Cardiac biomarkers improve prediction performance of the combination of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification and Americal College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program calculator for postoperative mortality in elderly patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Our previous research has shown American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA) score and Americal College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) calculator to have the most accuracy in the prediction of postoperative mortality. AIMS: The aim of our research was to define the most reliable combination of cardiac biomarkers with ASA and ACS NSQIP. METHODS: We have included a total of 78 patients. ASA score has been determined in standard fashion, while we used the available interactive calculator for the ACS NSQIP score. Biomarkers BIRC5, H-FABP, and hsCRP have been measured in specialized laboratories. RESULTS: All of the deceased patients had survivin (BIRC5) > 4.00 pg/ml, higher values of H-FABP and hsCRP and higher estimated levels of ASA and ACS NSQIP (P = 0.0001). ASA and ACS NSQIP alone had AUC of, respectively, 0.669 and 0.813. The combination of ASA and ACS NSQIP had AUC = 0.841. Combination of hsCRP with the two risk scores had AUC = 0.926 (95% CI 0.853-1.000, P < 0.0001). If we add three cardiac biomarkers to this model, we get AUC as high as 0.941 (95% CI 0.876-1.000, P < 0.0001). The correction of statistical models with comorbidities (CIRS-G score) did not change the accuracy of prediction models that we have provided. DISCUSSION: Addition of ACS NSQIP and biomarkers adds to the accuracy of ASA score, which has already been proved by other authors. CONCLUSION: Cardiac biomarker hsCRP can be used as the most reliable cardiac biomarker; however, the "multimarker approach" adds the most to the accuracy of the combination of clinical risk scores.

Enhanced Recovery after Vascular Surgery.

The beginnings of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program were first developed for patients in colorectal surgery, and after it was established as the standard of care in this surgical field, it began to be applied in many others surgical areas. This is multimodal, evidence-based approach program and includes simultaneous optimization of preoperative status of patients, adequate selection of surgical procedure and postoperative management. The aim of this program is to reduce complications, the length of hospital stay and to improve the patients outcome. Over the past decades, special attention was directed to the postoperative management in vascular surgery, especially after major vascular surgery because of the great risk of multiorgan failure, such as: respiratory failure, myocardial infarction, hemodynamic instability, coagulopathy, renal failure, neurological disorders, and intra-abdominal complications. Although a lot of effort was put into it, there is no unique acceptable program for ERAS in this surgical field, and there is still a need to point out the factors responsible for postoperative outcomes of these patients. So far, it is known that special attention should be paid to already existing diseases, type and the duration of the surgical intervention, hemodynamic and fluid management, nutrition, pain management, and early mobilization of patients.