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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Urine leaks in children sustaining blunt renal trauma

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
imageBACKGROUND Few consensus statements exist to guide the timely diagnosis and management of urine leaks in children sustaining blunt renal trauma (BRT). The aims of this study were to characterize kidney injuries among children who sustain BRT, evaluate risk factors for urine leaks, and describe the negative impact of urinoma on patient outcomes and resource consumption. METHODS A retrospective review was performed of 347 patients, younger than 19 years, who presented with BRT to a single American College of Surgeons–verified Level I Pediatric Trauma Center between 2005 and 2020. Frequency of and risk factors for urine leak after BRT were evaluated, and impact on patient outcomes and resource utilization were analyzed. RESULTS In total, 44 (12.7%) patients developed urine leaks, which exclusively presented among injury Grade 3 (n = 5; 11.4%), Grade 4 (n = 27; 61.4%), and Grade 5 (n = 12; 27.3%). A minority of urine leaks (n = 20; 45.5%) were discovered on presenting CT scan but all within 3 days. Kidney-specific operative procedures (nephrectomy, cystoscopy with J/ureteral stent, percutaneous nephrostomy) were more common among urine leak patients (n = 17; 38.6%) compared with patients without urine leaks (n = 3; 1.0%; p = 0.001). Patients with urine leak had more frequent febrile episodes during hospital stay (n = 24; 54.5%; p = 0.001) and showed increased overall 90-day readmission rates (n = 14; 33.3%; p
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Management of the open abdomen: A systematic review with meta-analysis and practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
imageBACKGROUND Multiple techniques describe the management of the open abdomen (OA) and restoration of abdominal wall integrity after damage-control laparotomy (DCL). It is unclear which operative technique provides the best method of achieving primary myofascial closure at the index hospitalization. METHODS A writing group from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature regarding OA management strategies in the adult population after DCL. The group sought to understand if fascial traction techniques or techniques to reduce visceral edema improved the outcomes in these patients. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology was utilized, meta-analyses were performed, and an evidence profile was generated. RESULTS Nineteen studies met inclusion criteria. Overall, the use of fascial traction techniques was associated with improved primary myofascial closure during the index admission (relative risk, 0.32) and fewer hernias (relative risk, 0.11.) The use of fascial traction techniques did not increase the risk of enterocutaneous fistula formation nor mortality. Techniques to reduce visceral edema may improve the rate of closure; however, these studies were very limited and suffered significant heterogeneity. CONCLUSION We conditionally recommend the use of a fascial traction system over routine care when treating a patient with an OA after DCL. This recommendation is based on the benefit of improved primary myofascial closure without worsening mortality or enterocutaneous fistula formation. We are unable to make any recommendations regarding techniques to reduce visceral edema. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; Level IV.
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Association of trauma severity with antibody seroconversion in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: A multicenter, prospective, observational study

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
imageBACKGROUND Heparin administration can induce the production of anti–platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin antibodies with platelet-activating properties, causing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Previous studies have suggested that trauma severity influences HIT immune responses, but their relationship has not been fully explained. This study aimed to clarify this association by multicenter prospective observational study. METHODS Trauma patients who met the criteria of age 18 years or older and Injury Severity Scores (ISSs) of ≥9 from March 2018 to February 2019 were included. Patients who did not receive any heparin and those who received it as flushes or for treatment were also included. Patients were divided into three groups based on trauma severity (to mild [ISS 9–15], moderate [ISS 16–24], and severe injury groups [ISS ≥25]) and were compared by the seroconversion time and rate, as well as the disappearance rate of antibodies on day 30. RESULTS A total of 184 patients were included: 55, 62, and 67 patients were classified into the mild, moderate, and severe injury groups, respectively. Overall, the seroconversion rates of anti-PF4/heparin immunoglobulin G (IgG) and HIT antibodies by washed platelet activation assay were 26.6% and 16.3%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the seroconversion rates of anti-PF4/heparin IgG (p = 0.016) and HIT antibodies (p = 0.046) among the groups. Seroconversion rates in both assays increased with increasing trauma severity. The time required to achieve seroconversion was similar (between 5 and 10 days of trauma onset) regardless of heparin administration. Anti-PF4/heparin IgG and HIT antibodies were no longer detected on day 30 in 28.6% and 60.9% of seroconverted patients, respectively. CONCLUSION Development of HIT antibodies was observed commonly in severely injured trauma patients. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia antibody development may be related to trauma severity, with a high disappearance frequency on day 30. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.
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Hyperglycemia in nondiabetic adult trauma patients is associated with worse outcomes than diabetic patients: An analysis of 95,764 patients

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
imageBACKGROUND The adverse impact of acute hyperglycemia is well documented but its specific effects on nondiabetic trauma patients are unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze the differential impact of hyperglycemia on outcomes between diabetic and nondiabetic trauma inpatients. METHODS Adults admitted 2018 to 2019 to 46 Level I/II trauma centers with two or more blood glucose tests were analyzed. Diabetes status was determined from International Classification of Diseases—10th Rev.—Clinical Modification, trauma registry, and/or hemoglobin A1c greater than 6.5. Patients with and without one or more hyperglycemic result >180 mg/dL were compared. Logistic regression examined the effects of hyperglycemia and diabetes on outcomes, adjusting for age, sex, Injury Severity Score, and body mass index. RESULTS There were 95,764 patients: 54% male; mean age, 61 years; mean Injury Severity Score, 10; diabetic, 21%. Patients with hyperglycemia had higher mortality and worse outcomes compared with those without hyperglycemia. Nondiabetic hyperglycemic patients had the highest odds of mortality (diabetic: adjusted odds ratio, 3.11; 95% confidence interval, 2.8–3.5; nondiabetics: adjusted odds ratio, 7.5; 95% confidence interval, 6.8–8.4). Hyperglycemic nondiabetics experienced worse outcomes on every measure when compared with nonhyperglycemic nondiabetics, with higher rates of sepsis (1.1 vs. 0.1%, p
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Surgical exploration for stable patients with penetrating cardiac box injuries: When and how? A cohort of 155 patients from Marseille area

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
imageBACKGROUND The management of penetrating thoracic injuries in moribund or unstable patients is clearly described in contrast to that of stable patients, particularly for those with a cardiac box injury. This anatomic location suggests a potentially lethal cardiac injury and requires urgent therapeutic decision making. The present study aims at determining when surgical exploration is beneficial for stable patients presenting with penetrating cardiac box injuries (PCBIs). METHODS This was a retrospective study of stable civilian patients with PCBI referred to level I trauma centers in the Marseille area between January 2009 and December 2019. Using post hoc analysis of the management outcomes, patients whose surgery was considered therapeutic (group A) were compared with those whose surgery was considered nontherapeutic and with nonoperated patients (group B). RESULTS A total of 155 patients with PCBI were included, with 88% (n = 137) of stab wound injuries. Overall, surgical exploration was performed in 54% (n = 83), considered therapeutic in 71% (n = 59), and performed by video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery in 42% (n = 35) with a conversion rates of 14% (n = 5). Initial extended fast assessment with sonography for trauma revealed the presence of hemopericardium in 29% (n = 29) in group A versus 9.5% (n = 7) in group B, p = 0.010, and was associated with a negative predictive value of 93% regarding the presence of a cardiac injury. Chest tube flow was significantly higher in patients who required surgery, with a median (interquartile range) of 600.00 (350.00–1200.00) mL versus 300.0 (150.00–400.00) mL (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Extended fast assessment with sonography for trauma and chest tube flow are the cornerstones of the management of stable PCBI. Video-assisted thoracoscopy represents an interesting approach to check intrathoracic wounds while minimizing surgical morbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.
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Characterizing physical trauma in children and youth with special health care needs

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
imageBACKGROUND Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) have or are at an increased risk for a chronic condition necessitating medical and related services beyond what children usually require. While evidence suggests that CYSHCN are at an increased risk of injury, little is known about this population within the trauma system. This study describes CYSHCN within the pediatric trauma system and examines patterns of injury risk (i.e., intent, place of injury, trauma type, and mechanism of injury) based on special health care need (SHCN) status. METHODS For this cross-sectional study, we used data from the 2018 National Trauma Data Bank to identify pediatric encounters (1–18 years, N = 115,578) and compare demographics (sex, race/ethnicity, insurance status, and age) by CYSHCN status using χ2 and t tests. Children and youth with special health care needs encounters were compared with non-SHCN encounters using multinomial logistic regression models, controlling for demographics. RESULTS Overall, 16.7% pediatric encounters reported an SHCN. Children and youth with special health care needs encounters are older, and a higher proportion is publicly insured than non-SHCN encounters (p
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“The armor phenomenon” in obese patients with penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
imageBACKGROUND Obesity represents a growing global health threat, which generally portends increased morbidity and mortality in the context of traumatic injuries. We hypothesized that there may exist a protective effect related to increased weight and truncal girth provided for obese patients in penetrating torso injuries, although this may not exert a significant positive impact overall upon clinical outcomes. METHODS A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted across five databases up to March 2021 (Medline, Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane library) to examine the effect of obesity on penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries. The primary outcome was to determine the rate of nonsignificant injury and injury patterns. Secondary outcomes examined were lengths of stay, complications, and mortality. Comparisons were drawn by meta-analysis. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO under CRD42020216277. RESULTS There were 2,952 publications assessed with 12 meeting the inclusion criteria for review. Nine studies were included for quantitative analysis, including 5,013 patients sustaining penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries, of which 29.6% were obese. Obese patients that sustained stab injuries underwent more nontherapeutic operations. Obese patients that sustained gunshot injuries had longer intensive care and total hospital length of stay. Obese patients suffered more respiratory complications and were at an increased risk of death during their admission. CONCLUSION The "armor phenomenon" does not truly protect obese patients, a population that experiences increased morbidity and mortality following penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; Level IV.
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Validation of acute pancreatitis among adults in an integrated healthcare system

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader

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Background: Acute pancreatitis is a serious gastrointestinal disease that is an important target for drug safety surveillance. Little is known about the accuracy of ICD-10 codes for acute pancreatitis in the US, or their performance in specific clinical settings. We conducted a validation study to assess the accuracy of acute pancreatitis ICD-10 diagnosis codes in inpatient, emergency department (ED), and outpatient settings. Methods: We reviewed electronic medical records for encounters with acute pancreatitis diagnosis codes in an integrated healthcare system from October 2015 to December 2019. Trained abstractors and physician adjudicators determined whether events met criteria for acute pancreatitis. Results: Out of 1,844 eligible events, we randomly sampled 300 for review. Across all clinical settings, 182 events met validation criteria for an overall positive predictive value (PPV) of 61% (95% CI, 55-66%). The PPV was 87% (95% CI, 79-92%) for inpatient codes, but only 45% for ED (95% CI, 35-54%) and outpatient (95% CI, 34-55%) codes. ED and outpatient encounters accounted for 43% of validated events. Acute pancreatitis codes from any encounter type with lipase >3 times the upper limit of normal had a PPV of 92% (95% CI, 86-95%) and identified 85% of validated events (95% CI, 79-89%), while codes with lipase
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Anterior cervical spine surgery and dysphagia

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader

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Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to summarize current evidence regarding dysphagia in anterior cervical spine surgeries (ACSS) and to present recent advances in evaluation and surgical technique. Recent findings Various risk factors for dysphagia have been identified, and they include female sex, smoking history, prior surgery and cervical lordotic angle. EAT-10 is a validated tool for the assessment of individuals with dysphagia post-ACSS. Local intraoperative corticosteroid application significantly reduced the incidence and magnitude of dysphagia in four out of five studies that were reviewed. Individuals who had undergone cervical disc replacement (CDR) and revision surgery by a zero-profile anchored spacer (ROI-C) device experienced less dysphagia than those who had anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF). Videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) after ACSS demonstrated pharyngeal weakness and increased posterior pharyngeal wall thickness, while no other abnormality was found. Summary Different technique variations can reduce dysphagia severity in individuals undergoing ACSS. Surgeons are encouraged to continue performing randomized control studies to assist in choosing the most favourable technique for the patient.
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The relationship between sarcopenia, dysphagia, malnutrition, and frailty: making the case for proactive swallowing exercises to promote healthy aging

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader
imagePurpose of review The purpose of this review is to summarize current evidence regarding the relationship between sarcopenia of the swallowing muscles, dysphagia, malnutrition, and frailty in the context of aging. Further, this review will provide preliminary support for proactive swallowing exercises to reverse and/or prevent sarcopenia of the swallowing muscles. Recent findings Recent studies lend support to a cyclic relationship between sarcopenia of the swallowing muscles, dysphagia, malnutrition, and frailty. Unfortunately, all studies are limited by their study design and lack instrumental imaging of swallowing function. Research (in the limbs) supports the use of proactive exercises and protein supplementation to reverse sarcopenia, especially in prefrail individuals. This provides a foundation to design and test similar preventive exercises for the swallowing muscles. Summary As the population is rapidly aging, it is vital to understand how the natural loss of muscle in aging impacts swallowing function and the downstream impact on nutritional and physical function. Prospective, longitudinal research with sophisticated outcome measures are required to fully understand this cycle and provide an opportunity to test methods for interrupting the cycle.
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