Citations

Study Design. Delphi method. Objective. To gain consensus on the following questions: (1) When should anticoagulation/antiplatelet (AC/AP) medication be stopped before elective spine surgery?; (2) When should AC/AP medication be restarted after elective spine surgery?; (3) When, how, and in whom should venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis be started after elective spinal surgery? Summary of Background Data. VTE can lead to significant morbidity after adult spine surgery, yet postoperative VTE prophylaxis practices vary considerably. The management of preoperative AC/AP medication is similarly heterogeneous. Materials and Methods. Delphi method of consensus development consisting of three rounds (January 26, 2021, to June 21, 2021). Results. Twenty-one spine surgeons were invited, and 20 surgeons completed all rounds of questioning. Consensus (>70% agreement) was achieved in 26/27 items. Group consensus stated that preoperative Direct Oral Anticoagulants should be stopped two days before surgery, warfarin stopped five days before surgery, and all remaining AC/AP medication and aspirin should be stopped seven days before surgery. For restarting AC/AP medication postoperatively, consensus was achieved for low-risk/medium-risk/high-risk patients in 5/5 risk factors (VTE history/cardiac/ambulation status/anterior approach/operation). The low/medium/high thresholds were POD7/POD5/POD2, respectively. For VTE chemoprophylaxis, consensus was achieved for low-risk/medium-risk/high-risk patients in 12/13 risk factors (age/BMI/VTE history/cardiac/cancer/hormone therapy/operation/anterior approach/staged separate days/staged same days/operative time/transfusion). The one area that did not gain consensus was same-day staged surgery. The low-threshold/medium-threshold/high-threshold ranges were postoperative day 5 (POD5) or none/POD3-4/POD1-2, respectively. Additional VTE chemoprophylaxis considerations that gained consensus were POD1 defined as the morning after surgery regardless of operating finishing time, enoxaparin as the medication of choice, and standardized, rather than weight-based, dose given once per day. Conclusions. In the first known Delphi study to address anticoagulation/antiplatelet recommendations for elective spine surgery (preoperatively and postoperatively); our Delphi consensus recommendations from 20 spine surgeons achieved consensus on 26/27 items. These results will potentially help standardize the management of preoperative AC/AP medication and VTE chemoprophylaxis after adult elective spine surgery.

Abstract Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is prevalent and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The interaction between diastolic dysfunction (DD) and CKD in subjects with preserved systolic function is not well defined. This study sought to determine the association between renal function and DD in subjects with preserved ejection fraction. Methods and results Through the Rochester Epidemiology Project, subjects who underwent echocardiography over 2 years with EF ≥50% were identified and the clinical data were obtained. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the modification of diet in renal disease equation. Linear regression was used to test for association of GFR and DD. DD was defined as follows: Grade 2 or pseudonormal pattern (0.75 < E/A ≤ 1.5, E/e′ ≥ 10, DT > 140 ms, ΔE/A ≥ 0.5, and PV S < D) or Grade 3+ or restrictive pattern (E/A > 1.5, E/e′ ≥ 10, DT < 140 ms, and PV S < D). Cox regression was used to assess correlation of GFR and DD with time-to-event outcomes. A total of 2056 patients were identified. There was significant correlation between worsening GFR and degree of DD assessed by echo Doppler E/e′ ratio (P = 0.005), left ventricular mass index (P = 0.004), and right ventricular systolic pressure (P = 0.01). Worsening GFR was associated with increased mortality, development of heart failure, and hospitalization (P < 0.001). Within each GFR group, abnormal DD was associated with a higher risk of the clinical outcomes. No interaction between GFR and DD was noted, suggesting an increased risk of events associated with abnormal DD across ranges of GFR. Conclusions Worsening GFR was associated with a greater degree of diastolic dysfunction and adverse clinical outcomes. Within each GFR group, the presence of DD was associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Further studies are warranted to determine if improving DD in patients with CKD will benefit clinical outcomes.