Inferior Vena Cava Filter Retrieval Rates Associated With Passive and Active Surveillance Strategies Adopted by Implanting Physicians.

Importance: Inferior vena cava filters are commonly implanted and infrequently retrieved. Nonretrieval contributes to significant morbidity, motivating US Food and Drug Administration and multisociety communications emphasizing the need for improved device surveillance. Current guidelines suggest that implanting physicians and referring physicians should be responsible for device follow-up, but it is not known whether shared responsibility contributes to lower retrieval. Objective: To determine if primary responsibility for follow-up care assumed by the implanting physician team is associated with increased device retrieval. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study examined a prospectively collected registry of patients with inferior vena cava filters implanted from June 2011 to September 2019. Medical record review and data analysis was completed in 2021. The study included 699 patients who underwent implantation of retrievable inferior vena cava filters at an academic quaternary care center. Exposures: Prior to 2016, implanting physicians had a passive surveillance strategy whereby letters highlighting indications for and the need for timely retrieval were mailed to patients and ordering clinicians. Starting in 2016, implanting physicians assumed active responsibility for surveillance, whereby candidacy for device retrieval was assessed periodically via phone calls and retrieval scheduled when appropriate. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was the odds of inferior vena cava filter nonretrieval. Within regression modeling of the association between the surveillance method and nonretrieval, additional covariates of patient demographics, concomitant malignant neoplasm, and presence of thromboembolic disease were included. Results: Of the 699 patients who received retrievable filter implants, 386 (55.2%) were followed up with passive surveillance, 313 (44.8%) with active surveillance, 346 (49.5%) were female, 100 (14.3%) were Black individuals, and 502 (71.8%) were White individuals. The mean (SD) age at filter implantation was 57.1 (16.0) years. Mean (SD) yearly filter retrieval increased following the adoption of active surveillance, from 190 of 386 (48.7%) to 192 of 313 (61.3%) (P < .001). Fewer filters were deemed permanent in the active group vs passive group (5 of 313 [1.6%] vs 47 of 386 [12.2%]; P < .001). Age at the time of implantation (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), concomitant malignant neoplasm (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.47-3.24), and passive contact method (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.18-2.47) were associated with increased odds of filter nonretrieval. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that active surveillance by implanting physicians is associated with improved inferior vena cava filter retrieval. These findings support encouraging physicians who implant the filter to take primary responsibility for tracking and retrieval.

Genicular Artery Embolization Technique.

Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a safe and effective treatment for knee pain related to osteoarthritis, however there are several aspects of the procedure technique which may be unique. Familiarity with procedural steps, arterial anatomy, embolic endpoints, technical challenges, and potential complications is imperative for good clinical practice and outcomes. The success of GAE depends on correctly interpreting angiographic findings and variable anatomy, navigating small and acutely angled arteries, recognizing collateral supply, and avoiding non-target embolization. The procedure can potentially be performed for a wide range of patients with knee osteoarthritis. When effective, pain relief can be durable for many years. When done meticulously, adverse events from GAE are uncommon.

Lack of Adherence to Guideline-Based Imaging Before Subsequent Radiation in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Impact on Patient Outcomes.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death within the United States, yet prior studies have shown a lack of adherence to imaging and treatment guidelines in patients with lung cancer. This study evaluated the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging before subsequent radiation therapy (RT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as recommended by National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, and whether the use of this imaging modality impacts cancer-specific survival. Methods: This was a retrospective study of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program of Medicare-linked data in patients with NSCLC. Hazard ratios and 95% CIs for overall and cancer-specific survival were estimated for patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2015 who underwent either 18F-FDG PET/CT-based or CT-based imaging before subsequent RT. Results: Significant improvement in cancer-specific survival was found in patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging before subsequent RT, compared with those who underwent CT (hazard ratio, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.32-1.55; P < 0.0001]). Although the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends 18F-FDG PET/CT before subsequent RT, 43.6% of patients were imaged with CT alone. Conclusion: Many patients with NSCLC are not being imaged according to national guidelines before subsequent RT, and this omission is associated with a lower cancer-specific survival.

Patients With Infected Total Hip Arthroplasty Undergoing 2-Stage Exchange Arthroplasty Experience Massive Blood Loss.

BACKGROUND: Two-stage exchange arthroplasty is the preferred treatment for chronic periprosthetic joint infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA). These patients are at high risk of substantial blood loss and perioperative blood transfusion. Our study aimed at determining risk factors for blood transfusion during a 2-stage exchange for infected THA. METHODS: Medical records of 297 patients with infected THA who underwent 2-stage exchange arthroplasty from 1997 to 2016 were reviewed. Blood loss was calculated using a validated formula. Transfusion data, clinical information, and operative data were gathered to determine predictors of blood loss and risk factors for perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion. RESULTS: Calculated blood loss was significantly higher during reimplantation than resection arthroplasty (5156.0 ± 3402 mL vs 3706.9 ± 2148 mL; P < .0001). Blood transfusion was needed in 81% after resection and 81.1% after reimplantation. Allogeneic blood transfusion averaged 3.6 ± 1.8 units for stage 1 and 4.2 ± 2.9 units for stage 2 (P = .0066). Patient characteristics that increased the likelihood for perioperative blood transfusions were increasing preoperative international normalized ratio, type 2 diabetes, current smoking, age, and transfusion requirement in the first stage. Tranexamic acid usage was associated with decreased blood loss. CONCLUSION: Patients with periprosthetic joint infection following THA have significant blood loss during both stages of exchange arthroplasty, especially reimplantation. Hematological optimization should be considered in all patients requiring a transfusion after the first stage, as these patients are at greater risk of requiring transfusion after the second stage. The use of tranexamic acid dramatically decreases the risk of requiring a transfusion in both stages and should be more ubiquitously incorporated into blood management protocols.

All Patients Should Be Screened for Diabetes Before Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is highly prevalent in patients with osteoarthritis before total joint arthroplasty and presents a higher risk of adverse postoperative outcomes. However, the rate of diabetes in this population and optimal screening strategies remain unknown. METHODS: We prospectively screened patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty for diabetes using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels. Screening was conducted within 2 time periods between 2012 and 2017. The prevalence of diabetes was assessed using a previous diagnosis of diabetes or, in the absence of diagnosis, by measuring if HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or FBG ≥ 126 mg/dL. Prediabetes was defined as 5.7% ≤ HbA1c ≤ 6.4% or 100 mg/dL ≤ FBG ≤ 125 mg/dL. Occurrence of a 90-day periprosthetic joint infection and wound complications was noted. RESULTS: A total of 1461 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of diabetes was 20.6%; 178 patients (59.1%) had diagnosed diabetes, and 123 patients (40.9%) had undiagnosed diabetes. Prediabetes was identified in 559 patients (38.3%), resulting in a combined total of 860 (58.9%) patients with diabetes and prediabetes. Total diabetic rates were significantly higher in patients aged >65 years, of nonwhite ethnicity, and undergoing total knee arthroplasty. No significant differences in periprosthetic joint infection and wound complications were observed while comparing patients with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of patients with undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes were identified. Preadmission testing provides an opportunity to identify and address this condition, potentially reducing short-term arthroplasty-related complications and avoiding long-term systemic diabetic complications. We strongly recommend universal glycemic screening to all elective arthroplasty patients.