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Discharge against medical advice ( DAMA) is associated with greater risk of hospital readmission and higher morbidity, mortality, and costs, but with a rapidly increasing elderly inpatient population, there is a lack of national data on DAMA in this subgroup. The National Inpatient Sample (2003-2013 for trends, 2013 for multivariable analysis, n = 29,290,852) was used to describe trends in DAMA in elderly inpatients, to study diagnosis codes associated with admission, and to assess factors associated with DAMA using multivariable logistic regression. Odds ratios ( ORs) and 95% confidence intervals ( CIs) are reported for risk factors of interest. Although DAMA rates in individuals aged 65 and older were one fourth of those found in individuals aged 18 to 64, an increasing trend was found in both groups. From 2003 to 2013, rates increased in individuals aged 18 to 64 (from 1.44% to 1.78%) and in those aged 65 and older (from 0.37% to 0.42% (both P < .001). In both age groups, individuals admitted for mental illness had the highest risk of DAMA. Factors associated with higher adjusted odds of DAMA were generally similar between age groups, although risk of DAMA was higher in elderly adults than in those aged 18 to 64 for blacks ( OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.49-1.82 vs OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.12-1.20), Hispanics ( OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.41-1.77 vs OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.79-0.87), and those in the lowest income quartile ( OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.43-1.72 vs OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.08-1.17), suggesting that race/ethnicity and poverty are more pronounced as risk factors for DAMA in elderly inpatients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perioperative mortality of total knee and hip arthroplasties (TKA, THA) remains a major concern among health care providers and their patients. The increase in utilization of TKA and THA makes it imperative to be aware of factors that are associated with this unfortunate event. Therefore we analyzed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data from 1998 to 2008 and compared admissions with perioperative mortality to those that survived their hospitalization. An estimated total of 4,438,213 TKA and 2,182,121 THA procedures were performed in the United States between 1998 and 2008. The average mortality rate for TKA was 0.13% and 0.18% for THA, or 0.34 and 0.44 events per 1,000 inpatient days, respectively. Independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality were advanced age, male gender, ethnic minority background, emergency admission as well as a number of comorbidities and complications. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the timing of death occurred earlier after TKA when compared to THA, with 50% of fatalities occurring by day 4 versus day 6 of the hospitalization, respectively. This study provides nationally representative information on risk factors for and timing of perioperative mortality after TKA and THA. Our data can be used to assess the risk for perioperative mortality and to develop targeted intervention to decrease such risk. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1811-1821, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of nosocomial bloodstream infections in critically ill patients originate from an infected central venous catheter (CVC). Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) cause significant morbidity and mortality and increase the cost of care. The most frequent causative organisms for CRBSI are coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNSs), Staphylococcus aureus, enterococci, and Candida species. The path to infection frequently includes migration of skin organisms at the insertion site into the cutaneous catheter tract, resulting in microbial colonization of the catheter tip and formation of biofilm. Evidence-based strategies for the prevention of CRBSI include behavioral and educational interventions, effective skin antisepsis coupled with maximum barrier precautions, the use of antiseptic dressings, and the use of antiseptic or antibiotic impregnated catheters. Achieving and maintaining very low rates of CRBSI requires a multidisciplinary approach involving the entire health care team, the use of novel technologies in patients with the highest risk of CRBSI, and frequent reeducation of staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes data that was collected from 1988 to 2002 for the National Hospital Discharge Survey to elucidate changes in the demographics of lung resections in the U.S. Temporal changes in lung surgery that may help in the construction of health care policies to address the changing needs of and financial burdens on the health care system are identified.

Abstract: Study Objective: To evaluate the potential differences in the type of anesthesia provided to patients of different race, gender, and source of payment undergoing inguinal hernia repair (IHR). Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Ambulatory surgical centers/National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery. Patients: 5810 patients older than 14 years who underwent IHR in an ambulatory surgical center. Interventions: Inguinal hernia repair under different types of anesthesia. Measurements: The association of race, gender, and source of payment with different types of anesthesia for IHR as determined by multivariate regression analysis. Results: Significant discrepancies in the use of various anesthetics between patients of different race, gender, and source of payment were found. Patients identified as black and those of other minority groups were significantly more likely to receive general anesthesia compared with those identified as white (odds ratio [OR] 2.76, confidence interval [CI] 1.96-3.88 and OR 1.66, CI 1.14-2.42, respectively). Those identified as black were less likely to receive epidural anesthesia compared with their white counterparts (OR 0.36, CI 0.14-0.95). Women were less likely than men to undergo IHR with epidural anesthesia (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.85). Conclusion: Significant discrepancies in the use of various anesthetics for IHR between patients of different race, gender, and insurance status were found. Despite limitations inherent to secondary data analysis, the findings raise the possibility that nonmedical factors may influence anesthetic management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a study conducted by Jashvant Poeran and colleagues which aims to assess the perioperative use of the medication tranexamic acid in total hip and total knee arthroplasties without the need for blood transfusions and risks for thromboembolic and renal problems. Topics discussed include the summary answer and the main result of the study, what the research adds on previous studies on tranexamic acid use, and the methodology of the study.

Given the basic need for opioids in the perioperative setting, we investigated associations between opioid prescription levels and postoperative outcomes using population-based data of orthopedic surgery patients. We hypothesized that increased opioid amounts would be associated with higher risk for postoperative complications. Data were extracted from the national Premier Perspective database (2006-2013); N51,035,578 lower joint arthroplasties and N5220,953 spine fusions. Multilevel multivariable logistic regression models measured associations between opioid dose prescription and postoperative outcomes, studied by quartile of dispensed opioid dose. Compared to the lowest quartile of opioid dosing, high opioid prescription was associated with significantly increased odds for deep venous thrombosis and postoperative infections by approx. 50%, while odds were increased by 23% for urinary and more than 15% for gastrointestinal and respiratory complications (P < 0.001 respectively). Furthermore, higher opioid prescription was associated with a significant increase in length of stay (LOS) and cost by 12% and 6%, P < 0.001 respectively. Cerebrovascular complications risk was decreased by 25% with higher opioid dose (P = 0.004), while odds for myocardial infarction remained unaltered. In spine cases, opioid prescription was generally higher, with stronger effects observed for increase in LOS and cost as well as gastrointestinal and urinary complications. Other outcomes were less pronounced, possibly because of smaller sample size. Overall, higher opioid prescription was associated with an increase in most postoperative complications with the strongest effect observed in thromboembolic, infectious and gastrointestinal complications, cost, and LOS. Increase in complication risk occurred stepwise, suggesting a dose-response gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]