Optimización transfusional en el trasplante de hígado usando terapia guiada por pruebas viscoelásticas / Transfusional optimization in liver transplant using viscoelastic test guided therapy

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la disminución de la transfusión de concentrados de hematíes en el trasplante hepático después de la introducción de la tromboelastometría como monitorización de la coagulación. MÉTODO: Realizamos un estudio de cohortes retrospectivo (n=92), aleatorizado en dos grupos. El grupo A (control), en el cual la terapia de transfusión se basaba en las analíticas convencionales, y el grupo B (ROTEM). Analizamos la transfusión de unidades de concentrado de hematíes, plasma fresco congelado, unidades de plaquetas, así como el uso de fibrinógeno y ácido tranexámico. Usamos el test chi cuadrado para la comparación de proporciones y el test t de Student para la comparación de medias cuando la distribución era normal, y cuando no lo era, el test U de Mann-Whitney. RESULTADOS: En el grupo A, el 84,8% de los pacientes requirieron una transfusión de concentrado de hematíes, con una media de4 (1,5-6), comparado con el 67,4% en el grupo B, con una media de 2 (0-4) (p < 0,05). También encontramos diferencias en las siguientes variables: la transfusión de plasma fresco congelado fue del 84,8%, con una media de 5 (2-12) unidades en el grupo A y el 56,5% de pacientes fueron transfundidos con una media de 1 (0-4,5) en el grupo B (p < 0,001). Respecto a la administración de fibrinógeno, fue del 6,5% en el grupo A y del 34,8% en el grupo B (p < 0,01). El modelo de análisis multivariante nos muestra la asociación existente entre el tiempo de clampaje, la hemoglobina preoperatoria, la hipertensión portal y estar o no en el grupo tratamiento con la necesidad de transfusión perioperatoria. No encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la incidencia de complicaciones en el postoperatorio inmediato en los dos grupos. CONCLUSIONES: La introducción de un algoritmo basado en la tromboelastometría (ROTEM) en el trasplante hepático reduce la tasa de transfusión de concentrado de hematíes y plasma fresco congelado. El uso de los puntos de corte derivados de la tromboelastometría nos conduce a detectar mayores requerimientos de fibrinógeno comparado con los análisis de laboratorio convencionales

BACKGROUND: Assess the reduction of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfusion in liver transplantation (LT) after the introduction of the thromboelastometry as intraoperative coagulation monitor. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study (n=92), randomized into two groups: groupA (control), in whom transfusion therapy was based on conventional laboratory tests (CLT), and groupB (ROTEM), whose blood transfusion was performed as protocolized algorithms, guided by thromboelastometry (ROTEM). We analyzed packed red blood cells (PRBCs) units, transfused units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets units, fibrinogen and tranexamic acid. We used the chi square test for the comparison of proportions and Student's t test to compare means when the distribution was normal. Otherwise, Mann-Whitney U test was performed. RESULTS: In groupA 84.8% of patients required transfusion of PRBCs, with a median (IQR) of 4 (1.5-6), compared with 67.4% in groupB with a median (IQR) of 2 (0-4) (P<.05). We also found differences in the following variables: FFP transfusion rate was 84.8% with a median (IQR) of 5 (2-12) IU in group A and 56.5% (median (IQR) of 1 (0-4.5) in B (P<.001) and in the fibrinogen administration, that was 6.5% in group A and 34.8% in group B (P<.01). Backward stepwise logistic regression model showed associations between the clamping time, the preoperative hemoglobin, the portal hypertension (PHT) and being or not in the treatment group and the need for perioperative transfusion. We didn't find significant differences in the incidence of complication during the early postoperative period between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of thromboelastometry (ROTEM) measurements in hemostatic therapy algorithms reduces the transfusion rate of FFP and PRBCs during liver transplantation. The using of ROTEM derived thresholds leads to detecting higher requirements of fibrinogen compared to conventional laboratory tests

Transfusional optimization in liver transplant using viscoelastic test guided therapy. / Optimización transfusional en el trasplante de hígado usando terapia guiada por pruebas viscoelásticas.

BACKGROUND: Assess the reduction of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfusion in liver transplantation (LT) after the introduction of the thromboelastometry as intraoperative coagulation monitor. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study (n=92), randomized into two groups: groupA (control), in whom transfusion therapy was based on conventional laboratory tests (CLT), and groupB (ROTEM), whose blood transfusion was performed as protocolized algorithms, guided by thromboelastometry (ROTEM). We analyzed packed red blood cells (PRBCs) units, transfused units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets units, fibrinogen and tranexamic acid. We used the chi square test for the comparison of proportions and Student's t test to compare means when the distribution was normal. Otherwise, Mann-Whitney U test was performed. RESULTS: In groupA 84.8% of patients required transfusion of PRBCs, with a median (IQR) of 4 (1.5-6), compared with 67.4% in groupB with a median (IQR) of 2 (0-4) (P<.05). We also found differences in the following variables: FFP transfusion rate was 84.8% with a median (IQR) of 5 (2-12) IU in groupA and 56.5% (median (IQR) of 1 (0-4.5) in B (P<.001) and in the fibrinogen administration, that was 6.5% in groupA and 34.8% in groupB (P<.01). Backward stepwise logistic regression model showed associations between the clamping time, the preoperative hemoglobin, the portal hypertension (PHT) and being or not in the treatment group and the need for perioperative transfusion. We didn't find significant differences in the incidence of complication during the early postoperative period between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of thromboelastometry (ROTEM) measurements in hemostatic therapy algorithms reduces the transfusion rate of FFP and PRBCs during liver transplantation. The using of ROTEM derived thresholds leads to detecting higher requirements of fibrinogen compared to conventional laboratory tests.

A new clinical score to identify children at low risk for appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Besides clinical signs and imaging, in recent years, biomarkers have proven to be a viable diagnostic resource for acute appendicitis (AA). OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to develop a clinical score including clinical signs and a combination of biomarkers to identify children with abdominal pain at low risk of AA. DESIGN/METHODS: We prospectively included children 2 to 14 years of age with abdominal pain suggestive of AA who presented to the emergency department between July 2016 and September 2017. A new score, the Pediatric Appendicitis Laboratory Score (PALabS) including clinical signs, leucocyte (WBC) and neutrophil (ANC) counts and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and calprotectin (CP) levels was developed and validated through secondary analyses of two distinct cohorts The validation sample included visits to a single pediatric emergency department from 2012 to 2013 and 2016 to 2017. RESULTS: The derivation sample included 278 children, 35.9% of whom had AA and the validation sample included 255 children, 49% of whom had AA. Using logistic regression, we created a 6-part score that consisted of nausea (3 points), history of focal right lower quadrant pain (4 points), ANC of ≥7500/µL (7 points), WBC of ≥10,000/µL (4 points), CRP ≥ 10.0 mg/L (2 points) and CP ≥ 0.50 ≥ ng/mL (3 points). This score exhibited a high discriminatory power (area under the curve: 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.84 to 0.92) and outperformed the PAS and Kharbanda scores (area under the curve: 0.76; 95% confidence interval: 0.71 to 0.82 and 0.82; 95% confidence interval: 0.77 to 0.87, respectively). A PALabS ≤6 had a sensitivity of 99.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 95.6-99.9), negative predictive value of 97.6% (95% CI: 87.7-99.6), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.03 (95% CI: 0.00-0.18) in the validation set. CONCLUSION: In our validation cohort of patients with acute abdominal pain, the new score can accurately predict which children are at low risk of appendicitis and could be safely managed with close observation.

¿Está indicado realizar una tomografía computarizada torácica urgente en el traumatismo leve-moderado? / Is it adequate to carry out a chest-CT in patients with mild-moderate chest trauma?

Se considera un traumatismo leve-moderado aquel que se encuentra fuera del contexto de politraumatismo, no presenta un mecanismo de alta energía, no es penetrante y se acompaña de contusión de la pared torácica o de fracturas costales sin asociar una lesión torácica que amenace de forma inmediata la vida del paciente. Es un motivo de consulta frecuente en los servicios de urgencias. La radiología convencional de tórax y la tomografía computarizada (TC) son las técnicas diagnósticas radiológicas realizadas habitualmente, considerándose la TC torácica como el estándar de referencia diagnóstico. Sin embargo, no existen guías clínico-radiológicas de actuación actualizadas que establezcan indicaciones de cuándo hay que solicitar una TC en este motivo de consulta. Por ello buscamos las recomendaciones basadas en la evidencia para mejorar la adecuación de la solicitud de pruebas radiológicas urgentes con el objetivo de disminuir costes y evitar radiación innecesaria

Mild-moderate blunt chest trauma is defined as a blunt chest trauma that is not caused by a high-energy mechanism, causing thoracic tenderness with or without rib fractures and that has no immediate life-threatening consequences for the patient. It is a frequent clinical situation in the emergency department. The most common radiological techniques that are used in this context are chest X-ray and thoracic computed tomography (CT). The CT scan is set as the gold standard. However, there are no current clinical-radiological guidelines that establish the adequacy of the requests of the CT scan. Therefore, we decided to search for evidence-based recommendations to improve the adequacy of the chest X-ray and CT scan in our daily practice in order to reduce the costs and avoid unnecessary radiation exposure

Is it adequate to carry out a chest-CT in patients with mild-moderate chest trauma? / ¿Está indicado realizar una tomografía computarizada torácica urgente en el traumatismo leve-moderado?

Mild-moderate blunt chest trauma is defined as a blunt chest trauma that is not caused by a high-energy mechanism, causing thoracic tenderness with or without rib fractures and that has no immediate life-threatening consequences for the patient. It is a frequent clinical situation in the emergency department. The most common radiological techniques that are used in this context are chest X-ray and thoracic computed tomography (CT). The CT scan is set as the gold standard. However, there are no current clinical-radiological guidelines that establish the adequacy of the requests of the CT scan. Therefore, we decided to search for evidence-based recommendations to improve the adequacy of the chest X-ray and CT scan in our daily practice in order to reduce the costs and avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.

Evaluation of the colorectal cancer screening Programme in the Basque Country (Spain) and its effectiveness based on the Miscan-colon model.

The population-based Basque Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Programme started in 2009 with a biennial immunochemical quantitative test (FIT) biennial and colonoscopy under sedation in positive cases. The population target of 586,700 residents was from 50 to 69 years old and the total coverage was reached at the beginning of 2014. The aim of our study was to determine possible scenarios in terms of incidence, mortality and reduction of Life-years-Lost (L-y-L) in the medium and long term of CRC. METHODS: Invitations were sent out by the Programme from 2009 to 2014, with combined organizational strategies. Simulation was done by MISCAN-colon (Microsimulation Screening Analysis) over 30 years comparing the results of screening vs no-screening, taking the population-based Cancer Registry into account. Lifetime population and real data from the Programme were used from 2008 to 2012. The model was run differentially for men and women. RESULTS: 924,416 invitations were sent out from 2009 to 2014. The average participation rate was 68.4%, CRC detection rate was 3.4% and the Advanced Adenoma detection rate was 24.0‰, with differences observed in sex and age. Future scenarios showed a higher decrease of incidence (17.2% vs 14.7%), mortality (28.1% vs 22.4%) and L-y-L (22.6% vs 18.4%) in men than women in 2030. CONCLUSIONS: The Basque Country CRC Programme results are aligned to its strategy and comparable to other programmes. MISCAN model was found to be a useful tool to predict the benefits of the programme in the future. The effectiveness of the Programme has not been formally established as case control studies are required to determine long term benefits from the screening strategy.

Predicting fluid responsiveness in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation: effects on intraoperative blood transfusion and postoperative complications.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the restrictive volume therapy decreases blood transfusion requirement during liver orthotopic transplantation (OLT) without increasing acute renal complications and hospital length stay. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study (n = 89), randomized into 2 groups: A (liberal fluid strategy) and B (restrictive therapy). We analyzed packed red blood cells (PRBCs) units, transfused units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), colloids, crystalloids, perioperative renal function, and hospital length stay. For comparison of proportions, we used the χ(2) test and Student t test to compare means (parametric). A logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate the association of all these variables with probability of PRBCs transfusion. RESULTS: In group A, 88.4% of patients required intraoperative transfusion of PRBCs, with a mean of 8.5 ± 7.02 IU, compared with 82.2% in group B with a mean of 5.02 ± 4.5 IU (P < .001). We also found differences in the following variables: FFP transfusion rate was 95.3% (mean, 15.02 ± 8.2 IU) in group A and 75.6% (mean, 8.7 ± 6.04 IU) in B (P < .001). The amount of colloid was 50% (mean, 692.8 ± 409.6 mL) in group A and 28.9% (mean, 607.6 ± 316.7 mL) in B (P = .032). Platelet concentrates transfusion was 79.1% (mean, 2.05 ± 1.1 IU) in group A and 51.1% (mean, 2.0 ± 1.08 IU) in B (P = .014). As an important effect of restrictive fluid therapy, renal function was assessed; no differences in mean creatinine or acute renal failure in the immediate postoperative period were observed. There was no difference in hospital length stay. Logistic regression modelling identified 3 variables as significant predictors of transfusion: Fluid administration policy, preoperative hemoglobin and FFP units transfused. Furthermore, an increase of preoperative hemoglobin is associated with a lesser probability of transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that fluid restriction management for OLT decreased blood products requirements, especially FFP. This could suggest that liberal fluid management may aggravate, rather than prevent, bleeding in these patients. We did observed any no difference in failure of renal function.

Probabilidad clínica de tromboembolismo pulmonar: beneficio diagnóstico de las escalas de predicción y de los dímeros D / Clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism: diagnostic utility of prediction scores and D-dimer measurement

Objetivo: Determinar la precisión de las escalas de Wells, Ginebra y los dímeros-D en pacientes con sospecha clínica de tromboembolismo pulmonar (TEP). Método: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo de precisión diagnóstica de la sospecha de TEP (escalas de Wells y Ginebra y los dímeros D). Análisis de una base de datos de 637 pacientes consecutivos con sospecha de TEP ingresados en el servicio de urgencias generales de un hospital terciario. La medida de resultados muestra la sensibilidad, especificidad, valores predictivos positivo/negativo (VPP/VPN) y las razones de verosimilitud positivas y negativas (RV+/RV-). El patrón oro fue la confirmación de TEP mediante la tomografía computarizada y el seguimiento a 3 meses. Resultados: La edad media fue de 67,9 (DE: 16,3) años y el 54,6% fueron mujeres. La prevalencia global de TEP fue 15,1%. Para la escala de Wells el VPN fue 85,3% (IC 95%: 82,1-88,0), el VPP 62,5% (IC 95%: 42,7-78,8), la sensibilidad 15,6% (IC 95%: 9,7-24,2), la especificidad 98,1% (IC 95%: 96,5-99,0), la RV+ 8,3 (IC 95%: 3,7-18,4) y la RV- 0,86 (IC 95%: 0,78-0,95). Para la de Ginebra, el VPN fue 82,8% (IC 95%: 78,9-86,0), el VPP 58,8% (IC 95%: 36,0-78,4), la sensibilidad 11,8% (IC 95%: 6,5-20,3), la especificidad 98,1% (IC 95%: 96,1-99,1), la RV+ 6,2 (IC 95%: 2,42-15,74) y la RV- 0,90 (IC 95%: 0,81-1,0). Para el dímero-D, el VPN fue 99,2% (IC 95%. 95,4-99,9), el VPP 21,7% (IC 95%: 18,1-25,9), la sensibilidad 98,9% (IC 95%: 94,2-99,8), especificidad 26,4% (IC 95%: 22,6-30,7), la RV+ 1,34 (IC 95%: 1,27-1,43) y la RV- 0,04 (IC 95%: 0,01-0,29). Conclusiones: De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos la escala de Wells y Ginebra son buenas candidatas para ser utilizadas en urgencias como escalas para establecer la sospecha de TEP; y la de Wells sería la escala de elección por su superior especificidad. Sin embargo ninguna de ellas puede ser utilizada como herramienta diagnóstica por su baja sensibilidad. Así mismo, los dímeros D son una prueba que nos permite excluir el TEP, cuando el resultado es negativo, pero éstos debieran ser aplicados conjuntamente con las escalas

Objective: To assess the utility of the Wells and Geneva scoring systems and D-dimer measurements when pulmonary embolism (PE) is suspected. Methods: Prospective cohort study of the diagnostic performance of the Wells and Geneva scores and D-dimer measurement. We analyzed data for 637 consecutive patients suspected of having PE; the patients were being treated in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital. The following performance measures were assessed: sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), and the positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-). PE was confirmed by computed tomography and the patients were followed for the recommended 3 months. Results: The mean (SD) age was 67.9 (16.3) years and 54.6% of the patients were women. The prevalence of PE in the cohort was 15.1%. For the Wells score, the NPV was 85.3% (95% CI, 82.1%-88.0%), and the PPV was 62.5% (95% CI, 42.7%-78.8%). Sensitivity was 15.6% (95% CI, 9.7%-24.2%) and specificity 98.1% (95% CI, 96.5%-99.0%). The LR+ was 8.3 (95% CI, 3.7-18.4), and the LR- was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.95). For the Geneva score, the NPV was 82.8% (95% CI, 78.9%-86.0%), and the PPV was 58.8% (95% CI, 36.0%-78.4%). Sensitivity was 11.8% (95% CI, 6.5%-20.3%) and specificity 98.1% (95% CI, 96.1%-99.1%). The LR+ was 6.2 (95% CI, 2.42-15.74), and the LR- was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.81-1.0). For D-dimer level, the NPV was 99.2% (95% CI, 95.4%-99.9%), and the PPV was 21.7% (95% CI, 18.1%-25.9%). Sensitivity was 98.9% (95% CI, 94.2%-99.8%) and specificity 26.4% (95%, 22.6%-30.7%). The LR+ was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.27-1.43), and the LR- was 0.04 (95% CI, 0.01-0.29). Conclusions: The Wells and Geneva scoring systems are good useful in the emergency department for establishing a preliminary clinical diagnosis of suspected PE. The Wells score has better specificity. However, diagnosis cannot be based on any of these tools because of their low sensitivity. Similarly, D-dimer measurement can allow PE to be ruled out when the result is negative, but this criterion must be used in conjunction with the scoring systems