Beyond death and graft survival-Variation in outcomes after liver transplant. Results from the NSQIP transplant beta phase

Bundle care approach to reduce device associated infections in post-living-donor-liver transplantation in a tertiary care hospital, Egypt

BACKGROUND

Device-associated infections (DAIs) are a significant cause of morbidity following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We aimed to assess the impact of bundled care on reducing rates of device-associated infections.

METHODS

We performed a before-and-after comparative study at a liver transplantation facility over a three-year period, spanning from January 2016 to December 2018. The study included a total of 57 patients who underwent LDLT. We investigated the implementation of a care bundle, which consists of multiple evidence-based procedures that are consistently performed as a unified unit. We divided our study into three phases and implemented a bundled care approach in the second phase. Rates of pneumonia related to ventilators [VAP], bloodstream infections associated with central line [CLABSI], and urinary tract infections associated with catheters [CAUTI] were assessed throughout the study period. Bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using the automated Vitek-2 system. The comparison between different phases was assessed using the chi-square test or the Fisher exact test for qualitative values and the Kruskal-Wallis H test for quantitative values with non-normal distribution.

RESULTS

In the baseline phase, the VAP rates were 73.5, the CAUTI rates were 47.2, and the CLABSI rates were 7.4 per one thousand device days (PDD). During the bundle care phase, the rates decreased to 33.3, 18.18, and 4.78. In the follow-up phase, the rates further decreased to 35.7%, 16.8%, and 2.7% PDD. The prevalence of Klebsiella pneumonia (37.5%) and Methicillin resistance Staph aureus (37.5%) in VAP were noted. The primary causative agent of CAUTI was Candida albicans, accounting for 33.3% of cases, whereas Coagulase-negative Staph was the predominant organism responsible for CLABSI, with a prevalence of 40%.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of utilizing the care bundle approach to reduce DAI in LDLT, especially in low socioeconomic countries with limited resources. By implementing a comprehensive set of evidence-based interventions, healthcare systems can effectively reduce the burden of DAI, enhance infection prevention strategies and improve patient outcomes in resource-constrained settings.

Textbook Outcome: Definition and Analysis of a Novel Quality Measure in Lung Transplantation

OBJECTIVE

To define textbook outcome (TO) for lung transplantation (LTx) using a contemporary cohort from a high-volume institution.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

TO is a standardized, composite quality measure based on multiple postoperative endpoints representing the ideal "textbook" hospitalization.

METHODS

Adult patients who underwent LTx at our institution between 2016 and 2019 were included. TO was defined as freedom from intraoperative complication, postoperative reintervention, 30-day intensive care unit or hospital readmission, length of stay >75th percentile of LTx patients, 90 day mortality, 30-day acute rejection, grade 3 primary graft dysfunction at 48 or 72 hours, postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, tracheostomy within 7 days, inpatient dialysis, reintubation, and extubation >48 hours post-transplant. Recipient, operative, financial characteristics, and post-transplant outcomes were recorded from institutional data and compared between TO and non-TO groups.

RESULTS

Of 401 LTx recipients, 97 (24.2%) achieved TO. The most common reason for TO failure was extubation >48 hours post-transplant (N = 119, 39.1%); the least common was mortality (N = 15, 4.9%). Patient and graft survival were improved among patients who achieved versus failed TO (patient survival: log-rank P < 0.01; graft survival: log-rank P < 0.01). Rejection-free and chronic lung allograft dysfunction-free survival were similar between TO and non-TO groups (rejection-free survival: log-rank P = 0.07; chronic lung allograft dysfunction-free survival: log-rank P = 0.3). On average, patients who achieved TO incurred approximately $638,000 less in total inpatient charges compared to those who failed TO.

CONCLUSIONS

TO in LTx was associated with favorable post-transplant outcomes and significant cost-savings. TO may offer providers and patients new insight into transplant center quality of care and highlight areas for improvement.

Surgical Site Infections in Post-Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Surveillance and Evaluation of Care Bundle Approach

Background and Aim: Although implantation of a care bundle approach is well established in intensive care units (ICUs), yet its impact on reducing surgical site infections (SSI) among post living-donor-liver transplantation (LDLT) patients has not been established. Our aim is to evaluate the impact of a care bundle in reducing SSI and to detect the pattern of antibiotic resistance in LDLT. Materials and Methods: This before and after comparative study was conducted at Elmanial specialized tertiary hospital, Cairo University over a period of 3 years (January 2016 - December 2018) including 57 LDLT patients. We introduced a care bundle comprised of a group of evidence-based practices implemented together. The study was divided into three phases. All bacterial identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing were done by a Vitek 2 compact system. Results: SSIs rates were reduced significantly by 30.4% from the pre-implementation to the post implementation phase (from 13/24, 54.2% to 5/21, 23.8%, OR 0.21, CI 95%: 1.137- 0.039). This reduction went hand in hand with increase in the hand hygiene compliance from 57.3 % to 78 %, then remained sustained with a median rate of 78% in the last 6 months. Klebsiella pneumoniae 11\25 (44% of SSIs), Acinetobacter baumannii 8\25 (32% of SSIs), Escherichia coli 5\25 (20%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 5\25 (20%) and MRSA 4\25 (16%). With predominance of XDR phenotype 14/25 (56%), followed by ESBL of gram-negative bacteria 6/25 (24%), then MRSA 4/25 (16%). Conclusion: SSIs in LDLT mandates strict implementation of comprehensive evidence-based care bundles for better patent outcome.

Surgical complications after living and deceased donor liver transplant: The NSQIP transplant experience

This study used the prospective National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Transplant pilot database to analyze surgical complications after liver transplantation (LT) in LT recipients from 2017-2019. The primary outcome was surgical complication requiring intervention (Clavien-Dindo grade II or greater) within 90 days of transplant. Of the 1684 deceased donor and 109 living donor LT cases included from 29 centers, 38% of deceased donor liver recipients and 47% of living donor liver recipients experienced a complication. The most common complications included biliary complications (19% DDLT; 31% LDLT), hemorrhage requiring reoperation (14% DDLT; 9% LDLT) and vascular complications (6% DDLT; 9% LDLT). Management of biliary leaks (35.3% ERCP, 38.0% percutaneous drainage, 26.3% reoperation) and vascular complications (36.2% angioplasty/stenting, 31.2% medication, 29.8% reoperation) was variable. Biliary (aHR 5.14, 95% CI 2.69-9.8, p<0.001), hemorrhage (aHR 2.54, 95% CI 1.13-5.7, p = 0.024) and vascular (aHR 2.88, 95% CI 0.85-9.7, p = 0.089) complication status at 30-days post-transplant were associated with lower 1-year patient survival. We conclude that biliary, hemorrhagic and vascular complications continue to be significant sources of morbidity and mortality for LT recipients. Understanding the different risk factors for complications between deceased and living donor liver recipients and standardizing complication management represent avenues for continued improvement. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Textbook surgical outcome in lung transplantation: Analysis of a US national registry

Textbook surgical outcome (TO) is a novel composite quality measure in lung transplantation (LTx). Compared to one-year survival metrics, TO may better differentiate center performance, and motivate improvements in care. To understand the feasibility of implementing this metric, we defined TO in LTx using US national data, and evaluated its ability to predict post-transplant outcomes and differentiate center performance. Adult patients who underwent isolated LTx between 2016-2019 were included. TO was defined as freedom from post-transplant length of stay >30 days, 90-day mortality, intubation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at 72 hours post-transplant, post-transplant ventilator support lasting ≥5 days, postoperative airway dehiscence, inpatient dialysis, pre-discharge acute rejection, and grade 3 primary graft dysfunction at 72 hours. Recipient and donor characteristics and post-transplant outcomes were compared between patients who achieved and failed TO. Of 8959 lung transplant recipients, 4664 (52.1%) achieved TO. Patient and graft survival were improved among patients who achieved TO (both log-rank p<0.0001). Among 62 centers, adjusted rates of TO ranged from 27.0% to 72.4% reflecting a wide variability in center-level performance. TO defined using national data may represent a novel composite metric to guide quality improvement in LTx across US transplant centers. Summary: In this study we defined textbook outcome (TO) for lung transplantation (LTx) using US national data. We found that achievement of TO was associated with improved post-transplant survival, and wide variability in center-level LTx performance. These findings suggest that TO could be readily implemented to compare quality of care among US LTx centers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Understanding the Impact of Pneumonia and Other Complications in Elderly Liver Transplant Recipients: An Analysis of NSQIP Transplant

Despite an increasing demand for liver transplantation in older patients, our understanding of posttransplant outcomes in older recipients is limited to basic recipient and graft survival. Using National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Transplant, we tracked early outcomes after liver transplantation for patients >65.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients in National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Transplant between March 1, 2017 and March 31, 2019. Recipients were followed for 1 y after transplant with follow-up at 30, 90, and 365 d. Data were prospectively gathered using standard definitions across all sites.

Results

One thousand seven hundred thirty-one adult liver transplants were enrolled; 387 (22.4%) were >65 y old. The majority of older recipients were transplanted for hepatocellular carcinoma. The older cohort had a lower lab Model for End-Stage Liver Disease and was less likely to be hospitalized at time of transplant. Overall, older recipients had higher rates of pneumonia but no difference in intensive care unit length of stay (LOS), total LOS, surgical site infection, or 30-d readmission. Subgroup analysis of patients with poor functional status revealed a significant difference in intensive care unit and total LOS. Pneumonia was even more common in older patients and had a significant impact on overall survival.

Conclusions

By targeting patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and lower Model for End-Stage Liver Diseases, transplant centers can achieve nearly equivalent outcomes in older recipients. However, older recipients with poor functional status require greater resources and are more likely to develop pneumonia. Pneumonia was strongly associated with posttransplant survival and represents an opportunity for improvement. By truly understanding the outcomes of elderly and frail recipients, transplant centers can improve outcomes for these higher-risk recipients.

Rates and causative pathogens of surgical site infections attributed to liver transplant procedures and other hepatic, biliary, or pancreatic procedures, 2015-2018

Liver transplant recipients are at high risk for surgical site infections (SSIs). Limited data are available on SSI epidemiology following liver transplant procedures (LTPs). We analyzed data on SSIs from 2015 to 2018 reported to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network to determine rates, pathogen distribution, and antimicrobial resistance after LTPs and other hepatic, biliary, or pancreatic procedures (BILIs). LTP and BILI SSI rates were 5.7% and 5.9%, respectively. The odds of SSI after LTP were lower than after BILI (adjusted odds ratio = 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.57-0.85). Among LTP SSIs, 43.1% were caused by Enterococcus spp., 17.2% by Candida spp., and 15.0% by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (CNS). Percentages of SSIs caused by Enterococcus faecium or CNS were higher after LTPs than BILIs, whereas percentages of SSIs caused by Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus faecalis, or viridans streptococci were higher after BILIs. Antimicrobial resistance was common in LTP SSI pathogens, including E. faecium (69.4% vancomycin resistant); Escherichia coli (68.8% fluoroquinolone non-susceptible and 44.7% extended spectrum cephalosporin [ESC] non-susceptible); and Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca (39.4% fluoroquinolone non-susceptible and 54.5% ESC non-susceptible). National LTP SSI pathogen and resistance data can help prioritize studies to determine effective interventions to prevent SSIs and reduce antimicrobial resistance in liver transplant recipients.