious information about its prevalence and clinical impact. However, these scales are not adapted to understand the complex dynamics of fatigue in real-life settings and should be augmented with ecological assessment of fatigue. The state level of fatigue must also be considered during physical tasks as severe fatigue can emerge rapidly during exercise. CRD patients exhibit alterations in both peripheral and central nervous systems and these abnormalities can be exacerbated during exercise. Laboratory tests are necessary to provide mechanistic insights into how and why fatigue develops during exercise in CRD. A better knowledge of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying perceived and performance fatigability and their influence on real-life performance will enable the development of new individualized countermeasures. This review aims first to shed light on the terminology of fatigue and then critically considers the contemporary models of fatigue and their relevance in the particular context of CRD. This article then briefly reports the prevalence and clinical consequences of fatigue in CRD and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of various fatigue scales. This review also provides several arguments to select the ideal test of performance fatigability in CRD and to translate the mechanistic laboratory findings into the clinical practice and real-world performance. Finally, this article discusses the dose-response relationship to training and the feasibility and validity of using the fatigue produced during exercise training sessions in CRD to optimize exercise training efficiency. Methodological concerns, examples of applications in selected diseases and avenues for future research are also provided.

The Impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) utilization is increasing in older Americans. The incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been steadily rising over the past few decades. In particular, COPD is being increasingly more common in patients undergoing revision TKA. The aim of this study is to identify the impact of COPD on postoperative complications for patients undergoing revision TKA.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data collected through the American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program Database. All patients who underwent revision TKA between 2007 and 2014 were identified and stratified into groups based on COPD status. The incidence of adverse events after surgery was evaluated with univariate and multivariate analyses where appropriate.

RESULTS

Patients with COPD were found to develop more postoperative complications, including deep wound infection, organ infection, wound dehiscence, pneumonia, reintubation, renal insufficiency, urinary tract infection, myocardial infarction, sepsis, and death. Patients with COPD were also shown to have to return back to the operating room and have an extended length of hospital stay. COPD was shown to be an independent risk factor for development of wound dehiscence, pneumonia, reintubation, renal insufficiency, and renal failure. Finally, COPD was identified as an independent risk factor for unplanned return to the operating room.

CONCLUSION

Patients with COPD have greater risk for postoperatively developing wound dehiscence, pneumonia, reintubation, renal insufficiency, and renal failure complications than those without COPD. While risks for independent complications remain relatively low, consideration of COPD status is an important factor to consider when selecting surgical candidates and preoperative risk assessment.

COPD as a risk factor of the complications in lower limb arthroplasty: a patient-matched study

Purpose

A relevant proportion of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery for the treatment of osteoarthritis exhibit COPD. This coincidence may result from an increased prevalence of both the diseases in elderly patients. In this study, COPD, which is known to be associated with a variety of comorbidities, and its potential interactions, eg, mediated via systemic inflammation, are discussed. The purpose of the present study was to identify the role of COPD as an independent risk factor for complications after total knee and hip arthroplasty.

Patients and methods

In a monocentric patient cohort of 2,760 arthoplasties, propensity score matching was done using the following factors: sex, age, replaced joint, American Society of Anesthesiologists’ score, body mass index, hypertension, chronic heart disease, anticoagulation, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal deficiency, and actual smoking status to create 224 pairs. Both the pre-matched differences and the results after propensity score matching were statistically analyzed with p≤0.05 being defined as statistically significant.

Results

All confounders were eliminated after matching. Preoperatively measured C-reactive protein and leukocytes were higher in the COPD group (p<0.001; p=0.01, respectively). Intensive care unit admission was higher for COPD patients (p=0.023). Pneumonia occurred in patients with COPD only (p=0.024). There was a trend (not significant) toward a higher rate of wound infections, increased transfusion of red blood cells, and a prolonged hospital stay in patients with COPD.

Conclusion

COPD was associated with an increased length of hospital stay, a higher risk of pneumonia and wound infection, higher general complications, and an increased need for red blood cell transfusion. It is thus recommended to enhance the implementation of pneumonia prevention programs on surgical wards.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Is Associated With Short-Term Complications Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health issue and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Patients with COPD are at increased risk of complications following surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the postoperative total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes in these patients in comparison to a non-COPD matching cohort. Specifically, we asked the following questions: (1) "Is COPD associated with adverse perioperative outcomes?" and (2) "Does COPD increase the risk of short-term complications following TKA?"

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify 111,168 patients who underwent TKA between 2008 and 2014. A total of 3975 patients with COPD were identified. Both COPD and non-COPD cohorts were compared in terms of the following outcomes: hospital length of stay, discharge disposition, and 30-day postoperative complications.

RESULTS

COPD was a predictor for a prolonged length of stay and a discharge to an extended care facility (P < .001). They were at significantly increased risk of any complication including increased mortality, pneumonia, reintubation, use of a mechanical ventilator for >48 hours, cardiac arrest, progressive renal insufficiency, deep infection, return to operating room, and a readmission within 30 days postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Patients with COPD are more likely to experience postoperative complications following TKA when compared to non-COPD patients. Pulmonary evaluation and optimization are crucial to minimize adverse events from occurring in this difficult-to-treat population.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Is Associated With Short-Term Complications Following Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, COPD patients are at increased risk of complications following surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative total hip arthroplasty (THA) outcomes of COPD patients. Specifically, we asked the following questions: (1) Is COPD associated with adverse perioperative outcomes and (2) Does COPD increase the risk of short-term complications following THA?

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify 64,796 patients who underwent THA between 2008 and 2014. A total of 2426 patients with COPD were identified. COPD and non-COPD cohorts were compared based on the following outcomes: hospital length-of-stay, operative times, discharge disposition, and 30-day postoperative complications.

RESULTS

COPD patients were found to have a longer length-of-stay and be discharged to an extended care facility (P < .001). COPD patients were also at significantly (P < .05) increased risk for any complication, such as mortality, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, septic shock, unplanned reintubation, use of a mechanical ventilator >48 hours, deep infection, require a blood transfusion, return to operating room, and a readmission within 30 days postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

COPD patients are more likely to suffer from postoperative complications following THA when compared to non-COPD patients. Many of these complications are medical, pulmonary evaluation and medical optimization are a critical step in preoperative management for these patients.

Risk Factors for Repeat Debridement, Spacer Retention, Amputation, Arthrodesis, and Mortality After Removal of an Infected Total Knee Arthroplasty With Spacer Placement

BACKGROUND

Chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is most commonly addressed with a 2-stage exchange procedure. The purpose of this study is to examine the natural history of patients who have undergone prosthesis removal and spacer placement and evaluate risk factors for outcomes other than reimplantation.

METHODS

Patients who underwent removal of an infected TKA and placement of an antibiotic spacer for PJI were identified in a Medicare database. Patients with a study outcome within 1 year were then identified: (1) in hospital mortality, (2) knee arthrodesis, (3) amputation, (4) repeat debridement procedure without reimplantation, and (5) reimplantation. Independent risk factors for these outcomes were evaluated with a multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 18,533 patients were included. Within 1 year postoperatively, 691 patients (3.7%) died in a hospital setting, 852 patients (4.5%) underwent a knee arthrodesis, 574 patients (3.1%) underwent an amputation, 2683 patients (14.5%) underwent a repeat debridement procedure without being reimplanted, 2323 patients (12.5%) retained their spacer, and 11,420 patients (61.6%) underwent spacer removal and reimplantation within 1 year. Numerous independent patient-related risk factors for these outcomes were identified.

CONCLUSION

A large number of patients (38.4%) do not undergo reimplantation within 1 year of prosthesis removal and spacer placement. Outcomes after prosthesis removal and antibiotic spacer placement are variable, and there are several independent risk factors for such outcomes that may be used to develop and improve existing treatment strategies for patients presenting with chronic PJI after TKA.

Age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity score is associated with the risk of empyema in patients with COPD

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a higher risk of pneumonia than the general population due to their impaired lung defense. They also have a higher risk of empyema and more comorbidities than patients without COPD. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of empyema in patients with COPD after adjusting for age and comorbidities using the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI).Data were retrieved from the National Health Insurance Research Database. COPD patients were defined as inpatients aged >40 years with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis code for COPD. In total, 558,660 COPD patients were enrolled and separated into 3 groups by ACCI score to represent the severity of comorbidity (≤2, 3-5, and >5). Other comorbidities assessed included autoimmune diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyslipidemia, chest wall injury, and thoracostomy.Of the 558,660 patients, 36,556 (6.54%) had low ACCI scores (≤2), 208,292 (37.28%) had moderate ACCI scores (3-5), and 313,812 (56.17%) had high ACCI scores (>5). The mean ages of the low, moderate, and high groups were 50.66, 70.62, and 78.05 years, respectively. The hazard ratio (HRs) for empyema were 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13-1.40) in the moderate ACCI group and 1.55 (95% CI = 1.39-1.72) in the high ACCI group compared with the low ACCI group. The overall incidence of empyema in COPD patients was 2.57 per 1000 person-years.This is the first study to use ACCI scores to analyze the risk of empyema in patients with COPD. Patients with high ACCI scores were older and had more complicated comorbidities, resulting in a higher risk of empyema and poor prognosis. The subgroup analysis indicated that COPD patients with comorbid autoimmune disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, chest wall injury, or history of thoracostomy did not have a higher risk of empyema than patients without these comorbidities.Empyema is an important issue in patients with COPD and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Awareness of the risk factors for empyema, close monitoring, and early intervention may improve patient outcomes and decrease mortality.

The evaluation of β-adrenoceptor blocking agents in patients with COPD and congestive heart failure: a nationwide study

OBJECTIVE

β-Blockers are safe and improve survival in patients with both congestive heart failure (CHF) and COPD. However, the superiority of different types of β-blockers is still unclear among patients with CHF and COPD. The association between β-blockers and CHF exacerbation as well as COPD exacerbation remains unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of different β-blockers in patients with concurrent CHF and COPD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We used the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan to conduct a retrospective cohort study. The inclusion criteria for CHF were patients who were >20 years old and were diagnosed with CHF between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2012. COPD patients included those who had outpatient visit claims ≥2 times within 365 days or 1 claim for hospitalization with a COPD diagnosis. A time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to evaluate the effectiveness of β-blockers in the study population.

RESULTS

We identified 1,872 patients with concurrent CHF and COPD. Only high-dose bisoprolol significantly reduced the risk of death and slightly decreased the hospitalization rate due to CHF exacerbation (death: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] =0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.29-0.89; hospitalization rate due to CHF exacerbation: aHR =0.48, 95% CI =0.23-1.00). No association was observed between β-blocker use and COPD exacerbation.

CONCLUSION

In patients with concurrent CHF and COPD, β-blockers reduced mortality, CHF exacerbation, and the need for hospitalization. Bisoprolol was found to reduce mortality and CHF exacerbation compared to carvedilol and metoprolol.