Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Size-selective predation of the catfish Pimelodus pintado (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) on the golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)

This paper describes the size-selective predation on Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) by Pimelodus pintado (Azpelicueta, Lundberg & Loureiro, 2008) from the time it arrived at the Mirim Lagoon basin (2005). Sampling was carried out using bottom trawl in depths of 3-6 m, from January to November 2005, and from October to November 2008. Pimelodus pintado began to prey upon L. fortunei soon after its arrival (austral spring of 2005). On the spring of 2008, L. fortunei was found to be the most important food item of P. pintado. The variation in length of the mussels (0.7-3.2 cm, with a mode of 1.3 cm) indicates that the species is now fully established in the system. Our data indicates that large individuals of P. pintado incorporate more mussels in their diets than small individuals. However, regardless of their size, P. pintado individuals predate only on small (<1.4 cm) representatives of L. fortunei. This prey size corresponds to a phase when the mussel is more mobile and readily available for fish. Larger, more aggregated prey groups that are attached to hard substrates are avoided by fish predators

Feeding strategy of Menticirrhus americanus and Menticirrhus littoralis (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) juveniles in a sandy beach surf zone of southern Brazil

The diet and foraging strategy of juvenile Menticirrhus americanus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Menticirrhus littoralis (Holbrook, 1847) were studied, testing the existence of trophic overlap between these species and within different seasons (spring and summer). Individuals were sampled using a beach seine in the surf zone near Rio Grande, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Based on Morisita's Simplified Overlap Index and Bootstrapping technique, trophic overlap between species was considered high during the spring (Cik = 0.97 ± 0.07) and low during the summer (Cik = 0.37 ± 0.14). Juveniles shared the same food resources during the spring (FO of amphipods > 0.75), with the M. americanus diet presenting lower prey diversity (N = 7) when compared to M. littoralis (N = 13). In the summer, M. americanus presented a more varied diet (N = 13) than during the spring, suggesting a non-specialized opportunistic diet, whereas M. littoralis continued to show a diversified diet (N = 14). During the summer, M. americanus presented a generalist-opportunist feeding strategy, whereas juvenile M. littoralis tended to be more specialist

Influ\ueancia da salinidade no crescimento de juvenis de Jenynsia multidentata Jenyns (Pisces)

Tendo em vista que as populações de Jenynsia multidentata Jenyns, 1842 aparentemente atingem maiores comprimentos na região estuarina da Lagoa dos Patos quando comparadas com o ambiente límnico adjacente, foi realizado um experimento laboratorial, visando a comparação das taxas de crescimento, do comprimento e peso total dos juvenis da espécie mantidos em duas salinidades (zero e 16). Quatro proles de diferentes fêmeas foram separadas, logo após o parto, em aquários de quatro litros, sendo que metade dos indivíduos de cada prole foi submetida a salinidade zero e a outra metade a salinidade 16. Quatro aquários foram mantidos a temperatura constante de 28&deg;C e, outros quatro aquários sofreram modificação da temperatura no décimo oitavo dia de experimento, passando de 28 para 24&deg;C. Após trinta e oito dias, todos os indivíduos foram medidos e pesados. Os indivíduos mantidos em temperatura constante e salinidade zero, quando comparados com os mantidos em salinidade de 16, apresentaram valores estatisticamente menores de comprimento total (CT16 = 23,5 mm; CT0 = 20,4 mm; p < 0,05) e peso médio (P16 = 0,151 g; P0 = 0,086 g; p < 0,05). Os indivíduos mantidos nos aquários que sofreram variação na temperatura também apresentaram diferenças significativas em ambas as medidas (CT16 = 21,1 mm; CT0 = 18,2 mm; p < 0,05 e P16 = 0,104 g; P0 = 0,058 g; p < 0,05). Ao encerrar os experimentos, foi observada maior taxa de mortalidade na salinidade zero quando comparada com a salinidade 16, em ambos os experimentos. Em um novo experimento, uma quinta prole foi mantida em salinidades de zero e 16 por 70 dias, ocasião em que os indivíduos foram medidos em intervalos regulares de cinco dias. Os indivíduos tiveram maior crescimento em salinidade 16 do que zero. Portanto, em laboratório, o barrigudinho J. multidentata atingi maiores tamanho e peso em água salobra, corroborando as observações obtidas no ambiente natural.<br>Previous field studies suggest that Jenynsia multidentata Jenyns, 1842 populations reach larger sizes in the estuarine region of the Patos Lagoon when compared to the adjacent freshwater environments. A laboratorial experiment was carried out in order to test possible differences in growth rate, total length and average weight of individuals kept in two different salinities (zero and 16). Right after birth, four offspring of different females were split into separate aquariums of four liters each, being that half of the individuals of each offspring was submitted to salinity zero and the another half to salinity 16. Four aquariums were kept at the constant temperature of 28&deg;C, whereas the other ones suffered a change in temperature (from 28 to 24&deg;C) that occur 18 days from the beginning of the experiment. After thirty-eight days, all the individuals were measured and weighed. Individuals kept in constant temperature and salinity zero showed a significantly lower total length (TL16 = 23.5mm; TL0 = 20.4mm; p < 0.05) and weight (W16 = 0.151 g; W0 = 0.086 g; p < 0,05), when compared with the ones kept in salinity 16. Those individuals kept in aquariums that suffered variation in temperature also had significantly differences in both response variables (TL16 = 21.1mm; TL0 = 18.2 mm; p < 0.05 and W16 = 0.104 g; W0 = 0.058 g; p < 0,05). In both experiments, there was a higher mortality rate in those individuals kept in salinity zero when compared with those ones from salinity 16. Another experiment was set up to assess differences in growth rate between salinity zero and 16. A fifth offspring was split into aquariums with salinities 0 and 16. During 70 days, individuals were measured to the nearest mm at regular intervals of five days. Individuals significantly had higher growth rate in salinity 16 than zero. Our laboratorial results seemed to corroborate the field observations showing that the one-sided livebearer Jenynsia multidentata reaches greater total length and weight in brackish, estuarine waters when compared to freshwater

First records of introduced carps (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) in the natural habitats of Mirim and Patos Lagoon estuary, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

This is the first record in the wild of occurrence of four carp species (bighead Aristichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845), common Cyprinus carpio carpio Linnaeus, 1758, silver Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844), and grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844)) in the Mirim Lagoon and Patos Lagoon estuary. Our findings reinforce the hypothesis that during periods of elevated rainfall and freshwater discharge, exotic species could be easily transported from overflowed ponds and lakes into the Mirim-Patos Lagoon and then estuarine area.<br>Este trabalho registra a ocorrência de quatro espécies de carpas (cabeça-grande Aristichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845), comum Cyprinus carpio carpio Linnaeus, 1758, prateada Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844), e capim Ctenopharyngodon idellus (Valenciennes, 1844)) em ambientes naturais da Lagoa Mirim e do estuário da Lagoa dos Patos. Os resultados reforçam a hipótese de que durante períodos de excesso de chuvas e elevada descarga continental, espécies exóticas poderiam ser facilmente transportadas de tanques de cultivos e lagos transbordados para a Lagoa Mirim e a região estuarina da Lagoa dos Patos

The reproductive biology of the plata pompano, Trachinotus marginatus (Teleostei: Carangidae), in southern Brazil

The Plata pompano, Trachinotus marginatus (Cuvier, 1832), is an endemic carangid of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, occurring from Rio de Janeiro to Uruguay. This study describes the reproductive period, spawning type, the size at first gonadal maturation and the length-weight relationship of individuals sampled from landings of the artisanal and commercial fishing fleets in Rio Grande that operate along the coast of Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil (~ 32ºS) to the Uruguayan border (~ 34ºS). Monthly collections from September 2008 through January 2010 yielded 274 individuals ranging from 142 to 444 mm in total length (TL). The gonadal development stages were defined according to the histological examination of the ovaries and the testes. The relationship between TL (mm) and total weight TW (g) was statistically different between males (TW = 0.000463*TL2.7655) and females (TW = 0.000361*TL2.8131), showing negative allometric growth for both sexes. The sizes at first maturity were 187.2 mm and 254.9 mm for females and males, respectively. The presence of two modal groups of oocyte diameters suggested that total spawning occurred. The interpretation of the monthly variations of the condition factor and gonadosomatic index, which are associated with higher frequencies of the more advanced stages of gonadal development, identified the spring and summer months as the reproductive period, with a peak in the reproductive activity during November and January. These results suggested that the species has an opportunistic reproductive strategy

Checklist comparison and dominance patterns of the fish fauna at Taim Wetland, South Brazil

Taim Hydrological System is a unique subtropical wetland in southern Brazil harboring an exceptional biological diversity. In 1978, an ecological reserve was established to protect part of this area from increasing anthropogenic impacts in its surroundings. Fishes have been poorly investigated in this system. Based on a multi-gear sampling study encompassing several years(2001-2005), and on comparisons with previous fish inventories, we provide an up-to-date species list of fishes occurring in the Taim Wetland. In addition, we made the first preliminary description of fish dominance patterns found in the main lakes of the system (Flores, Nicola, Jacaré and Mangueira). Checklist comparison resulted in 62 fish species distributed in 24 families, with Characidae (19 species) and Cichlidae (7) showing the highest species richness. Six species are cited for the first time in the reserve: Trachelyopterus lucenai (Auchenipteridae), Hoplosternum littorale (Callichthyidae), Rineloricaria cadeae(Loricariidae), Eigenmannia trilineata (Sternopygidae), Odontesthes mirinensis and O. perugiae (Atherinopsidae). Apparently, the black catfish T. lucenai invaded the system in the last decade and became one of the dominant species in the pelagic waters. Although differences in gears hindered direct comparisons, differences in species composition and dominance patterns between shallow margins and pelagic waters of lakes seem to occur in the lakes. A more diverse assemblage dominated by small fishes (< 5cm) occurred in the protected, vegetated lakes margins. In contrast, an assemblage with lower species richness comprised of larger fishes (> 15 cm) seemed to dominate in pelagic waters.O Sistema Hidrológico do Taim é um banhando subtropical localizado no sul do Brasil que abriga uma diversidade biológica excepcional. Em 1978, uma reserva ecológica foi estabelecida para proteger parte dessa área do crescente impacto de ações antrópicas nos seus arredores. Os peixes tem sido muito pouco investigados nessa região. Baseado em coletas com vários amostradores durante vários anos (2001-2005), e em comparações com estudos prévios, esse trabalho fornece uma lista de espécies atualizada dos peixes ocorrendo no Taim. Também é apresentada a primeira descrição preliminar dos padrões de dominância nos principais lagos que compõem o sistema (Flores, Nicola, Jacaré e Mangueira). A análise comparada indicou a presença de 62 espécies de peixes distribuídas em 24 famílias, sendo Characidae (19 espécies) e Cichlidae (7) as famílias com o maior número de espécies. Seis espécies são registradas pela primeira vez na reserva:Trachelyopterus lucenai (Auchenipteridae), Hoplosternum littorale (Callichthyidae), Rineloricaria cadeae (Loricariidae), Eigenmannia trilineata (Sternopygidae), Odontesthes mirinensis e O. perugiae (Atherinopsidae). Aparentemente, o penharol T. lucenai invadiu o sistema na última década e tornou-se uma das espécies dominantes nas zonas pelágicas das lagoas. Embora diferenças nos amostradores não permitam comparações diretas, parecem ocorrer diferenças na composição de espécies e padrões de dominância entre as margens rasas e as zonas pelágicas dos lagos. Uma assembléia de peixes mais diversa, dominada por peixes pequenos (<5cm) ocorrem nas margens vegetadas e protegidas dos lagos, enquanto uma assembléia menos diversa formada por peixes de maior tamanho (>15cm) parece dominar as zonas pelágicas