Clinical value of exogenous factor XIII for prolonged air leak following pulmonary lobectomy: a case control study

Management of severe peri-operative bleeding: Guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care: Second update 2022

BACKGROUND

Management of peri-operative bleeding is complex and involves multiple assessment tools and strategies to ensure optimal patient care with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality. These updated guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) aim to provide an evidence-based set of recommendations for healthcare professionals to help ensure improved clinical management.

DESIGN

A systematic literature search from 2015 to 2021 of several electronic databases was performed without language restrictions. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies and to formulate recommendations. A Delphi methodology was used to prepare a clinical practice guideline.

RESULTS

These searches identified 137 999 articles. All articles were assessed, and the existing 2017 guidelines were revised to incorporate new evidence. Sixteen recommendations derived from the systematic literature search, and four clinical guidances retained from previous ESAIC guidelines were formulated. Using the Delphi process on 253 sentences of guidance, strong consensus (>90% agreement) was achieved in 97% and consensus (75 to 90% agreement) in 3%.

DISCUSSION

Peri-operative bleeding management encompasses the patient's journey from the pre-operative state through the postoperative period. Along this journey, many features of the patient's pre-operative coagulation status, underlying comorbidities, general health and the procedures that they are undergoing need to be taken into account. Due to the many important aspects in peri-operative nontrauma bleeding management, guidance as to how best approach and treat each individual patient are key. Understanding which therapeutic approaches are most valuable at each timepoint can only enhance patient care, ensuring the best outcomes by reducing blood loss and, therefore, overall morbidity and mortality.

CONCLUSION

All healthcare professionals involved in the management of patients at risk for surgical bleeding should be aware of the current therapeutic options and approaches that are available to them. These guidelines aim to provide specific guidance for bleeding management in a variety of clinical situations.

Case Report: Use of endobronchial Watanabe spigot and coagulation factor XIII supplementation in the treatment of persistent pneumothorax due to pneumocystis pneumonia with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Pneumocystis jiroveceii pneumonia is one of the most common opportunistic infections associated with human immunodeficiency virus. Endobronchial Watanabe spigot has been recommended for refractory pneumothorax, even with persistant air leak despite continuous negative pressure control via thoracic drainage. Moreover, coagulation factor XIII is considered effective in wound healing.

The impact of acquired coagulation factor XIII deficiency in traumatic bleeding and wound healing

Factor XIII (FXIII) is a protein involved in blood clot stabilisation which also plays an important role in processes including trauma, wound healing, tissue repair, pregnancy, and even bone metabolism. Following surgery, low FXIII levels have been observed in patients with peri-operative blood loss and FXIII administration in those patients was associated with reduced blood transfusions. Furthermore, in patients with low FXIII levels, FXIII supplementation reduced the incidence of post-operative complications including disturbed wound healing. Increasing awareness of potentially low FXIII levels in specific patient populations could help identify patients with acquired FXIII deficiency; although opinions and protocols vary, a cut-off for FXIII activity of ~ 60–70% may be appropriate to diagnose acquired FXIII deficiency and guide supplementation. This narrative review discusses altered FXIII levels in trauma, surgery and wound healing, diagnostic approaches to detect FXIII deficiency and clinical guidance for the treatment of acquired FXIII deficiency.

Risk factors for prolonged air leak after pulmonary surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to comprehensively identify risk factors for the occurrence of prolonged air leak (PAL) in patients undergoing pulmonary surgery. Studies were retrieved from 3 databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and EmBase up to 13 May 2020. We performed meta-analysis using Bayesian random effect models through divergence restricting conditional tessellation (DIRECT) algorithm. The effect size was expressed as odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD), each with 95% credible interval (CrI). The evidence quality was evaluated. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Thirty-nine studies with 89006 patients were finally included. Pooled PAL incidence was 15%. Of 30 risk factors, 22 were significantly associated with increased PAL incidence. Five risk factors were ultimately selected with high evidence quality: smoking history (OR 1.84, 95%CrI 1.45 to 2.31, P<0.001), preoperative steroid use (OR 1.51, 95%CrI 0.87 to 2.65, P = 0.031), lower ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity (OR 1.99, 95%CrI 1.22 to 3.33, P = 0.005), non-fissureless technique (OR 2.14, 95%CrI 1.31 to 3.66, P = 0.003), and pathological TNM stage III/IV (OR 1.50, 95%CrI 1.07 to 2.12, P = 0.003). Regarding the negative impact of PAL on the personal cost and postoperative recovery, the verification of previous proposed factors and investigation of recently discovered ones both implied directions for risk stratification and the establishment of an applicable prediction model.

Predictive factors and economic impact of prolonged air leak after pulmonary resection

OBJECTIVE

Prolonged air leak (PAL) is one of the most common complications after pulmonary resection for lung cancer. This study aimed to identify the factors that predict PAL, and to evaluate the impact of PAL on the development of additional complications and cost of hospitalization.

METHODS

A total of 2278 patients who underwent pulmonary resection other than pneumonectomy for lung cancer from 2014 to 2018 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. PAL was defined as air leak that continued more than 5 days after the operation. Multivariate analyses were conducted to identify significant predictors of PAL, using clinical information. Development of complications other than PAL, and cost of hospitalization care were also analyzed.

RESULTS

PAL was observed in 91 (4.0%) cases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of intrathoracic adhesion (odds ratio [OR] 4.476, p < 0.001), smoking history > 20 pack-year (OR 2.441, p = 0.005), male sex (OR 2.269, p = 0.013), and lobectomy or bilobectomy (OR 1.935, p = 0.025) were significant risk factors for PAL. The presence of PAL was related to the development of additional complications (p < 0.001). The cost of hospitalization care in patients with PAL was about 1.3 times higher than that in patients without PAL (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

PAL is related to additional complications and higher cost of hospitalization care. Surgeons should pay careful attention to minimize the incidence of PAL in patients with risk factors including intrathoracic adhesion, history of heavy smoking, male sex, and lobectomy or bilobectomy.

Dynamics of coagulation factor XIII activity after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer

Background

The present study was performed to investigate the perioperative dynamics of coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy compared with open lobectomy.

Methods

Perioperative coagulation factors including FXIII were analyzed in 30 patients who underwent VATS lobectomy and 10 patients who underwent open lobectomy at Teikyo University Hospital from December 2017 to April 2019.

Results

Patients in the VATS lobectomy group showed higher FXIII activity on postoperative day (POD) 5 than patients in the open lobectomy group (P=0.028). The FXIII activity was significantly lower on POD3, POD5, and POD7 than that in the preoperative period and on POD1, even in patients who had undergone VATS lobectomy (P<0.001). No factors were found to affect the maintenance of FXIII in the VATS lobectomy group.

Conclusion

The postoperative decrease of FXIII activity differed between patients who underwent VATS lobectomy and those who underwent open lobectomy. Based on the characteristics of FXIII, the FXIII activity may be a good marker of the invasiveness of VATS lobectomy versus open lobectomy.

Left superior pulmonary vein stump thrombosis and right renal infarction after left upper lobectomy: case report and literature review

Left upper lobectomy (LUL) has been considered to have a higher risk of thrombus formation in the pulmonary vein stump (PVS) than other lobectomies. A case of thrombus formation in the PVS and right renal infarction detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) 12 days after LUL is presented. The thrombus in the PVS was considered to be related to the renal infarction because of the lack of other potential explanations. After intravenous heparin treatment for 1 week and continuous oral anticoagulation, the thrombus in the PVS became smaller 3 months after the operation, and it basically disappeared after 1 year. Scar formation was detected in the area of renal infarction 3 months after the operation, and no specific change was detected from then on. One should consider performing postoperative chest and abdominal CECT routinely within 1 week after LUL, and, if thrombosis is found, antithrombotic therapy might then be given.

Risk factors and outcomes of prolonged air leak after pulmonary resections

Purpose

Prolonged air leak (PAL) is a challenging complication in thoracic surgery. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of PAL.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 319 patients treated in a single center submitted to lobectomy, bilobectomy, segmentectomy, and wedge resections from January 2012 until August 2015. PAL was defined as air leak lasting more than 7 days after surgery.

Results

The incidence of PAL was 14.7%. Bronchial obstruction (p < 0.05), low body mass index (BMI, p < 0.05), and hypoproteinemia (p < 0.001) were identified as independent preoperative risk factors of PAL. Intraoperative risk factors were lob- (p < 0.01) and bilobectomies (p < 0.05), pleural adhesions (p < 0.001), and length of stapler line (p < 0.001). Among the postoperative risk factors, we identified the use of active drainage (p < 0.01), the presence of subcutaneous emphysema (p < 0.001), massive air leak on the first postoperative day (POD 1, p < 0.001), and an incomplete re-expansion of the lung (p < 0.001). PAL was not associated with more complications in the postoperative period. One patient required reoperation due to a massive air leak. Twenty-six patients were discharged with a Heimlich valve with no complications and no need for re-admission.

Conclusions

Bronchial obstruction, low BMI, hypoproteinemia, lob- and bilobectomies, pleural adhesions, length of stapler line, use of active drainage, the presence of subcutaneous emphysema, massive air leak on POD 1, and incomplete re-expansion of the lung were identified as independent risk factors of PAL. It had no influence on outcomes.

Effect of early administration of coagulation factor XIII on fistula after pancreatic surgery: the FIPS randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

The administration of exogenous factor XIII (FXIII) is reportedly effective for fistula closure in patients with a low plasma FXIII level. This study was performed to analyze the effect of early administration of exogenous FXIII on postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF).

METHODS

A single-center randomized controlled, open-label, parallel group, superiority trial was conducted from October 2015 to August 2016 in Japan. Patients with POPF and a plasma FXIII level of ≤ 70% on postoperative day 7 were randomly assigned to an early replacement (ER) group or control group in a 1:1 ratio by an independent coordinator using a computer-generated random number table. The ER group received FXIII concentrate the day after randomization, and the control group received no FXIII concentrate within 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was the duration of drain placement from randomization (DDPR).

RESULTS

Fifty patients were randomized (ER group, 24; control group, 26), and all were analyzed with an intention-to-treat approach. There was no significant difference in the DDPR between the two groups (18 vs. 16 days; hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.813-2.583). No serious harm was reported in either group.

CONCLUSION

Early administration of exogenous FXIII does not facilitate the healing of POPF.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center (UMIN000019480, http://www.umin.ac.jp ).

Air leak pattern shown by digital chest drainage system predict prolonged air leakage after pulmonary resection for patients with lung cancer

Background

A common cause of complications after a pulmonary resection procedure is prolonged air leakage. Recently introduced digital drainage systems provide accurate recording of air leak data for later review. We investigated the clinical usefulness of the continuous stream of data recorded by such a device.

Methods

We analyzed data obtained from 299 patients with pulmonary malignancy who underwent a pulmonary resection procedure for lung cancer patients with use of a digital chest drainage system. Postoperative air leak patterns were divided into 4 groups and their correlation with prolonged air leakage after pulmonary resection was evaluated.

Results

The incidence of prolonged air leak was 10% (30/299). The postoperative air leak patterns noted in the present patients were divided into none (n=217, 73%), intermittent (n=21, 7%), decrease (n=40, 13%), and variable (n=21, 7%). The incidence of prolonged air leak in each group was 0.5% (1/217) in the none group, 24% (5/21) in the intermittent group, 20% (8/40) in the decrease group, and 76% (16/21) in the variable group. The amount of air leakage immediately after surgery was highest in the variable group. Patients in the intermittent and variable groups had longer durations of air leakage and chest tube placement. The frequency of postoperative interventional treatment was significantly higher in the variable group as compared to the others. Chest tube reinsertion for pneumothorax and increased subcutaneous emphysema after the initial chest tube removal was only seen in the intermittent group.

Conclusions

Advantages of digital drainage system use are continuous monitoring and recording capabilities, which show the detailed air leak pattern after pulmonary resection. That pattern can be used to predict the durations of air leakage and chest tube drainage, as well as for producing an air leak management algorithm.