The impact of operative time on the outcomes of necrotizing soft tissue infections: a multicenter cohort study

Background The primary aim of this study was to identify if there is an association between the operative time of the initial debridement for necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) and the mortality corrected for disease severity. Methods A retrospective multicenter study was conducted of all patients with NSTIs undergoing surgical debridement. The primary outcome was the 30-day mortality. The secondary outcomes were days until death, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, length of hospital stay, number of surgeries within first 30 days, amputations and days until definitive wound closure. Results A total of 160 patients underwent surgery for NSTIs and were eligible for inclusion. Twenty-two patients (14%) died within 30 days and 21 patients (13%) underwent an amputation. The median operative time of the initial debridement was 59 min (IQR 35–90). In a multivariable analyses, corrected for sepsis just prior to the initial surgery, estimated total body surface (TBSA) area affected and the American Society for Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, a prolonged operative time (per 20 min) was associated with a prolonged ICU (β 1.43, 95% CI 0.46–2.40; p = 0.004) and hospital stay (β 3.25, 95% CI 0.23–6.27; p = 0.035), but not with 30-day mortality. Operative times were significantly prolonged in case of NSTIs of the trunk (p = 0.044), in case of greater estimated TBSA affected (p = 0.006) or if frozen sections and/or Gram stains were assessed intra-operatively (p < 0.001). Conclusions Prolonged initial surgery did not result in a higher mortality rate, possible because of a short duration of surgery in most studied patients. However, a prolonged operative time was associated with a prolonged ICU and hospital stay, regardless of the estimated TBSA affected, presence of sepsis prior to surgery and the ASA classification. As such, keeping operative times as limited as possible might be beneficial for NSTI patients.

Prolonged Operative Time Associated with Increased Healthcare Utilization after Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Intra-Articular and Extra-Articular Distal Radial Fractures: An Analysis of 17,482 Cases

Background The current literature does not contain a quantitative description of the associations between operative time and adverse outcomes after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of distal radial fractures (DRF). Questions/Purpose We aimed to quantify associations between DRF ORIF operative time and 1) 30-day postoperative health care utilization and 2) the incidence of local wound complications. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried for DRF ORIF cases (January 2012–December 2018). A total of 17,482 cases were identified. Primary outcomes included health care utilization (length of stay [LOS], discharge dispositions, 30-day readmissions, and reoperations) per operative-time category. Secondary outcome was incidence of wound complications per operative-time category. Multivariate regression was conducted to determine operative-time categories associated with increased risk while adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and fracture type. Spline regression models were constructed to visualize associations. Results The 121 to 140-minute category was associated with significantly higher risk of a LOS > 2 days (odds ration [OR]: 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.1–2.45; p = 0.014) and nonhome discharge (OR: 1.72; 95% CI:1.09–2.72; p = 0.02) versus 41 to 60-minute category. The ≥ 180-minute category exhibited highest odds of LOS > 2 days (OR: 2.08; 95%CI: 1.33–3.26; p = 0.001), nonhome discharge disposition (OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.05–3.33; p = 0.035), and 30-day reoperation occurrence (OR: 3.52; 95% CI: 1.59–7.79; p = 0.002). There was no association between operative time and 30-day readmission (p > 0.05 each). Higher odds of any-wound complication was first detected at 81 to 100-minute category (OR: 3.02; 95% CI: 1.08–8.4; p = 0.035) and peaked ≥ 181 minutes (OR: 9.62; 95% CI: 2.57–36.0; p = 0.001). Spline regression demonstrated no increase in risk of adverse outcomes if operative times were 50 minutes or less. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that prolonged operative time is correlated with increased odds of health care utilization and wound complications after DRF ORIF. Operative times greater than 60 minutes seem to carry higher odds of postoperative complications.

Perioperative Blood Transfusions or Operative Time: Which Drives Post-Hepatectomy Outcomes?

Background Perioperative blood transfusions and operative time are surgical quality indicators. The aim of this analysis is to determine which of these variables drives post-hepatectomy outcomes. Methods Patients undergoing major or partial hepatectomy were identified in the 2014-2018 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program hepatectomy targeted database. Prolonged operative time was defined as ≥ 240 minutes. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed for multiple postoperative outcomes. Results Of 20 521 hepatectomies, 18% of patients received a perioperative transfusion, and the median operative time was 218 minutes. Patients receiving a transfusion had a significant ( P < .001) increase in mortality (5.1% vs. .7%) and serious morbidity (43% vs. 16%). Prolonged operative time was associated with significantly ( P < .001) increased mortality (2.4% vs. .8%) and serious morbidity (29% vs. 14%). Those with primary hepatobiliary cancer had the highest rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality compared to patients with metastatic and benign disease when a transfusion occurred. On multivariable regression analyses, perioperative transfusions conferred a higher risk ( P < .001) than prolonged operative time for mortality (OR 5.02 vs. 1.47) and serious morbidity (OR 2.56 vs. 1.50). Conclusions Perioperative blood transfusions are a more robust predictor of post-hepatectomy outcomes than increased operative time, especially in patients with primary hepatobiliary cancer.

Microvascular free flap in a pregnant patient after resection of a high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma

Free flap reconstruction is seldom performed during pregnancy. Not only does the prolonged operative time pose a risk for the mother and the fetus, but also the hypercoagulable state of pregnancy predisposes the mother to a greater risk of complications in the transplanted tissue. We present a case of a 29-year-old patient in week 27 of gestation with a rapidly progressive neuroendocrine tumor in the left nasal fossa with involvement of the nasal sinus, pterygopalatine fossa, dura, and left orbit, associated with neurological symptoms and recurrent epistaxis. The aggressive and rapidly progressive character of the tumor made surgical excision by a multidisciplinary team as the first option. We performed immediate reconstruction with an anterolateral thigh free flap. Free tissue transfer was performed successfully, with satisfactory results on the mother and later delivery without complications.