Treating acute diverticulitis in pre- and post-solid-organ transplant patients: a single-institution cohort study

Aim

Immunosuppressed patients are more likely to fail nonoperative management of acute diverticulitis and have more postoperative complications than the immunocompetent. Transplant recipients form a subcategory among the immunosuppressed with unique challenges. The aim of this work is to report 30-day postoperative complications after colectomy for acute diverticulitis and success rates of nonoperative management in pre- and post-transplant patients.

Method

This is a retrospective cohort study at a single-institution tertiary referral centre. Patients with a history of acute diverticulitis were extracted from a database of 6152 recipients of solid-organ abdominal transplant between 2000 and 2015 and stratified by the index episode of diverticulitis: before or after solid-organ transplant surgery. Outcomes included 30-day postoperative complications and failure of nonoperative management.

Results

Acute diverticulitis occurred in 93 patients, 69 (74%) posttransplant. Postcolectomy complications were higher posttransplant than pretransplant (43% vs. 13%, p = 0.04). Posttransplant status was not an independent risk factor for complications (odds ratio 3.59, 95% CI 0.79–16.31) when adjusting for sex and surgical acuity. Immediate urgent colectomy (29% vs. 31%, p = 0.84) and failure of nonoperative management (7% vs. 9%, p = 0.82) were similar. Complications occurred equally in those requiring urgent colectomy after nonoperative management and those undergoing immediate urgent colectomy.

Conclusion

Urgent colectomy rates are similar in solid-organ abdominal transplant recipients pre- and posttransplant. Posttransplant complication rates appear to be increased but transplant status as an independent factor is not significantly associated with an increased risk in this study cohort. These findings should be considered when counselling patients on the relative risks and benefits of surgical intervention for diverticulitis before versus after solid-organ transplantation.     

Anticoagulation therapy in patients with traumatic brain injury: An Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter prospective study

BackgroundTrauma care providers often face a dilemma regarding anticoagulation therapy initiation in patients with traumatic brain injury owing to the associated risks of traumatic brain injury progression. The aims of this study were the following: (1) to describe the current practice of anticoagulation therapy in traumatic brain injury patients and their outcomes and (2) to identify factors associated with the progression of traumatic brain injury after anticoagulation therapy.MethodsIn this multicenter prospective observational study, we included computed tomography–proven traumatic brain injury patients who received anticoagulation therapy within 30 days of hospital admission. Our primary outcome was the incidence of clinically significant progression of traumatic brain injury after anticoagulation therapy initiation.ResultsA total of 168 patients were enrolled more than 22 months. Atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism were the most common pre-injury and postinjury anticoagulation therapy indications, respectively. Overall, 16 patients (9.6%) experienced clinically significant traumatic brain injury progression after anticoagulation therapy, out of which 9 (5.4%) patients subsequently required neurosurgical interventions. Between patients with clinical progression of traumatic brain injury and patients who showed no such progression, there were no significant differences in the baseline demographics and severity of traumatic brain injury. However, anticoagulation therapy was initiated significantly earlier in patients of the deterioration group than those of the no-deterioration group (4.5 days vs 11 days, P = .015). In a multiple logistic regression model, patients who received anticoagulation therapy later after injury had significantly lower risk of clinically significant traumatic brain injury progression (odds ratio: 0.915 for each day, 95% confidence interval: 0.841–0.995, P = .037).ConclusionOur results suggest that early anticoagulation therapy is associated with higher risk of traumatic brain injury progression, thus a balance between bleeding and thromboembolic risks should be carefully evaluated in each case before initiating anticoagulation therapy.     

Acute diverticulitis in the young: a 5‐year retrospective study of risk factors,clinical presentation and complications

Aim Acute diverticulitis in the young is considered to follow an aggressive course, but there is a paucity of data on factors that could determine a complicated course. Method All patients of 18–40 years of age diagnosed with acute diverticulitis from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2008 were identified. Patients were included if they had computed tomography (CT) evidence of acute diverticulitis and at least one clinical feature. Demographics, body mass index, presenting symptoms/signs, CT location of diverticulitis and complications were noted. Fisher’s exact test and a multivariate logistic regression analysis model were used to detect possible associations between clinical variables and complications. Results There were 76 patients, of whom 23 (30.2%) had fever (> 38°C) and 52 (68.4%) had leucocytosis (≥ 11 000/mm³). The majority [48 (63.1%)] were obese. A total of 29 (38.1%) patients had complications, with perforation [18 (62%)] being the most common. Twelve (15.7%) required surgical or radiological intervention. Fever of ≥ 38.0°C and a body mass index of ≥ 25 were independently associated with complications (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03, respectively). Conclusion Fever (≥ 38°C) at presentation and a body mass index of ≥ 25 may help to predict a complicated course of acute diverticulitis in patients under 40 years of age.     

Characteristics of fatal penetrating injury; data from a retrospective cohort study in three urban regions in the Netherlands

IntroductionPenetrating injury (PI) is a relatively rare mechanism of trauma in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, injuries can be severe with high morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this study is to assess fatalities due to PI and evaluate the demographic parameters, mechanism of injury and the resulting injury patterns of this group of patients in three Dutch regions.MethodsPatients suffering fatal PI (stab- and gunshot injuries), in the period between July 1st 2013 and July 1st 2019, in the region of Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague were included. Data were collected from the electronic registration system (Formatus) of the regional departments of Forensic Medicine.ResultsDuring the study period 283 patients died as the result of PI. The mean age was 44 years (SD 16.9), 83% was male and psychiatric history was reported in 22%. Over 60% of the injuries were due to assault and 35% was self-inflicted. Almost half of the incidents took place at home (47%). Injuries were most frequently to the head (24%) and chest (16%). Mortality was due to exsanguination (chest 27%, multiple body region's 17%, neck 9% and extremities 8%) and traumatic brain injury (21%). Up to 40% of the patients received medical treatment, surgical intervention was performed in 25%. The injuries to the extremities suggest a (potentially) preventable death rate of over 8%. Over 70% of the total population died at the scene.ConclusionFatal PI most often involves the relatively young, male, and psychiatric patient. Self-inflicted fatal PI accounted for 35%, addressing the importance of suicide prevention programs. Identification of preventable deaths needs more awareness to reduce the number of fatal PI.     

Risk factors for gastric distension in patients with acute appendicitis: a retrospective cohort study

Purpose

There has been no report on risk factors for gastric distension (GD) when inducing general anesthesia in an emergency situation. The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors for GD in patients with acute appendicitis at their hospital visit.

Methods

We reviewed medical records of patients from April 2007 to March 2010 who underwent open appendectomy for acute appendicitis and were diagnosed pathologically. GD was defined as a larger anteroposterior diameter and larger lateral diameter of the stomach than those of the left kidney in computed tomography (CT) imaging. The primary outcome was the presence of GD. Candidate variables such as patient characteristics, physical findings, and CT imaging findings associated with GD were assessed. Time after beginning of abdominal pain was categorized and compared. Determinants with significant univariate association (P?Results We enrolled 121 patients and divided this cohort into a GD group (44 cases, 36%) and a non-GD group (77 cases, 64%). Results of univariate analysis showed longer duration of time after beginning of abdominal pain (P?=?0.016), younger age (P?P?P?=?0.002] and time after beginning of abdominal pain (OR?=?1.807, P?=?0.031) were shown to be independent risk factors.

Conclusion

Younger appendicitis patients with acute abdominal pain for 1 or more days should be treated as patients with high risk for GD.     

Urinary protein and renal prognosis in idiopathic membranous nephropathy: a multicenter retrospective cohort study in Japan

Background: Several studies have revealed a relationship between proteinuria and renal prognosis in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). The benefit of achieving subnephrotic proteinuria (<3.5?g/day), however, has not been well described.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study included 171 patients with IMN from 10 nephrology centers in Japan. The relationship between urinary protein over time and a decrease of 30% in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was assessed using time-dependent multivariate Cox regression models adjusted for clinically relevant factors.

Results: During the observation period (median, 37?months; interquartile range, 16–71?months), 37 (21.6%) patients developed a 30% decline in eGFR, and 2 (1.2%) progressed to end-stage renal disease. Time-dependent multivariate Cox regression models revealed that lower proteinuria over time were significantly associated with a lower risk for a decrease of 30% in eGFR (primary outcome), adjusted for clinically relevant factors. Complete remission (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.005 [95%CI, 0.0–0.09], p?p?=?.002), and 1.0 to 3.5?g/day (ICR II) (adjusted HR, 0.12 [95%CI, 0.02–0.64], p?=?.013) were significantly associated with avoiding a 30% decrease in eGFR, compared to that at no remission.

Conclusions: Attaining lower proteinuria predicts good renal survival in Japanese patients with IMN. This study quantifies the impact of proteinuria reduction in IMN and the clinical relevance of achieving subnephrotic proteinuria in IMN as a valuable prognostic indicator for both the clinician and patient.     

Withholding and withdrawal of therapy in patients with acute renal injury: a retrospective cohort study

The incidence of withholding and withdrawal of therapy in the setting of multi-organ failure in critically ill patients has increased. Epidemiological data on the decision-making process of withholding or withdrawal of therapy from Australian and New Zealand intensive care units is sparse. We examined the clinical and electronic records of 179 consecutive patients, admitted to the ICU between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2001, who had acute renal injury. Acute renal replacement therapy was offered in 11.2% of patients. Therapy was withheld or withdrawn in 21.2% of patients. The levels of supportive care were comparable between those who had therapy withheld or withdrawn and those who had full intensive care therapy until such a decision was made. Predicted mortality (OR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.08, P = 0.03) and age (OR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.08, P = 0.03) were independently associated with the decision to withhold or withdraw therapy. The mean ICU stay of those with withdrawal or withholding of therapy was much shorter than those with full therapy (2.5 vs 5.7 days). This was likely to be due to an older age of our cohort, rapid progressive nature of the acute disease, a different clinical approach to treating critically ill elderly patients, or a combination of these factors. This pattern of practice was quite different from those reported from ICUs in other parts of the world. A prospective multi-centre observational study will clarify the pattern of practice in this important area of intensive care practice in Australasia.     

Organ donor management and delayed graft function in kidney transplant recipients: A multicenter retrospective cohort study

Meeting donor management goals (DMGs) has been reported to decrease the incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) after kidney transplant, but whether this relationship is independent of cold machine perfusion is unclear. We aimed to determine whether meeting DMGs is associated with a reduced incidence of DGF, independent of the use of machine perfusion. We collected data on consecutive brain‐dead donors and their KT recipients (KTRs) between June 2013 and December 2016 in 5 adult transplant centers. We evaluated whether DMGs were met at donor neurologic death (DND) and later time points. We defined a priori meeting optimal DMG as achieving ≥7 DMGs. Generalized estimating equations were used to predict DGF. Among 122 donors, 34% were extended‐criteria donors (ECDs). The number of DMGs met increased over time (5.6 ± 1.4 at DND and 6.1 ± 1.3 at organ procurement [P < .001]). DGF occurred in 23% of 214 KTRs, and 55% received organs placed on machine perfusion. In multivariate analysis, ECD (odds ratio [OR] 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13‐4.45), use of machine perfusion (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.22‐0.94), and optimal DMG at DND (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16‐0.99) were associated with DGF. Early achievement of DMGs was associated with a reduced risk of the development of DGF, independent of the use of machine perfusion.     

Timing of the first cannulation and survival of arteriovenous grafts in hemodialysis patients: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

Arteriovenous graft (AVG) is an important vascular access route in hemodialysis patients. The optimal waiting time between AVG creation and the first cannulation is still undetermined, therefore the current study investigated the association between ideal timing for cannulation and AVG survival. This retrospective cohort study used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database, which included 6,493 hemodialysis patients with AVGs between July 1^st 2008 and June 30^th 2012. The waiting cannulation time was defined as the time from the date of shunt creation to the first successful cannulation. Patients were categorized according to the waiting cannulation time of their AVGs as follows: ≤30 days, between 31 and 90 days, between 91 and 180 days, and >180 days. The primary outcome was functional cumulative survival, measured as the time from the first cannulation to shunt abandonment. The AVGs which were cannulated between 31 and 90 days (reference group) after construction had significantly superior functional cumulative survival compared with those cannulated ≤30 days (adjusted HR = 1.651 with 95% CI 1.482–1.839; p < 0.0001) and >180 days (adjusted HR = 1.197 with 95% CI 1.012–1.417; p = 0.0363) after construction. An analysis of the hazard ratios in patients with different demographic characteristics, revealed that the functional cumulative survival of AVGs in most groups was better when they received cannulation >30 days after construction. Consequently, in order to achieve the best long-term survival, AVGs should be cannulated at least 1 month after construction, but you should avoid waiting for >3 months.     

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目的探讨重症急性胰腺炎治疗方式的选择与外科处理的时机。方法回顾性分析北京大学第一医院、卫生部北京医院、北京大学深圳医院2001-2011年共收治的304例重症急性胰腺炎病人的临床资料。结果排除资料不全及自动出院者外,304例病人入组分析,其中男性203例,女性101例;年龄19～104(53.2±17.2)岁。入院时APACHEⅡ评分(12.4±4.5)分;总治愈率为87.5%(266/304),总病死率为12.5%(38/304)。其中非手术治疗组146例(48.0%),措施包括:ICU监护、液体治疗、抗感染、呼吸循环支持、抑制胰酶活性及分泌、营养支持等,非手术组治愈率为89.7%(131/146),病死率为10.3%(15/146)。外科干预组158例(52.0%),治疗方式包括内镜逆行胰胆管造影术(ERCP)+内镜下括约肌切开术(EST)、B超或CT定位穿刺置管引流、开腹胰腺坏死清除、其他局部并发症处理等,外科干预组治愈率为85.4%(135/158),病死率为14.6%(23/158)。结论针对重症急性胰腺炎全身或局部并发症应采取多学科及个体化的治疗方式。局部并发症如无合并感染,可保守支持治疗。外科介入有多种方式,介入时机视具体情况而定。对于合并腹腔间隔室综合征、胆道梗阻者应早期外科介入治疗;局部并发症的处理一般宜在发病4周以后进行。     

重症急性胰腺炎急性反应期的重症监护治疗:多中心回顾性研究

目的 探讨重症急性胰腺炎(severe acute pancreatitis,SAP)急性反应期在重症监护室(intensive care unit,ICU)的治疗经验.方法 回顾性分析了北京医院、北京大学第一医院、北京大学深圳医院三家教学医院ICU从2001年1月至2011年12月共11年间收治的188例SAP患者的临床资料.结果 男性121例,女性67例;年龄19～104(51.0±18.2)岁;入ICU APACHEⅡ评分为(22.2±4.6)分;总治愈率为84.0％;急性反应期死亡率10.1％;后期死亡率5.9％.常见系统并发症为急性肾功能不全(46.3％)、急性呼吸窘迫综合征(35.6％)、休克(17.6％)等.局部并发症发生率为47.3％,包括急性胰周液体积聚(32.8％)、急性坏死性液体积聚及包裹性胰腺坏死(48.4％)、假性囊肿(18.8％)等.主要ICU治疗措施包括ICU监护、液体治疗、呼吸循环支持、肾替代治疗、抗感染、控制血糖、抑制胰酶活性及分泌、营养支持等.外科干预治疗包括内镜逆行胰胆管造影及十二指肠乳头切开术、B超/CT定位置管穿刺引流、开腹胰腺坏死清除及引流等.结论 急性反应期为SAP患者死亡的第一高峰时段.全身炎性反应综合征的治疗涉及多器官及多学科.积极、正确的ICU处理可逆转系统并发症,并为后续局部并发症的处理创造条件和争取时间,进而降低病死率.     

Predicting delayed union in osteoporotic vertebral fractures with consecutive magnetic resonance imaging in the acute phase: a multicenter cohort study

Summary

This study demonstrated the predictive values of radiological findings for delayed union after osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs). High-signal changes on T2WI were useful findings.

Introduction

The purpose of the present study is to determine predictive radiological findings for delayed union by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and plain X-rays at two time points in the acute phase of OVFs.

Methods

This multicenter cohort study was performed from 2012 to 2015. A total of 218 consecutive patients with OVFs ≤2 weeks old were enrolled. MRIs and plain X-rays were performed at the time of enrollment and at 1- and 6-month follow-ups. Signal changes on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) were classified as diffuse low-, confined low-, or no-signal change; those on T2WI were classified as high (similar to the intensity of cerebrospinal fluid), confined low-, diffuse low-, or no-signal change. The angular motion of the fractured vertebral body was measured with X-rays.

Results

A total of 153 patients completed the 6-month follow-up. A high-signal change on T2WI was most useful in predicting delayed union. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values were 53.3, 87.8, and 51.6 % at enrollment and 65.5, 84.8, and 51.4 % at the 1-month follow-up, respectively. The positive predictive value increased to 62.5 % with observation of high- or diffuse low-signal changes at both enrollment and the 1-month follow-up. The cutoff value of vertebral motion was 5 degrees. Sensitivity and specificity at enrollment were 52.4 and 74.1 %, respectively.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the radiological factors predicting delayed union after an OVF. T2 high-signal changes showed the strongest association with delayed union. Consecutive MRIs were particularly useful as a differential tool to predict delayed union following OVFs.

     

Risk factors for the prognosis of acute kidney injury under the Acute Kidney Injury Network definition: a retrospective, multicenter study in critically ill patients

Aim: Despite significant advances in medical management and therapeutics, acute kidney injury (AKI) is still a common and serious complication with high morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients, especially in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The primary purpose of this study is to apply the definition proposed by the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) to investigate the incidence, 28‐day mortality and risk factors for the prognosis of AKI in ICU. Methods: In this retrospective study, data from a cohort of 4642 patients admitted to five ICUs were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the risk factors for prognosis of AKI. Results: A total of 1036 patients were enrolled. AKI occurred in 353 of them (34.1%) under the AKIN criteria and the mortality was 54.4%. Multivariable analysis showed that variables related to the prognosis of AKI were: four or more (≥4) organ failed systems (odds ratio (OR) = 25.612), AKI III (OR = 14.441), AKI II (OR = 4.491), mechanical ventilation (OR = 7.201), sepsis (OR = 4.552), severe acute pancreatitis (OR = 3.299), base serum creatinine (OR = 1.004) and the length of stay in ICU (OR = 1.050). Conclusions: For critically ill patient, the ICU mortality of AKI was correlated with various independent risk factors, especially AKI II, AKI III, severe acute pancreatitis and multiple organ failed systems.