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Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots

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Illustration of perioperative and orthopaedic - Dr. Mohammed Hutaif

Key Takeaway

Here are the crucial details you must know about Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots. Thromboembolic disease, a common perioperative and orthopaedic complication, involves improper blood clotting (thrombosis) that can migrate (embolism), potentially leading to deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). Key factors contributing include endothelial damage from surgery, blood stasis due to immobility, and hypercoagulability. Age and prior DVT are significant risk factors.

      1. Thromboprophylaxis‌ 2. #### Thromboembolic disease
  1. Common orthopaedic complication
  2. Thrombosis: clotting at improper site
  3. Embolism: clot that migrates
  4. Most clinically silent but can be fatal
  5. Complications of thromboembolic disease:
  6. Postthrombotic syndrome: chronic venous insufficiency
  7. Venous hypertension (HTN)
  8. Chronic skin issue with swelling, pain
  9. Pigmentation, induration, ulceration
  10. Recurrent deep venous thrombosis (DVT): risk four to eight times higher after first DVT
  11. Pulmonary embolism (PE)
  12. Pathophysiology (Virchow triad) ( Fig. 1.51)
  13. Endothelial damage: trauma or surgery
  14. Exposes collagen—triggers platelets
  15. Platelets—three roles:
  16. Adhesion and activation
  17. Secretion of prothrombotic mediators
  18. Aggregation of many platelets
  19. Stasis: allows bonds of clotting proteins and cells
  20. Immobility: pain, stroke, paralysis
  21. Blood viscosity: polycythemia, cancer, estrogen
  22. Decreased inflow: tourniquet, vascular disease
  23. Decreased outflow: venous scarring, CHF
  24. Hypercoagulability
  25. Clotting cascade’s final product is thrombin
  26. Converts soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin
  27. Risk factors and epidemiology
  28. Reported risks of thromboembolic disease vary by:
  29. Definitions: asymptomatic versus symptomatic
  30. Location
  31. Distal: those below popliteal space have very low PE risk
  32. Proximal: those above popliteal space have higher PE risk
  33. Patient-specific risks factors ( Fig. 1.52)
  34. Prior thromboembolic disease a strong risk factor
  35. Risk increases exponentially with age (>40 years) ( Fig. 1.53)
  36. Genetic factors—thrombophilias
  37. Decreased anticlotting factors
  38. Antithrombin III, protein C, protein S deficiencies
  39. Increased clotting factors or factor activity

  40. Factor V Leiden

  41. Mutated factor V not inactivated as effectively by activated protein C, so clotting process remains active for longer than normal

  42. Elevated factor VIII
  43. Hyperhomocysteinemia
  44. Prothrombin G20210A (factor II mutation)
    Illustration 1 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    Illustration 2 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    FIG. 1.51 Left, Electromicrograph panel (A through E). (A) Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of free platelets. (B) SEM of platelet adhesion. (C) SEM of platelet activation. (D) Transmission electron micrograph of aggregating platelets. 1, Platelet before secretion; 2 and 3, platelets secreting contents of granules; 4, collagen of endothelium. (E) SEM of fibrin mesh encasing colorized red blood cells. Right, Illustration panel (A through H) showing venous thromboembolus formation. (A) Stasis. (B) Fibrin formation. (C) Clot retraction. (D) Propagation. (E–H) Continuation of this process until the vessel is effectively occluded.
    From Miller MD, Thompson SR, editors: DeLee and Drez’s orthopaedic sports
    medicine: principles and practice, ed 4, Philadelphia, 2014, Saunders; platelet electron micrographs courtesy James G. White, MD, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota School of Medicine; Miller MD
    et al: Review of orthopaedics, ed 6, Philadelphia, 2012, Saunders; and Simon SR, editor: Orthopaedic basic science, Rosemont, IL, 1994, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, p 492.
    Illustration 3 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    Illustration 4 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots FIG. 1.52 Genetic (primary) disorders (table on lef t) and secondary hypercoagulable states (figure on right ).
    Data from Ginsberg MA: Venous thromboembolism. In Hoffman R et al, editors: Hematology: basic principles and practice, ed 4, Philadelphia, 2005, Churchill Livingstone, pp 2225–2236; Perry SL, Ortel TL: Clinical and laboratory evaluation of thrombophilia, Clin Chest Med 24:153–170, 2003; and Schafer AI: Thrombotic disorders: hypercoagulable states. In Goldman L, Ausiello D, editors: Cecil textbook of medicine, ed 22, Philadelphia, 2004, Saunders, pp 1082–1087.
    Illustration 5 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    FIG. 1.53 Top, The three primary influences of thromboembolic disease (Virchow triad). Bottom, The relative risks of various patient conditions; note that age has an exponentially increasing risk.
    Composite from Miller MD, Thompson SR, editors: DeLee and Drez’s orthopaedic sports medicine: principles and practice, ed 3, Philadelphia, 2014, Saunders; and data from Anderson FAJr et al: Apopulation-based perspective of the hospital incidence and case-fatality rates of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The Worcester DVT Study, Arch Intern Med 151:933–938, 1991.
  45. Procedure-specific factors ( Fig. 1.54)
  46. PE risk lower with distal procedures versus hip procedures
  47. Risk higher with longer procedures
  48. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has higher total DVT risk but lower PE risk
  49. Risk with hip fracture is higher than that with THA.
  50. Diagnosis
  51. Clinical diagnosis favors assessment of risk factors.
  52. Physical exam is unreliable: most cases are asymptomatic.
  53. DVTs can cause calf pain, palpable cords, swelling.
  54. 50% with classic signs have no DVT according to studies
    Illustration 6 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    --- FIG. 1.54 Rates of symptomatic thromboembolism in orthopaedic sports medicine. From DeHart M: Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. In Miller MD, Thompson SR, editors: DeLee and Drez’s orthopaedic sports medicine: principles and practice, ed 4, Philadelphia, 2014, Saunders, p 207.
  55. 50% with venogram positive for clo t have normal physical findings
  56. PEs: most asymptomatic
  57. Signs/symptoms include pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea
  58. Saddle emboli can manifest as death.
  59. Laboratory studies
  60. D -dimer studies not helpful after injury/surger y but negative result rules out significant clot.
  61. ECG: rule out MI
  62. Nonspecific findings; most common finding is sinus tachycardia.
  63. Radiologic studies ( Fig. 1.55)
  64. Venogram—best for distal (below popliteal) lesions (clinical relevance?)
  65. Duplex compression ultrasound—most practical
  66. Noninvasive, easily repeatable bedside test
  67. Finding of “noncompressible vein ” about 95% sensitive/specific
  68. Guidelines strongly against routin e duplex screening
  69. Chest x-ray
  70. Early findings: usually normal, “oligemia,” or prominent hilum ( Fig.
    1.56B)
  71. Late findings: wedge or platelike atelectasis (see Fig. 1.56C)
  72. Spiral CT angiography—best for suspected PE
  73. Ventilation-perfusion (
    Illustration 7 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    ) scan—most helpful for dye-sensitive patients
  74. Thromboembolic prophylaxis
  75. Preventing DVTs has been shown to be possible, although whether such prevention avoids death is unproven.
  76. Guidelines vary in their recommendations ( Fig. 1.57).
  77. Prophylaxis recommended for all patients undergoing arthroplasty.
  78. Those undergoing THA may benefit from extended treatment (≈30 days).
  79. For patients without risk-related conditions, prophylaxis is not recommended for
  80. Upper extremity procedures, arthroscopic procedures, surgery for isolated fractures at knee and below
  81. Mechanical measures
  82. Early mobilization
  83. Graduated elastic hose—not sufficient alone
  84. Intermittent pneumatic compression devices (IPCDs)
  85. Stimulate fibrinolytic system
  86. Low bleeding risks
  87. Grade IC by 2012 American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) guidelines
  88. Continuous passive motion (CPM) of no benefit
  89. Pharmacologic prophylaxis:
  90. Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) quality measures require DVT prophylaxis.
  91. Aspirin

  92. Irreversibly binds and inactivates COX in platelets, thereby reducing thromboxane A 2

  93. Weakest: Use of IPCD encouraged
    Illustration 8 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    Illustration 9 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    Illustration 10 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots FIG. 1.55 Top left to right, Venogram showing deep vein thrombosis). Intraluminal filling defects (arrows) seen on two or more views of a venogram.
    The left and middle images are at the knee, and the right image is at the hip. Middle , Doppler ultrasound for proximal DVT in femoral vein thrombosis. (A) Longitudinal view shows presence of flow ( light blue ) in the more superficial vein over an occlusive thrombus ( dark gray ). (B) A transverse view without compression shows an open superficial vein, appearing as a black oval ( white arrow ) and a thrombosed deeper vein
    as a dark gray circle with an echogenic center ( red arrow ). (C) A transverse view with compression shows the flattened compressible superficial vein ( white arrow ) and the unchanged noncompressible thrombosed deeper vein ( red arrow ). Bottom left, Spiral CT pulmonary angiography. (A) Large pulmonary embolism ( arrows ). (B) Normal CT. Right images, high probability
    Illustration 11 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    scan showing full lung fields on ventilation scan (upper) and multiple areas lacking tracer on the perfusion scan (lower) . ant, Anterior; LAO, left anterior oblique; post, posterior; RPO, right posterior oblique. DVT panel from Jackson JE, Hemingway AP: Principles, techniques and complications of angiography. In Grainger RG, editor: Grainger & Allison’s diagnostic radiology: a textbook of medical imaging, _ed 4, Philadelphia, 2011, Churchill Livingstone. Original images courtesy Austin Radiological Association and Seton Family of Hospitals.
    Illustration 12 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    --- FIG. 1.56 Chest radiographs. (A) Diffuse bilateral fluffy patchy infiltrates, worse at bases, are consistent with ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). (B) A focal area of oligemia in the right middle zone (Westermark sign [_white arrow
    ]) and cutoff of the pulmonary artery in the upper lobe of the right lung are both seen with acute pulmonary embolism. (C) The peripheral wedge-shaped density without air bronchograms at lateral right lung base (Hampton hump [ black arrow ]) develops over time after a pulmonary embolism. B from Krishnan AS, Barrett T: Images in clinical medicine: Westermark sign in pulmonary embolism, N Engl J Med 366:e16, 2012; C from Patel UB et al: Radiographic features of pulmonary embolism: Hampton hump, Postgrad Med J 90:420–421, 2014.
    Illustration 13 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    --- FIG. 1.57 Recommendations on prevention of VTE in hip and knee arthroplasty. Hx, history; US, ultrasonography. 3. Low bleeding risk: Should be considered for patients at higher risk for bleeding.
  94. Warfarin (Coumadin)
  95. Prevents vitamin K γ-carboxylation in liver
  96. Inhibits factors II, VII, IX, X, and proteins C and S
  97. Vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma can reverse
  98. Multiple reactions with drugs and diet
  99. Must be monitored with international normalized ratio (INR; goal, 2–3)
  100. Heparin

  101. Activates antithrombin III (ATIII), which then inactivates factor Xa and thrombin

  102. Protamine sulfate can reverse
  103. Short half-life: 2 hours
  104. High bleeding rate in arthroplasty
  105. Binds platelets—heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
  106. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH)
  107. Reversibly inhibits factor Xa through ATIII and factor II
  108. Protamine sulfate can reverse
  109. No monitoring needed
  110. Less heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
  111. Higher risk for bleeding than with
    warfarin
  112. Fondaparinux

  113. Irreversibly but indirectly inhibits factor X through ATIII

  114. Synthetic pentasaccharide
  115. No monitoring
  116. No antidote
  117. Higher risk for bleeding than with LMWH
  118. Rivaroxaban

  119. Direct Xa inhibitor

  120. Oral drug
  121. Higher risk for bleeding than with LMWH
  122. Hirudin
  123. Direct thrombin (IIa) inhibitor
  124. Intramuscular and oral (dabigatran) versions
  125. No antidote
  126. Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter use: controversial
  127. Should be considered in following conditions:
  128. Contraindication to prophylaxis
  129. Cerebral bleed/trauma
  130. Spine surgery
  131. Prior complication of prophylaxis
  132. Treatment of thromboembolic disease
  133. Pharmacologic treatment
  134. Prolonged therapy often recommended
  135. Approximately 3 months after DVT, approximately 12 months after PE
  136. Early mobilization— no bed rest
  137. Risk of dislodgment less than risk of more clots in these high-risk patients
  138. Graduated elastic compression hose for 2 years
  139. May prevent postthrombotic syndrome
  140. Thrombolytics, thrombectomy, embolectomy controversial
  141. Special venous thromboembolism (VTE) situations
  142. Isolated calf thrombosis smaller than 5 cm rarely needs treatment.
  143. Follow with serial ultrasound scans.
  144. Upper extremity blood clot in athlete
  145. “Effort thrombosis” (Paget-Schroetter syndrome)
  146. Axillary–subclavian vein thrombosis
  147. Complaints
  148. Pain, swelling
  149. Dilated veins
  150. Feeling of heaviness
  151. Diagnosis: duplex ultrasound
  152. Treatment: thoracic outlet decompression should be considered

Perioperative Disease and Comorbidities

  1. Orthopaedic surgeons who evaluate their patients with care preoperatively can be rewarded with fewer perioperative problems.

  2. Cardiac issues

  3. Coronary artery disease (CAD): leading cause in those older than 35 years
  4. Leading cause of cardiac death in young sports population: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  5. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) elements for assessing risk
  6. Clinical risk factors in perioperative cardiac risk
  7. Major predictors
  8. Unstable/severe angina, recent MI (<6 weeks)
  9. Worsening or new-onset CHF
  10. Arrhythmias
  11. Atrioventricular (AV) block
  12. Symptomatic ventricular dysrhythmia: bradycardia (<30
    beats/min), tachycardia (>100 beats/min)
  13. Severe aortic stenosis or symptomatic mitral stenosis
  14. Other
  15. Prior ischemic heart disease
  16. Prior CHF
  17. Prior stroke/ TIA
  18. Diabetes
  19. Renal insufficiency (creatine >2 mg/dL)
  20. Functional exercise capacity—measured in metabolic equivalents (METs)
  21. MET: 3.5 mL O2 uptake/kg/min
  22. Perioperative risk elevated if unable to meet 4-MET demand
  23. Walk up flight of steps or hill (= 4 METs)
  24. Heavy work around house (>4 METs)
  25. Can patient walk four blocks or climb two flights of stairs?
  26. Surgery-specific risk:
  27. High risk (>5% risk of death/MI)
  28. Aortic, major or peripheral vascular procedures
  29. Intermediate risk (1%–5% risk of death/MI)

  30. Orthopaedic, ENT, abdominal/thoracic or procedures

  31. Low risk (<1% risk of death/MI)—usually do not need further clearance

  32. Ambulatory surgery, endoscopic or superficial procedures

  33. Shock

  34. Twelve-lead ECG if:
  35. CAD and intermediate-risk procedure
  36. One clinical risk factor and intermediate-risk procedure
  37. Noninvasive evaluation of left ventricular function if:
  38. Three or more clinical risk factors and intermediate-risk procedure
  39. Dyspnea of unknown origin
  40. CHF with worsening dyspnea without testing in 12 months
  41. β-Blockers and statins should be continued around the time of surgery.
  42. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) should be stopped 7 days prior to surgery.
  43. Cardiology consultation should be considered for patients taking other agents (clopidogrel, prasugrel).
  44. Risk of stent thrombosis balanced with that of surgical bleed
  45. Cardiovascular collapse with hypotension, followed by impaired tissue perfusion and cellular hypoxia. May be a result of orthopaedic pathology or a complication of surgery.
  46. Metabolic consequence
  47. O2 is unavailable—no oxidative phosphorylation
  48. Cells shift to anaerobic metabolism and glycolysis
  49. Pyruvate is converted to lactate—metabolic acidosis
  50. Lactate—indirect marker of tissue hypoperfusion

  51. Best measures of adequate resuscitation

  52. Clinical measure of organ function: urine output more than 30 mL/h

  53. Laboratory measure: serum lactate less than 2.5 mg/dL

  54. Types of shock
  55. Neurogenic shock
  56. High spinal cord injury (also anesthetic accidents)
  57. Loss of sympathetic tone and of vasomotor tone of peripheral arterial bed
  58. Bradycardia, hypotension, warm extremities
  59. Treatment: vasoconstrictors and volume
  60. Septic shock (vasogenic)
  61. Number one cause of ICU death
  62. Mortality 50%
  63. Bacterial toxins stimulate cytokine storm.
  64. Examples: gram-negative lipopolysaccharides
  65. Toxic shock superantigen
  66. Inflammatory mediators cause endothelial dysfunction and peripheral vasodilation
  67. Treatment
  68. Cardiogenic shock
  69. Bad pump
  70. Identification and treatment of infections
  71. Prompt resection of dead tissue
  72. Appropriate antibiotics
  73. Extensive MI, arrhythmias
  74. Blocked pump (obstructive shock)
  75. Massive “saddle” pulmonary embolism
  76. Tension pneumothorax
  77. Decreased lung sounds, hypertympany, tracheal deviation
  78. Treated with needle decompression followed by tube thoracostomy
  79. Cardiac tamponade
  80. Beck triad: hypotension, muffled heart sounds, neck vein distension
  81. Hypovolemic shock
  82. Pulsus paradoxus
  83. Decreased systolic BP with inspiration
  84. Treatment: pericardiocentesis
  85. Most common shock of trauma
  86. Volume loss from bleeds or burns
  87. “Third spacing” also a cause
  88. Neuroendocrine response: save heart and brain
  89. Peripheral vasoconstriction
  90. BP may be normal
  91. Pale, cold, clammy extremities
  92. Percentage of blood loss key to symptoms/signs
  93. Class I: up to 15% blood volume loss
  94. Vital signs can be maintained.
  95. Pulse below 100 beats/min
  96. Class II: 15%–30% blood volume loss
  97. Tachycardia (>100 beats/min), orthostatic
  98. Anxious
  99. Increased diastolic BP
  100. Class III: 30%–40% blood volume loss
  101. Decreased systolic BP
  102. Oliguria
  103. Confusion, mental status changes
  104. Class IV: more than 40% blood volume loss
  105. Life threatening; patient is obtunded
  106. Narrowed pulse pressure
  107. Immeasurable diastolic BP
  108. Treatment
  109. Perioperative pulmonary issues

  110. First, ABCs of resuscitation: then, bleeding must be stopped.
  111. Blood products make better resuscitation fluids than saline.
  112. Higher in cases that involve thorax such as scoliosis
  113. Highest in patients with prior disease
  114. Spinal/epidural anesthesia favored over general
  115. Medical treatment should be maximized around surgery.
  116. COPD
  117. Symptomatic COPD: anticholinergic inhalers (ipratropium)
  118. May require corticosteroids
  119. Asthma
  120. Presence of wheezes or shortness of breath: β-agonist inhalers (albuterol)
  121. Perioperative oral steroids safe
  122. Systemic glucocorticoid should be considered if forced expiratory volume in 1 minute (FEV1) or peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is below 80% predicted values/personal best.
  123. Postoperative atelectasis
  124. Like the associated cough, the workup is usually nonproductive.
  125. Deep breathing/incentive spirometry—equally effective
  126. Postoperative pneumonia takes up to 5 days to manifest.
  127. Productive cough, fever/chills, increased WBC count
  128. Radiograph: pulmonary infiltrates
  129. Smoking cessation improves outcomes
  130. Patients should stop 6–8 weeks preoperatively.
  131. Nicotine supplements do no harm to wound.
  132. Fewer pulmonary complications
  133. Smokers have six times more pulmonary complications.
  134. Fewer wound healing issues and wound infections
  135. Lower nonunion rate
  136. Shoulder, neck, and thoracic pain in smokers
  137. Prompts careful evaluation of lung fields
  138. Superior sulcus tumor (Pancoast tumor)

  139. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

  140. Intrinsic atrophy of hand—C8–T1

  141. Pulmonary failure due to edema (see Fig. 1.56A)
  142. Pathophysiology
  143. Complement pathway activated
  144. Increased pulmonary capillary permeability
  145. Intravascular fluid floods alveoli
  146. Results
  147. Hypoxia, pulmonary HTN
  148. Right heart failure
  149. 50% mortality
  150. Etiology
  151. Blunt chest trauma, aspiration, pneumonia, sepsis
  152. Shock, burns, smoke inhalation, near drowning
  153. Orthopaedic: Long-bone trauma
  154. Clinical symptoms
  155. Tachypnea, dyspnea, hypoxia, decreased lung compliance
  156. PaO 2 /FIO 2 ratio below 200
  157. Imaging
  158. Radiographs: diffuse bilateral infiltrates, “snowstorm”
  159. CT: ground glass appearance
  160. Treatment
  161. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal infections
  162. Prompt treatment of long-bone fractures
  163. Ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)
  164. 100% O2
  165. Fat emboli syndrome—classic clinical triad

  166. Petechial rash: fat to skin
  167. Neurologic symptoms: fat to brain
  168. Mental status changes: confusion, stupor
  169. Rigidity, convulsions, coma
  170. Pulmonary collapse: fat showers lung
  171. ARDS: hypoxia, tachypnea, dyspnea
  172. Associated with long-bone fractures
  173. Bleeding and blood products

  174. Bleeding complications can be avoided through preoperative identification of risk.
  175. Common inherited bleeding disorders
  176. Von Willebrand disease: autosomal dominant
  177. Most common genetic coagulation disorder
  178. Von Willebrand factor dysfunction
  179. Binds platelets to endothelium
  180. Carrier for factor VIII
  181. Treatment: desmopressin
  182. Hemophilia A (VIII): X-linked recessive

  183. Hemophilia B (IX) Christmas disease: X-linked recessive
  184. Medicines/supplements that should be stopped prior to surgery
  185. Platelet-inhibitor drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel, NSAIDs)
  186. Drugs that cause thrombocytopenia
  187. Penicillin, quinine, heparin, LMWH
  188. Anticoagulants (see earlier discussion on DVT)
  189. Supplements
  190. Fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E
  191. Garlic, ginger, Ginkgo biloba
  192. Dong quai, feverfew
  193. Diseases associated with increased bleeding
  194. Chronic renal disease—uremia causes platelet dysfunction
  195. Chronic liver failure—decreased liver proteins of clotting cascade
  196. Techniques to avoid blood loss at surgery
  197. Tourniquets: tissue effect relates to time and pressure
  198. Used no longer than 2 hours
  199. Time to restoration of equilibrium
  200. 5 minutes after 90 minutes of use
  201. 15 minutes after 3 hours
  202. Prolonged use can cause tissue damage.
  203. Nerve damage compressive (not ischemic)
  204. Electromyography: subclinical abnormalities in 70% with routine use
  205. Slight increase in pain
  206. Wider tourniquets distribute forces
  207. Pad underneath prevents skin blisters in TKA
  208. Lowest pressure needed for effect should be used
  209. 100–150 mm Hg above systolic BP
  210. 200 mm Hg upper extremity
  211. 250 mm Hg lower extremity
  212. Tranexamic acid
  213. Synthetic lysine analogue; acts on fibrinolytic system
  214. Competitive inhibitor of plasminogen activation
  215. Reduces blood loss with no increase in DVT.
  216. Temperature
  217. Mild hypothermia increases bleeding time and blood loss.
  218. Intraoperative “cell saver” may be cost-effective if:
  219. About 1000 mL of blood loss is expected
  220. Recovery of 1 or more unit of blood is anticipated.
  221. Techniques not yet found to be effective or cost-effective
  222. Bipolar sealant, topical sealants, autologous donation
  223. Reinfusion systems, routine transfusions over 8 g/dL Hb
  224. Preoperative techniques to address anemia
  225. Oral iron 30–45 days preoperatively
  226. Vitamin C increases iron absorbtion
  227. Folate and vitamin B12 deficiency also a source of anemia
  228. Erythropoietin if preoperative Hb below 13
  229. Transfusions
  230. Ratio of 1:1:1 blood product resuscitation is superior to saline fluid
  231. Preoperative Hb most significant predictor of need
  232. Various guidelines for when to transfuse
  233. Hb less than 6 g/dL: transfusion
  234. Hb 7–8 g/dL: transfusion of postoperative patients
  235. Hb 8–10 g/dL: transfusion of symptomatic patients
  236. Restrictive transfusion strategies
  237. Lower 30-day mortality trend
  238. Lower infection risk trend
  239. Greatest benefits to orthopaedic patients
  240. No difference in functional recovery
  241. Transfusions risks
  242. Leading risk: transfusion of wrong blood to patient
  243. Occurs in 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 20,000 RBC units transfused
  244. Transfusion reactions
  245. Febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction
  246. Most common
  247. 1–6 hours post-transfusion
  248. From leukocyte cytokines released from stored cells
  249. Leukoreduction decreases incidence
  250. Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction
  251. Medical emergency
  252. ABO incompatibility
  253. IgM anti-A and anti-B,
    which fix complement
  254. Rapid intravascular hemolysis
  255. Classic triad: fever, flank pain, red/brown urine (rare)
  256. Can cause disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), shock, and acute renal failure (ARF) due to acute tubular necrosis (ATN)
  257. Positive direct antiglobulin (Coombs) test result
  258. Delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions
  259. Reexposure to previous antigen (i.e., Rh or Kidd)
  260. History of pregnancy, prior transfusion, transplantation
  261. 3–30 days post-transfusion
  262. Anemia, mild elevation of unconjugated bilirubin, spherocytosis
  263. Anaphylactic reactions: about 1 in 20,000
  264. Rapid hypotension, angioedema
  265. Shock, respiratory distress
  266. Frequently involve anti-IgA and IgE antibodies
  267. Treatment: cessation of transfusions, ABCs of resuscitation, epinephrine
  268. Urticarial reactions: about 1%–3%
  269. Mast cell/basophils release of histamine—hives
  270. Infectious risks
  271. Bacterial: 0.2 per million packed red blood cell (PRBC) units transfused
  272. Gram-positive organisms
  273. Cryophilic organisms: Yersinia, Pseudomonas
  274. HTLV—approximately 1 in 2 million
  275. Renal and urologic issues

  276. HIV—approximately 1 in 2 million
  277. Hepatitis C—approximately 1 in 2 million
  278. Hepatitis B—approximately 1 in 250,000
  279. ARF (acute kidney injury [AKI])
  280. Edema, HTN, urinary output less than 30 mL/hour (<0.5 mL/kg/h)
  281. Laboratory findings: creatinine increased over 1.5 times baseline
  282. Hyperkalemia can be fatal.
  283. For blood potassium level more than
    5.5 mmp/L, dialysis should be considered.
  284. Prerenal renal failure (most common ARF): decreased kidney perfusion
  285. Hypovolemia/hypotension from blood loss
  286. Intrinsic renal failure
  287. ATN: most frequent intrinsic ARF
  288. Ischemia, sepsis, nephrotoxic drugs
  289. Myoglobin from rhabdomyolysis
  290. Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN): fever, eosinophils in blood/urine
  291. Glomerular disease: hematuria, proteinuria, HTN, edema
  292. SLE, poststreptococcal, IgA nephropathy, hepatorenal
  293. Postrenal ARF: obstruction
  294. Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
  295. Definition: GFR below 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or urine albumin loss greater than 30 mg/day
  296. Retained phosphate and secondary to hyperparathyroidism
  297. Causes increased extraskeletal calcification
  298. High perioperative complications
  299. Increased cardiovascular risk
  300. Hyperkalemia and fluid adjustments
  301. Increased bleeding complications
  302. Poor BP control
  303. Higher infection rates
  304. Higher complications/revisions
  305. Higher morbidity
  306. Perioperative urinary retention
  307. Outflow obstructions: benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in men (common)
  308. Bladder muscle (detrusor) compromise
  309. Overdistention
  310. Excess fluid/long procedures
  311. Neurogenic
  312. Spinal trauma, tumor, stroke, diabetes
  313. “Neurogenic” atonic bladder
  314. Medications
  315. Anticholinergic and sympathomimetic drugs
  316. Opioids, antidepressants, pseudoephedrine, diphenhydramine
  317. Can cause postrenal ARF (AKI)
  318. Associated with higher rates of urinary tract infections
  319. Increased 2-year mortality after hip fracture
  320. Treatment
  321. α-Blockers—tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day
  322. Bladder ultrasound if no voiding by 3–4 hours
  323. If ultrasound shows more than 400–600 mL, in-and-out (IO) urinary catheter should be used.
  324. Trauma patient—no catheter if bloody meatus or scrotal hematoma present
  325. Perioperative UTI
  326. “Irritative symptoms”: dysuria, urgency, frequency
  327. Account for 30%–40% of hospital-acquired infections
  328. Most common organisms: Escherichia coli and Enterococcus
  329. Diagnosis
  330. If symptoms, urinalysis and culture/sensitivity testing
  331. WBCs (leukocyte esterase positive)
  332. Bacterial count over 103 CFU/mL, treated preoperatively
  333. Treatment
  334. Antibiotics for gram-negative organisms
  335. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or fluoroquinolone
    1.** GI motility disorders ( ** Fig. 1.58)
  336. 1.5% of hip/knee arthroplasties
  337. Common presentation
  338. Abdominal pain
  339. Distension
  340. Nausea with or without vomiting
  341. Prevention
  342. Chewing gum: vagal (parasympathetic stimulation)
  343. Early mobility
  344. Spinal (sympathetic block)
  345. Limiting dose and length of IV opioids
  346. Postoperative adynamic ileus
  347. Gut autonomic nerve imbalance:
  348. More common in spine (≈7%) and joint arthroplasty (≈1%)
  349. X-rays: dilated small and large bowel (see Fig. 1.58A)
  350. Treatment: nothing by mouth status, nasogastric tube
  351. Electrolyte control
  352. Cessation of narcotics
  353. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome (cast syndrome)
  354. Occlusion of duodenum by SMA
  355. Orthopaedic causes
  356. Hip spica cast
  357. Following scoliosis surgery
  358. Following THA with severe hip flexion contracture
  359. Following traumatic quadriplegia
  360. Also found in patients with rapid, large weight loss
  361. X-rays: distended stomach and upper duodenum (see Fig. 1.58B )
  362. CT
  363. Aortomesenteric artery angle less than 25 degrees
  364. Aortomesenteric distance less than 8 mm
  365. Treatment: nothing by mouth status, nasogastric tube
  366. Acute colonic pseudoobstruction (Ogilvie syndrome)
  367. Large bowel dilation
  368. Abdominal distension the prominent symptom
  369. Colonic perforation should be avoided.
  370. Risk factors
  371. Elderly or male patient
  372. Previous bowel surgery
  373. Diabetes, hypothyroidism
  374. Electrolyte disorders
  375. Radiographic findings
  376. Distended transverse and descending colon and cecum (see Fig. 1.58C)
  377. Colonic diameter more than 10 cm risks perforation.
  378. Treatment
  379. Nothing by mouth status
  380. Neostigmine
  381. Colonic decompression
  382. Pseudomembranous colitis: potentially fatal diarrhea
  383. Most common antibiotic-associated colitis
  384. Change in colon flora favors Clostridium difficile
  385. Makes enterotoxin-A and cytotoxin-B
  386. Many antibiotics
  387. Clindamycin, fluoroquinolones
  388. Penicillins and cephalosporins
  389. Can become severe fulminant colitis
  390. Toxic megacolon and perforations
  391. Risk factors
  392. Elderly hospitalized patient
  393. Severe illness
  394. Antibiotic use
  395. Proton pump inhibitor use
  396. Diagnosis
  397. Watery diarrhea with fever
  398. Leukocytosis, lower abdominal pain
  399. Laboratory findings
  400. WBC count more than 15,000 cells/µL
  401. Stool specimen should be tested for C. difficile
    toxin
  402. PCR or ELISA
  403. KUB (kidney, ureter, bladder) (plain abdominal) radiograph
  404. Toxic megacolon: greater than 7 cm
  405. Thumbprinting (see Fig. 1.58D)
  406. Treatment
  407. Oral metronidazole
  408. Oral vancomycin (IV will not work)
  409. Fidaxomicin
  410. Colectomy if unresponsive and severe
  411. Megacolon, WBC count more than 20,000 cells/µL
  412. Perioperative hepatic issues

  413. Liver failure: critical for producing proteins and metabolizing toxins
  414. Laboratory findings
  415. Increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin
  416. INR above 1.5, low platelets (<150,000 cells/µL)
  417. Acute—most commonly viral and drug induced
  418. Acetaminophen—number one cause in United States
  419. Other toxins: alcohol, occupational, mushrooms
  420. Viral hepatitis
  421. Chronic—cirrhosis is end-stage fibrosis of liver
  422. Common: hepatitis (B, C), alcoholism, hemochromatosis
  423. Classifications can be helpful to estimate risks
  424. Child classification—most widely used
  425. Based on laboratory results and physical examination
  426. Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score ( http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/model-end-stage-liver-disease/meld-model )
  427. Formula based on bilirubin, INR, creatinine
  428. Studies highlight mortality at 90 days relative to MELD score
  429. <9: about 2% mortality
  430. 10–19: about 6% mortality
  431. 20–29: about 20% mortality
  432. 30–39: about 53% mortality
  433. 40: about 71% mortality

  434. Complication rates from surgery are extremely high.
  435. In patients undergoing arthroplasty, MELD score above 10 predicted
  436. Three times the complication rate
  437. Four times the rate death
  438. Perioperative CNS issues

  439. Stroke
  440. Rare (0.2% of joint arthroplasties)
  441. Mortality roughly 25% at 1 year
  442. Ischemic more common than hemorrhagic
  443. Risk factors
  444. Advanced age, CVA, TIA
  445. MI, coronary artery bypass graft, atrial fibrillation, or ECG rhythm abnormality
  446. Left ventricular dysfunction
  447. Cardiac valvular disease
  448. General anesthesia higher risk than regional
  449. Diagnosis: head CT or MRI
  450. Treatment: ABCs of resuscitation, hospitalist/neurology consultation
  451. Delirium: approximately 40% in patients with hip fractures
  452. Fluctuating levels of consciousness
  453. Impairment of memory and attention
  454. Disorientation, hallucinations, agitation
  455. Associated with increased length of stay
  456. Decubitus ulcers, failure to regain function
  457. Feeding issues, urinary incontinence
  458. Mortality and nursing home placement
  459. Risk factors
  460. Older patients
  461. History of prior postoperative confusion
  462. History of alcohol abuse
  463. Acute surgery more than elective
    Illustration 14 for Perioperative & Orthopaedic Medicine: Preventing Dangerous Blood Clots
    --- FIG. 1.58 Perioperative gastrointestinal mobility radiographs. (A) Dilated loops of both small bowel and large bowel consistent with ileus. (B) Characteristic dilation with air-fluid levels in the stomach and right-sided upper duodenum, seen in mesenteric artery syndrome (cast syndrome). (C) Isolated dilation of the large bowel seen in acute colonic pseudoobstruction (Ogilvie syndrome). (D) Dilated loops of both small and large bowel in a patient with watery diarrhea after antibiotic use. Wide, thickened, transverse bands of nodular colon wall replace normal haustral folds (thumbprinting), as seen in pseudomembranous colitis. A and C from Nelson JD et al: Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction [Ogilvie syndrome] after arthroplasty in the lower extremity, J Bone Joint Surg Am 88:604–610, 2006; B from Tidjane Aet al: [Superior mesenteric artery syndrome: rare but think about it], [article in French] Pan Afr Med J 17:47, 2014; and D from Thomas Aet al: “Thumbprinting,” Intern Med J 40:666, 2010.
  464. Night-time surgery
  465. Long duration of anesthesia
  466. Intraoperative pressures below 80 mm Hg
  467. Use of meperidine (Demerol)
  468. Diagnosis: anemia ruled out, infection, electrolyte issues
  469. Treatment
  470. O2 saturation above 95%, systolic BP above 90 mm
    Hg
  471. Correction of medical issues
  472. Family/friends
  473. Medications for sedation: used with caution
  474. Restraints as last resort
  475. Special anesthesia issues

  476. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
  477. Intermittent hypercapnia and hypoxia
  478. Decreased CO2-induced respiratory drive
  479. Extreme sensitivity to opioids
  480. Leads to
  481. Pulmonary HTN
  482. Cardiac arrhythmias
  483. GERD (reflux) directly related to BMI
  484. Delayed gastric emptying
  485. Increased risks for aspiration/intubation
  486. Higher risk for complications (2–4 times greater)
  487. Respiratory failure, ICU transfers, increased length of stay
  488. Increased postoperative O2
    desaturation
  489. Increased intubation, aspiration pneumonia, ARDS
  490. Increased MI, arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation)
  491. Screening tools: STOP-BANG ( Fig. 1.59)
  492. S noring, t ired, o bserved apnea, p
    ressure (HTN)
    B MI over 35, a ge older than 50 years, n eck circumference larger than 40 cm, g ender male
  493. Five or more factors present—high risk of severe OSA
  494. Best practices
  495. Initiation or continuation of CPAP use
  496. More than 2 weeks of preoperative CPAP
    improved HTN, O2 saturation, apneic events
  497. Pulmonary HTN: in 20%–40% of patients with OSA
  498. Preoperative serum bicarbonate predicts hypoxia in OSA
  499. Chronic respiratory acidosis
  500. Site of service (American Society of Anesthesiology consensus statement)
  501. Malignant hyperthermia
  502. Ambulatory surgery under local/regional— lower risk
  503. Avoid procedures requiring opioids— greater risk
  504. Comorbid conditions must be optimized for outpatient surgery.
  505. HTN, arrhythmias, CHF, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome
  506. Metabolic syndrome = obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolem dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance

  507. Avoidance of flat supine position; sitting position opens airway.
  508. Autosomal dominant genetic defect of T-tubule of sarcoplasmic reticulum

  509. Ryanodine receptor defect (RYR1)
  510. Dihydropyridine receptors (DHP)
  511. Triggered by volatile anesthetics and succinylcholine

  512. Creates an uncontrolled release of Ca2+
  513. Sustained muscular contraction (masseter rigidity)
  514. Increased end-tidal CO 2

  515. Earliest and most sensitive sign

  516. Mixed respiratory and metabolic alkalosis
  517. Hyperthermia is classic but occurs later.
  518. Muscle damage
  519. Myoglobin from rhabdomyolysis can cause ARF.
  520. Elevated creatine kinase
  521. Hyperkalemia can lead to ventricular arrhythmias.
  522. Treatment with dantrolene
  523. Decreases intracellular Ca2+
  524. Stabilizes sarcoplasmic reticulum
  525. Treatment of high serum potassium
  526. Hydration
  527. Cooling

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Dr. Mohammed Hutaif
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Prof. Dr. Mohammed Hutaif
Consultant Orthopedic & Spine Surgeon
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