[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2025.04.008.].

Background:The contemporary causes of postoperative mortality in orthopedic surgery are not well characterized. Objective:This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of postoperative complications among adult patients who underwent orthopedic surgery and inform their relationships with 30-day mortality. Methods:Vascular Events in Noncardiac Surgery Patients Cohort Evaluation (VISION) was a prospective cohort study involving 40,004 adult patients who underwent noncardiac surgery across 28 centers in 14 countries. For the subset of patients who underwent orthopedic surgery, a Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine time-dependent associations between various surgical complications and 30-day postoperative mortality. Analyses were adjusted for preoperative and surgical variables. Results:Among 8385 patients who underwent an orthopedic surgery in VISION, 1.6% (n=132) died within 30 days of surgery. Of the 132 deaths, 63.6% (n=84) occurred in hospital during the index hospitalization, while 36.4% (n=48) occurred after discharge. The incidence of death across the subcategories of orthopedic surgery was above-knee amputation (30/221, 13.6%), internal fixation of femur (29/750, 3.9%), lower leg amputation (9/252, 3.6%), major hip or pelvic surgery (49/2898, 1.7%), major spine surgery (8/1405, 0.6%), and knee arthroplasty (7/2876, 0.2%). A total of 6 postoperative complications (myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery [MINS], major bleeding, infection without sepsis, sepsis, stroke, and atrial fibrillation) were associated with death in adjusted analyses. The greatest attributable fractions of postoperative mortality (ie, proportion of deaths in the cohort that can be attributed to each complication, if causality were established) were from MINS (1454/8385, 17.3%; hazard ratio [HR] 2.08, 95% CI 1.38-3.14; P<.001; attributable fraction=20.6%), major bleeding (2422/8385, 28.9%; HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.34-2.85; P<.001; attributable fraction=16.5%), and sepsis (318/8385, 3.8%; HR 6.24, 95% CI 3.85-10.12; P<.001; attributable fraction=9.7%). Conclusions:The complications most attributable to 30-day mortality following orthopedic surgery were MINS, major bleeding, and sepsis. These findings highlight areas for further study to mitigate perioperative mortality in orthopedic surgery. MINS demonstrated the highest attributable fraction for mortality (20.6%), emphasizing the importance of appropriate MINS screening, diagnosis, and management.

Aims:Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) significantly impact perioperative morbidity and mortality. We aimed to develop a fully automated multimodal deep learning (DL) system integrating patient demographics, comorbidities, and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) findings to optimize risk prediction. Methods and results:We included 639 patients undergoing CCTA as part of perioperative risk assessment for elective non-cardiac surgery. Convolutional neural networks automatically identified coronary artery disease reporting and data system (CAD-RADS) scores and segmented the left ventricle, aorta, and heart. These imaging features were combined with patient demographics and comorbidities to predict MACE risk. We evaluated the performance of our multimodal model against the revised cardiac risk index (RCRI) using gradient boosting decision tree modelling and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves. Among 639 patients (mean age 70 ± 9 years, 56% males, median RCRI 1), 61% underwent orthopaedic surgery, 27% vascular surgery and the rest abdominal/pelvic or spine surgery. 45 patients experienced MACE within 30 days. Automated CAD-RADS (AUROC = 0.69) demonstrated comparable performance to human analysis (AUROC = 0.67, P = 0.77). The multimodal DL system (AUROC = 0.82) outperformed CAD-RADS (delta-AUROC = 0.13, CI: 0.02, 0.26, P = 0.02), and RCRI (delta-AUROC =0.22, CI: 0.05, 0.46; P = 0.001) in predicting MACE and demonstrated robust sensitivity (83%) and specificity (79%). Conclusion:Our multimodal system built using automated CAD-RADS, anatomical segmentations and patient demographics outperforms both human expert and automated CAD-RADS for MACE prediction. This approach has the potential to enhance patient outcomes by leveraging the synergy between automated imaging and clinical data.

BACKGROUND:Coronary artery calcification (CAC) provides robust prediction for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), but current techniques disregard plaque distribution and protective effects of high CAC density. We investigated whether a novel CAC-dispersion and density (CAC-DAD) score will exhibit superior prognostic value compared with the Agatston score (AS) for MACE prediction. METHODS:We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional study of 961 patients (median age, 67 years; 61% men) who underwent cardiac computed tomography for cardiovascular or perioperative risk assessment. Blinded analyzers applied deep learning algorithms to noncontrast scans to calculate the CAC-DAD score, which adjusts for the spatial distribution of CAC and assigns a protective weight factor for lesions with ≥1000 Hounsfield units. Associations were assessed using frailty regression. RESULTS:Over a median follow-up of 30 (30-460) days, 61 patients experienced MACE (nonfatal myocardial infarction or cardiovascular mortality). An elevated CAC-DAD score (≥2050 based on optimal cutoff) captured more MACE than AS ≥400 (74% versus 57%; P=0.002). Univariable analysis revealed that an elevated CAC-DAD score, AS ≥400 and AS ≥100, age, diabetes, hypertension, and statin use predicted MACE. On multivariable analysis, only the CAC-DAD score (hazard ratio, 2.57 [95% CI, 1.43-4.61]; P=0.002), age, statins, and diabetes remained significant. The inclusion of the CAC-DAD score in a predictive model containing demographic factors and AS improved the C statistic from 0.61 to 0.66 (P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS:The fully automated CAC-DAD score improves MACE prediction compared with the AS. Patients with a high CAC-DAD score, including those with a low AS, may be at higher risk and warrant intensification of their preventative therapies.

BACKGROUND:Perioperative hemodynamic abnormalities have been associated with neurocognitive outcomes after noncardiac surgery. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of perioperative hypotension-avoidance versus hypertension-avoidance strategies on delirium and 1-year cognitive decline after noncardiac surgery. DESIGN:Randomized controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03505723). SETTING:54 centers, 19 countries. PARTICIPANTS:2603 high-vascular-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, receiving 1 or more chronic antihypertensive medications (mean age, 70 years). INTERVENTION:In the hypotension-avoidance strategy, the intraoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) target was 80 mm Hg or greater; before and for 2 days after surgery, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors were withheld, and other chronic antihypertensive medications were administered for systolic blood pressures of 130 mm Hg or greater following an algorithm. In the hypertension-avoidance strategy, the intraoperative MAP target was 60 mm Hg or greater; all chronic antihypertensive medications were continued perioperatively. MEASUREMENTS:Delirium on postoperative day 1 to 3 (primary outcome); decline of 2 points or more at the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 1 year after surgery compared with baseline (secondary outcome). RESULTS:95 of 1310 patients (7.3%) in the hypotension-avoidance and 90 of 1293 patients (7.0%) in the hypertension-avoidance group had delirium (relative risk [RR], 1.04 [95% CI, 0.79 to 1.38]). Among 701 patients who completed 1-year MoCA (full or telephone version), 129 of 347 (37.2%) in the hypotension-avoidance and 117 of 354 (33.1%) in the hypertension-avoidance group had a decline of 2 or more points (RR, 1.13 [CI, 0.92 to 1.38]). Nineteen percent in the hypotension-avoidance and 27% in the hypertension-avoidance strategy had hypotension requiring an intervention (RR, 0.63 [CI, 0.52 to 0.76]), mostly intraoperatively; only 5%, in both groups, had hypotension postoperatively. LIMITATION:The COVID-19 pandemic challenged site participation in the substudy; although large, the sample size was lower than expected. CONCLUSION:There was no evidence of a difference in neurocognitive outcomes between the hypotension-avoidance and hypertension-avoidance strategies. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE:Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada; National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia; Research Grant Council, Hong Kong SAR, China.

A substantial proportion of patients require acute hospital care after hospital discharge post surgery, and many regions and countries have surgical backlogs. The Post Discharge After Surgery Virtual Care with Remote Automated Monitoring Technology-3 (PCV-RAM-3) trial tests the hypothesis that informing surgeons and patients of virtual care with remote automated monitoring (VC-RAM) assignment will promote earlier discharge, thereby reducing the index length of hospital stay, and that postdischarge VC-RAM will reduce acute hospital care. The PVC-RAM-3 trial is a randomized controlled trial that compares VC-RAM to standard postdischarge care among 2500 adults undergoing elective noncardiac surgery in 3 Canadian hospitals. Following the randomization of patients prior to surgery, surgeons and patients are immediately notified whether the patient has been allocated to the VC-RAM or control group. Outcome adjudicators remain blinded to each participant’s group assignment. Patients in the intervention arm learn to use a Health Canada–approved cellular modem–enabled tablet computer and Bluetooth-enabled remote automated monitoring technology from Cloud DX to take daily wound photos for 7 days and measure daily vital signs (ie, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, and weight) three times daily on days 1-7 and twice daily on days 8-14 post discharge, along with completing a brief recovery survey. Nurses review these data and conduct scheduled virtual visits (days 1, 3, 7, and 14). Nurses will escalate care to a preassigned and available perioperative care physician if predetermined vital sign thresholds are exceeded, concerning symptoms arise, or a medication error is detected. These physicians manage the issues and add or modify treatments as needed. The standard care group will receive postdischarge care as per the standard of care at the hospital where they undergo surgery. The coprimary outcomes are acute hospital care and the index hospital length of stay within the first 30 days after randomization. Study recruitment and follow-up are completed, and analysis of the study results is underway. This trial will offer insights into the role of VC-RAM in reducing acute hospital care and index length of hospital stay among adults undergoing elective surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05171569; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05171569

A substantial proportion of patients require acute hospital care after hospital discharge post surgery, and many regions and countries have surgical backlogs. The Post Discharge After Surgery Virtual Care with Remote Automated Monitoring Technology-3 (PCV-RAM-3) trial tests the hypothesis that informing surgeons and patients of virtual care with remote automated monitoring (VC-RAM) assignment will promote earlier discharge, thereby reducing the index length of hospital stay, and that postdischarge VC-RAM will reduce acute hospital care. The PVC-RAM-3 trial is a randomized controlled trial that compares VC-RAM to standard postdischarge care among 2500 adults undergoing elective noncardiac surgery in 3 Canadian hospitals. Following the randomization of patients prior to surgery, surgeons and patients are immediately notified whether the patient has been allocated to the VC-RAM or control group. Outcome adjudicators remain blinded to each participant's group assignment. Patients in the intervention arm learn to use a Health Canada-approved cellular modem-enabled tablet computer and Bluetooth-enabled remote automated monitoring technology from Cloud DX to take daily wound photos for 7 days and measure daily vital signs (ie, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, and weight) three times daily on days 1-7 and twice daily on days 8-14 post discharge, along with completing a brief recovery survey. Nurses review these data and conduct scheduled virtual visits (days 1, 3, 7, and 14). Nurses will escalate care to a preassigned and available perioperative care physician if predetermined vital sign thresholds are exceeded, concerning symptoms arise, or a medication error is detected. These physicians manage the issues and add or modify treatments as needed. The standard care group will receive postdischarge care as per the standard of care at the hospital where they undergo surgery. The coprimary outcomes are acute hospital care and the index hospital length of stay within the first 30 days after randomization. Study recruitment and follow-up are completed, and analysis of the study results is underway. This trial will offer insights into the role of VC-RAM in reducing acute hospital care and index length of hospital stay among adults undergoing elective surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05171569; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05171569. DERR1-10.2196/72672.

A substantial proportion of patients require acute hospital care after hospital discharge post-surgery, and many regions and countries have surgical backlogs. The post-discharge after surgery Virtual Care with Remote Automated Monitoring technology-3 (PVC-RAM-3) trial tests the hypothesis that informing surgeons and patients of virtual care with remote automated monitoring (VCRAM) assignment will promote earlier discharge, thereby reducing the index length of hospital stay, and that post-discharge VCRAM will reduce acute hospital care. The PVC-RAM-3 trial is a randomized controlled trial that compares VCRAM to standard post-discharge care among 2500 adults undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery in three Canadian hospitals. Following the randomization of patients prior to surgery, surgeons and patients are immediately notified whether the patient has been allocated to the VCRAM or control group. Outcome adjudicators remain blinded to each participant’s group assignment. Patients in the intervention arm learn to use a Health Canada approved cellular modem-enabled tablet computer and Bluetooth-enabled RAM technology from Cloud Dx to take daily wound photos for 7 days, and measure daily vital signs (i.e., blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, and weight) three times daily on days 1-7 and twice daily on days 8-14 post-discharge, along with completing a brief recovery survey. Nurses review these data and conduct scheduled virtual visits (days 1, 3, 7, and 14). Nurses will escalate care to a pre-assigned and available perioperative care physician if predetermined vital sign thresholds are exceeded, concerning symptoms arise, or a medication error is detected. These physicians manage the issues and add or modify treatments as needed. The standard care group will receive post discharge care as per the standard of care at the hospital where they undergo surgery. The co-primary outcomes are acute hospital care and the index hospital length of stay within the first 30 days after randomization. Study recruitment and follow up is completed and analysis of the study results is underway. This trial will offer insights into the role of VCRAM in reducing acute hospital care and index length of hospital stay among adults undergoing elective surgery. ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT05171569

BACKGROUND:Pain is a common yet underaddressed issue in surgical inpatients. Inadequate pain control in patients with hip fractures can lead to adverse hemodynamic changes, potentially increasing the risk of myocardial ischemia. The authors aim to investigate whether perioperative pain is associated with the development of myocardial ischemic events in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. METHODS:HIP fracture Accelerated surgical TreaTment And Care tracK (HIP ATTACK) was a multicenter international randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of accelerated surgical repair of hip fracture versus standard of care. The authors included patients enrolled in the HIP ATTACK trial who had at least one troponin measurement and a pain score measurement. Pain was assessed daily on hospital admission using the 0 to 10 numeric rating scale. The primary analysis included all available pain scores averaged (then categorized as mild [numeric rating scale 0 to 3], moderate [4 to 7], and severe [8 to 10] pain) before and on the day of the first troponin elevation. The primary outcome was troponin elevation from any cause, with secondary outcomes of myocardial injury (due to an ischemic etiology), myocardial infarction, and then a composite of myocardial injury and myocardial infarction. Multivariable regression models adjusting for potential confounders were used to identify an association between pain categories and outcomes. RESULTS:The authors included 2,430 (82%) from the initial HIP ATTACK cohort (n = 2,970). Forty-five percent of patients (1,098) suffered a troponin elevation from any cause. In the adjusted models, moderate (odds ratio, 3.90; 95% CI, 3.02 to 5.05) and severe pain (odds ratio, 29.24; 95% CI, 17.7 to 48.29) were associated with a troponin elevation of any cause. Similarly, moderate (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.71 to 2.57) and severe pain (odds ratio, 6.04, 95% CI, 4.49 to 8.12) were associated with myocardial injury, whereas only severe pain was associated with myocardial infarction (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.35 to 3.99). Both moderate and severe pain were associated with the composite outcome. CONCLUSIONS:Increased pain may be associated with myocardial ischemic events in the perioperative period in hip fracture patients. Future research is needed to confirm and further clarify this relationship and to determine whether analgesic interventions can reduce the risk of perioperative myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND:Cemented fixation in arthroplasty to treat hip fractures is now widely recommended, but it is not universally used. Some surgeons may feel that the risk of bone cement implantation syndrome and its cardiopulmonary sequalae are too high, in part, because the evidence provides little detail on postoperative myocardial injury and other medical complications after cement use. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES:We aimed to use data from the HIP ATTACK trial (an RCT in which patients with a hip fracture were randomized to accelerated time to surgery versus normal timing of surgery) for a secondary analysis to answer the following questions on arthroplasty for patients with hip fractures: (1) Are patients who undergo cemented hip arthroplasty for hip fractures more likely to experience cardiopulmonary events than patients who undergo uncemented hip arthroplasty? (2) Are patients who undergo cemented hip arthroplasty for hip fractures more likely to experience myocardial injury, identified by elevated troponin levels, than patients who undergo uncemented hip arthroplasty? METHODS:We performed a post hoc analysis of the HIP ATTACK trial for a subset of patients who were treated with THA or hemiarthroplasty for a femoral neck fracture because the trial collected postoperative troponin levels to allow us to identify myocardial injury. The HIP ATTACK trial consisted of 2970 patients. We limited our source cohort to the 1049 patients who underwent hip arthroplasty and were not lost to follow-up (four patients who had undergone arthroplasty were lost to follow-up). We excluded two patients with unknown fixation and six patients with "other arthroplasty." We limited our analysis to femoral neck fractures, which excluded 75 more patients. Of the 966 patients who received hip arthroplasty, 61% (593) had cemented fixation. Patients with cemented fixation were older than patients with cementless fixation (median [IQR] 82 (74 to 88) versus 79 (71 to 86); p = 0.003). Race was self-reported by patients and differed between patients with cemented and cementless fixation. A higher proportion of patients who received cementless fixation had undergone THA (compared with hemiarthroplasty) than patients in the cemented fixation group (24% [91] versus 11% [66]; p < 0.001). We used logistic regression to estimate the association between cement use and a composite outcome consisting of all-cause mortality and various cardiopulmonary outcomes. We included cardiopulmonary outcomes possibly associated with bone cement implantation syndrome; there were only a small number of patients who had only nonsevere outcomes. We had 80% power to detect an OR of ≥ 1.6. We adjusted for all baseline differences between both groups except for anesthesia (as it was not associated with the outcome) and duration of surgery (as it is a function of cement use). RESULTS:After controlling for age, sex, race, and relevant comorbidity, we found that cement use was not associated with differences in the composite outcome at 90 days (OR 1.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7 to 1.4]; p = 0.99) or 1 year (OR 1.0 [95% CI 0.7 to 1.4]; p = 0.95) or with postoperative elevated troponin (OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.0 to 1.9]; p = 0.06) on Day 1. CONCLUSION:There was no difference in cardiopulmonary outcomes among patients with arthroplasty to treat their hip fracture by fixation method. These findings further support the recommendations to use cemented femoral fixation in THA and hemiarthroplasty for patients with hip fractures. Surgeons with limited experience with cemented femoral fixation should familiarize themselves with these skills. Future studies should assess what barriers to cemented fixation exist and how they can be mitigated. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Level III, therapeutic study.

Background:To determine, among patients who underwent major noncardiac thoracic surgery, the association between smoking and perioperative atrial fibrillation (AF) and myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS), and whether the effect of colchicine use on these outcomes varied by smoking status. Methods:This study is a subgroup analysis of the Colchicine for the Prevention of Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation (COP-AF) randomized clinical trial. A total of 3209 participants who underwent major noncardiac thoracic surgery were randomized to receive colchicine, 0.5 mg twice daily, or identical placebo, for 10 days starting 2-4 hours before surgery. The co-primary outcomes were clinically significant perioperative AF and MINS during the 14-day follow-up. Results:A total of 687 (21.4%) were current smokers, 1577 (49.1%) were former smokers, and 945 (29.5%) were never smokers. AF occurred in 7.7%, 7.6%, and 5.3%, and MINS occurred in 21.0%, 19.7%, and 17.6% of current, former, and never smokers, respectively. Compared to never smokers, the adjusted hazard ratio for AF was 1.72 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-2.77, P = 0.02) in current smokers and 1.46 (95% CI 0.99-2.16, P = 0.06) in former smokers, and the adjusted hazard ratio for MINS was 1.16 (95% CI 0.87-1.54, P = 0.32) in current smokers and 1.02 (95% CI 0.81-1.28, P = 0.88) in former smokers. No interaction occurred between smoking status and colchicine allocation for AF (interaction P, 0.82) or MINS (interaction P, 0.08). Conclusions:Current smoking was associated with a small but increased risk of perioperative AF but not MINS after thoracic surgery. The effect of colchicine use on either outcome was not modified by smoking status. Clinical Trial Registration:NCT03310125.

A 29-year-old male, otherwise healthy with no past medical history, presented to the hospital after a two-day history of pleuritic chest pain with a fever. He had received his first dose of the mRNA-1273 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine (Moderna) two months prior without any adverse reactions. He received his second dose approximately 24 hours before symptom onset and hospital presentation. Work-up was unremarkable for respiratory, autoimmune, and rheumatological etiologies. The patient was found to have electrocardiogram features and symptoms in keeping with pericarditis, C-reactive protein elevation, and a peak high-sensitivity troponin level of 9,992 ng/L suggestive of a component of myocarditis. A dilemma arose regarding whether this patient should be diagnosed with perimyocarditis or myopericarditis, terms often used interchangeably without proper reference to the primary pathology, which can ultimately affect management. A subsequent echocardiogram was unremarkable, with a normal left ventricular systolic function, but cardiac resonance imaging revealed myocardial edema suggestive of myocarditis. Without convincing evidence for an alternative explanation after an extensive work-up of ischemic, autoimmune, rheumatological, and infectious etiologies, this patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-induced myopericarditis. The patient fully recovered after receiving a treatment course of ibuprofen and colchicine. This case explores how the diagnosis of COVID-19 vaccine-induced myopericarditis was made and treated using an evidence-based approach, highlighting its differentiation from perimyocarditis.

Purpose of program: A key barrier to becoming a living kidney donor is an inefficient evaluation process, requiring more than 30 tests (eg, laboratory and diagnostic tests), questionnaires, and specialist consultations. Donor candidates make several trips to hospitals and clinics, and often spend months waiting for appointments and test results. The median evaluation time for a donor candidate in Ontario, Canada, is nearly 1 year. Longer wait times are associated with poorer outcomes for the kidney transplant recipient and higher health care costs. A shorter, more efficient donor evaluation process may help more patients with kidney failure receive a transplant, including a pre-emptive kidney transplant (ie, avoiding the need for dialysis). In this report, we describe the development of a quality improvement intervention to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and patient-centeredness of the donor candidate evaluation process. We developed a One-Day Living Kidney Donor Assessment Clinic, a condensed clinic where interested donor candidates complete all testing and consultations within 1 day. Sources of information: The One-Day Living Kidney Donor Assessment Clinic was developed after performing a comprehensive review of the literature, receiving feedback from patients who have successfully donated, and meetings with transplant program leadership from St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. A multistakeholder team was formed that included health care staff from nephrology, transplant surgery, radiology, cardiology, social work, nuclear medicine, and patients with the prior lived experience of kidney donation. In the planning stages, the team met regularly to determine the objectives of the clinic, criteria for participation, clinic schedule, patient flow, and clinic metrics. Methods: Donor candidates entered the One-Day Clinic if they completed initial laboratory testing and agreed to an expedited process. If additional testing was required, it was completed on a different day. Donor candidates were reviewed by the nephrologist, transplant surgeon, and donor coordinator approximately 2 weeks after the clinic for final approval. The team continues to meet regularly to review donor feedback, discuss challenges, and brainstorm solutions. Key findings: The One-Day Clinic was implemented in March 2019, and has now been running for 4 years, making iterative improvements through continuous patient and provider feedback. To date, we have evaluated more than 150 donor candidates in this clinic. Feedback from donors has been uniformly positive (98% of donors stated they were very satisfied with the clinic), with most noting that the clinic was efficient and minimally impacted work and family obligations. Hospital leadership, including the health care professionals from each participating department, continue to show support and collaborate to create a seamless experience for donor candidates attending the One-Day Clinic. Limitations: Clinic spots are limited, meaning some interested donor candidates may not be able to enter a One-Day Clinic the same month they come forward. Implications: This patient-centered quality improvement intervention is designed to improve the efficiency and experience of the living kidney donor evaluation, result in better outcomes for kidney transplant recipients, and potentially increase living donation. Our next step is to conduct a formal evaluation of the clinic, measuring qualitative feedback from health care professionals working in the clinic and donor candidates attending the clinic, and measuring key process and outcome measures in donor candidates who completed the one-day assessment compared with those who underwent the usual care assessment. This program evaluation will provide reliable, regionally relevant evidence that will inform transplant centers across the country as they consider incorporating a similar one-day assessment model.

Objective: To determine timing and risk factors associated with readmission within 30 days of discharge following noncardiac surgery. Background: Hospital readmission after noncardiac surgery is costly. Data on the drivers of readmission have largely been derived from single-center studies focused on a single surgical procedure with uncertainty regarding generalizability. Methods: We undertook an international (28 centers, 14 countries) prospective cohort study of a representative sample of adults ≥45 years of age who underwent noncardiac surgery. Risk factors for readmission were assessed using Cox regression (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00512109). Results: Of 36,657 eligible participants, 2744 (7.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.2–7.8) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Rates of readmission were highest in the first 7 days after discharge and declined over the follow-up period. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that 9 baseline characteristics (eg, cancer treatment in past 6 months; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.44; 95% CI, 1.30–1.59), 5 baseline laboratory and physical measures (eg, estimated glomerular filtration rate or on dialysis; HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.24–1.75), 7 surgery types (eg, general surgery; HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.61–2.16), 5 index hospitalization events (eg, stroke; HR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.24–3.94), and 3 other factors (eg, discharge to nursing home; HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.33–1.95) were associated with readmission. Conclusions: Readmission following noncardiac surgery is common (1 in 13 patients). We identified perioperative risk factors associated with 30-day readmission that can help frontline clinicians identify which patients are at the highest risk of readmission and target them for preventive measures.

Surgical patients are often transfused to manage bleeding and anemia. Best practices for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion administration in patient having noncardiac surgery remains controversial and a robust evaluation and description of perioperative transfusion practices is lacking. We characterized perioperative hemoglobin concentrations and transfusion practices from the prospective VISION cohort which included 39,222 patients aged ≥45 years who had inpatient noncardiac surgery. Variations in transfusion practices were analyzed using hierarchical mixed models, and associations with mortality and complications were evaluated using a nested frailty survival model. Within the cohort, 16.1% (n = 6296) were given perioperative RBC transfusions, with the fraction declining from 20% to 13% over the 6-year study period. The proportion of patients transfused varied by surgery type from 6.4% for low-risk operations (i.e., minor surgery) to 31.5% for orthopedic surgeries. Variations were largely associated with patient hemoglobin concentrations, but also with center (range: 3.7%-27.3%) and country (0.4%-25.3%). Even after adjusting for baseline hemoglobin, comorbidities and type of surgery, both center and country were significant sources of variation in transfusion practices. Among transfused participants, 60.4% (n = 3728/6170) had at least 1 hemoglobin concentration ≤80g/L and 86.0% (n = 5305/6170) had at least 1 hemoglobin concentration ≤90g/L, suggesting that relatively restrictive transfusion strategies were used in most. The proportion of patients receiving at least 1 RBC transfusion declined from 20% to 13% over 6 years. However, there was considerable unexplained variation in transfusion practices.