Background: The use of a nonremovable patellar tendon bearing (PTB) cast in Charcot neuroarthropathy (CA) has not been well studied. We describe the offloading devices, including PTB cast used in our setting for the treatment of CA. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study on patients with CA and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) presenting to the multidisciplinary foot clinic at Royal Darwin Hospital, between January 2003 and June 2015. Various immobilization and offloading methods used in CA treatment and their outcomes were analyzed. Results: Ninety-three cases of CA were included. PTB cast (n = 76) and a variety of custom-made removable devices (n = 17) were used for initial offloading. Patients treated with PTB casts were allowed to fully weightbear on the affected limb, as tolerated. Initial offloading was continued until the joint stabilized and ulcer healed (6.5±1.9 months), and then patients were transitioned to various orthotic devices and then to accommodative footwear. At the end of the whole offloading treatment (median duration 13.1 months; range 10-24), patients treated with PTB initially had better outcomes compared with patients treated with removable devices. Conclusion: Immobilization using PTB casting was an effective offloading method for CA with DFU. With our offloading regimen, Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients had similar outcomes. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND:Offloading intervention is an important component in the management of diabetes-related foot ulcer (DFU). The NT population is unique with certain distinctive challenges. Potential advantages of and barriers to optimal offloading methods in our setting were investigated.METHODS:Consecutive patients with DFU treated with offloading devices between 2003 and 2015 at the Multidisciplinary Foot Clinic (MDFC), Royal Darwin Hospital were included. The outcome measures were healing, amputation and discontinuation. Risk factors for offloading failure were studied.RESULTS:Total contact cast (TCC) was the most common offloading used (n = 175). The other removable non-TCC devices used were therapeutic footwear (n = 74), CamWalker (n = 35), and orthotic devices (n = 43). The overall healing rate was 88.7%. Healing rates were higher (93.2% versus 83.5%, P < 0.05) and amputation rates were lower (4.0% versus 7.3%, P = 0.026) in the TCC group than in the removable non-TCC group. The mean duration of offloading was longer in the TCC group (3.6 ± 1.5 versus. 3.2 ± 1.5 months, P = 0.008). Wagner grade ≥ 2 and removable non-TCC devices were significant risk factors for offloading failure.CONCLUSION:Patients treated with TCC had higher healing rates than those treated with removable non-TCC devices. The duration of offloading was longer than reported in other studies. Higher Wagner grade and removable non-TCC devices were risk factors for offloading failure. Non-removable offloading devices are the first choice in diabetes-related neuropathic ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a common problem in longstanding diabetes. However, mortality outcomes in Australian patients with DFU are still unclear.

BackgroundLower extremity amputations (LEAs) in diabetic patients are common in the indigenous population. There is no published data from the Northern Territory.MethodsAll patients with diabetic foot ulcer, presenting for the first time to the multi‐disciplinary foot clinic at Royal Darwin Hospital, between January 2003 and June 2015, were included. These patients were followed until 2017, or death. LEA rates over the follow‐up period and the risk factors were studied.ResultsOf the 513 included patients, 62.8% were males and 48.2% were indigenous. The majority (93.6%) had type 2 diabetes with median diabetes duration of 7.0 years (interquartile range 3–12). During the follow‐up period of 5.8 years (interquartile range 3.1–9.8), a total of 435 LEAs (16.6% major; 34.7% minor) occurred in 263 patients (mean age 57.0 ± 11.8 years). In multivariate analysis, the following variables were associated with LEAs (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval)): prior LEA (4.49 (1.69–11.9)); peripheral vascular disease (2.67 (1.27–5.59)); forefoot ulcer (7.72 (2.61–22.7)); Wagner grade 2 (3.71 (1.87–7.36)); and Wagner grade 3 (17.02 (3.77–76.72)). Indigenous patients were 1.8 times more likely to have LEAs than non‐indigenous patients. Indigenous amputees were approximately 9 years younger than their non‐indigenous counterparts.ConclusionHalf of patients presenting with diabetic foot ulcer had LEA during follow‐up. Prior LEAs, peripheral vascular disease, forefoot ulcers and higher Wagner grades were independent risk factors for LEA. Indigenous patients were at higher risk for LEAs and were younger at the time of amputation.

Background: Postoperative hypotension and hypertension are frequent events associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes. However, proper assessment and management is often poorly understood. As a part of the PeriOperative Quality Improvement (POQI) 3 workgroup meeting, we developed a consensus document addressing this topic. The target population includes adult, non-cardiac surgical patients in the postoperative phase outside of the ICU. Methods: A modified Delphi technique was used, evaluating papers published in MEDLINE examining postoperative blood pressure monitoring, management, and outcomes. Practice recommendations were developed in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Results: Consensus recommendations were that (i) there is evidence of harm associated with postoperative systolic arterial pressure <90mmHg; (ii) for patients with preoperative hypertension, the threshold at which harm occurs may be higher than a systolic arterial pressure of 90 mm Hg; (iii) there is insufficient evidence to precisely define the level of postoperative hypertension above which harm will occur; (iv) a greater frequency of postoperative blood pressure measurement is likely to identify risk of harm and clinical deterioration earlier; and (v) there is evidence of harm from withholding beta-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in the postoperative period. Conclusions: Despite evidence of associations with postoperative hypotension or hypertension with worse postoperative outcome, further research is needed to define the optimal levels at which intervention is beneficial, to identify the best methods and timing of postoperative blood pressure measurement, and to refine the management of long-term antihypertensive treatment in the postoperative phase.

IMPORTANCE Ameta-analysis of outcomes during the 6 months after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge indicate a prevalence for clinically important posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of 25%. OBJECTIVE To determine whether a nurse-led preventive, complex psychological intervention, initiated in the ICU, reduces patient-reported PTSD symptom severity at 6 months. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A multicenter, parallel-group, cluster-randomized clinical trial with integrated economic and process evaluations conducted in 24 ICUs in the United Kingdom. Participants were critically ill patients who regained mental capacity following receipt of level 3 (intensive) care. A total of 2961 eligible patients were identified from September 2015 to January 2017. A total of 2048 were approached for participation in the ICU, of which 1458 provided informed consent. Follow-up was completed December 2017. INTERVENTIONS Twenty four ICUs were randomized 1:1 to the intervention or control group. Intervention ICUs (n = 12; 669 participants) delivered usual care during a baseline period followed by an intervention period. The preventive, complex psychological intervention comprised promotion of a therapeutic ICU environment plus 3 stress support sessions and a relaxation and recovery program delivered by trained ICU nurses to high-risk (acutely stressed) patients. Control ICUs (n = 12; 789 participants) delivered usual care in both baseline and intervention periods. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary clinical outcome was PTSD symptom severity among survivors at 6 months measured using the PTSD Symptom Scale-Self-Report questionnaire (score range, 0-51, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity; the minimal clinically important difference was considered to be 4.2 points). RESULTS Among 1458 enrolled patients (mean [SD] age, 58 [16] years; 599 women [41%]), 1353 (93%) completed the study and were included in the final analysis. At 6 months, the mean PTSD Symptom Scale-Self-Report questionnaire score in intervention ICUs was 11.8 (baseline period) compared with 11.5 (intervention period) (difference, -0.40 [95% CI, -2.46 to 1.67]) and in control ICUs, 10.1 (baseline period) compared with 10.2 (intervention period) (difference, 0.06 [95% CI, -1.74 to 1.85]) between periods. There was no significant difference in PTSD symptom severity at 6 months (treatment effect estimate [difference in differences] of -0.03 [95% CI, -2.58 to 2.52]; P = .98). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among critically ill patients in the ICU, a nurse-led preventive, complex psychological intervention did not significantly reduce patient-reported PTSD symptom severity at 6 months. These findings do not support the use of this psychological intervention. (c) 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Background: Colorectal surgery ( CRS) patients are an at-risk population who are particularly vulnerable to postoperative infectious complications. Infectious complications range from minor infections including simple cystitis and superficial wound infections to life-threatening situations such as lobar pneumonia or anastomotic leak with fecal peritonitis. Within an enhanced recovery pathway ( ERP), there are multiple approaches that can be used to reduce the risk of postoperative infections.Methods: With input from a multidisciplinary, international group of experts and through a focused ( non-systematic) review of the literature, and use of a modified Delphi method, we achieved consensus surrounding the topic of prevention of postoperative infection in the perioperative period for CRS patients.Discussion: As a part of the first Perioperative Quality Initiative ( POQI-1) workgroup meeting, we sought to develop a consensus statement describing a comprehensive, yet practical, approach for reducing postoperative infections, specifically for CRS within an ERP. Surgical site infection ( SSI) is the most common postoperative infection. To reduce SSI, we recommend routine use of a combined isosmotic mechanical bowel preparation with oral antibiotics before elective CRS and that infection prevention strategies ( also called bundles) be routinely implemented as part of colorectal ERPs. We recommend against routine use of abdominal drains. We also give consensus guidelines for reducing pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and central line-associated bloodstream infection ( CLABSI).

Postoperative complications are common in high-risk surgical populations and are associated with poor short-term and long-term outcomes. Morbidity can be identified using prospective assessment of pathological criteria, or deviations from the ideal postoperative course requiring clinical intervention. While infections are the most prevalent complication type, morbidity affecting the heart, lungs, kidneys, or brain carry the worst prognosis. Specific pathophysiological processes drive morbidity in each organ system. In addition, dysfunction of the cardiovascular and immune systems can lead to multiorgan impairment, and have been the focus of many clinical trials. Perioperative strategies backed by the strongest evidence base include smoking cessation, surgical safety checklists, perioperative warming, pre-emptive antibiotics, venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, enhanced recovery protocols, and early critical care rescue when complications arise. Isolated attempts to optimize cardiovascular function or attenuate inflammatory responses have not been consistently successful in improving outcomes. As the proportion of surgical patients meeting high-risk criteria rises, reducing the incidence of postoperative complications has become a priority in many developed healthcare systems. To meet this need, improved implementation of proven strategies should be combined with routine and rigorous surgical outcome reporting. In addition, advances in pathophysiological understanding may lead to novel interventions offering multisystem protection in the surgical period.

Osteoporotic acetabular fractures in the elderly are becoming more common. Regardless of treatment, most patients are managed with a period of protected weightbearing, even if a THA has been performed. We have tried to treat these patients analogously to geriatric femoral neck fractures in a way that allows immediate full weightbearing.

Objetivo: O trauma grave pode associar-se a ocorrência de importante choque hemorrágico e ao comprometimento da perfusão dos órgãos. Formulamos a hipótese de que o tratamento direcionado por objetivo conferiria benefícios em termos de morbidade e mortalidade, em casos graves de trauma. Métodos: Realizamos uma busca sistemática nas bases de dados MedLine, Embase e Cochrane Controlled Clinical Trials Register com relação a pacientes vítimas de trauma grave. A mortalidade foi o desfecho primário dessa revisão. Os desfechos secundários incluíram taxas de complicações, duração da permanência no hospital e na unidade de terapia intensiva, e o volume de fluidos administrados. A metanálise foi realizada utilizando o programa de computador RevMan, e os dados apresentados são as odds ratios (OR) para desfechos dicotomizados e as diferenças médias e diferenças médias padrão para desfechos contínuos. Resultados: Foram analisados quatro estudos clínicos randomizados e controlados, que incluíram 419 pacientes. O risco de mortalidade foi significantemente reduzido nos pacientes com tratamento direcionado por objetivo, em comparação ao grupo controle (OR=0,56; IC95%: 0,34-0,92). A duração da permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva (DM: 3,7 dias; IC95%: 1,06-6,5) e no hospital (DM: 3,5 dias; IC95%: 2,75-4,25) foi significantemente mais curta no grupo de pacientes do grupo tratado conforme o protocolo. Não houve diferenças nos relatos relativos a volume total de fluidos infundidos e a transfusões sanguíneas. A heterogeneidade nos relatos entre os estudos impediu uma análise quantitativa das complicações. Conclusão: Após a ocorrência de trauma grave, o uso precoce de tratamento direcionado por objetivo se associou com mortalidade mais baixa e com menos dias de permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva e no hospital. Os achados desta análise devem ser interpretados com cautela, em razão da importante heterogeneidade e do número pequeno de estudos clínicos randomizados e controlados, que foram incluídos na análise.

BACKGROUND:Morbidity after major surgery is associated with low oxygen delivery. Haemodynamic therapy aimed at increasing oxygen delivery in an effort to reduce oxygen debt, tissue injury, and morbidity, is controversial. The most appropriate target for this strategy is unclear and might have several off-target effects, including loss of neural (parasympathetic)-mediated cellular protection. We hypothesised that individualised oxygen delivery targeted haemodynamic therapy (goal-directed therapy) in high-risk surgical patients would reduce postoperative morbidity, while secondarily addressing whether goal-directed therapy affected parasympathetic function. METHODS:In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, controlled trial, adult patients undergoing major elective surgery were allocated by computer-generated randomisation to a postoperative protocol (fluid, with and without dobutamine) targeted to achieve their individual preoperative oxygen delivery value (goal-directed therapy) or standardised care (control). Patients and staff were masked to the intervention. The primary outcome was absolute risk reduction (ARR) in morbidity (defined by Clavien-Dindo grade II or more) on postoperative day 2. We also assessed a secondary outcome focused on parasympathetic function, using time-domain heart rate variability measures. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial was registered with Controlled Clinical Trials (number ISRCTN76894700). FINDINGS:We enrolled 204 patients between May 20, 2010, and Feb 12, 2014. Intention-to-treat analysis of the 187 (92%) patients who completed the trial intervention period showed that early morbidity was similar between goal-directed therapy (44 [46%] of 95 patients) and control groups (49 [53%] of 92 patients) (ARR -7%, 95% CI -22 to 7; p=0·30). Prespecified secondary analysis showed that 123 (66%) of 187 patients achieved preoperative oxygen delivery (irrespective of intervention). These patients sustained less morbidity (ARR 19%, 95% CI 3-34; p=0·016), including less infectious complications. Goal-directed therapy reduced parasympathetic activity postoperatively (relative risk 1·33, 95% CI 1·01-1·74). INTERPRETATION:Achievement of preoperative oxygen delivery values in the postoperative phase was associated with less morbidity, but this was not affected by the use of an oxygen delivery targeted strategy. Reduced parasympathetic activity after goal-directed therapy was associated with the failure of this intervention to reduce postoperative morbidity. FUNDING:Academy of Medical Sciences and Health Foundation Clinician Scientist Award.

Purpose of reviewThis review examines the long-term influence of postoperative complications on survival. Although it is intuitive that complications after surgery worsen short-term outcomes, it is not clear to what extent and why a longer-term relationship may exist. Recent findingsMost studies have focused on outcomes after cancer surgery. Despite mixed results in smaller cohorts, large multicentre analyses consistently identify an association between postoperative complications and long-term mortality. In part, this phenomenon may be due to unmeasured confounding factors or insufficient separation of short and long-term consequences. Nevertheless, functional and biological imprints established during postoperative complications are likely to be relevant, and are the subject of ongoing research. SummaryPatients that develop postoperative complications and survive the immediate risk period, demonstrate worsened long-term mortality. The field of perioperative medicine is increasingly mandated to identify vulnerable individuals, develop and implement strategies to prevent and treat complications, and provide better care pathways after hospital discharge.

Purpose: Discourse analyses have demonstrated utility for delineating subtle communication deficits following closed head injuries (CHIs). The present investigation examined the discourse performance of a large group of individuals with penetrating head injury (PHI). Performance was also compared across 6 subgroups of PHI based on lesion locale. A preliminary model of discourse production following PHI was proposed and tested.Method: Story narratives were elicited from 2 groups of participants, 167 with PHI and 46 non brain-injured (NBI). Micro- and macrostructural components of each story were analyzed. Measures of memory, executive functions, and intelligence were also administered. All measures were compared across groups and PHI subgroups. The proposed model of discourse production was tested with a structural equation modeling procedure.Results: No differences for the discourse measures were noted across the six PHI subgroups. Three measures distinguished the PHI and NBI groups: narrative length, story grammar, and completeness. The proposed model of discourse production had an adequate-to-good fit with the cognitive and discourse data.Conclusion: In spite of differing mechanisms of injury, the PHI group's discourse performance was consistent with what has been reported for individuals with CHI. The model tested represents a preliminary step toward understanding discourse production following traumatic brain injury.

The monitoring of the cardiac output (CO) and other hemodynamic parameters, traditionally performed with the thermodilution method via a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), is now increasingly done with the aid of less invasive and much easier to use devices. When used within the context of a hemodynamic optimization protocol, they can positively influence the outcome in both surgical and non-surgical patient populations. While these monitoring tools have simplified the hemodynamic calculations, they are subject to limitations and can lead to erroneous results if not used properly. In this article we will review the commercially available minimally invasive CO monitoring devices, explore their technical characteristics and describe the limitations that should be taken into consideration when clinical decisions are made.

Patients with limited cardiac reserve are less likely to survive and develop more complications following major surgery. By augmenting oxygen delivery index (DO2I) with a combination of intravenous fluids and inotropes (goal directed therapy (GDT)), postoperative mortality and morbidity of high-risk patients may be reduced. However, although most studies suggest that GDT may improve outcome in high-risk surgical patients, it is still not widely practiced. We set out to test the hypothesis that GDT results in greatest benefit in terms of mortality and morbidity in patients with the highest risk of mortality and have undertaken a systematic review of the current literature to see if this is correct. We performed a systematic search of Medline, Embase and CENTRAL databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and reviews of GDT in surgical patients. To minimize heterogeneity we excluded studies involving cardiac, trauma, and paediatric surgery. Extremely high risk, high risk and intermediate risks of mortality were defined as >20%, 5 to 20% and <5% mortality rates in the control arms of the trials, respectively. Meta analyses were performed and Forest plots drawn using RevMan software. Data are presented as odd ratios (OR; 95% confidence intervals (CI), and P-values). A total of 32 RCTs including 2,808 patients were reviewed. All studies reported mortality. Five studies (including 300 patients) were excluded from assessment of complication rates as the number of patients with complications was not reported. The mortality benefit of GDT was confined to the extremely high-risk group (OR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.41; P < 0.0001). Complication rates were reduced in all subgroups (OR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.60; P < 0.00001). The morbidity benefit was greatest amongst patients in the extremely high-risk subgroup (OR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.51; P < 0.0001), followed by the intermediate risk subgroup (OR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.67; P = 0.0002), and the high-risk subgroup (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.89; P = 0.01). Despite heterogeneity in trial quality and design, we found GDT to be beneficial in all high-risk patients undergoing major surgery. The mortality benefit of GDT was confined to the subgroup of patients at extremely high risk of death. The reduction of complication rates was seen across all subgroups of GDT patients.

There are a vast number of operations carried out every year, with a small proportion of patients being at highest risk of mortality and morbidity. There has been considerable work to try and identify these high-risk patients. In this paper, we look in detail at the commonly used perioperative risk prediction models. Finally, we will be looking at the evolution and evidence for functional assessment and the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (in the USA), both topical and exciting areas of perioperative prediction.

We are proud to welcome you to the launch issue of Perioperative Medicine. Many before us have campaigned for improvements in the care of patients undergoing surgery and for us this is a major milestone in our clinical and academic careers. As a group we have drawn much inspiration and leadership from Professor David Bennett and have done the majority of our research and teaching on perioperative medicine with the explicit aim of improving the outcome of patients undergoing major surgery [1]. With David and colleagues we have campaigned and lobbied for improved and consistent standards of care [2,3]. We started the Evidence Based Perioperative Medicine International Congress (EBPOM) over a decade ago and now work closely with sister organizations around the world [4,5]. Perioperative medicine is now rightly recognized as a legitimate and independent sub-specialty but the journey is only just beginning [6-8]. The recent publication from the UK’s National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death entitled ‘Peri-operative Care: Knowing the Risk (2011)’ paints a grim picture [9]. It concludes that overall the care of patients was substandard in the majority of high-risk patients. The thirty day mortality in those patients in whom the advisors considered there to have been inadequate pre-operative fluid management was 20.5% compared to 4.7% mortality in those with adequate pre-operative fluid therapy. Patients who suffered intra-operative complications had a thirty day mortality of 13.2% compared to 5.7% in those without. Yet, cardiac output monitoring was rarely used in high-risk patients and inadequate intra-operative monitoring was associated with a three-fold increase in mortality. Reports from the USA tell similar stories. For example, the Veterans’ Association National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) found that the occurrence of a thirty day postoperative complication is the single most important factor determining survival after major surgery [10]. More recently Birkmeyer et al. demonstrated that the costs of inpatient surgery are thousands of dollars more per patient on average at hospitals with high complications. They concluded that their “findings suggest that local, regional, and national efforts aimed at improving surgical quality may ultimately reduce costs and improve outcomes” [11]. They went on to note that “achieving superior outcomes in surgery may require that hospitals invest in expensive resources, such as intensivist-staffed intensive care units, high nurse-to-bed ratios, advanced technology, and specialist services”. If improvements are to be made then we must share, spread and adopt best practice whilst examining the efficacy and effectiveness of innovative care pathways and technologies. This is a core objective of the new journal, Perioperative Medicine. In the UK we have recently seen dramatic improvements in the care of patients undergoing elective major surgery as a result of a government-funded Enhanced Recovery Partnership Programme [12]. This is an exemplar of the power of the spread and adoption of best evidence practices through education informed by research. The recently published report demonstrates improved quality of care and cost effectiveness whilst promoting and recognizing investment in innovation [12]. We are delighted to be publishing a Consensus Statement on Perioperative Fluid Management in Enhanced Recovery by the Clinical Leaders of the English Enhanced Recovery Partnership in this, our first issue of Perioperative Medicine. Care of the surgical patient is increasingly recognised to rely on a coordinated approach to healthcare by a multidisciplinary team. Perioperative Medicine brings together the best research from all of these fields and applies it to the care of patients undergoing surgery to help healthcare providers improve their patients' outcomes. With the change in population demographics post-operative morbidity has been recognised as one of the epidemics of the 21st century. High quality cost effective changes in practice demand a robust evidence base. Perioperative Medicine is an open access peer-reviewed journal that publishes highly topical clinical research relating to the perioperative care of surgical patients. Its essence is the distillation, examination and application of clinical evidence to improve surgical outcome. Modern perioperative medicine is a true multidisciplinary specialty and the journal welcomes research in all areas relevant to perioperative medicine from any healthcare professional. You will see from our editorial board that we are truly international with members from every continent. This first issue of Perioperative Medicine exemplifies our mission to look across the continuum of care from around the world. It includes articles on pre-operative assessment from China (Lee et al.), emergency pain relief for hip fracture patients from Ireland (Szucs et al.), quality improvement strategies (Speck et al.) and renal failure (Calvert and Shaw) from the USA and peri-operative fluid management from England (Mythen et al.). We hope you enjoy Perioperative Medicine and hope that you will engage with comment and submissions.

Goal-directed therapy in the perioperative setting has been shown to be associated with short-term improvements in outcome. This study assesses the longer-term survival of patients from a previous randomized controlled trial of goal-directed therapy in high-risk surgical patients.