Casemix, management, and mortality of patients rreseceiving emergency neurosurgery for traumatic brain injury in the Global Neurotrauma Outcomes Study: a prospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasingly recognised as being responsible for a substantial proportion of the global burden of disease. Neurosurgical interventions are an important aspect of care for patients with TBI, but there is little epidemiological data available on this patient population. We aimed to characterise differences in casemix, management, and mortality of patients receiving emergency neurosurgery for TBI across different levels of human development.

METHODS

We did a prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients with TBI undergoing emergency neurosurgery, in a convenience sample of hospitals identified by open invitation, through international and regional scientific societies and meetings, individual contacts, and social media. Patients receiving emergency neurosurgery for TBI in each hospital's 30-day study period were all eligible for inclusion, with the exception of patients undergoing insertion of an intracranial pressure monitor only, ventriculostomy placement only, or a procedure for drainage of a chronic subdural haematoma. The primary outcome was mortality at 14 days postoperatively (or last point of observation if the patient was discharged before this time point). Countries were stratified according to their Human Development Index (HDI)-a composite of life expectancy, education, and income measures-into very high HDI, high HDI, medium HDI, and low HDI tiers. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to examine the effect of HDI on mortality while accounting for and quantifying between-hospital and between-country variation.

FINDINGS

Our study included 1635 records from 159 hospitals in 57 countries, collected between Nov 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2020. 328 (20%) records were from countries in the very high HDI tier, 539 (33%) from countries in the high HDI tier, 614 (38%) from countries in the medium HDI tier, and 154 (9%) from countries in the low HDI tier. The median age was 35 years (IQR 24-51), with the oldest patients in the very high HDI tier (median 54 years, IQR 34-69) and the youngest in the low HDI tier (median 28 years, IQR 20-38). The most common procedures were elevation of a depressed skull fracture in the low HDI tier (69 [45%]), evacuation of a supratentorial extradural haematoma in the medium HDI tier (189 [31%]) and high HDI tier (173 [32%]), and evacuation of a supratentorial acute subdural haematoma in the very high HDI tier (155 [47%]). Median time from injury to surgery was 13 h (IQR 6-32). Overall mortality was 18% (299 of 1635). After adjustment for casemix, the odds of mortality were greater in the medium HDI tier (odds ratio [OR] 2·84, 95% CI 1·55-5·2) and high HDI tier (2·26, 1·23-4·15), but not the low HDI tier (1·66, 0·61-4·46), relative to the very high HDI tier. There was significant between-hospital variation in mortality (median OR 2·04, 95% CI 1·17-2·49).

INTERPRETATION

Patients receiving emergency neurosurgery for TBI differed considerably in their admission characteristics and management across human development settings. Level of human development was associated with mortality. Substantial opportunities to improve care globally were identified, including reducing delays to surgery. Between-hospital variation in mortality suggests changes at an institutional level could influence outcome and comparative effectiveness research could identify best practices.

FUNDING

National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Group.

Tuberculosis preventive treatment opportunities at antiretroviral therapy initiation and follow-up visits

Setting

Twenty-two clinics providing HIV care and treatment in Botswana where tuberculosis (TB) and HIV comorbidity is as high as 49%.

Objectives

To assess eligibility of TB preventive treatment (TPT) at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and at four follow-up visits (FUVs), and to describe the TB prevalence and associated factors at baseline and yield of TB diagnoses at each FUV.

Design

A prospective study of routinely collected data on people living with HIV (PLHIV) enrolled into care for the Xpert^® MTB/RIF Package Rollout Evaluation Study between 2012 and 2015.

Results

Of 6041 PLHIV initiating ART, eligibility for TPT was 69% (4177/6041) at baseline and 93% (5408/5815); 95% (5234/5514); 96% (4869/5079); and 97% (3925/4055) at FUV1, FUV2, FUV3, and FUV4, respectively. TB prevalence at baseline was 11% and 2%, 3%, 3% and 6% at each subsequent FUV. At baseline, independent risk factors for prevalent TB were CD4 <200 cells/mm³ (aOR = 1.4, P = 0.030); anemia (aOR = 2.39, P < 0.001); cough (aOR = 11.21, P < 0.001); fever (aOR = 2.15, P = 0.001); and weight loss (aOR = 2.60, P = 0.002).

Conclusion

Eligibility for TPT initiation is higher at visits post-ART initiation, while most cases of active TB were identified at ART initiation. Missed opportunities for TB further compromises TB control effort among PLHIV in Botswana.

Experimental use of an albumin-glutaraldehyde tissue adhesive for sealing tracheal anastomoses

AIM

The purpose of this study was to test the performance of an albumin-glutaraldehyde tissue adhesive (BioGlue, manufactured by CryoLife Inc., Kennesaw, GA, USA) when used on tracheal resections in rabbits, which is a sensitive model to investigate the biocompatibility of the glue.

METHODS

The 24 animals were anesthetized and underwent cervicotomy with resection of a 10 mm long tracheal segment. The experimental group (18 animals with 2, 4 and 12 week endpoints) had a tracheal anastomosis performed with a maximum of 4 sutures for the approximation of the tissue margins. The anastomotic line was then circumferentially covered with the adhesive. Control animals (6 animals, 4 week endpoint) had a tracheal anastomosis performed with the use of twice interrupted, airtight running suture. The experiments were conducted after approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee and in accordance with the European Convention on Animal Care.

RESULTS

Macroscopic evaluation revealed a tight closure of the anastomosis in 23 animals. One rabbit developed tracheo-cutaneous fistula, 2 rabbits experienced intraluminal granulations due to infection, and 1 rabbit developed tracheal stenosis due to insufficient sutures with axis-displacement of the anastomosed tracheal lumina. On microscopic examination, after 2 weeks an inflammatory tissue response consisting of neutrophils, macrophages and foreign body giant cells was found surrounding the glued area. After 4 weeks the tissue was granulomatous in character with an increasing number of multinucleated giant cells. In general, persistent granulomatous inflammation and fibrous scar tissue was seen after 12 weeks. Both, macroscopically and microscopically, fibroangioblastic tissue responses were found in the control group after 4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite secondary healing disruptions such as granuloma formation, our investigations suggest that the results of albumin-glutaraldehyde tissue adhesive sealed tracheal anastomoses with a few approximating sutures are comparable with those using suture technique. Short term results demonstrated good biocompatibility of the glue.

Experimental use of an albumin-glutaraldehyde tissue adhesive for sealing pulmonary parenchyma and bronchial anastomoses

OBJECTIVE

Despite advanced surgical techniques, major complications of bronchial anastomoses and parenchymal repair, including early leak, fistula formation and granulations still occur. The purpose of this study was to test the performance of an albumin-glutaraldehyde tissue adhesive (BioGlue), CryoLife Inc., Kennesaw, GA) as a sealant for bronchial anastomoses and parenchyma lesions.

METHODS

Twenty-four sheep were split into two surgical groups. The first group consisted of six control sheep receiving standard sutured bronchial anastomosis with a 4-week end-point. The second group included 18 sheep receiving both a bronchial anastomosis and parenchymal defect repair using the adhesive with 2, 4, and 12 week end-point. Histopathologic evaluation was conducted at the study end-points.

RESULTS

Bronchial anastomosis and parenchymal tissue repair can be sealed successfully against air leakage with adhesive. Macroscopic evaluation revealed a tight closure of the anastomosis and parenchyma defect in all postoperative stages, initially by the adhesive layer, and later by connective tissue. On microscopic examination, an inflammatory tissue response consisting of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, macrophages, granulation tissue and foreign body giant cells were found surrounding the glued area after 2 weeks. After 4 weeks the tissue response presented a granulomatous character. No granulomatous or foreign body reaction was present in the hand sutured group. After 12 weeks few remnants of adhesive surrounded by fibrous scar tissue were detectable in bronchial anastomosis and parenchymal repair. Healing was not considerably complicated by foreign body reaction or tissue granulation.

CONCLUSION

This study supports BioGlue to be effective as an adjunct in sealing bronchial anastomosis and lung parenchyma defects in sheep, with minimal secondary healing disruptions such as granuloma formation. The results of this study indicate that the use of BioGlue in human pulmonary surgery should be effective.

Thoracic cancer surgery in the elderly

The risk of thoracic cancer surgery in patients of advanced age, i.e. 75 years or older, was analysed by reviewing 119 consecutive patients from August 1986 to May 1998 with bronchial carcinoma (n = 87), pulmonary metastases (n = 22), mesothelioma and pleural carcinosis (n = 7) and mediastinal or chest wall tumours (n = 3). Repeated surgery in one case of bronchial carcinoma and in another of metastases gave a total of 124 operations. Of the patients, 22 were 80 years or older (21%) and 32% were female. The median age was 77 years (range 75-87 years). Six fatalities occurred within 30 days or during hospitalization. This corresponds to a 4.8% mortality for the whole series and 6.8% for the subgroup of bronchial carcinoma. The causes of death were surgical complications in two patients, one died from heart failure after simultaneous combined coronary artery bypass grafting and left lower lobectomy 2 hours after the operation from heart failure refractory to resuscitation. With this exception all these patients had stage II (n = 2) or stage III A (n = 3) bronchial carcinoma. It is concluded that cancer surgery in the elderly is safe provided appropriate selection is observed. Indications should be very restrictive for advanced cancer and for pneumonectomy.