Cytokine Changes in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma Post-Emergency Orthopaedic Surgery

Background: The process of neuroinflammation after surgery and how it may contribute to post-operative neurocognitive disorders (PND) is not well understood. Studying the association between central and peripheral cytokines and neuroinflammation is a prelude to the development of treatments for PND. Here, we investigate the hypotheses that there is a greater cytokine response in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) than plasma after orthopaedic surgery, and that plasma cytokine levels are directly related to CSF cytokine levels, enabling plasma cytokine levels to be used as markers of neuroinflammation. Methods: Patients admitted with a fractured neck of femur were invited to participate in this study. Participants had a spinal catheter inserted just prior to induction of anaesthesia. Samples of blood and CSF were taken before, immediately after, and on the first day following emergency surgery. The catheter was then removed. Samples were analysed for the presence of ten cytokines by immunoassay. Results: A spinal catheter was successfully inserted in 11 participants during the 18-month study period. Five plasma cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70 and IL-13) rose significantly following surgery, whereas all ten CSF cytokines rose significantly (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IFN-γ and TNF-α) (adjusted-p <0.05). Central (CSF) cytokine levels were consistently higher than their peripheral (plasma) counterparts after surgery, with some patients having a particularly marked neuroinflammatory response. The greatest increases occurred in IL-8 in CSF and IL-6 in plasma. There were significant, strong positive correlations between several of the measured cytokines in the CSF after surgery, but far fewer in plasma. There was no significant correlation between cytokine levels in the plasma and CSF at each of the three time points.Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyse paired samples of plasma and CSF for cytokine levels before and after emergency orthopaedic surgery. This study demonstrates that following surgery for a fractured neck of femur, there is a far greater rise in cytokines in the CSF compared to plasma. The lack of correlation between peripheral and central cytokines suggests measurement of peripheral cytokines are not necessarily related to which patients may have a large neuroinflammatory response.

799 Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Decisions in Neck of Femur Fractures – Is Documentation Adequate?

Introduction ‘Do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ (DNACPR) documentation is essential to communicate decisions regarding ceilings of care for patients to the clinical team. Patients admitted to hospital with a fractured neck of femur (#NOF) are often elderly with multiple comorbidities, and so robust and clear anticipatory care plans are especially indicated. Method All patients admitted to a large district general hospital in Scotland with a #NOF over a three-week period between 23/10/2020 and 12/11/2020 were identified prospectively and included in this audit. Patients’ demographic information, DNACPR status and the quality of their DNACPR documentation was recorded. Results 20 patients (85% Female, 15% Male) were identified and included. Median ASA grade was 3, with 77.8% of patients ASA grade 3 or 4. 63.2% of patients had DNACPR documentation in place, all of which were ASA grade 3 or above. Most DNACPR documentation had patient information clearly identifiable (91.7%), was completed preoperatively (90.9%), and involved either the patient or appropriate relative or power of attorney (91.6%). However, only 75% of patients’ documentation had the rationale for the DNACPR decision documented and only 25% of DNACPR decisions were reviewed by a senior clinician within 72 hours. No DNACPR decisions were documented as having been communicated to the wider healthcare team. Conclusions DNACPR documentation is a crucial for anticipatory care planning in #NOF patients. This audit shows improvement is needed in documenting whether decisions have been reviewed by senior clinicians, and if they have been communicated to the wider healthcare team.

266 The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Theatre Mortality, Time to Intervention and Length of Stay in the First Phase of National Lockdown at a District General Hospital

Aim This study aimed to investigate the patient population requiring emergency surgery during the first phase of lockdown due to COVID-19 in the United Kingdom and compare it to the equivalent population in the same calendar period for 2019. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on emergency operations. Method We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing surgery in emergency theatres at our district general hospital between March 23rd and May 11th in 2019 and 2020. Data collected included demographics (age/gender), National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) category and operation. The primary outcome was 90-day post-operative mortality; secondary outcomes included time to intervention and length of inpatient stay. Results 132 (2020) versus 141 (2019) patients were included with no significant difference in age (p = 0.676) nor sex (p = 0.230). There was no difference in overall 90-day postoperative mortality (p = 0.196). Notably, time to intervention was faster for NCEPOD code 3 patients in 2020 than in 2019 (p = 0.027). Time to intervention in 2020 was longer for those dying within 90 days post-operatively compared to survivors (p = 0.02). There was no difference in length of stay between the years, both overall and when conducting subgroup analyses by NCEPOD category or procedures (fractured neck of femur (p = 0.776), laparoscopies (p = 0.866), laparotomies (p = 0.252)), except for upper limb trauma (p = 0.007). Conclusions Patients were appropriately prioritised with no overall change in mortality or length of stay. A national validation audit assessing outcomes of emergency operations during these challenging times would further elucidate risks posed to surgical patients requiring urgent care.

2 Perioperative medicines management for trauma inpatients – a quality improvement project

IntroductionIt was observed anecdotally that several trauma patients were not receiving routine oral meds due to being ‘Nil-by-mouth’. Our aim was to improve perioperative administration of regular medication for patients admitted with fractured neck of femur (NOF #) on the day of surgery.MethodsData was collected from drug charts of those admitted to the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth with NOF # in 2019. Good practice was mostly observed, however areas for improvement were identified in anticoagulation, cardiac and diabetic medication. In addition, the pre-op guidelines and drug trolley posters were not always available and were out of date. Change was implemented by updating the NOF # guidelines using up-to-date guidance.The ‘Nil by Mouth’ drug trolley posters were re-designed and were re-distributed to every drug trolley on the orthopaedic wards and the nursing teams were informed of the changes.ResultsFollowing re-audit, improvement was made in the following areas. Anticoagulation administration now had a 100% compliance. Rate-limiters administration had improved, as had the administration of antihypertensives (CCB). Parkinson’s medication, inhalers and alcohol withdrawal medication had continued to be consistently given. The reasons for omitting medication was documented. No improvement was made in the following areas: Gastric protection, oral analgesia, anti-anginals and more data was required to assess glycaemic management.ConclusionsOptimisation of these high-risk patients requires a multi-faceted approach but by improving basic aspects of care such as peri-operative medication, it is hoped that overall mortality and morbidity are reduced. Further education on this topic may be required to continue improvement.ReferencesUKCPA. 2019. The Handbook of Perioperative Medicines. [online] Available at: https://www.ukcpa-periophandbook.co.uk/[Accessed 10 February 2020].Escardio.org. 2014. ESC/ESA Guidelines on non-cardiac surgery: cardiovascular assessment and management. [online] Available at: https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/ESC-ESA-Guidelines-on-non-cardiac-surgery-cardiovascular-assessment-and-management [Accessed 8 February 2020].

Ultrasound-guided lumbar ESP block for post-operative analgesia as an alternative mode of analgesia in hip arthroplasty with multiple systemic issues: a case report

Background Patients with multiple systemic diseases present an anaesthetic challenge in terms of perioperative pain management. We propose that ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block be used as an alternative mode of analgesia in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty. Case presentation We report a case of a 54-year-old female, a known case of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, hypertension, and deranged coagulation profile with fractured neck of femur planned for hemiarthroplasty. She was administered ultrasound-guided single-shot erector spinae plane block at L3 level with 20 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine and 4 mg dexamethasone. This block provided excellent post-operative analgesia for up to 24 h with early mobilisation. Conclusion Single-shot ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane bock can be used as an alternative mode of analgesia in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty, with multiple systemic diseases in whom neuraxial blockade cannot be performed. This technique needs to be further explored in the form of randomised controlled trials.

O33 Outcomes of patients undergoing emergency surgery during the first phase of national lockdown in the United Kingdom due to COVID-19 pandemic: experience at a district general hospital

Introduction This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency operations during the first phase of lockdown in the United Kingdom, compared to the equivalent population in the same calendar period in 2019. Method We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing surgery in emergency theatres at our district general hospital between March 23rd and May 11th in 2019 and 2020. Data collected included demographics, National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) category and procedure. The primary outcome was 90-day post-operative mortality; secondary outcomes included time to intervention and length of inpatient stay. Result 132 patients (2020) versus 141 (2019) patients were included with no significant difference in age (P = 0.676), sex (P = 0.230), or overall 90-day postoperative mortality (P = 0.196). Notably, time to intervention was faster for NCEPOD code 3 patients in 2020 than 2019 (P = 0.027). Time to intervention in 2020 was longer for those dying within 90 days post-operatively compared to survivors (P = 0.02). There was no difference in length of stay between years, both overall and when comparing subgroups by NCEPOD category or procedures (fractured neck of femur (P = 0.776), laparoscopies (P = 0.866), laparotomies (P = 0.252)), except for upper limb trauma (P = 0.007). Conclusion This study is amongst the first describing the general case mix in emergency theatres in the UK. Patient pre-operative characteristics and demographics did not change. Our data confirms patient prioritisation according to NCEPOD recommendations and streamlining of surgical services, with no difference in overall mortality, time to intervention or length of stay compared to 2019. Take-home Message At this district general hospital, patients were appropriately prioritised, and our results show adaptation of hospital practice to emerging national guidelines during the first phase of lockdown. A national validation audit assessing morbidity and mortality outcomes for all NCEPOD patients may be facilitate further understanding of risks posed to patients requiring urgent surgery during these unprecedented times.