The association of serum vitamin D concentration with serious complications after noncardiac surgery

LUNA EMG as a Marker of Adherence to Prehabilitation Programs and Its Effect on Postoperative Outcomes among Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery for Ovarian Cancer and Suspected Ovarian Tumors

BACKGROUND

Prehabilitation is a novel strategy in preoperative management. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prehabilitation programs on peri- and postoperative outcomes and to verify if LUNA EMG has the capacity to monitor compliance with prehabilitation programs.

METHODS

A total of seventy patients with suspected ovarian cancer were recruited between April 2021 and September 2022 and were divided into a prehabilitation group (36 patients) or a control group (34 patients). A LUNA EMG device was utilized to monitor muscle strength and tension.

RESULTS

Within the prehabilitation group, we observed a significant increase in the 6-Minute Walk Test distance by 17 m (median, IQR: 0-42.5, p < 0.001) and a significant increase in muscle strength measured with LUNA EMG. In comparison to the control group, the prehabilitation group showed fewer complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification (47.2% vs. 20.6%, p = 0.02) and shorter postoperative hospital stays (median 5.0 days [IQR: 4.0-6.2] vs. 7.0 days [IQR: 6.0-10.0], p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Prehabilitation has a positive effect on physical capacity and muscle strength and is associated with a reduction in the number of complications after surgery. LUNA EMG can be a useful tool for monitoring patients' adherence to prehabilitation programs.

Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Diseases: An Update

Vitamin D is a vital nutrient that plays a significant part in several physiological processes within the human body, including calcium metabolism, bone health, immune function, and cell growth and differentiation. It is obtained mainly through exposure to sunlight but can be acquired from certain foods and supplements as well. Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) could be the risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as heart disease and stroke. In blood vitamin D low levels have been linked with an enhanced risk of developing CVDs. However, it is unclear whether vitamin D levels are the leading cause or consequence of these conditions. While some studies highlight that taking vitamin D supplements could decrease the risk of CVD; however, more research is required to better understand the association between vitamin D and cardiovascular health. In this review, we aimed to summarize the currently available evidence supporting the association between vitamin D and CVDs and anesthesia considerations.

Serum vitamin D le Serum vitamin D levels are associated with acute post e associated with acute postoperative pain and opioid analgesic consumption after laparoscopic cholecystect cholecystectomy: a str omy: a strobe compliant pr obe compliant prospectiv ospective obser e observational ational study

BACKGROUND

In this prospective observational study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum levels of vitamin D and acute postoperative pain scores, as well as opioid analgesic consumption in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

: The study was performed in the Medical Faculty Hospital, from April 2020 to April 2021. Postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, total tramadol consumption, number of requests on patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) were compared between the vitamin D deficient (≤20 ng/mL; n = 25) and vitamin D nondeficient (>20 ng/mL; n = 55) groups at five time points (T0: in the recovery room, T1: 1st hour in the ward, T2: 6th hour, T3: 12th hour, and T4: 24th hour).

RESULTS

Postoperative VAS pain scores were similar in the vitamin D deficient group at all time points (T0-4), but differed significantly only at the T-0 time point (p = 0.020). The mean cumulative tramadol consumption was significantly higher in the vitamin D deficiency group than in the nondeficiency group (p = 0.005). Vitamin D levels were lower in patients with VAS ≥ 4 at the postoperative T-0 time point (p = 0.009). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, 15.7% of cumulative tramadol consumption was due to vitamin D deficiency (β = -0.188).

DISCUSSION

: Our study shows that preoperative low vitamin D level was associated with an increase in acute postoperative pain scores and consumption of opioid analgesics in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our findings may be useful for postoperative pain management in patients with vitamin D deficiency.

Preoperative plasma vitamin D in patients with localized colorectal cancer: Age-dependent association with inflammation, postoperative complications, and survival

INTRODUCTION

Aging is often associated with low-grade chronic inflammation and a senescent immune system. Vitamin D is a regulator of immune function, and low plasma vitamin D is associated with poor health. The association between plasma vitamin D and inflammatory biomarkers and risk of postoperative complications and survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown. Our aim was to investigate these associations and how they are influenced by age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Circulating vitamin D and the inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, and YKL-40 were measured in 398 patients with stage I-III CRC preoperatively. Older patients (≥70 years, n = 208) were compared to younger patients (<70 years, n = 190). The relation between vitamin D and complications and high inflammatory biomarker levels was presented by odds ratios ([OR], 95% confidence interval [CI]). Associations with survival were presented with hazard ratios ([HR], 95% CI).

RESULTS

Plasma vitamin D was higher in older patients than in younger patients (75 vs. 67 nmol/L, P = 0.001). High vitamin D was associated with low plasma CRP in younger patients (OR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.17-0.76), but not in older patients (OR = 0.93, 0.49-1.76). High vitamin D in older patients with CRC was associated with reduced risk of major complications (OR = 0.52, 0.28-0.95). This was not found in younger patients (OR = 1.47, 0.70-3.11). Deficient vitamin D (<25 nmol/L) was associated with short overall survival compared to sufficient (>50 nmol/L) irrespective of age (HR = 3.39, 1.27-9.37, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

For patients with localized CRC, high vitamin D levels before resection were associated with reduced risk of high inflammatory biomarkers for younger patients and reduced risk of major postoperative complications for older patients. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with reduced survival regardless of age.

Use of Common Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Measured by Ultrasound Echo-Tracking in Cardiovascular Risk Stratification Before Noncardiac Surgery in Low-Risk Category: A Research Idea

Preoperative cardiac risk stratification algorithms typically use a Bayesian approach to identify a low-risk category group for which the outcome is unlikely to be improved by further testing. This report suggests evaluating common carotid intima-media thickness (CCIMT) as measured by ultrasound to determine whether it strengthens and optimizes perioperative Bayesian risk indices. The idea proposes to use CCIMT Z score and vascular age to quantify atherosclerotic burden. CCIMT may be useful as part of shared decision-making for perioperative care. A website (www.suhitam.com/vascularage) designed by one of the authors (S.M.) is a useful resource.).

Surgical site infection in hepatobiliary surgery patients and its relationship with serum vitamin D concentration

INTRODUCTION

While several studies have examined the correlation between vitamin D concentrations and post-surgical nosocomial infections, this relationship has yet to be characterized in hepatobiliary surgery patients. We investigated the relationship between serum vitamin D concentration and the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients in our hepatobiliary surgery unit.

METHODS

Participants in this observational study were 321 successive patients who underwent the following types of interventions in the hepatobiliary surgery unit of our center over a 1-year period: cholecystectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, total pancreatectomy, segmentectomy, hepatectomy, hepaticojejunostomy and exploratory laparotomy. Serum vitamin D levels were measured upon admission and patients were followed up for 1 month. Mean group values were compared using a Student's T-test or Chi-squared test. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student's T-test, the Chi-squared test, or logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Serum concentrations >33.5 nmol/l reduced the risk of SSI by 50%. Out of the 321 patients analyzed, 25.8% developed SSI, mainly due to organ-cavity infections (incidence, 24.3%). Serum concentrations of over 33.5 nmol/l reduced the risk of SSI by 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

High serum levels of vitamin D are a protective factor against SSI (OR, 0.99). Our results suggest a direct relationship between serum vitamin D concentrations and SSI, underscoring the need for prospective studies to assess the potential benefits of vitamin D in SSI prevention.

Preoperative Vitamin D Concentration and Cardiac, Renal, and Infectious Morbidity after Noncardiac Surgery

BACKGROUND

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with cardiovascular, renal, and infectious risks. Postsurgical patients are susceptible to similar complications, but whether vitamin D deficiency contributes to postoperative complications remains unclear. We tested whether low preoperative vitamin D is associated with cardiovascular events within 30 days after noncardiac surgery.

METHODS

We evaluated a subset of patients enrolled in the biobank substudy of the Vascular events In noncardiac Surgery patIents cOhort evaluatioN (VISION) study, who were at least 45 yr with at least an overnight hospitalization. Blood was collected preoperatively, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured in stored samples. The primary outcome was the composite of cardiovascular events (death, myocardial injury, nonfatal cardiac arrest, stroke, congestive heart failure) within 30 postoperative days. Secondary outcomes were kidney injury and infectious complications.

RESULTS

A total of 3,851 participants were eligible for analysis. Preoperative 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was 70 ± 30 nmol/l, and 62% of patients were vitamin D deficient. Overall, 26 (0.7%) patients died, 41 (1.1%) had congestive heart failure or nonfatal cardiac arrest, 540 (14%) had myocardial injury, and 15 (0.4%) had strokes. Preoperative vitamin D concentration was not associated with the primary outcome (average relative effect odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.93 [0.85, 1.01] per 10 nmol/l increase in preoperative vitamin D, P = 0.095). However, it was associated with postoperative infection (average relative effect odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.94 [0.90, 0.98] per 10 nmol/l increase in preoperative vitamin D, P adjusted value = 0.005) and kidney function (estimated mean change in postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate [95% CI]: 0.29 [0.11, 0.48] ml min 1.73 m per 10 nmol/l increase in preoperative vitamin D, P adjusted value = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative vitamin D was not associated with a composite of postoperative 30-day cardiac outcomes. However, there was a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and a composite of infectious complications and decreased kidney function. While renal effects were not clinically meaningful, the effect of vitamin D supplementation on infectious complications requires further study.

Association between preoperative levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and hospital-acquired infections after hepatobiliary surgery: A prospective study in a third-level hospital

Introduction

Evidence implicates vitamin D deficiency in poorer outcomes and increased susceptibility to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). This study examined the association between serum vitamin D levels and HAIs in a population of hepatobiliary surgery patients.

Methods

Participants in this prospective analytical observational study were patients who underwent hepatobiliary surgery in a tertiary hospital in Aragon, Spain, between February 2018 and March 2019. Vitamin D concentrations were measured at admission and all nosocomial infections during hospitalization and after discharge were recorded.

Results

The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of the study population (n = 301) was 38.56 nmol/L, which corresponds to vitamin D deficiency. Higher vitamin D concentrations were associated with a decreased likelihood of developing a HAI in general (p = 0.014), and in particularly surgical site infection (p = 0.026). The risk of HAI decreased by 34% with each 26.2-nmol/L increase in serum vitamin D levels.

Conclusions

Vitamin D levels may constitute a modifiable risk factor for postoperative nosocomial infections in hepatobiliary surgery patients.

Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pediatric Patients With Scoliosis Preparing for Spinal Surgery

BACKGROUND

Establishing prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in elective scoliosis surgery may impact clinical outcomes. The objectives of this study were to document vitamin D status of patients with scoliosis preparing for surgical intervention in order to establish frequency of deficiency and determine characteristics influencing levels.

METHODS

Records were queried for patients with scoliosis diagnosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion or initial growing rod placement and had serum vitamin 25 hydroxyvitamin D (D25) recorded in the preoperative period. Demographic data (gender, age, body mass index [BMI], race, scoliosis type, spine surgery procedure, and season of the year) were extracted. Chi-square analysis and multivariate modeling were used to evaluate deficiency status among various demographic categories and determine the demographic factors impacting D25.

RESULTS

A total of 217 patients with a mean age of 13.6 ± 3.6 years had vitamin D levels drawn a mean of 38.7 ± 20.6 days prior to surgery. The majority of the sample presented with a diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis (n = 126), and most patients were scheduled for spinal fusion surgery (n = 192). Nearly 75% of the study population (n = 162) demonstrated D25 values below normal. African Americans presented with greater risk of deficiency (p < .0002) compared to Caucasians, as did patients preparing for spinal fusion versus growing rod placement (p < .03). Severe hypovitaminosis D was more common in winter than any other season (p < .005). Patients with neuromuscular scoliosis demonstrated significantly higher D25 levels over the idiopathic diagnosis type (p < .0002). Gender, BMI, and age did not impact D25.

CONCLUSION

Low D25 levels are reported in pediatric patients with scoliosis preparing for corrective spinal surgery. Population subsets most at risk for deficiency in this limited study include African American children, those presenting for spinal fusion surgery, and patients admitted in winter season.

Impact of Preoperative Serum Vitamin D Level on Postoperative Complications and Excess Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of hypovitaminosis D on Gastric Bypass outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent primary intention Gastric Bypass in our center between January 2012 and December 2013. Postoperative complications, 1 and 2-year excess weight loss were compared between patients with and without hypovitaminosis D.

RESULTS

Among 258 patients who met inclusion criteria, 56 (21.7%) presented with vitamin D deficiency. Mean age was 41.73 ± 12.95 years. Mean BMI was 40.90 kg/m² (34-58 kg/m²). No statistically significant difference in postoperative complication rate was found between patients with and without hypovitaminosis D. Mean 1-year excess weight loss was 75.24%. In patients with vitamin D deficiency mean 1-year excess weight loss was 71.90 versus 76.15% in patients with optimal serum vitamin D level (p = 0.17). No significant difference was found after a 2-year follow-up. In patients presenting with vitamin D insufficiency, 1-year excess weight loss was 75.64 versus 79.34% in patients with optimal serum vitamin D level (p = 0.53). After a 2-year follow-up, there was a significant difference between patients presenting with and without vitamin D insufficiency (79.45 versus 91.71%; p = 0.01) and between patients presenting with and without hypovitaminosis D (80.50 versus 91.71%; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

In our study, hypovitaminosis D seemed to have a negative impact on long term excess weight loss, but not on short-term outcome or postoperative complications. The role of systematic supplementation before bariatric surgery has to be explored in prospective studies.

Serum Total 25-OH Vitamin D Adds Little Prognostic Value in Patients Undergoing Coronary Catheterization

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease; however, it is unclear whether vitamin D status should be considered in clinical risk assessments of patients with cardiovascular disease.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study included 2975 patients who had their first serum total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH vitamin D) measurement before their first coronary catheterization in Alberta, Canada. Cox regression was used to examine associations between 25-OH vitamin D and mortality risk after adjusting for demographic and clinical risk factors. Interactions were tested using multiplicative terms, and prognostic value was assessed using measures of model discrimination, fit, calibration and net reclassification improvement. There were 401 deaths over a median of 5.8 years of follow-up. Serum total 25-OH vitamin D was inversely associated with mortality after adjusting for demographic and clinical risk factors, which was largely driven by excess risk in the bottom quintile (hazard ratio 1.84 for bottom versus top quintile, 95% CI 1.36-2.50, P for trend <0.001). Associations were weaker in the presence of several competing risk factors (e.g., advanced age; P for interactions <0.05). Adding 25-OH vitamin D to a model containing demographic and clinical risk factors yielded similar discrimination, model fit, and calibration and only modest improvements in risk reclassification (net reclassification improvement 1.9% for deaths, 2.3% for survivors).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-catheterization, serum total 25-OH vitamin D was inversely associated with mortality risk after adjusting for established demographic and clinical risk factors. This association was attenuated by several competing risk factors. Overall, 25-OH vitamin D added little prognostic value over established risk factors; therefore, its measurement is not warranted in patients undergoing coronary catheterization.

Serum Vitamin D levels at admission predict the length of intensive care unit stay but not in-hospital mortality of critically ill surgical patients

Objective:

There is few data regarding the correlation between serum Vitamin D level and unfavorable intensive care unit (ICU) outcome in postsurgical patients. In this study, correlation between serum 25(OH)D level and length of ICU stay and in-hospital mortality has been evaluated in critically ill surgical patients.

Methods:

Serum 25(OH)D has been evaluated in 70 surgical, critically ill patients. Demographic, laboratory, and clinical data of the patients were collected. Correlation between serum 25(OH) D level and duration of ICU stay and hospital mortality was evaluated using two-factor analysis of covariance. Multivariable Cox-regression analysis was used for adjusting the effect of season of blood sampling and type of surgery on the main variables. For all the analyses, P values less than or equal to 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

Findings:

Serum 25(OH)D deficiency was identified in 52 (74.3%) of the patients. Patients with serum Vitamin D levels < 30 ng/ml had longer length of ICU stay than those with serum Vitamin D levels ≥ 30 ng/ml (7.8 ± 5.1 vs. 4.05 ± 2.12 days, P = 0.003). Although hospital mortality was more common in Vitamin D deficient patients than sufficient ones (25% in deficient group versus 22.2% in sufficient group), there was no significant difference regarding hospital mortality rate between the groups.

Conclusion:

Statistically significant association was found between low 25(OH)D level and increased length of ICU stay in critically ill surgical patients. It could be explained by favorable effects of Vitamin D on immune system functions, reducing tissue dysfunction, and risk of organ failure and overall complications. However, there was no correlation between serum Vitamin D level and patients’ in-hospital mortality. Further, well-designed prospective clinical studies with adequate sample size are needed to evaluate correlation between serum Vitamin D level and mortality in critically ill patients.

Expression of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Positively Correlates with Survival of Urothelial Bladder Cancer Patients

Vitamin D3 shows tumoristatic and anticancer effects by acting through the vitamin D receptor (VDR), while hydroxylation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 at position 1α by CYP27B1 is an essential step in its activation. The expression of both the VDR and CYP27B1 has been found in many normal and cancer tissues, but there is a lack of information about its expression in human bladder cancers. The aim of the present research was to examine whether the expression of the VDR and CYP27B1 in bladder cancer was related to the prognostic markers and disease outcome. We analyzed VDR and CYP27B1 in samples of tumor and normal tissues obtained from 71 urinary bladder cancer patients. The highest VDR immunostaining was found in normal epithelium and was significantly lower in bladder cancer cells (p < 0.001 with Mann–Whitney U test). VDR expression was lowest in more advanced (pT2b–pT4) (p = 0.005 with Mann–Whitney U test) and metastasizing cancers (p < 0.05 and p = 0.004 with Mann–Whitney U test for nuclear and cytoplasmic VDR immunostaining, respectively). The lack of cytoplasmic and nuclear VDR was also related to shorter overall survival (for cytoplasmic VDR immunolocalization 13.3 vs. 55.3 months of survival, HR = 1.92, p = 0.04 and for nuclear VDR immunostaining 13.5 vs. 55.3 months of survival, HR = 2.47, p = 0.002 with Mantel-Cox test). In cases with the lack of high cytoplasmic VDR staining the non-classic differentiations (NDs) was observed in higher percentage of tumor area. CYP27B1 expression was lower in cancer cells than in normal epithelial cells (p = 0.03 with Mann–Whitney U test), but its expression did not correlate with tumor stage (pT), metastasizing, grade, mitotic activity or overall survival. In conclusion, expression of the VDR and CYP27B1 are deregulated in urothelial bladder cancers. Although our results showing a relationship between the decreased VDR expression and prognostic markers and survival time indicate potential usefulness of VDR as a new indicator of a poorer prognosis, further studies are needed in different patient cohorts by independent groups to validate this hypothesis. We also suggest that vitamin D-based therapies may represent an adjuvant strategy in treatment for bladder cancers expressing VDR.

Vitamin D and Anaesthesia

Vitamin D is a vitamin not only associated with calcium-phosphorus metabolism but also affects many organ systems. Because of its effect on the immune system in recent years, it has attracted much attention. Vitamin D deficiency is a clinical condition that can be widely observed in the society. Thus, patients with vitamin D deficiency are often seen in anaesthesia practice. In the absence of vitamin D, prolongation of intensive care unit stay, increase in mortality and morbidity and also association of chronic diseases further increase the importance of vitamin D deficiency. The results obtained from studies have led to the question of whether poor surgical outcome is associated with vitamin D deficiency. We assessed the vitamin D deficiency and its negative consequences for the anaesthesiologist.

Vitamin D status and surgical outcomes: a systematic review

The importance of vitamin D for musculoskeletal health has long been recognized, and awareness of significant extra-skeletal effects in health and disease is rapidly emerging. Although it has been possible for many decades to quantify serum markers of vitamin D deficiency, and to correct deficiency at low cost and with high safety, the influence of vitamin D status on post-surgical outcomes has only recently been identified as a research topic of interest. To the present, these data have not been the subject matter of formal review. Accordingly, we conducted a systematic review to assess the association between perioperative vitamin D status and outcomes after surgery. The databases of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL (EBSCOHost), The Cochrane Databases of Systematic Review, and PROSPERO were searched through December, 2014 for studies relating to vitamin D and surgery. The initial search yielded 90 manuscripts. After applying exclusion criteria, 31 studies were eligible for inclusion. Fifteen studies employed prospective observational designs, 3 used prospective randomized protocols, and 13 report retrospective database interrogations. The main finding of the present review is that 26 of 31 studies (84%) report at least one statistically significant worse outcome in patients with low vitamin D status. Five of 31 studies (16%) found no association. In conclusion, this review supports the hypothesis that hypovitaminosis D is associated with adverse outcomes after diverse surgical procedures. Future studies should focus on additional surgeries and outcomes, and on the role of vitamin D supplementation in the improvement of patient safety in participants with low vitamin D status at the time of surgery.