Autologous transfusion of hemothoraces in resuscitation after thoracic trauma: a narrative review

Traumatic hemothoraces represent a readily available, normothermic, and ABO-compatible source of blood. As a resuscitation fluid, pleural blood presents a reduced risk of transmissible disease and hemolytic transfusion reactions, and it minimizes patient exposure to the storage lesion that affects allogeneic blood products. Pleural blood therefore retains more physiological concentrations of electrolytes and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate when compared to packed red blood cells. However, pleural blood also has a lower oxygen-carrying capacity than packed red blood cells and is largely depleted of coagulation factors. Yet, due to the presence of tissue factor and other proinflammatory mediators, it may paradoxically increase clot formation once transfused. Uncertainty remains regarding the clinical relevance of the supranormal levels of proinflammatory mediators and the effects of autotransfusion on coagulation in vivo. There is now a body of evidence suggesting that autotransfusion reduces the requirement for donor blood products, and small studies have not identified any signals of harm; however, any positive or negative effects on patient outcomes are yet to be conclusively demonstrated. Centers with access to a robust supply of allogeneic donor blood should continue with standard care until more comprehensive research is conducted to clarify both the clinical benefits and risks of autotransfusion. Nonetheless, autotransfusion retains a role in cases where there is a contraindication to allogeneic transfusion, and in low-resource centers where safe and reliable access to donor blood products is limited

Penetrating cardiac injuries of the left ventricle - a case series and review of literature

Background:Penetrating cardiac injuries (PCIs) remain a significant surgical challenge, characterized by high mortality rates, particularly in young adult males. The mechanism of injury (gunshot wound vs. stab wound) significantly influences outcomes.Importance:This study presents two cases of left ventricle PCIs, emphasizing the need for prompt diagnosis and intervention. The rising incidence of PCI necessitates a high index of suspicion based on clinical findings and basic imaging to facilitate timely surgical intervention and potentially improve survival.Case series:Two patients presented within 48 hours at a South African hospital. Case 1 involved a 32-year-old male with a stab wound to the anterior left ventricle, injuring the left anterior descending artery. Case 2 involved a 26-year-old male with a gunshot wound (GSW) to the posterior left ventricle. Both underwent immediate surgical repair.Discussion:The clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches (including eFAST), and operative techniques are described. Postoperative courses varied significantly; one patient developed complications including severe hypertension and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, while the other had an uncomplicated recovery. A literature review highlights inconsistencies in reported PCI incidence and mortality, largely attributed to small sample sizes and methodological limitations in previous studies.Conclusion:The increased frequency of GSWs and stab wounds causing PCIs underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion supported by clinical findings and basic imaging to enable rapid surgical intervention. This expeditious approach could potentially improve mortality rates. Further research with larger, well-designed studies is crucial to refine our understanding of PCI management and improve outcomes.Peer reviewe

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Interpretation: Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research