Blood transfusion in cardiac surgery is a risk factor for increased hospital length of stay in adult patients

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud \ud Allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion has been proposed as a negative indicator of quality in cardiac surgery. Hospital length of stay (LOS) may be a surrogate of poor outcome in transfused patients.\ud \ud \ud \ud Methods\ud \ud Data from 502 patients included in Transfusion Requirements After Cardiac Surgery (TRACS) study were analyzed to assess the relationship between RBC transfusion and hospital LOS in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and enrolled in the TRACS study.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud According to the status of RBC transfusion, patients were categorized into the following three groups: 1) 199 patients (40%) who did not receive RBC, 2) 241 patients (48%) who received 3 RBC units or fewer (low transfusion requirement group), and 3) 62 patients (12%) who received more than 3 RBC units (high transfusion requirement group). In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, the following factors were predictive of a prolonged hospital length of stay: age higher than 65 years, EuroSCORE, valvular surgery, combined procedure, LVEF lower than 40% and RBC transfusion of > 3 units.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusion\ud \ud RBC transfusion is an independent risk factor for increased LOS in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This finding highlights the adequacy of a restrictive transfusion therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.\ud \ud \ud \ud Trial registration\ud \ud Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: http://NCT01021631.The authors would like to thank Suelly Zeferino and Lígia Camara for their assistance with data extraction. There was no external funding source for this research.This work was supported by the Department of Anaesthesiology, InCor, University of Sao Paulo

Effect of early mobilization program after surgery in functional recovery and clinical complications in patients undergoing major abdominal cancer surgery

Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito de um programa pósoperatório de mobilização precoce na capacidade funcional e na incidência de complicações clínicas em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia oncológica abdominal de grande porte, quando comparado a uma estratégia de reabilitação pósoperatória convencional. Desenho: Estudo fase III de superioridade, unicêntrico, randomizado e controlado. Local: Unidades de internação (enfermarias e Unidade de Terapia Intensiva) do Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Participantes: Pacientes adultos do Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, submetidos à cirurgia oncológica abdominal de grande porte. Intervenção: Após assinarem o termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido e antes do procedimento cirúrgico, os pacientes foram aleatoriamente alocados para um protocolo de mobilização precoce pós-operatório, supervisionado, com treino aeróbico e resistido, que seguia um protocolo de progressão específico, realizado 2x/dia ou para um grupo controle, sem treino aeróbico e resistido específico, realizado 1x/dia. Desfecho primário: Inabilidade para atravessar o quarto do hospital ou andar três metros, sem ajuda de terceiros, na ocasião do 5° dia de pós-operatório. Resultados: Foram incluídos 108 pacientes na análise final; destes, 54 foram alocados no grupo intervenção e 54 no grupo controle. O desfecho primário ocorreu em 16,7% (95% Intervalo de confiança [IC] 7,9 - 29,3) dos pacientes do grupo submetido ao protocolo de mobilização precoce e em 38,9% (95% IC 25,9 - 53,1) dos pacientes do grupo controle (p= 0,010). Comparado com a reabilitação convencional, o protocolo de mobilização precoce no pós-operatório resultou em redução do risco absoluto do desfecho primário em 22,2% (95% IC 5,9 - 38,6) e um número necessário para tratar de 4,5 (95% IC 2,5 - 17,1). Conclusões: Um programa de mobilização precoce pós-operatório resultou em redução da perda funcional em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia oncológica abdominal de grande porte para tratamento do câncer quando comparado a um programa de reabilitação pós-operatória convencionalObjectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of early mobilization program performed in the postoperative in the functional capacity and incidence of clinical complications in patients undergoing major elective oncologic abdominal surgery. Design: Phase III, randomised, unicentric, controlled, parallel-group, superiority trial. Setting: Regular ward and Intensive Care Unit of Instituto do Cancer do Estado de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, a tertiary oncology university hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Participants: Adult patients with cancer who underwent major abdominal oncologic surgery were included. Interventions: After signing informed consent and before surgery, patients were randomly assigned to a group of early postoperative mobilization program, with a specific aerobic and resistance training twice a day or to a control group (standard rehabilitation care, once a day). Main outcome measure: Inability to cross the room or walk 3 meters without human assistance, at 5th postoperative day. Results: A total of 108 patients were included in the final analysis. Fifty four were randomized to the intervention group and 54 to standard group. The primary endpoint occurred in 16.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7,9 - 29,3) of patients in the intervention group and in 38.9% (95%CI 25,9 - 53,1) of patients in the standard group (p=.010). Compared to the standard group, the early mobilization program in postoperative resulted in an absolute risk reduction for the outcome of 22.2% (95%CI 5.9 - 38.6) and a number needed to treat of 4.5 (95%CI 2.5 - 17.1). Conclusions: An early mobilization program resulted in greater postoperative functional capacity in patients undergoing major cancer surgery compared with a standard rehabilitation Trial registration: NCT0169317

Postbreast cancer surgery outpatient rehabilitation program: Analysis of clinical profile, impact, and direct medical costs

Context: Approximately 600,000 new cases of cancer are estimated to occur in Brazil over the 2-year period of 2018–2019, and the world economic impact of cancer was $895 billion dollars in 2008. Aims: To perform an analysis contemplating the clinical profile, impact, and direct medical costs of an outpatient rehabilitation program for patients who have undergone breast cancer surgery. Settings and Design: A partial economic analysis was performed from the perspective of a Brazilian public hospital. Subjects and Methods: An observational study was conducted using data from a retrospective cohort of patients who had undergone breast cancer surgery. These patients had their first rehabilitation appointment between August 2015 and July 2016. Statistical Analysis Used: Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, Student's t-test, Fisher's F-test analysis of variance, or the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test. Post hoc tests were conducted to check for differences between the pairs of categories. The nonparametric Kolmogorov–Smirnov test evaluated the data normality. All hypothesis testing used a significance level of 5$ 7235.32. Conclusions: The study found good results in the indicators of clinical outcome and quality of life. The costs were reported from a partial evaluation point of view and may contribute to future full evaluations

Blood transfusion in cardiac surgery is a risk factor for increased hospital length of stay in adult patients

Background: Allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion has been proposed as a negative indicator of quality in cardiac surgery. Hospital length of stay (LOS) may be a surrogate of poor outcome in transfused patients.Methods: Data from 502 patients included in Transfusion Requirements After Cardiac Surgery (TRACS) study were analyzed to assess the relationship between RBC transfusion and hospital LOS in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and enrolled in the TRACS study.Results: According to the status of RBC transfusion, patients were categorized into the following three groups: 1) 199 patients (40%) who did not receive RBC, 2) 241 patients (48%) who received 3 RBC units or fewer (low transfusion requirement group), and 3) 62 patients (12%) who received more than 3 RBC units (high transfusion requirement group). In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, the following factors were predictive of a prolonged hospital length of stay: age higher than 65 years, EuroSCORE, valvular surgery, combined procedure, LVEF lower than 40% and RBC transfusion of > 3 units.Conclusion: RBC transfusion is an independent risk factor for increased LOS in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This finding highlights the adequacy of a restrictive transfusion therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: http://NCT01021631. © 2013 Galas et al. licensee BioMed Central Ltd.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Predictors of major complications after elective abdominal surgery in cancer patients

Background: Patients undergoing abdominal surgery for solid tumours frequently develop major postoperative complications, which negatively affect quality of life, costs of care and survival. Few studies have identified the determinants of perioperative complications in this group. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study including all patients (age>18) undergoing abdominal surgery for cancer at a single institution between June 2011 and August 2013. Patients undergoing emergency surgery, palliative procedures, or participating in other studies were excluded. Primary outcome was a composite of 30-day all-cause mortality and infectious, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurologic, renal and surgical complications. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictive factors for major perioperative adverse events. Results: Of a total 308 included patients, 106 (34.4%) developed a major complication during the 30-day follow-up period. Independent predictors of postoperative major complications were: age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03 [95% CI 1.01-1.06], p=0.012 per year), ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status greater than or equal to 3 (OR 2.61 [95% CI 1.33-5.17], p=0.003), a preoperative haemoglobin level lower than 12g/dL (OR 2.13 [95% CI 1.21-4.07], p=0.014), intraoperative use of colloids (OR 1.89, [95% CI 1.03-4.07], p=0.047), total amount of intravenous fluids (OR 1.22 [95% CI 0.98-1.59], p=0.106 per litre), intraoperative blood losses greater than 500mL (2.07 [95% CI 1.00-4.31], p=0.043), and hypotension needing vasopressor support (OR 4.68 [95% CI 1.55-27.72], p=0.004). The model had good discrimination with the area under the ROC curve being 0.80 (95% CI 0.75-0.84, p<0.001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a perioperative strategy aimed at reducing perioperative complications in cancer surgery should include treatment of preoperative anaemia and an optimal fluid strategy, avoiding fluid overload and intraoperative use of colloids.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Transfusion requirements in surgical oncology patients: A prospective, randomized controlled trial

Background: Several studies have indicated that a restrictive erythrocyte transfusion strategy is as safe as a liberal one in critically ill patients, but there is no clear evidence to support the superiority of any perioperative transfusion strategy in patients with cancer. Methods: In a randomized, controlled, parallel-group, double-blind (patients and outcome assessors) superiority trial in the intensive care unit of a tertiary oncology hospital, the authors evaluated whether a restrictive strategy of erythrocyte transfusion (transfusion when hemoglobin concentration <7 g/dl) was superior to a liberal one (transfusion when hemoglobin concentration <9 g/dl) for reducing mortality and severe clinical complications among patients having major cancer surgery. All adult patients with cancer having major abdominal surgery who required postoperative intensive care were included and randomly allocated to treatment with the liberal or the restrictive erythrocyte transfusion strategy. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of mortality and morbidity. Results: A total of 198 patients were included as follows: 101 in the restrictive group and 97 in the liberal group. The primary composite endpoint occurred in 19.6% (95% CI, 12.9 to 28.6%) of patients in the liberal-strategy group and in 35.6% (27.0 to 45.4%) of patients in the restrictive-strategy group (P = 0.012). Compared with the restrictive strategy, the liberal transfusion strategy was associated with an absolute risk reduction for the composite outcome of 16% (3.8 to 28.2%) and a number needed to treat of 6.2 (3.5 to 26.5). Conclusion: A liberal erythrocyte transfusion strategy with a hemoglobin trigger of 9 g/dl was associated with fewer major postoperative complications in patients having major cancer surgery compared with a restrictive strategy.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe