Cause of postoperative mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease

The number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are dependent on hemodialysis is increasing rapidly. As a result, more patients with ESRD need surgery. These patients have a significantly higher risk of postoperative death than those with normal kidney function. Therefore, this study analyzed the causes of postoperative mortality in ESRD patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia and the risk factors for postoperative mortality. Methods: This retrospective analysis examined the mortality of ESRD patients, 20 to 80 years old, undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. We excluded patients who underwent cardiac, cancer, or emergency surgery or organ transplantation from the analysis. The primary outcome was the cause of postoperative 30-day mortality in ESRD patients. We also assessed the mortality rate and risk factors. Results: There were 2,459 eligible ESRD patients. When patients underwent multiple surgeries during the study period, only the last surgery was considered. In total, 167 patients died during the study period, including 65 within 30 days postoperatively. The cause of death was sepsis in 22 cases (33.8%) and a major cardiac event in 16 (24.6%). Atrial fibrillation, current angina, previous myocardial infarction, asthma, lower hemoglobin and albumin levels, and a larger intraoperative colloid volume were likely to increase mortality. Conclusions: Our study suggests that immunological issues have a significant role in the death of ESRD patients after general anesthesia.

A Program for Efficient Phasing of Three-Generation Trio SNP Genotype Data

Here, we report a computer program written in Python, which phases SNP genotypes and infers inherited deletions based on the pattern of Mendelian inheritance within a trio pedigree. When tiered trio genotypes that encompass three generations are available, it narrows a recombination event down to a region between two consecutive heterozygous markers. In addition, the phase information that is inferred from the upper trio that is formed by one of the parents and grandparents can be propagated to phase the genotypes of the lower trio that is formed by the parents and an offspring.