EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial

More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

TURK GOGUS KALP DAMAR CERRAHISI DERGISI-TURKISH JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY

Background: This study aims to examine the effects of amiodarone versus propafenone for maintenance of stable sinus rhythm after left atrial bipolar radiofrequency ablation combined with a mitral valve procedure in patients with mitral valve disease and persistent atrial fibrillation. Methods: The study included 75 patients (29 males, 46 females; mean age 66.8 +/- 7.4 years; range 54 to 82 years) who underwent left atrial bipolar radiofrequency ablation combined with mitral valve surgery between July 2008 and July 2010. Patients were divided into three groups of 25: propafenone group (group 1), amiodarone group (group 2), and control group (group 3). Atrial fibrillation patients with slow ventricular response were excluded from the study. Results: Data was collected at preoperative period, during surgery, prior to discharge from hospital, and at 3, 6, and 18 months after discharge. Patients from all groups were followed for 18 months. In group 1, the number of patients in sinus rhythm was 22 at discharge, 20 at three months, and 21 at six and 18 months. In group 2, the number of patients in sinus rhythm was 18 at discharge, 13 at three months, 15 at six months, and 16 at 18 months. In group 3, the number of patients in sinus rhythm was 16 at discharge, 11 at three months, 12 at six months, and 14 at 18 months. Group 1 had a statistically significantly higher rate of stable sinus rhythm. No hospital mortality was observed in any group. Conclusion: This study revealed that propafenone was more effective than amiodarone in maintenance of stable sinus rhythm at the postoperative period in patients who underwent bipolar radiofrequency ablation combined with a mitral valve procedure

TURK GOGUS KALP DAMAR CERRAHISI DERGISI-TURKISH JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY

Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible effects of cardiopulmonary bypass and procedures for cardiac arrest in the etiology of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Between January 2006 and January 2007, consecutive 449 patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided in two groups. The first group included 86 patients (58 males, 28 females) who underwent off-pump coronary revascularization, whereas the second group included 363 patients (261 males, 102 females) who underwent coronary revascularization with cardiopulmonary bypass. The incidence of postoperative AF and some perioperative variables in both groups were studied and compared. Results: The incidence of postoperative AF was 21.4% in cardiopulmonary bypass group and 3.4% in off-pump group. Avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass resulted in a statistically significantly reduction in the incidence of postoperative AF. Conclusion: The incidence of AF following myocardial revascularization without cardiopulmonary bypass is considerably lower. Our study results suggest that off-pump procedure is very effective in reducing the incidence of postoperative AF

Experimental investigation of surface flow structure over non-slender diamond wing

The experimental study focuses on investigating the aerodynamic flow structure and the characteristics over non-slender diamond wing having low sweep angle (?, =, 51°). The vortical flow on the surface of the non-slender diamond models was investigated using dye-flow visualization and a stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) technique. The near-surface flow structure, topology, and the formation of the vortex breakdown over the wing were also studied by varying the angle of attack ? within the range of 5°, ?, ?, ?, 25°. Experimental analysis is composed of the time-averaged patterns of streamlines, contours of vorticity distributions, and stream-wise velocity components for interpreting flow physics. It was concluded that vortex breakdown occurred farther upstream from the trailing edge of the wing at low angle of attack. However, once the angle of attack increased, formation of the vortex breakdown occurs farther downstream. So the location of vortex breakdown moved to the apex of the wing as the angle of attack increases. And the flow over the wing was fully stalled when the angle reaches ?, =, 25°. © Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018.Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit: OKUBAP-2014-PT3-038 112 M908Fig. 5 Flow patterns of time-averaged velocity vectors, streamline, and vorticity at ? = 10° at Re = 10,000 Fig. 6 Flow patterns of time-averaged velocity vectors, streamline, and vorticity at ? = 20° at Re = 10,000 Fig. 7 Flow patterns of time-averaged velocity vectors, streamline, and vorticity at ? = 25° at Re = 10,000 Acknowledgments The authors are pleased to acknowledge the financial support of The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for funding under project No: 112 M908. The author also thanked the Scientific Research Projects Unit of Osmaniye Korkut Ata University for financial support under the project No: OKUBAP-2014-PT3-038

Predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in premenopausal women

Aims: We aimed to investigate the predictors of Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in premenopausal women. Background: CIMT was shown to be a strong coronary artery disease predictor in both pre- and postmenopausal women. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 2298 participants. The final cohort included 783 pre-menopausal women (with a mean age of 39 ± 11). Carotid intima media thickness was measured in all of the participants. Results: Mean CIMT of premenopausal women was 0.51 ± 0.14 mm. Age- adjusted correlates of CIMT was SBP (r = 0.138; p=<0.001), DBP (r=0.095; p=0.012) and LDL/HDL (r =0.077; p=0.041) ratio. Linear regression analysis was done in order to find independent covariates of carotid intima media thickness in two different models. Only age and systolic blood pressure were independently associated with CIMT. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only age was an independent predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis . Hypertension had the highest Odds ratio with borderline significance. Conclusion: The age and systolic blood pressure were independently associated with CIMT in premenopausal healthy Turkish women. Hypertension might be the best target for a modifiable risk factor for CIMT and future cardiovascular risk in this population

Small colorectal liver metastases: Detection with SPIO-enhanced MRI in comparison with gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI and CT imaging

The aim of this prospective study was to compare the diagnostic role of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus gadobenate dimeglumine (GbD)-enhanced MRI and computed tomography (CT) investigations for detection of small (less than 1 cm) colorectal liver metastases (LMs) of colorectal cancer. Seventy-eight LMs in 16 patients were evaluated with dynamic CT imaging, GbD-enhanced dynamic MR imaging and SPIO-enhanced MR imaging. Two radiologists were reviewed the LMs seperately. Agreement between the readers and three algorithms was analyzed. Differences between the lesion detection ratios of the methods were analyzed by two proportion z test. Sensitivity values of each modality were also calculated. Interobserver agreement values with kappa analysis were found to be the best for three modalities and kappa values were 0.866, 0.843, and 1.0 respectively. For all 78 LMs, SPIO-enhanced MRI detected all lesions (100% sensitivity). This sensitivity value was higher than GbD-enhanced MRI, and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05). GbD-enhanced MRI depicted 71 lesions and this modality could not detected 7 lesions (91% sensitivity). This modality had moderate sensitivity, and this value is greater than CT imaging, so there was a significant difference also (p < 0.05). Dynamic triphasic CT imaging detected 64 (R1) and 65 (R2) LMs. This modality had the lowest sensitivity (R1: 0.82, R2: 0.83 respectively). Only SPIO-enhanced MRI was able to detect all LMs less than 1 cm. LMs were the best detected with SPIO-enhanced MRI. We recommend SPIO-enhanced MRI to be the primary alternative modality especially for diagnosis of small colorectal LMs. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved