Mortality and costs associated with acute kidney injury following major elective, non-cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated postoperative AKI severity and its relation to short- and long-term patient outcomes. DESIGN: A retrospective, single-center cohort study of patients undergoing surgery from January 2015 to May 2020. SETTING: An urban, academic medical center. PATIENTS: Adult patients undergoing elective, non-cardiac surgery at our institution with a postoperative length of stay (LOS) of at least 24 h were included. Patients were included in 1-year mortality analysis if their procedure occurred prior to June 2019. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: Postoperative AKI was identified and staged using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes definitions. The outcomes analyzed were in-hospital mortality, LOS, total cost of the surgical hospitalization, and 1-year mortality. MAIN RESULTS: Of the 8887 patients studied, 648 (7.3%) had postoperative AKI. AKI was associated with severity-dependent increases in all outcomes studied. Patients with AKI had rates of in-hospital mortality of 2.0%, 3.8%, and 12.5% for stage 1, 2, and 3 AKI compared to 0.3% for patients without AKI. Mean total costs of the surgical hospitalization were $23,896 (SD $23,736) for patients without AKI compared to $33,042 (SD $27,115), $39,133 (SD $34,006), and $73,216 ($82,290) for patients with stage 1, 2, and 3 AKI, respectively. In the 6729 patients who met inclusion for 1-year mortality analysis, AKI was also associated with 1-year mortality rates of 13.9%, 19.4%, and 22.7% compared to 5.2% for patients without AKI. In multivariate models, stage 1 AKI patients still had a higher probability of 1-year mortality (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.6, p < 0.001) in addition to $4391 of additional costs when compared to patients without AKI (95% CI $2498-$6285, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: All stages of postoperative AKI were associated with increased LOS, surgical hospitalization costs, in-hospital mortality, and 1-year mortality. These findings suggest that patients with even a low-grade or stage 1 AKI are at higher risk for short- and long-term complications.

Roadmap: one anesthesiology department's strategic approach to COVID-19.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The COVID-19 pandemic has driven transformation in every aspect of the healthcare delivery system. The unpredictable onset and magnitude of COVID-19 infections resulted in wide gaps in preparedness for healthcare systems. The development of protocols to address both scarcity of resources and staff protection continues to be essential for risk mitigation. RECENT FINDINGS: The northeast region of the United States had a rapid early surge of COVID-19 infections leading to the exhaustion of critical care capacity. In addition, northeastern hospitals experienced decrease in elective surgical interventions, including organ transplantation. Limited availability of COVID-19 testing and personal protective equipment further fueled the pandemic. This commentary highlights a comprehensive innovative approach to addressing the operating room and hospital demands, as well as the shortages in resources and staffing during the pandemic. SUMMARY: The VCU Department of Anesthesiology operated at 40% of its regular operating room volume throughout the COVID-19 pandemic because of the increased demand from emergency cases. The delay in the peak surge allowed Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Anesthesiology to develop a comprehensive infrastructure resulting in resulting is maximal workforce risk mitigation.

Longitudinal Competency-Based Point-of-Care Ultrasound Curriculum in Anesthesiology: Description and Initial Experience With PGY1 and PGY2 Trainees.

Point-of-care ultrasound is becoming increasingly utilized in centers throughout the country for use in perioperative regional anesthesia procedures, vascular access, diagnosis, and resuscitation. We propose an educational approach that not only spans the 4-year duration of anesthesia residency but also regularly assesses progress throughout training. We accomplish this through a flipped classroom model, in which the 12 residents in each class participate in online modules for the baseline didactic knowledge, then come to a session where they have the opportunity to work in small groups (1:2-1:3 ratio of faculty to learner) and practice the skills outlined in the modules.