Removal of Electrophysiological Devices in the Context of Heart Transplantation: Comparison of Combined and Staged Extraction Procedures

Background During heart transplantation (HTx), tip of the leads of cardiac implantable electrophysiological devices (CIEPD) has to be cut when resecting the heart. Timing of the removal of the remaining device and leads is still discussed controversially. Methods Between 2010 and 2021, n = 201 patients underwent HTx, of those n = 124 (61.7%) carried a present CIEPD. These patients were divided on the basis of the time of complete device removal (combined procedure with HTx, n = 40 or staged procedure, n = 84). Results CIEPD was removed 11.4 ± 6.7 days after the initial HTx in staged patients. Dwelling time, number of leads as well as incidence of retained components (combined: 8.1%, staged: 7.7%, p = 1.00) were comparable between both groups. While postoperative incidence of infections (p = 0.52), neurological events (p = 0.47), and acute kidney injury (p = 0.44) did not differ, staged patients suffered more often from primary graft dysfunction with temporary mechanical assistance (combined: 20.0%, staged: 40.5%, p = 0.03). Consecutively, stay on intensive care unit (p = 0.02) was prolonged and transfusions of red blood cells (p = 0.15) and plasma (p = 0.06) as well as re-thoracotomy for thoracic bleeding complications (p = 0.10) were numerically increased in this group. However, we did not observe any differences in postoperative survival. Conclusion Presence of CIEPD is common in HTx patients. However, the extraction strategy of CIEPD most likely did not affect postoperative morbidity and mortality except primary graft dysfunction. Especially, retained components, blood transfusions, and infective complications are not correlated to the timing of CIEPD removal.

Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Radiologic Data Regarding Zygomatic Implant Rehabilitation with a Long-Term Follow-Up

Background: Zygomatic implants have been introduced to rehabilitate edentulous patients with severely atrophic maxillae. Their use has been reported by several studies, describing high overall survival rates at medium–long follow-up. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze if a few patient-related and implant-related features are correlated with implant success or the onset of complications. Materials and methods: Data of patients treated with zygomatic implants between May 2005 and November 2012 at three private clinics were collected and retrospectively analyzed. For each implant, the following data were collected: implant length, insertion path, ridge atrophy and sinus characteristics (width, pneumatization, thickness of mucosae, patency of sinus ostium). General patient characteristics and health status data were also recorded. The outcomes evaluated were implant failure, infective complications, early neurologic complications and overall complications. Results: A total of 33 patients (14 men, 17 women, mean age 59.1) that received 67 zygomatic implants were included in the study. The mean duration of the follow-up was of 141.6 months (min 109; max 198). In this period, a total of 16 (23.88%) implants in 8 (24.24%) patients were removed and 17 (51.51%) patients with 36 (53.73%) implants reported complications. Immediate loading resulted in a significantly lower risk of complications compared with the two-stage prosthetic rehabilitation (OR: 0.04, p = 0.002). A thickness of the sinus mucosa > 3 mm emerged to be correlated with a greater occurrence of infective complications (OR: 3.39, p = 0.019). Severe and extreme pneumatization of the sinus was significantly correlated with the incidence of overall complications (p = 0.037) and implant failure (p = 0.044). A large sinus width was predisposed to a higher risk of neurologic complications, infective complications and implant failure (p = 0.036, p = 0.032, p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: zygomatic implants are an alternative procedure for atrophic ridge rehabilitation when a conventional implant placement is not possible. Several clinical and anatomical factors can have a significant role in complication occurrence.

Unusual oral presentation of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex in an allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient

The early engraftment phase of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation can be associated with a number of oromucosal infective complications. While the routine use of prophylactic acyclovir has reduced the incidence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation, there is an increasing prevalence of acyclovir resistance within this cohort of patients. The authors present a case of acyclovir-resistant HSV reactivation in a 26-year-old woman 7 days post T-deplete sibling allograft on a background of combined cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation myeloablative conditioning, successfully treated with foscarnet and cidofovir therapy and discuss the differential diagnoses for early/late engraftment oral disease.

Geriatric Comanagement Reduces Hospital-Acquired Geriatric Syndromes in Older Vascular Surgery Inpatients

Aims Based on our meta-analysis, surveys and qualitative studies of geriatricians in Australia and New Zealand, we designed and implemented a novel inpatient model to co-manage older vascular surgical inpatients at a tertiary academic hospital in Sydney. This model, called Geriatrics co-management of older vascular surgery patients (Gerico-V), embedded a geriatrician into the vascular surgery unit who introduced a range of interventions targeting older people. Here we evaluated this model of care. Methods We undertook a prospective before-and-after study of consecutive patients aged ≥65 years admitted under vascular surgery. One hundred and fifty-two GeriCO-V patients were compared with 150 patients in the pre- GeriCO-V group. The primary outcomes were hospital-acquired geriatric syndromes, delirium, and length of stay. Results The GeriCO-V group had more frail (43% vs 30%), urgently admitted (47% vs 37%), and non-operative patients (34% vs 22%). These differences were attributed to COVID-19. GeriCO-V patients had fewer hospital-acquired geriatric syndromes (49% vs 65%; P =.005) and incident delirium (3% vs 10%; P = .02), in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Cardiac (5% vs 20%; P <.001) and infective complications (3% vs 8%]; P = .04) were fewer in the GeriCO-V group. LOS was unchanged. Frail patients in the GeriCO-V group experienced significantly less geriatric syndromes and delirium. Conclusions The Gerico-V model of care led to reductions in hospital-acquired geriatric syndromes, delirium, and cardiac and infective complications. These benefits were seen in frail patients. The intervention requires close collaboration between surgeons and geriatricians, and may be translated to other surgical specialties.

P-OGC79 Post-operative NUn score as a prognostic tool for anastomotic leak after Oesophagectomy

Background Anastomotic leak (AL) after esophagectomy is still quite high with incidence reported between 5 and 20%. Early detection of AL will enable patient rescue and the remedial measures may decrease the associated significant morbidity and improve quality of life. Oesophagectomy is also associated with other infective complications such as respiratory infections and collections in the abdomen or chest. Noble and Underwood (NUn) published the NUn score combining blood-borne markers of systemic inflammatory response to define risk of anastomotic leak and major complications following oesophageal resection. This study aims to validate the ability of NUn score to identify AL specifically. Methods A total of 113 patients who underwent esophagectomy for oesophageal cancer over 11 years from 2011 to early 2021 in our centre were selected for this study from a prospectively maintained database. Patients with leaks (n = 11) were identified by reviewing their case records, electronic records, endoscopy and radiological results. Patients with missing values were excluded. Postoperative 7-day (POD) biochemical data that included white cell count (WCC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and Albumin were used to calculate NUn score. Sensitivity and Specificity of NUn score with a cut-off value of > 10 was calculated using the ROC curve analysis using SPSS. Results A total of 99 patients were included, among which 10 patients had anastomotic leaks (AL). Overall mean of NUn of patients with AL was 10.25 vs 9.95 without AL. NUn scores for day 1 to 7 are shown in the table in figure 1. NUn with the highest AUC was Day 7 (0.664 [CI 0.499 – 0.829]; p = 0.09), with 70% sensitivity and 57.3% specificity. The trends in WCC, CRP and albumin levels over 7 days were also not helpful in differentiating patients with AL. Conclusions In this study, the trends in rising WCC, CRP and decreasing albumin were not helpful in diagnosing anastomotic leaks specifically. The NUn score had a sensitivity of 70% on day 7. Procalcitonin, blood urea nitrogen or interleukin levels may help, and further studies are being planned. This study shows that current biochemical parameters can complement but not replace careful and regular medical examination and early radiological or endoscopic evaluation if an AL is suspected.

P-BN49 The predictive role of white cell and platelet count for infective complications following splenectomy

Background Temporary elevation of white cell count (WCC) and platelets are commonly observed after splenectomy and can therefore make it difficult for the surgeon to distinguish a normal physiological response from potential infection. Clinicians are often misled by elevated post-operative WCC after splenectomy, resulting in delayed discharges and prolonged unnecessary hospital stays for patients. The aim of this study was to establish what constitutes a normal rise in WCC and platelets after splenectomy. Methods All 127 patients who had undergone a splenectomy between July 2016 and January 2021 were identified from a search of our centre's hospital episode statistics data. WCC and platelet count on post-operative days one to seven as well as at least one long-term follow-up result count were identified from electronic hospital records. Hospital records were searched for data on pre-operative steroid administration and peri-operative infections. These cohort data were retrospectively analysed in SPSS using stepwise logistic regression, correlation analysis, and T-tests, as well as descriptive statistics. Results 86 (68%) patients underwent an elective splenectomy and 41 (32%) an emergency splenectomy. 35 (27.6%) patients developed infections post-operatively, while 92 (72.4%) did not. Logistic regression suggested that a raised WCC (above 17.5x109/L) at day 3 post-op was a significant predictor of infection (p < 0.001): average WCC at day 3 for patients with infection was 20.00x109/L (SD = 6.23x109/L) compared to 14.86x109/L (SD = 4.01x109/L) for those without. Infective outcomes were not influenced by whether the surgery was emergency or elective. Overall, average WCCs were 9.63x109/L pre-operatively and 15.07x109/L long-term post-operatively. Even in the absence of infection, splenectomy led to a long-term rise in WCC of 3.8x109/L from baseline, to an average of 13.0x109/L [SD = 5.41x109/L): a T-test on the 56 patients without infection and with both pre-op and long-term WCCs showed a mean rise of 3.76x109/L, p < 0.0001). Platelet count was not correlated with infection, though platelet counts rose from a mean of 261 × 109/L (SD = 103.4x109/L) pre-operatively to 581 × 109/L (SD = 236.3x109/L) at 7-day and 619 × 109/L (SD = 293.5x109/L) at long-term follow up across all patients – an average increase of 357 × 109/L, which did not significantly differ between patients with and without infective complications. Conclusions A rise in WCC and platelet count is normal post-splenectomy. A rise in WCC>17.5x109/L on day 3 post-splenectomy is strongly correlated with infection (regardless of trauma or platelet count). Long-term follow up suggests that while much of the WCC increase is transient, WCC remains higher than pre-operatively, as does platelet count, in post-splenectomy patients. A raised WCC or platelet count without signs of infection should not preclude timely discharge in otherwise well patients.

Role of early enteral feeding in mild and moderate acute pancreatitis

Background: Timing of enteral feeding in acute pancreatitis was always a matter of controversy. Increasing evidence suggests that early enteral feeding reduces systemic and local complications of pancreatitis and thereby hospital stay. Hence the study has been undertaken to determine the feasibility, advantages and disadvantages of early enteral feeding in mild and moderate acute pancreatitis. Methods: Patients admitted with symptoms and signs suggestive of mild and moderate acute pancreatitis who were started on early enteral feeding (within 48 hours of admission) were included in study. Blood investigation results are used to classify patients accordingly to mild and moderate acute pancreatitis based on Ransons’s score. Patients were followed up and categorized based on development of complications, length of hospital stay.Results: Majority of the patients who were started on early enteral feeding showed significant decrease in complications and hospital stay. Study also suggested that age is a significant risk in development of complications. Gender is not significant in the development of complications.Conclusions: There is significant decrease in rate of systemic complication, local infective and non-infective complications, length of hospital stay among acute pancreatitis patients who were started on early enteral feeding (within 48 hours).