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The aim of this study was to provide a description of vascular trauma and its management at trauma centers across Canada.This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients from 8 Canadian level 1 trauma centers (2011-2015). Medical records were queried to identify adult patients who survived to hospital with major vascular injury. Major vascular injury was defined as injury to named arterial or venous vessels in the legs, arms torso, and neck. Data collected included patient demographics, injury mechanism, injury details, management and clinical outcomes.A total of 1330 patients were included. Patients were 76% male with a mean age of 43 (SD 18.8). Reported injuries were 63% blunt, 36% penetrating, and the remainder mixed. The most common specific mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle collision (36%), stabbing (26%), and falls (16%), with gunshot injuries accounting for5%. Pre-hospital tourniquets were applied in 27 patients (2%). The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 24 (SD 14.5). We identified injuries to named vessels of the neck (32%), thorax (23%), abdomen and pelvis (27%), upper extremity (14%) and lower extremity (10%). Specific vascular injuries included transection (50%), complete occlusion (11%), partial occlusion (39%), and pseudoaneurysm formation (11%). Injuries were managed non-operatively in 32%, with definitive open surgical management (24%), endovascular management (9%) and with damage control techniques in the operating room (3%). Amputation occurred in 10% of lower extremity and 5% of upper extremity injuries. Responsibility for vascular injury management was undertaken by a wide variety of specialists (n = 17). Overall, in-hospital mortality was 13%, and 2% of patients underwent amputation.This study describes the nature and management of vascular injuries across Canada. The variability in injury mechanisms, management strategies, specialty responsible for management, and outcomes have important implications for practice change and knowledge translation.

IntroductionTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of mortality and long-term disability in young adults. Despite the high prevalence of anaemia and red blood cell transfusion in patients with TBI, the optimal haemoglobin (Hb) transfusion threshold is unknown. We undertook a randomised trial to evaluate whether a liberal transfusion strategy improves clinical outcomes compared with a restrictive strategy.Methods and analysisHEMOglobin Transfusion Threshold in Traumatic Brain Injury OptimizatiON is an international pragmatic randomised open label blinded-endpoint clinical trial. We will include 742 adult patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with an acute moderate or severe blunt TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤12) and a Hb level ≤100 g/L. Patients are randomly allocated using a 1:1 ratio, stratified by site, to a liberal (triggered by Hb ≤100 g/L) or a restrictive (triggered by Hb ≤70 g/L) transfusion strategy applied from the time of randomisation to the decision to withdraw life-sustaining therapies, ICU discharge or death. Primary and secondary outcomes are assessed centrally by trained research personnel blinded to the intervention. The primary outcome is the Glasgow Outcome Scale extended at 6 months. Secondary outcomes include overall functional independence measure, overall quality of life (EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level; EQ-5D-5L), TBI-specific quality of life (Quality of Life after Brain Injury; QOLIBRI), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9) and mortality.Ethics and disseminationThis trial is approved by the CHU de Québec—Université Laval research ethics board (MP-20-2018-3706) and ethic boards at all participating sites. Our results will be published and shared with relevant organisations and healthcare professionals.Trial registration numberNCT03260478.

The role of remdesivir in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 remains ill-defined. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis alongside the Canadian Treatments for COVID-19 (CATCO) open-label, randomized clinical trial evaluating remdesivir.Patients with COVID-19 in Canadian hospitals from Aug. 14, 2020, to Apr. 1, 2021, were randomly assigned to receive remdesivir plus usual care versus usual care alone. Taking a public health care payer's perspective, we collected in-hospital outcomes and health care resource utilization alongside estimated unit costs in 2020 Canadian dollars over a time horizon from randomization to hospital discharge or death. Data from 1281 adults admitted to 52 hospitals in 6 Canadian provinces were analyzed.The total mean cost per patient was $37 918 (standard deviation [SD] $42 413; 95% confidence interval [CI] $34 617 to $41 220) for patients randomly assigned to the remdesivir group and $38 026 (SD $46 021; 95% CI $34 480 to $41 573) for patients receiving usual care (incremental cost -$108 [95% CI -$4953 to $4737],From a health care payer perspective, treating patients hospitalized with COVID-19 with remdesivir and usual care appears to be preferrable to treating with usual care alone, albeit with marginal incremental cost and small clinical effects. The added cost of remdesivir was offset by shorter lengths of stay in the intensive care unit and less need for ventilation.ClinicalTrials. gov, no. NCT04330690.

A phase III randomised, placebo-controlled, trial to directly compare the efficacy and safety of low-dose TMP-SMX (10 mg/kg/day of TMP) with the standard of care (15 mg/kg/day of TMP) among patients with PJP, for a composite primary outcome of change of treatment, new mechanical ventilation, or death. The trial will be undertaken at 16 Canadian hospitals. Data will be analysed as intention to treat. Primary and secondary outcomes will be compared using logistic regression adjusting for stratification and presented with 95% CI.This study has been conditionally approved by the McGill University Health Centre; Ethics approval will be obtained from all participating centres. Results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.NCT04851015.

The overprescription of opioids to surgical patients is recognized as an important factor contributing to the opioid crisis. However, the value of prescribing opioid analgesia (OA) vs opioid-free analgesia (OFA) after postoperative discharge remains uncertain.To investigate the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized clinical trial (RCT) to assess the comparative effectiveness of OA vs OFA after outpatient general surgery.This parallel, 2-group, assessor-blind, pragmatic pilot RCT was conducted from January 29 to September 3, 2020 (last follow-up on October 2, 2020). at 2 university-affiliated hospitals in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Participants were adult patients (aged ≥18 years) undergoing outpatient abdominal (ie, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, or hernia repair) or breast (ie, partial or total mastectomy) general surgical procedures. Exclusion criteria were contraindications to drugs used in the trial, preoperative opioid use, conditions that could affect assessment of outcomes, and intraoperative or early complications requiring hospitalization.Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive OA (around-the-clock nonopioids and opioids for breakthrough pain) or OFA (around-the-clock nonopioids with increasing doses and/or addition of nonopioid medications for breakthrough pain) after postoperative discharge.Main outcomes were a priori RCT feasibility criteria (ie, rates of surgeon agreement, patient eligibility, patient consent, treatment adherence, loss to follow-up, and missing follow-up data). Secondary outcomes included pain intensity and interference, analgesic intake, 30-day unplanned health care use, and adverse events. Between-group comparison of outcomes followed the intention-to-treat principle.A total of 15 surgeons were approached; all (100%; 95% CI, 78%-100%) agreed to have patients recruited and adhered to the study procedures. Rates of patient eligibility and consent were 73% (95% CI, 66%-78%) and 57% (95% CI, 49%-65%), respectively. Seventy-six patients were randomized (39 [51%] to OA and 37 [49%] to OFA) and included in the intention-to-treat analysis (mean [SD] age, 55.5 [14.5] years; 50 [66%] female); 40 (53%) underwent abdominal surgery, and 36 (47%) underwent breast surgery. Seventy-five patients (99%; 95% CI, 93%-100%) adhered to the allocated treatment; 1 patient randomly assigned to OFA received an opioid prescription. Seventeen patients (44%) randomly assigned to OA consumed opioids after discharge. Seventy-three patients (96%; 95% CI, 89%-99%) completed the 30-day follow-up. The rate of missing questionnaires was 37 of 3724 (1%; 95% CI, 0.7%-1.4%). All the a priori RCT feasibility criteria were fulfilled.The findings of this pilot RCT support the feasibility of conducting a robust, full-scale RCT to inform evidence-based prescribing of analgesia after outpatient general surgery.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04254679.

Background: Endoscopic percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) is a safe technique that is performed frequently by otolaryngologists and intensivists. New challenges have been identified in order to maintain the safety of this procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. A novel approach, using a modified demistifier canopy, was developed during the first wave of the pandemic and implemented for 17 consecutive percutaneous tracheostomies in order to enhance procedural safety. Methods: A protocol was developed after performing a literature review of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients. A multidisciplinary tracheostomy team was established, including the departments of otolaryngology, critical care, and respiratory therapy. Simulation was performed prior to each PT, and postoperative debriefings were done. Results: A protocol and technical description of PT using a modified demistifier canopy covering was written and video documented. Data were collected on 17 patients who underwent this procedure safely in our tertiary care hospital. There were no procedure-related complications, and no evidence of COVID-19 transmission to any member of the health care team during the study period. Conclusion: As patients continue to recover from COVID-19, their need for tracheostomy will increase. The technique described provides a safe, multidisciplinary method of performing PT in COVID-19 patients.

We sought to compare the cost-effectiveness of probiotics and usual care with usual care without probiotics in mechanically ventilated, intensive care unit patients alongside the Probiotics to Prevent Severe Pneumonia and Endotracheal Colonization Trial (PROSPECT).We conducted a health economic evaluation alongside the PROSPECT randomized control trial (October 2013-March 2019). We adopted a public healthcare payer's perspective. Forty-four intensive care units in three countries (Canada/USA/Saudi Arabia) with adult critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients (N = 2,650) were included. Interventions were probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) vs placebo administered enterally twice daily. We collected healthcare resource use and estimated unit costs in 2019 United States dollars (USD) over a time horizon from randomization to hospital discharge/death. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) comparing probiotics vs usual care. The primary outcome was incremental cost per ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) event averted; secondary outcomes were costs per Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD), antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), and mortality averted. Uncertainty was investigated using nonparametric bootstrapping and sensitivity analyses.Mean (standard deviation [SD]) cost per patient was USD 66,914 (91,098) for patients randomized to probiotics, with a median [interquartile range (IQR)] of USD 42,947 [22,239 to 76,205]. By comparison, for those not receiving probiotics, mean (SD) cost per patient was USD 62,701 (78,676) (median [IQR], USD 41,102 [23,170 to 75,140]; incremental cost, USD 4,213; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2,269 to 10,708). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for VAP or AAD events averted, probiotics were dominated by usual care (more expensive, with similar effectiveness). The ICERs were USD 1,473,400 per CDAD event averted (95% CI, undefined) and USD 396,764 per death averted (95% CI, undefined). Cost-effectiveness acceptability curves reveal that probiotics were not cost-effective across wide ranges of plausible willingness-to-pay thresholds. Sensitivity analyses did not change the conclusions.Probiotics for VAP prevention among critically ill patients were not cost-effective. Study registration data www.gov (NCT01782755); registered 4 February 2013.RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Nous avons cherché à comparer le rapport coût-efficacité d’un traitement avec probiotiques ajoutés aux soins habituels avec des soins habituels prodigués sans probiotiques chez les patients des soins intensifs sous ventilation mécanique dans le cadre de l’étude PROSPECT (Probiotics to Prevent Severe Pneumonia and Endotracheal Colonization Trial). MéTHODE: Nous avons réalisé une évaluation de l’économie de la santé parallèlement à l’étude randomisée contrôlée PROSPECT (octobre 2013-mars 2019). Nous avons adopté le point de vue d’un payeur public de services de santé. Quarante-quatre unités de soins intensifs dans trois pays (Canada/États-Unis/Arabie saoudite) prenant soin de patients adultes gravement malades sous ventilation mécanique (n = 2650) ont été inclus. Les interventions ont été les suivantes : probiotiques (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) vs placebo administrés par voie entérale deux fois par jour. Nous avons recueilli les données concernant l’utilisation des ressources en soins de santé et estimé les coûts unitaires en dollars américains (USD) de 2019 sur un horizon temporel allant de la randomisation au congé de l’hôpital / décès. Nous avons calculé des rapports coût-efficacité différentiels (RCED) en comparant les probiotiques vs les soins habituels. Le critère d’évaluation principal était le coût différentiel par événement évité de pneumonie associée au ventilateur (PAV); les critères d’évaluation secondaires étaient les coûts par diarrhée associée au Clostridioides difficile (DACD), diarrhée associée aux antibiotiques (DAA) et mortalité évitées. L’incertitude a été étudiée à l’aide d’analyses d’amorçage et de sensibilité non paramétriques. RéSULTATS: Le coût moyen (écart type [ÉT]) par patient était de 66 914 (91 098) USD pour les patients randomisés au groupe probiotiques, avec une médiane [écart interquartile (ÉIQ)] de 42 947 USD [22 239 à 76 205]. En comparaison, pour ceux ne recevant pas de probiotiques, le coût moyen (ÉT) par patient était de 62 701 USD (78 676) (médiane [ÉIQ], 41 102 USD [23 170 à 75 140]; coût différentiel, 4213 USD; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95%, -2269 à 10 708). En matière de rapports coût-efficacité différentiels pour les événements de PAV ou DAA évités, les probiotiques étaient dominés par les soins habituels (plus coûteux, avec une efficacité similaire). Les RCED étaient de 1 473 400 USD par événement de DACD évitée (IC 95 %, non défini) et de 396 764 USD par décès évité (IC 95 %, non défini). Les courbes d’acceptabilité coût-efficacité révèlent que les probiotiques n’étaient pas rentables dans de larges gammes de seuils plausibles de volonté de payer. Les analyses de sensibilité n’ont pas modifié les conclusions. CONCLUSION: Les probiotiques utilisés pour prévenir la PAV chez les patients gravement malades n’étaient pas rentables. Enregistrement de l’étude : www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01782755); enregistrée le 4 février 2013.

Incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) may reduce surgical site infections (SSI), which can have devastating consequences after incisional hernia repair. Few comparative studies investigate the effectiveness of this wound management strategy in this population. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of iNPWT on the incidence of SSI after complex incisional hernia repair. All adult patients undergoing open incisional hernia repair at a single center from 2016 to 2019 were reviewed. A commercial iNPWT dressing was used at the discretion of the surgeon. Patients were grouped by type of dressing; iNPWT and standard sterile dressings (SSD). Coarsened exact matching was used to create balanced cohorts for comparison using age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, wound classification, and surgical urgency. The primary outcome was the composite incidence of superficial and deep SSI within 30 days. Secondary outcomes included non-infectious surgical site occurrences (SSO), overall complications, length of stay (LOS), emergency department visits, and readmission at 30 days. 134 patients underwent complex hernia repair, with 114 patients included after matching (34 iNPWT, 51 SSD). Composite incidence of superficial and deep SSI was 19.3% (11.8% vs. 27.5%, p = 0.107), with significantly lower rates of deep SSI in patients receiving iNPWT (2.9% vs. 17.6%, p = 0.045). After accounting for residual differences between groups, iNPWT was associated with decreased incidence of composite SSI (RR 0.36, 95% CI [0.16, 0.87]). Median LOS was longer in patients with iNPWT (7 vs. 5 days, p = 0.001). There were no differences in SSO, overall complications, readmission, or emergency department visits. In patients undergoing incisional hernia repair, the use of iNPWT was associated with a lower incidence of SSI at 30 days. Future studies should focus on cost effectiveness of iNPWT, its impact on long-term hernia recurrences, and the identification of patient selection criteria in this population.

Background Acute care surgery (ACS) and emergency general surgery (EGS) services must provide timely care and intervention for patients who have some of the most challenging needs. Patients treated by ACS services are often critically ill and have both substantial comorbidities and poor physiologic reserve. Despite the widespread implemention of ACS/EGS services across North America, the true postoperative morbidity rates remain largely unknown. Methods In this prospective study, inpatients at 8 high-volume ACS/EGS centres in geographically diverse locations in Canada who underwent operative interventions were followed for 30 days or until they were discharged. Readmissions during the 30-day window were also captured. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables were tracked. Standard statistical methodology was employed. Results A total of 601 ACS/EGS patients were followed for up to 30 inpatient or readmission days after their index emergent operation. Fifty-one percent of patients were female, and the median age was 51 years. They frequently had substantial medical comorbidities (42%) and morbid obesity (15%). The majority of procedures were minimally invasive (66% laparoscopic). Median length of stay was 3.3 days and the early readmission (< 30 d) rate was 6%. Six percent of patients were admitted to the critical care unit. The overall complication and mortality rates were 34% and 2%, respectively. Cholecystitis (31%), appendicitis (21%), bowel obstruction (18%), incarcerated hernia (12%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (7%) and soft tissue infections (7%) were the most common diagnoses. The morbidity and mortality rates for open surgical procedures were 73% and 5%, respectively. Conclusion Nontrauma ACS/EGS procedures are associated with a high postoperative morbidity rate. This study will serve as a prospective benchmark for postoperative complications among ACS/EGS patients and subsequent quality improvement across Canada.

Objectives To evaluate the effect of esophageal stimulation on nutritional adequacy in critically ill patients at risk for enteral feeding intolerance. Design A multicenter randomized sham-controlled clinical trial. Setting Twelve ICUs in Canada. Patients We included mechanically ventilated ICU patients who were given moderate-to-high doses of opioids and expected to remain alive and ventilated for an additional 48 hours and who were receiving enteral nutrition or expected to start imminently. Interventions Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to esophageal stimulation via an esophageal stimulating catheter (E-Motion Tube; E-Motion Medical, Tel Aviv, Israel) or sham treatment. All patients were fed via these catheters using a standardized feeding protocol. Measurements and main results The co-primary outcomes were proportion of caloric and protein prescription received enterally over the initial 7 days following randomization. Among 159 patients randomized, the modified intention-to-treat analysis included 155 patients: 73 patients in the active treatment group and 82 in the sham treatment group. Over the 7-day study period, the percent of prescribed caloric intake (± SE) received by the enteral route was 64% ± 2 in the active group and 65% ± 2 in sham patients for calories (difference, -1; 95% CI, -8 to 6; p = 0.74). For protein, it was 57% ± 3 in the active group and 60% ± 3 in the sham group (difference, -3; 95% CI, -10 to 3; p = 0.30). Compared to the sham group, there were more serious adverse events reported in the active treatment group (13 vs 6; p = 0.053). Clinically important arrhythmias were detected by Holter monitoring in 36 out of 70 (51%) in the active group versus 22 out of 76 (29%) in the sham group (p = 0.006). Conclusions Esophageal stimulation via a special feeding catheter did not improve nutritional adequacy and was associated with increase risk of harm in critically ill patients.

The role of remdesivir in the treatment of patients in hospital with COVID-19 remains ill defined in a global context. The World Health Organization Solidarity randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated remdesivir in patients across many countries, with Canada enrolling patients using an expanded data collection format in the Canadian Treatments for COVID-19 (CATCO) trial. We report on the Canadian findings, with additional demographics, characteristics and clinical outcomes, to explore the potential for differential effects across different health care systems.We performed an open-label, pragmatic RCT in Canadian hospitals, in conjunction with the Solidarity trial. We randomized patients to 10 days of remdesivir (200 mg intravenously [IV] on day 0, followed by 100 mg IV daily), plus standard care, or standard care alone. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included changes in clinical severity, oxygen- and ventilator-free days (at 28 d), incidence of new oxygen or mechanical ventilation use, duration of hospital stay, and adverse event rates. We performed a priori subgroup analyses according to duration of symptoms before enrolment, age, sex and severity of symptoms on presentation.Across 52 Canadian hospitals, we randomized 1282 patients between Aug. 14, 2020, and Apr. 1, 2021, to remdesivir (Remdesivir, when compared with standard of care, has a modest but significant effect on outcomes important to patients and health systems, such as the need for mechanical ventilation.

IMPORTANCE: Growing interest in microbial dysbiosis during critical illness has raised questions about the therapeutic potential of microbiome modification with probiotics. Prior randomized trials in this population suggest that probiotics reduce infection, particularly ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), although probiotic-associated infections have also been reported. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on preventing VAP, additional infections, and other clinically important outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Randomized placebo-controlled trial in 44 ICUs in Canada, the United States, and Saudi Arabia enrolling adults predicted to require mechanical ventilation for at least 72 hours. A total of 2653 patients were enrolled from October 2013 to March 2019 (final follow-up, October 2020). INTERVENTIONS: Enteral L rhamnosus GG (1 × 10(10) colony-forming units) (n = 1321) or placebo (n = 1332) twice daily in the ICU. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was VAP determined by duplicate blinded central adjudication. Secondary outcomes were other ICU-acquired infections including Clostridioides difficile infection, diarrhea, antimicrobial use, ICU and hospital length of stay, and mortality. RESULTS: Among 2653 randomized patients (mean age, 59.8 years [SD], 16.5 years), 2650 (99.9%) completed the trial (mean age, 59.8 years [SD], 16.5 years; 1063 women [40.1%.] with a mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 22.0 (SD, 7.8) and received the study product for a median of 9 days (IQR, 5-15 days). VAP developed among 289 of 1318 patients (21.9%) receiving probiotics vs 284 of 1332 controls (21.3%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.03 (95% CI, 0.87-1.22; P = .73, absolute difference, 0.6%, 95% CI, –2.5% to 3.7%). None of the 20 prespecified secondary outcomes, including other ICU-acquired infections, diarrhea, antimicrobial use, mortality, or length of stay showed a significant difference. Fifteen patients (1.1%) receiving probiotics vs 1 (0.1%) in the control group experienced the adverse event of L rhamnosus in a sterile site or the sole or predominant organism in a nonsterile site (odds ratio, 14.02; 95% CI, 1.79-109.58; P

Approximately 5 billion people do not have access to safe, timely, and affordable surgical and anesthesia care, with this number disproportionately affecting those from low–middle-income countries (LMICs). Perioperative mortality rates (POMRs) have been identified by the World Health Organization as a potential health metric to monitor quality of surgical care provided. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate published reports of POMR and suggest recommendations for its appropriate use as a health metric. The protocol was registered a priori with PROSPERO. A peer-reviewed search strategy was developed adhering with the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant articles were identified through Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CDSR, LILACS, PubMed, BIOSIS, Global Health, Africa-Wide Information, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Two independent reviewers performed a primary screening analysis based on titles and abstracts, followed by a full-text screen. Studies describing POMRs of adult emergency abdominal surgeries in LMICs were included. A total of 7787 articles were screened of which 7466 were excluded based on title and abstract. Three hundred and twenty-one articles entered full-text screen of which 70 articles met the inclusion criteria. Variables including timing of POMR reporting, intraoperative mortality, length of hospital stay, complication rates, and disease severity score were collected. Complication rates were reported in 83% of studies and postoperative stay in 46% of studies. 40% of papers did not report the specific timing of POMR collection. 7% of papers reported on intraoperative death. Additionally, 46% of papers used a POMR timing specific to the duration of their study. Vital signs were discussed in 24% of articles, with disease severity score only mentioned in 20% of studies. POMR is an important health metric for quantifications of quality of care of surgical systems. Further validation and standardization are necessary to effectively use this health metric.

Objectives As there is no treatment for COVID-19 with a proven mortality benefit at this moment in the pandemic, supportive management including mechanical ventilation is the core management in an intensive care unit (ICU). It is a challenge to provide consistent care in this situation, highly demanding and leading to potential staff shortages in ICU. We need to reduce unnecessary exposure of healthcare workers to the virus. This study aims to examine the impact of care using a non-invasive oscillating device (NIOD) for chest physiotherapy in the care of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19. In particular, we aim to explore if a NIOD performed by non-specialized personnel is not inferior to the standard chest physiotherapy (CPT) undertaken by physiotherapists caring for patients with COVID-19. Trial design A pilot multicenter prospective crossover noninferiority randomized controlled trial. Participants All mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 admitted to one of the two ICUs, and CPT ordered by the responsible physician. The participants will be recruited from two intensive care units in Canadian Academic Hospitals (one pediatric and one adult ICU). Intervention and comparator We will implement NIOD and CPT alternatingly for 3 h apart over 3 h. We will apply a pragmatic design, so that other procedures including hypertonic saline nebulization, intermittent positive pressure ventilation, suctioning (e.g., oral or nasal), or changing the ventilator settings or modality (i.e., increasing positive end-expiratory pressure or changing the nasal mask to total face continuous positive airway pressure) can be provided at the direction of bedside intensivists in charge. Main outcomes The primary outcome measurement is the oxygenation level before and after the procedure (SpO2/FiO2 ratio). For cases with invasive ventilation (i.e., the use of an endotracheal tube to deliver positive pressure) and non-invasive ventilation, we will also document expiratory tidal volume, vital signs, and any related complications such as vomiting, hypoxemia, or unexpected extubation. We will collect the data before, 10 min after, and 30 min after the procedure. Randomization The order of the procedures (i.e., NIOD or CPT) will be randomly allocated using manual generated random numbers for each case. Randomization will be carried out by the independent research assistant in the study coordinating center by using opaque sealed envelopes, assigning an equal number of cases to each intervention arm. Stratification will be applied for age (> 18 years or ≤ 18 years of age) and the study sites. Blinding (masking) No blinding will be performed. Numbers to be randomized (sample size) We estimate the necessary sample size as 25 for each arm (total 50 cases), with a power of 0.90 and an alpha of 0.05, with a non-inferiority design. Trial status The protocol version number 1 was approved on 27 March 2020. Currently, recruitment has not yet started, with the start scheduled by the mid-June 2020 and the end anticipated by December 2020. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04361435 . Registered on 28 April 2020 Full protocol The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional File 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.

Hemodynamically unstable trauma patients who would benefit from angioembolization (AE) typically also require emergent surgery for their injuries. The critical decision of transferring a patient to the operating room versus the interventional radiology (IR) suite can be bypassed with the advent of intra-operative AE (IOAE). Previously limited by the availability of costly rooms termed RAPTOR (resuscitation with angiography, percutaneous techniques and open repair) suites, it has been suggested that using C-arm digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is a comparable alternative. This case series aims to establish the feasibility and safety of IOAE.We conducted a retrospective analysis of all trauma patients at our level 1 trauma center who underwent IOAE with a concomitant surgical intervention from January 2011 to May 2019. Descriptive analyses were conducted.A total of 49 patients (80% male, 44 ± 17 years, 92% blunt) underwent IOAE using the C-arm DSA during the study period. All but one patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, 56% of which underwent an additional surgical procedure (ex. exploratory thoracotomy, orthopedic). Either GelfoamIOAE appears to be a feasible and safe management option in severe trauma patients with the advantage of concurrent operative intervention and ongoing active resuscitation with good success in hemorrhage control.

Background Despite the recommendations of the Advanced Trauma Life Support course of the American College of Surgeons, patients undergo computed tomography (CT) in local hospitals before transfer to a trauma center. The problem of repeat CTs caused by technical and protocol issues is ongoing. The objective is to measure the importance of repeat CTs and CTs involving other body regions. Methods All secondary transfers to our level 1 facility with CT at the local hospital over 9 years were reviewed. Patients were considered to have had a repeat CT if the same body region or an another body region was scanned as a part of the initial assessment but not for reasons of clinical follow-up. Results Of 6,292 patients received from local hospitals, 685 (12%) had undergone 1097 CT scans at the local hospitals. Patients being scanned in local hospitals were sicker (injury severity score: 21 vs 13) and required more intensive care unit admissions (38% vs 29%) and more ventilation (32% vs 22%). Thirty-nine percent of CTs were repeated, and 55% of these patients required imaging of another body part. Conclusion Repeat and additional images remain a major issue in trauma transfers. Improvement requires standardization of CT protocols and change in the approach of local hospitals from “finding and requiring need level 1 trauma center” to “not missing any injuries.”

Summary The use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in penetrating injuries is an emerging adjunct in the civilian trauma surgeon’s toolbox for the management of traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Furthermore, within the Canadian civilian context, little has been reported with regard to its use as an assisted damage-control measure in vascular reconstruction of the lower extremity. We report a case of penetrating gunshot injury of the lower extremity where the preoperative deployment of REBOA had a remarkable positive impact in the resuscitation phase and the intraoperative control of blood loss. A description of the procedure and the advantage gained from REBOA are discussed.

Emergency general surgery (EGS) services are gaining popularity in Canada as systems-based approaches to surgical emergencies. Despite the high volume, acuity and complexity of the patient populations served by EGS services, little has been reported about the services' structure, processes, case mix or outcomes. This study begins a national surveillance effort to define and advance surgical quality in an important and diverse surgical population.A national cross-sectional study of EGS services was conducted during a 24-hour period in January 2017 at 14 hospitals across 7 Canadian provinces recruited through the Canadian Association of General Surgeons Acute Care Committee. Patients admitted to the EGS service, new consultations and off-service patients being followed by the EGS service during the study period were included. Patient demographic information and data on operations, procedures and complications were collected.Twelve sites reported resident coverage. Most services did not include trauma. Ten sites had protected operating room time. Overall, 393 patient encounters occurred during the study period (195/386 [50.5%] operative and 191/386 [49.5%] nonoperative), with a mean of 3.8 operations per service. The patient population was complex, with 136 patients (34.6%) having more than 3 comorbidities. There was a wide case mix, including gallbladder disease (69 cases [17.8%]) and appendiceal disease (31 [8.0%]) as well as complex emergencies, such as obstruction (56 [14.5%]) and perforation (23 [5.9%]).The characteristics and case mix of these Canadian EGS services are heterogeneous, but all services are busy and provide comprehensive operative and nonoperative care to acutely ill patients with high levels of comorbidity.Les services de chirurgie générale d'urgence (CGU) gagnent en popularité au Canada en tant qu'approches systémiques aux urgences chirurgicales. Malgré le volume élevé, le caractère urgent et la complexité des populations de patients desservies en CGU, peu de rapports ont porté sur la structure, les processus, les clientèles ou les résultats de ces services. La présente étude instaure une démarche de surveillance nationale qui servira à définir et à améliorer la qualité des chirurgies destinées à cette population importante et hétérogène.Une étude transversale nationale sur les services de CGU a été réalisée sur une période de 24 heures en janvier 2017 dans 14 hôpitaux de 7 provinces canadiennes recrutés par l'entremise du comité pour les soins aigus de l'Association canadienne des chirurgiens généraux. On y a inclus les patients admis dans les services de CGU, les nouvelles consultations et les patients de l'extérieur suivis par les services de CGU pendant la période de l'étude. On a recueilli les caractéristiques démographiques des patients et les données sur les interventions, les procédures et les complications.Douze sites ont fait état de la couverture assurée par les résidents. La plupart des services ont exclu la traumatologie. Dix sites disposaient de temps protégé au bloc opératoire. En tout, 393 rencontres avec des patients ont eu lieu pendant la période de l'étude (195/386 [50,4 %] chirurgicales, 191/386 [49,5 %] non chirurgicales), avec une moyenne de 3,8 chirurgies par service. La population regroupait des cas complexes : 136 patients (34,6 %) présentaient plus de 3 comorbidités. La clientèle était diversifiée et comprenait des cas de maladie de la vésicule biliaire (69 cas [17,8 %]) et de l'appendice (31 [8,0 %]), de même que des situations d'urgence délicates, telle qu'obstruction (56 [14,5 %]) et perforation (23 [5,9 %]).Leurs caractéristiques et leurs clientèles sont hétérogènes, mais les services de CGU sont tous achalandés et ils offrent tous des soins chirurgicaux et non chirurgicaux complets à des patients gravement malades porteurs d'importantes comorbidités.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) are rare, life-threatening, soft-tissue infections characterized by rapidly spreading inflammation and necrosis of the skin, subcutaneous fat, and fascia. While it is widely accepted that delay in surgical debridement contributes to increased mortality, there are currently no practice management guidelines regarding the optimal timing of surgical management of this condition. Although debridement within 24 hours of diagnosis is generally recommended, the time ranges from 3 hours to 36 hours in the existing literature. Therefore, the objective of this article is to provide evidence-based recommendations for the optimal timing of surgical management of NSTI.The MEDLINE database using PubMed was searched to identify English language articles published from January 1990 to September 2015 regarding adult and pediatric patients with NSTIs. A systematic review of the literature was performed, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework were used. A single population [P], intervention [I], comparator [C], and outcome [O] (PICO) question was applied: In patients with NSTI (P), should early (12 hours) initial debridement (I) versus late (≥12 hours) initial debridement (C) be performed to decrease mortality (O)?Two hundred eighty-seven articles were identified. Of these, 42 papers underwent full text review and 6 were selected for guideline construction. A total of 341 patients underwent debridement for NSTI. Of these, 143 patients were managed with early versus 198 with late operative debridement. Across all studies, there was an overall mortality rate of 14% in the early group versus 25.8% in the late group.For NSTIs, we recommend early operative debridement within 12 hours of suspected diagnosis. Institutional and regional systems should be optimized to facilitate prompt surgical evaluation and debridement.Systematic review/meta-analysis, level IV.

Introduction The incidence of heterotopic ossification (HO) following damage control laparotomy (DCL) is unknown. Abdominal wall reconstruction may prove more challenging in patients with HO. This study examines the incidence and factors associated with HO in patients with an open abdomen following DCL. Methods A retrospective review of all patients with an open abdomen after DCL at a level 1 trauma centre from 2009 to 2015 was conducted. Demographics and peri-operative outcomes of patients with and without HO were compared. Univariate and multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to determine the association of peri-operative factors with the development of HO. Results 68 patients were included, of which 36 (53%) developed HO. On univariate analysis, development of HO was significantly associated with hollow viscus injury (OR, 3.89; CI 1.42-10.7), greater number of abdominal surgeries prior to definitive closure (OR, 1.84; CI, 1.10-3.05), non-fascial closure (OR, 4.33; CI, 1.44-13.1) and higher peak ALP (OR 1.01; CI, 1.00-1.02). The presence of a hollow viscus injury remained an independent predictor of HO on multivariable analysis after adjusting for covariates (OR, 3.77; CI, 1.22-11.6). Conclusion Heterotopic ossification develops in a high proportion of trauma patients following damage control laparotomy, particularly in the presence of hollow viscus injury. Its impact on delayed abdominal wall reconstruction and the efficacy of prophylaxis strategies merit further investigation.

To determine if beta-(β)-blockers improve outcomes after acute traumatic brain injury (TBI).There have been no new inpatient pharmacologic therapies to improve TBI outcomes in a half-century. Treatment of TBI patients with β-blockers offers a potentially beneficial approach.Using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases, eligible articles for our systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42016048547) included adult (age ≥ 16 years) blunt trauma patients admitted with TBI. The exposure of interest was β-blocker administration initiated during the hospitalization. Outcomes were mortality, functional measures, quality of life, cardiopulmonary morbidity (e.g., hypotension, bradycardia, bronchospasm, and/or congestive heart failure). Data were analyzed using a random-effects model, and represented by pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and statistical heterogeneity (I).Data were extracted from 9 included studies encompassing 2005 unique TBI patients with β-blocker treatment and 6240 unique controls. Exposure to β-blockers after TBI was associated with a reduction of in-hospital mortality (pooled OR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.27-0.56; I = 65%, P0.00001). None of the included studies examined functional outcome or quality of life measures, and cardiopulmonary adverse events were rarely reported. No clear evidence of reporting bias was identified.In adults with acute TBI, observational studies reveal a significant mortality advantage with β-blockers; however, quality of evidence is very low. We conditionally recommend the use of in-hospital β-blockers. However, we recommend further high-quality trials to answer questions about the mechanisms of action, effectiveness on subgroups, dose-response, length of therapy, functional outcome, and quality of life after β-blocker use for TBI.

Management of the post-traumatic open abdomen (OA) using negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) alone is associated with low rates of primary fascial closure. The abdominal reapproximation anchor (ABRA) system exerts dynamic medial fascial traction and may work synergistically with NPWT to facilitate primary fascial closure. Patients with an OA following trauma laparotomy between 2009 and 2018 were identified from a prospectively maintained institutional database. Patients treated with ABRA in conjunction with NPWT (ABRA) versus NPWT alone (NPWT) were compared in terms of primary fascial closure rate, number of surgeries to closure, tracheostomy duration, length of stay and incidence of entero-atmospheric fistula. Multivariable linear regression was performed to identify predictors of tracheostomy duration. We identified 48 patients [ABRA, 12 and NPWT, 36]. The ABRA group was significantly younger (25 vs. 37 years, p = 0.027) and included a lower proportion of males (58% vs. 89%, p = 0.032). Groups were similar with respect to the incidence of hollow viscus injury, injury severity score and abdominal abbreviated injury score. Compared to the NPWT group, the ABRA group had a significantly higher rate of primary fascial closure (100% vs. 28%, p

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are increasingly being recognized for their significant economic impact. Mozambique, like other low-income countries, suffers staggering rates of road traffic collisions. To our knowledge, this is the first study to estimate direct hospital costs of RTIs using a bottom-up, micro-costing approach in the Mozambican context. This study aims to calculate the direct, inpatient costs of RTIs in Mozambique and compare it to the financial capacity of the Mozambican public health care system. This was a retrospective, single-centre study. Charts of all patients with RTIs admitted to Maputo Central Hospital over a period of 2 months were reviewed. The costs were recorded and analysed based on direct costs, human resource costs, and overhead costs. Costs were calculated using a micro-costing approach. In total, 114 patients were admitted and treated for RTIs at Maputo Central Hospital during June–July 2015. On average, the hospital cost per patient was US$ 604.28 (IQR 1033.58). Of this, 44% was related to procedural costs, 23% to diagnostic imaging costs, 17% to length-of-stay costs, 9% to medication costs, and 7% to laboratory test costs. The average annual inpatient cost of RTIs in Mozambique was almost US$ 116 million (0.8% of GDP). The financial burden of RTIs in Mozambique represents approximately 40% of the annual public health care budget. These results help highlight the economic impact of trauma in Mozambique and the importance of an organized trauma system to reduce such costs.

Guidelines recommend biologic prosthetics for ventral hernia repair (VHR) in contaminated fields, yet long-term and patient-reported data are limited. We aimed to determine the long-term rate of hernia recurrence, and other clinical and patient-reported outcomes following the use of porcine small intestine submucosa (PSIS) for VHR in a contaminated field. Consecutive patients undergoing open VHR with PSIS mesh in a contaminated field from 2004 to 2014 were prospectively evaluated for hernia recurrence and other post-operative complications. Multivariate logistic and Cox regression analyses identified predictors of hernia recurrence and surgical site infection. Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated using SF-36, Hernia-Related Quality-of-Life Survey (HerQLes) and Body Image Questionnaire instruments. Forty-six hernias were repaired in clean-contaminated [16 (35 %)], contaminated [11 (24 %)] and dirty [19 (41 %)] fields. Median follow-up was 47 months [interquartile range: 31–79] and all patients had greater than 12-month follow-up. Sixteen patients (35 %) were not re-examined. Incidence of surgical site events and surgical site infection were 43 % (n = 20) and 56 % (n = 25), respectively. American Society of Anesthesiologists score 3 or greater was an independent predictor of surgical site infection (odds ratio 5.34 [95 % confidence interval 1.01–41.80], p = 0.04). Hernia recurrence occurred in 61 % (n = 28) with a median time to diagnosis of 16 months [interquartile range 8–26]. After bridged repair, 16 of 18 patients (89 %) recurred, compared to 12 of 28 (43 %) when fascia was approximated (p

Trauma remains a leading cause of death worldwide. The development of trauma systems in low-resource settings may be of benefit. The objective of this study was to describe operative procedures performed for trauma at a tertiary care facility in Kigali, Rwanda, and to evaluate geographical variations and referral patterns of trauma care.We retrospectively reviewed all prospectively collected operative cases performed at the largest referral hospital in Rwanda, the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK), between June 1 and Dec. 1, 2011, for injury-related diagnoses. We used the Pearson χ² and Fisher exact tests to compare cases arising from within Kigali to those transferred from other provinces. Geospatial analyses were also performed to further elucidate transfer patterns.Over the 6-month study period, 2758 surgical interventions were performed at the CHUK. Of these, 653 (23.7%) were for trauma. Most patients resided outside of Kigali city, with 337 (58.0%) patients transferred from other provinces and 244 (42.0%) from within Kigali. Most trauma procedures were orthopedic (489 [84.2%]), although general surgery procedures represented a higher proportion of trauma surgeries in patients from other provinces than in patients from within Kigali (28 of 337 [8.3%] v. 10 of 244 [4.1%]).To our knowledge, this is the first study to highlight geographical variations in access to trauma care in a low-income country and the first description of trauma procedures at a referral centre in Rwanda. Future efforts should focus on maturing prehospital and interfacility transport systems, strengthening district hospitals and further supporting referral institutions.Les traumatismes demeurent l’une des principales causes de décès dans le monde. La mise au point de systèmes de traumatologie dans des milieux défavorisés pourrait toutefois contribuer à améliorer la situation. Notre étude avait pour objectif de décrire les interventions chirurgicales pratiquées sur les victimes de traumatismes dans un établissement de soins tertiaires de Kigali, au Rwanda, et d’évaluer les variations géographiques et les habitudes d’orientation des patients dans le domaine de la traumatologie.Nous avons évalué rétroactivement les données recueillies de façon prospective sur l’ensemble des interventions réalisées au plus grand centre hospitalier régional du Rwanda, le Centre hospitalier universitaire de Kigali (CHUK), du 1er juin au 1er décembre 2011 pour les diagnostics liés à des blessures. Nous avons eu recours au test χ² de Pearson et au test exact de Fisher pour comparer les cas issus de la province de Kigali à ceux provenant d’autres provinces. Nous avons en outre effectué des analyses géospatiales afin de mieux comprendre les habitudes d’orientation des patients.Au cours des 6 mois de l’étude, 2758 interventions chirurgicales ont été pratiquées au CHUK, dont 653 (23,7 %) pour des traumatismes. La majorité des patients résidaient à l’extérieur de la capitale : 337 (58,0 %) d’entre eux avaient été transférés d’autres provinces, et 244 (42,0 %), d’ailleurs dans la province. Si la plupart des interventions chirurgicales étaient orthopédiques (489, soit 84,2 %), les patients d’autres provinces ont plus souvent subi des interventions générales que leurs compatriotes de la province de Kigali (28 sur 337, soit 8,3 %, par rapport à 10 sur 244, soit 4,1 %).À notre connaissance, il s’agit de la première étude mettant en lumière les variations géographiques de l’accès aux soins en traumatologie dans un pays à faible revenu et de la première description des interventions chirurgicales pratiquées sur des victimes de traumatismes dans un centre régional du Rwanda. Les travaux à venir devraient être axés sur le développement des systèmes de transport avant l’hospitalisation et entre les établissements, le renforcement des hôpitaux de district et l’augmentation du soutien aux centres régionaux.

Within the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) framework, we performed a systematic review and developed evidence-based recommendations to answer the following PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes) question: should patients who present pulseless after critical injuries (with and without signs of life after penetrating thoracic, extrathoracic, or blunt injuries) undergo emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) (vs. resuscitation without EDT) to improve survival and neurologically intact survival?All patients who underwent EDT were included while those involving either prehospital resuscitative thoracotomy or operating room thoracotomy were excluded. Quantitative synthesis via meta-analysis was not possible because no comparison or control group (i.e., survival or neurologically intact survival data for similar patients who did not undergo EDT) was available for the PICO questions of interest.The 72 included studies provided 10,238 patients who underwent EDT. Patients presenting pulseless after penetrating thoracic injury had the most favorable EDT outcomes both with (survival, 182 [21.3%] of 853; neurologically intact survival, 53 [11.7%] of 454) and without (survival, 76 [8.3%] of 920; neurologically intact survival, 25 [3.9%] of 641) signs of life. In patients presenting pulseless after penetrating extrathoracic injury, EDT outcomes were more favorable with signs of life (survival, 25 [15.6%] of 160; neurologically intact survival, 14 [16.5%] of 85) than without (survival, 4 [2.9%] of 139; neurologically intact survival, 3 [5.0%] of 60). Outcomes after EDT in pulseless blunt injury patients were limited with signs of life (survival, 21 [4.6%] of 454; neurologically intact survival, 7 [2.4%] of 298) and dismal without signs of life (survival, 7 [0.7%] of 995; neurologically intact survival, 1 [0.1%] of 825).We strongly recommend that patients who present pulseless with signs of life after penetrating thoracic injury undergo EDT. We conditionally recommend EDT for patients who present pulseless and have absent signs of life after penetrating thoracic injury, present or absent signs of life after penetrating extrathoracic injury, or present signs of life after blunt injury. Lastly, we conditionally recommend against EDT for pulseless patients without signs of life after blunt injury.Systematic review/guideline, level III.

© 2015 Société Internationale de Chirurgie Background: Injuries and surgical diseases are leading causes of global mortality. We sought to identify successful strategies to augment surgical capacity and research endeavors in low-income countries (LIC’s) based on existing peer-reviewed literature. Methods: A systematic review of literature from or pertaining to LIC’s from January 2002 to December 2011 was performed. Variables analyzed included type of intervention performed, research methodology, and publication demographics such as surgical specialty, partnerships involved, authorship contribution, place and journal of publication. Findings: A total of 2049 articles met the inclusion criteria between 2002 and 2011. The two most common study methodologies performed were case series (44 %) and case reports (18 %). A total of 43 % of publications were without outcome measures. Only 21 % of all publications were authored by a collaboration of authors from low-income countries and developed country nationals. The five most common countries represented were Nepal (429), United States (408), England (170), Bangladesh (158), and Kenya (134). Furthermore, of countries evaluated, Nepal and Bangladesh were the only two with a specific national journal. Interpretation: Based on the results of this research, the following recommendations were made: (1) Describe, develop, and stimulate surgical research through national peer-reviewed journals, (2) Foster centers of excellence to promote robust research competencies, (3) Endorse partnerships across regions and institutions in the promotion of global surgery, and (4) Build on outcome-directed research.

IntroductionRisk assessment is a vital step in the disaster-preparedness continuum as it is the foundation of subsequent phases, including mitigation, response, and recovery.Hypothesis/ProblemTo develop a risk assessment tool geared specifically towards the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Euro 2012.MethodsIn partnership with the Donetsk National Medical University, Donetsk Research and Development Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Donetsk Regional Public Health Administration, and the Ministry of Emergency of Ukraine, a table-based tool was created, which, based on historical evidence, identifies relevant potential threats, evaluates their impacts and likelihoods on graded scales based on previous available data, identifies potential mitigating shortcomings, and recommends further mitigation measures.ResultsThis risk assessment tool has been applied in the vulnerability-assessment-phase of the UEFA Euro 2012. Twenty-three sub-types of potential hazards were identified and analyzed. Ten specific hazards were recognized as likely to very likely to occur, including natural disasters, bombing and blast events, road traffic collisions, and disorderly conduct. Preventative measures, such as increased stadium security and zero tolerance for impaired driving, were recommended. Mitigating factors were suggested, including clear, incident-specific preparedness plans and enhanced inter-agency communication.ConclusionThis hazard risk assessment tool is a simple aid in vulnerability assessment, essential for disaster preparedness and response, and may be applied broadly to future international events.WongEG, RazekT, LuhovyA, MogilevkinaI, PrudnikovY, KlimovitskiyF, YutovetsY, KhwajaKA, DeckelbaumDL. Preparing for Euro 2012: developing a hazard risk assessment. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(2):1-6.

Background Platelet transfusions are commonly used to treat critically ill patients with thrombocytopenia. Whether platelet transfusions are associated with a reduction in the risk of major bleeding is unknown. Patients/Methods Observational cohort study nested in a previous multicenter, randomized thromboprophylaxis trial in the intensive care unit (ICU). The objective was to evaluate the association between platelet transfusions and adjudicated major bleeding events. Platelet transfusion episodes were reviewed for timing of administration, product type, and dose. Major bleeding with and without platelet transfusions was adjusted for severity of thrombocytopenia, use of anti‐platelet agents, surgery and other covariates. Secondary outcomes were thrombosis, death in ICU and platelet count increment. Results Among 2,256 patients, 71 (3.1%) received 190 platelet transfusions. Of those, 121 (63.7%) were administered to 54 non‐bleeding, thrombocytopenic patients. Adjusted rates of major bleeding were not statistically different with or without the administration of platelet transfusions (hazard ratio for transfused patients 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.42‐1.72). We did not find a significant association between platelet transfusion use and thrombosis or death in ICU in adjusted analyses. Thrombocytopenia, anemia, major or minor bleeding and use of anticoagulants were associated with platelet transfusion administration. The median post‐transfusion platelet count increment was 20×109/L at 3.5 hours post‐transfusion. Conclusions Rates of major bleeding were not different for patients who did and did not receive platelet transfusions. Inferences were limited by the small number of transfused patients. Clinical trials are needed to better investigate the potential hemostatic benefit and potential harms of platelet transfusions for this high‐risk population.

Background: Higher morbidity and mortality rates are seen amongst patients presenting with hyperlactatemia in the postoperative period. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between persistent elevations in lactate and poor ICU outcome in post-cardiac surgery patients. Methods: This was a retrospective matched cohort analysis of cardiac surgery patients undergoing bypass and/or valve surgery in a university hospital centre. Selection criteria were: cardiac bypass and/or valve surgery; admission to the ICU for > 24 h postoperatively; and peak lactate ≥ 3.0 mmol/L. Hyperlactatemic patients were matched to 2 normolactatemic patients. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to determine predictors of hyperlactatemia and mortality. Results: Four hundred sixty-nine post-cardiac surgery patients were admitted to the ICU for > 24 h. 144 of these patients had an arterial blood lactate ≥ 3.0 mmol/L. Amongst the mortalities, 78.9 % presented with hyperlactatemia. Independent risk factors predictive of a lactate ≥3.0 mmol/L were preoperative IABP insertion (RR 2.8, CI 1.1–7.2) and postoperative acute kidney injury (RR 3.2, CI 2.1–5.4). Patients whose lactate concentrations continued to increase >30 h postoperatively were more likely to die (RR 8.44 CI 2.50–28.53). Conclusions: The persistence of hyperlactatemia is a more important determinant of postoperative outcome than the absolute value of the peak lactate concentration. A simple postoperative lactate washout does not sufficiently explain this lactate accumulation. Mortality is proposed to be secondary to a state of ongoing hypoperfusion.