Intrathecal Baclofen Infusion Pumps in the Treatment of Spasticity: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Portuguese Centre.

INTRODUCTION: Spasticity is a complex problem in patients with neurological disorders and may distress their quality of life. Intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps reduce spasticity with low doses and minimal side effects but are not free from complications. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps as well as patients' satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including all intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps placed up to December 2015. Demographic characteristics, clinical diagnoses, date of placement or withdrawal/replacement of intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps, baclofen dosage and complications of intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps were collected. Assessments from the Ashworth and Penn's scales, Katz index and patients' global satisfaction were analysed. RESULTS: In 19 years we placed 251 intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps in 155 patients. The mean age was 41.1 ± 15.8 years. The most frequent conditions were: trauma (34%), cerebral palsy (14%), multiple sclerosis (12%) and stroke (12%). Eighty-five patients (55%) required a second pump, and eleven (7%) a third one. The lifetime of the first pump was 72 (36 - 89) and the total follow-up time was 96 (9 - 132) months. The causes of withdrawal/replacement were: battery failure (57%), catheter migration/kinking (24%), infection (14%) and pump displacement/exteriorization (7%). The complication rate was 0.21 events/month. There was a significant improvement in the Ashworth and Penn's scales after the placemen of intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps (p < 0.001 for all diagnoses) and the patients were satisfied with the treatment. DISCUSSION: The incidence of complications was within range of other international studies despite our long follow-up time. Events per month, loss to follow-up, re-intervention rate, incidence of infection and mortality were similar to other studies. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal baclofen infusion pumps are safe and effective in the treatment of spasticity. Infusion pumps provide a high level of satisfaction regarding treatment and quality of life.

Introdução: A espasticidade é um problema complexo em doentes com distúrbios neurológicos influenciando a sua qualidade de vida. As bombas perfusoras intratecais de baclofeno reduzem a espasticidade com doses baixas e efeitos laterais mínimos, mas não estão livres de complicações. Pretendemos avaliar a eficácia, segurança e satisfação dos doentes com bombas perfusoras intratecais de baclofeno. Material e Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospetivo, incluindo todas as bombas perfusoras intratecais de baclofeno colocadas até dezembro de 2015. Foram avaliadas as características demográficas, diagnósticos, data de colocação ou retirada/substituição e complicações das bombas perfusoras intratecais de baclofeno. Analisaram-se as escalas Ashworth, Penn, Katz e satisfação dos doentes. Resultados: Durante 19 anos colocaram-se 251 bombas perfusoras intratecais de baclofeno em 155 doentes. A idade média foi 41,1 ± 15,8 anos. As patologias mais freqüentes foram: traumatismo (34%), paralisia cerebral (14%), esclerose múltipla (12%) e acidente vascular cerebral (12%). Oitenta e cinco doentes (55%) precisaram de uma segunda e onze (7%) de uma terceira bomba. A semi-vida da primeira bomba foi 72 (36 ­ 89) e o tempo total de seguimento 96 (9 ­ 132) meses. As causas de retirada/substituição foram: falha de bateria (57%), migração/kinking do cateter (24%), infeção (14%) e deslocamento/exteriorização da bomba (7%). A taxa de complicações foi 0,21 eventos/mês. Houve uma melhoria significativa nas escalas de Ashworth e Penn após colocação das bombas perfusoras intratecais de baclofeno (p < 0,001 para todos os diagnósticos) e os doentes ficaram satisfeitos com o tratamento. Discussão: A incidência de complicações situou-se dentro do intervalo reportado por outros estudos internacionais, apesar do longo tempo de seguimento. Número de eventos por mês, perda de seguimento, taxas de re-intervenção ou infecção e mortalidade foram semelhantes a outros estudos. Conclusão: As bombas perfusoras intratecais de baclofeno são seguras e eficazes no tratamento da espasticidade e oferecem um alto nível de satisfação quanto ao tratamento e qualidade de vida.

Major Cardiac Events in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care After Vascular Noncardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort.

Introduction. Patients proposed to vascular noncardiac surgery (VS) have several comorbidities associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACE). We evaluated incidence, predictors, and outcomes, and compared different scores to predict MACE after VS. Methods. We included all patients admitted from 2006 to 2013. Perioperative MACE included cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE), acute heart failure (AHF), and cardiac arrest (CA). Lee Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI), Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI-CRI), Vascular Study Group of New England (VSG-CRI), and South African Vascular Surgical (SAVS-CRI) Cardiac Risk Indexes were calculated and analyzed. We performed multivariate logistic regression to assess independent predictors with calculation of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). To reduce overfitting, we used leave-one-out cross-validation approach. The Predictive ability of scores was tested using area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results. A total of 928 patients were included. We observed 81 MACE (28 MI, 22 arrhythmias, 10 CPE, 9 AHF, 12 CA) in 60 patients (6.5%): 3.3% in intermediate-risk surgery and 9.8% in high-risk surgery. Previous history of coronary artery disease (OR = 3.2, CI = 1.8-5.7), atrial fibrillation (OR = 5.1, CI = 2.4-11.0), insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.26, CI = 1.51-7.06), mechanical ventilation (OR = 2.75, CI = 1.41-4.63), and heart rate (OR = 1.02, CI = 1.01-1.03) at admission were considered independent risk factors in multivariate analysis. The AUROC of our model was 0.79, compared with RCRI (0.66), VSG-CRI (0.69), VQI-CRI (0.71), and SAVS-CRI (0.73). Conclusions. Observed MACE were within predicted range (1% to 5% after intermediate-risk surgery and >5% after high-risk surgery). SAVS-CRI and VQI-CRI had slightly better predictive capacity than VSG-CRI or RCRI.

Complications of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: Mortality, Myocardial Infarction and Acute Kidney Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) have comorbidities that increase the risk of death, myocardial infarction (MI) and acute kidney injury (AKI). Our aim was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of mortality, MI and AKI after EVAR and to compare AKI incidence with Vascular Surgery Kidney Injury Predictive Score (VSKIPS). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of EVAR procedures performed between March 2006 and November 2013. We defined mortality at 30 days, MI as an increase in troponin level to >0.034 ng mL-1 in the first 72 h and AKI as an increase in creatinine level to >0.3 mg dL-1 in the first 48 h after surgery. Risk factors were analysed using logistic regression calculating Hosmer-Lemeshow test and the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC). RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were included in the study. The incidence of mortality, MI, and AKI was 2%, 5%, and 18%, respectively. AKI increased the risk of MI [odds ratio (OR) 24.4, p=0.006]. Preoperative serum urea level of >50 mg dL-1 (OR 4.97, p=0.038), general anaesthesia (OR 9.64, p=0.002) and surgery duration (OR 1.53, p=0.043) were considered independent predictors of AKI. The AUROC of the AKI model was 0.886 compared with 0.793 of VSKIPS. CONCLUSION: We found the incidence of mortality, MI and AKI consistent with that of previous studies. However, we may be underestimating the last two because of the short follow-up time. AKI was an independent predictor of MI. Preoperative serum urea level of >50 mg dL-1, general anaesthesia and surgery duration were considered independent predictors of AKI.

Severity of disease scoring systems and mortality after non-cardiac surgery / Sistemas de classificação da gravidade da doença e mortalidade após cirurgia não cardíaca

Abstract Background: Mortality after surgery is frequent and severity of disease scoring systems are used for prediction. Our aim was to evaluate predictors for mortality after non-cardiac surgery. Methods: Adult patients admitted at our surgical intensive care unit between January 2006 and July 2013 was included. Univariate analysis was carried using Mann-Whitney, Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression was performed to assess independent factors with calculation of odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: 4398 patients were included. Mortality was 1.4% in surgical intensive care unit and 7.4% during hospital stay. Independent predictors of mortality in surgical intensive care unit were APACHE II (OR = 1.24); emergent surgery (OR = 4.10), serum sodium (OR = 1.06) and FiO2 at admission (OR = 14.31). Serum bicarbonate at admission (OR = 0.89) was considered a protective factor. Independent predictors of hospital mortality were age (OR = 1.02), APACHE II (OR = 1.09), emergency surgery (OR = 1.82), high-risk surgery (OR = 1.61), FiO2 at admission (OR = 1.02), postoperative acute renal failure (OR = 1.96), heart rate (OR = 1.01) and serum sodium (OR = 1.04). Dying patients had higher scores in severity of disease scoring systems and longer surgical intensive care unit stay. Conclusion: Some factors influenced both surgical intensive care unit and hospital mortality.

Resumo Justificativa: A mortalidade após cirurgia é frequente e os sistemas de classificação da gravidade da doença são usados para a previsão. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar os preditivos de mortalidade após cirurgia não cardíaca. Métodos: Os pacientes adultos admitidos em nossa unidade de terapia intensiva cirúrgica entre janeiro de 2006 e julho de 2013 foram incluídos. Análise univariada foi feita com o teste de Mann-Whitney, qui-quadrado ou exato de Fisher. Regressão logística foi feita para avaliar fatores independentes com cálculo de razão de chances (odds ratio - OR) e intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC 95%). Resultados: No total, 4.398 pacientes foram incluídos. A mortalidade foi de 1,4% na unidade de terapia intensiva cirúrgica e de 7,4% durante a internação hospitalar. Os preditivos independentes de mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva cirúrgica foram APACHE II (OR = 1,24); cirurgia de emergência (OR = 4,10), sódio sérico (OR = 1,06) e FiO2 na admissão (OR = 14,31). Bicarbonato sérico na admissão (OR = 0,89) foi considerado um fator protetor. Os preditivos independentes de mortalidade hospitalar foram idade (OR = 1,02), APACHE II (OR = 1,09), cirurgia de emergência (OR = 1,82), cirurgia de alto risco (OR = 1,61), FiO2 na admissão (OR = 1,02), insuficiência renal aguda no pós-operatório (OR = 1,96), frequência cardíaca (OR = 1,01) e sódio sérico (OR = 1,04). Os pacientes moribundos apresentaram escores mais altos de gravidade da doença nos sistemas de classificação e mais tempo de permanência em unidade de terapia intensiva cirúrgica. Conclusão: Alguns fatores tiveram influencia sobre a mortalidade tanto hospitalar quanto na unidade de terapia intensiva cirúrgica.

[Severity of disease scoring systems and mortality after non-cardiac surgery]. / Sistemas de classificação da gravidade da doença e mortalidade após cirurgia não cardíaca.

BACKGROUND: Mortality after surgery is frequent and severity of disease scoring systems are used for prediction. Our aim was to evaluate predictors for mortality after non-cardiac surgery. METHODS: Adult patients admitted at our surgical intensive care unit between January 2006 and July 2013 was included. Univariate analysis was carried using Mann-Whitney, Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression was performed to assess independent factors with calculation of odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: 4398 patients were included. Mortality was 1.4% in surgical intensive care unit and 7.4% during hospital stay. Independent predictors of mortality in surgical intensive care unit were APACHE II (OR=1.24); emergent surgery (OR=4.10), serum sodium (OR=1.06) and FiO2 at admission (OR=14.31). Serum bicarbonate at admission (OR=0.89) was considered a protective factor. Independent predictors of hospital mortality were age (OR=1.02), APACHE II (OR=1.09), emergency surgery (OR=1.82), high-risk surgery (OR=1.61), FiO2 at admission (OR=1.02), postoperative acute renal failure (OR=1.96), heart rate (OR=1.01) and serum sodium (OR=1.04). Dying patients had higher scores in severity of disease scoring systems and longer surgical intensive care unit stay. CONCLUSION: Some factors influenced both surgical intensive care unit and hospital mortality.

Strategies to prevent TEVAR-related spinal cord ischemia.

Spinal cord ischemia remains the Achilles' heel of thoracic and thoracoabdominal diseases management. Great improvements in morbidity and mortality have been obtained with the endovascular approach TEVAR (Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair) but this devastating complication continues to severely affect the quality of life, even if the primary success of the procedure - dissection/aneurysm exclusion - has been achieved. Several strategies to deal with this complication have been published in the literature over the time. Knowledge and technology have been evolving from identification of the risk factors associated with spinal cord ischemia, including lessons learned from open surgery, and from developments in the collateral network concept for spinal cord perfusion. In this comprehensive review, the authors cover several topics from the traditional measures comprising haemodynamic control, cerebrospinal drainage and neuroprotective drugs, to the staged-procedures approach, the emerging MISACE (minimally invasive selective segmental artery coil-embolization) and innovative neurologic monitoring such as NIRS (near-infrared spectroscopy) of the collateral network.