Automated Electronic Frailty Index is Associated with Non-home Discharge in Patients Undergoing Open Revascularization for Peripheral Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND

Frailty is associated with adverse surgical outcomes including post-operative complications, needs for post-acute care, and mortality. While multiple frailty screening tools exist, most are time and resource intensive. Here we examine the association of an automated electronic frailty index (eFI), derived from routine data in the Electronic Health Record (EHR), with outcomes in vascular surgery patients undergoing open, lower extremity revascularization.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis at a single academic medical center from 2015 to 2019 was completed. Information extracted from the EHR included demographics, eFI, comorbidity, and procedure type. Frailty status was defined as fit (eFI≤0.10), pre-frail (0.100.21). Outcomes included length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission, and non-home discharge.

RESULTS

We included 295 patients (mean age 65.9 years; 31% female), with the majority classified as pre-frail (57%) or frail (32%). Frail patients exhibited a higher degree of comorbidity and were more likely to be classified as American Society of Anesthesiologist class IV (frail: 46%, pre-frail: 27%, and fit: 18%, P = 0.0012). There were no statistically significant differences in procedure type, LOS, or 30-day readmissions based on eFI. Frail patients were more likely to expire in the hospital or be discharged to an acute care facility (31%) compared to pre-frail (14%) and fit patients (15%, P = 0.002). Adjusting for comorbidity, risk of non-home discharge was higher comparing frail to pre-frail patients (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.40-6.48).

DISCUSSION

Frail patients, based on eFI, undergoing elective, open, lower extremity revascularization were twice as likely to not be discharged home.

Prevalence of chronic opioid use in patients with peripheral arterial disease undergoing revascularization

OBJECTIVE

Opiate use, dependence, and the associated morbidity and mortality are major current public health problems in the United States. Little is known about patterns of opioid use in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of chronic preoperative and postoperative prescription opioid use in patients with PAD. A secondary aim was to determine the demographic, comorbid conditions, and operative characteristics associated with chronic opioid use.

METHODS

Using a single-institution database of patients with PAD undergoing open or endovascular lower extremity intervention from 2013 to 2014, data regarding opiate use and associated conditions were abstracted for analysis. Patients were excluded if they did not live in North Carolina or surgery was not for PAD. Preoperative (PreCOU) and postoperative chronic opioid use (PostCOU) were defined as consistent opioid prescription filling in the 3 months before and after the index procedure, respectively. Opioid prescription filling was assessed using the North Carolina Controlled Substance Reporting System. Demographics, comorbid conditions, other adjunct pain medication data, and operative characteristics were abstracted from our institutional electronic medical record. Associations with PreCOU were evaluated using the t test, Wilcoxon test, or two-sample median test (continuous), or the χ² or Fisher exact tests (categorical).

RESULTS

A total of 202 patients undergoing open (108; 53.5%) or endovascular (94; 46.5%) revascularization for claudication or critical limb ischemia were identified for analysis. The mean age was 64.6 years, and 36% were female. Claudication was the indication for revascularization in 26.7% of patients, and critical limb ischemia was the indication in 73.3% of patients. The median preoperative ankle-brachial index (ABI) was 0.50. Sixty-eight patients (34%) met the definition for PreCOU. PreCOU was associated with female gender, history of chronic musculoskeletal pain, benzodiazepine use, and self-reported illicit drug use. Less than 50% of patients reported use of non-opiate adjunct pain medications. No association was observed between PreCOU and pre- or postoperative ABI, or number of prior lower extremity interventions. Following revascularization, the median ABI was 0.88. PreCOU was not associated with significant differences in postoperative complications, length of stay, or mortality. Overall, 71 patients (35%) met the definition for PostCOU, 14 of whom had no history of preoperative chronic opiate use. Ten patients with PreCOU did not demonstrate PostCOU.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic opiate use was common in patients with PAD with a prevalence of approximately 35%, both prior to and following revascularization. Revascularization was associated with a termination of chronic opiate use in less than 15% of patients with PreCOU. Additionally, 10% of patients who did not use opiates chronically before their revascularization did so afterwards. Patients with PAD requiring intervention represent a high-risk group with regards to chronic opiate use. Increased diligence in identifying opioid use among patients with PAD and optimizing the use of non-narcotic adjunct pain medications may result in a lower prevalence of chronic opiate use and its attendant adverse effects.

Appendicitis in an Appendicostomy

A 25-year-old man presented with right lower quadrant abdominal wall erythema, a punctum of purulence, and localized pain at the site of a previous appendicostomy. Cross-sectional imaging revealed appendicitis at his previous appendicostomy with a fecalith near the skin. He was managed with appendectomy. The surgical approach mimicked a loop ileostomy reversal by circumferentially dissecting the tissue around the appendicostomy to the level of the fascia and then dividing the appendix at the base of the cecum through a small two-centimeter incision. Appendicitis in a previous appendicostomy is uncommon and has only been described in three previous case reports (two adults and one child) and was surgically approached through a low-midline laparotomy. Our case is unique as it is an uncommon presentation of a common disease managed with a minimally invasive approach not previously described.

Large Canal of Nuck Hernia: The Female Equivalent of the Inguinoscrotal Hernia

Our patient was a 78-year-old woman with a large indirect inguinal hernia who underwent Lichtenstein repair. Literature review of the pathophysiology of indirect hernias revealed important discussion of the canal of Nuck in women and understanding embryologic development of ovaries and descent of testes.

Screening for Bacteremia in Trauma Patients: Traditional Markers Fall Short

BACKGROUND

Deranged physiology in trauma complicates the clinical identification of sepsis, resulting in overscreening for bacteremia. No clinical signs or biomarkers accurately diagnose sepsis in this population. Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of the current criteria used to prompt screening for bacteremia in trauma patients and determine independent predictors of bacteremia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult trauma patients admitted to our level I academic trauma center who had blood cultures (BCs) drawn were identified. Those with positive BCs were compared to those with negative or false positive BCs. False positive was defined as a BC deemed contaminated and not treated at the discretion of the attending physician.

RESULTS

Over a 2-year period, 366 trauma patients had BCs drawn. After excluding surveillance cultures (those drawn to demonstrate bacteremia clearance), 492 unique BC sets were evaluated; 104 (21.1%) BC sets were positive; 30 (28.8%) of these were falsely positive, resulting in a true-positive rate of 15% in the screened population. Univariate analysis suggested temperature and heart rate were associated with positive BC, while multivariable analysis found only the presence of a central line and lactic acid to be predictive. Procalcitonin (PCT) was poorly predictive, with a positive predictive value of 18% and a negative predictive value of 91%.

CONCLUSION

Current tools for identifying bacteremia in trauma patients result in overscreening. PCT may have a limited role as a negative predictor for bacteremia. Given that false-positive BCs have negative patient and economic consequences, future study should focus on development of alternative screening modalities.

Weight-Based Enoxaparin Achieves Adequate Anti-Xa Levels More Often in Trauma Patients: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

Previous research demonstrates that twice-daily enoxaparin is inadequate for venous thromboembolic (VTE) prophylaxis in critically ill trauma patients prompting dose adjustment based on anti-Xa levels. Most studies evaluate peak anti-Xa levels; however, data suggest that trough levels are associated with decreased VTE. We evaluated trough anti-Xa levels in noncritically ill trauma patients receiving fixed or weight-based enoxaparin.

METHODS

Peak and trough anti-Xa levels were prospectively collected from patients receiving at least 3 consecutive doses of enoxaparin (PRE). A performance improvement project prompted a change to weight-based dosing. Peak and trough levels were subsequently prospectively collected from the weight-based group (POST). Adequate peak was defined as ≥0.2 IU/mL and adequate trough as ≥0.1 IU/mL. PRE and POST groups were compared.

RESULTS

200 patients were evaluated (100 PRE, 100 POST). In the PRE group, only 34% of trough and 61% of peak anti-Xa levels were adequate compared with 82% and 97%, respectively, in the POST group (P < .01). Median trough improved from 0.07 IU/mL to 0.2 IU/mL (P < .01). Median peak improved from 0.22 IU/mL to 0.47 IU/mL (P < .01). More patients achieved adequate peak and trough levels in the POST group (79% vs 31%, P < .01). 95% of patients with adequate troughs also had adequate peaks, whereas 75% with adequate peaks had adequate troughs.

DISCUSSION

Traditional enoxaparin dosing in noncritically ill trauma patients results in suboptimal anti-Xa levels. Weight-based enoxaparin improves both trough and peak anti-Xa levels obviating dose adjustment. Furthermore, troughs better predict adequate anti-Xa levels.