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Objective To explore the existing evidence on patient understanding of and/or participation in infection-related care in surgical specialties. Method A scoping review of the literature was conducted. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and grey literature sources were searched using predefined search criteria for policies, guidelines, and studies in the English language. Data synthesis was done through content and thematic analysis to identify key themes in the included studies. Results The initial search identified 604 studies, of which 41 (36 from high-income and five from low- and middle-income countries) were included in the final review. Most of the included studies focused on measures to engage patients in infection prevention and control (IPC) activities, with few examples of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) engagement strategies. While patient engagement interventions in infection-related care varied depending on study goals, surgical wound management was the most common intervention. AMS engagement was primarily limited to needs assessment, without follow-up to address such needs. Conclusion Existing evidence highlights a gap in patient participation in infection-related care in the surgical pathway. Standardization of patient engagement strategies is challenging, particularly in the context of surgery, where several factors influence how the patient can engage and retain information. Infection-related patient engagement and participation strategies in surgery need to be inclusive and contextually fit.

Objectives The PROSE trial purpose is to investigate whether the incidence of thromboembolic—related complications is reduced with a current generation mechanical prosthesis (On-X Life Technologies/CryoLife Inc.—On-X) compared with a previous generation mechanical prosthesis (St Jude Medical—SJM). The primary purpose of the initial report is to document the preoperative demographics, and the preoperative and operative risk factors by individual prosthesis and by Western and Developing populations. Methods The PROSE study was conducted in 28 worldwide centres and incorporated 855 subjects randomized between 2003 and 2016. The study enrollment was discontinued on August 31, 2016. The preoperative demographics incorporated age, gender, functional class, etiology, prosthetic degeneration, primary rhythm, primary valve lesion, weight, height, BSA and BMI. The preoperative and operative evaluation incorporated 24 risk factors. Results The total patient population (855) incorporated On-X population (462) and the St Jude Medical population (393). There was no significant difference of any of the preoperative demographics between the On-X and SJM groups. The preoperative and operative risk factors evaluation showed there was no significant difference between the On-X and St Jude Medical populations. The preoperative and operative risk factors by valve position (aortic and mitral) also documented no differentiation. The dominant preoperative demographics of the Western world population were older age, male gender, sinus rhythm, aortic stenosis, congenital aortic lesion, and mitral regurgitation. The dominant demographics of the Developing world population were rheumatic etiology, atrial fibrillation, aortic regurgitation, mixed aortic lesions, mitral stenosis and mixed mitral lesions. The Developing world group had only one significant risk factor, congestive heart failure. The majority of the preoperative and operative risk factors were significant in the Western world population. Conclusions The preoperative demographics do not differentiate the prostheses but do differentiate the Western and Developing world populations. The preoperative and operative risk factors do not differentiate the prostheses BUT do differentiate the Western and Developing world populations.

Objective Although the results of aortic valve replacement are well documented for industrialized countries, the outcome in patients with rheumatic aortic valve disease in low- to middle-income countries is less well explored. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term survival and clinical outcomes after isolated aortic valve replacement in patients with rheumatic heart disease in a Sub-Saharan country where follow-up of indigent patients is often challenging. Methods A retrospective review of 969 aortic valve replacements performed between 2003 and 2013 was conducted at Cape Town's Groote Schuur Hospital. Patients who underwent concomitant procedures (n = 664) or had nonrheumatic valve pathology (n = 185) were excluded. The mean age of the rheumatic cohort (n = 121) was 43.1 ± 11.6 years with a mean follow-up period of 6.14 ± 3.44 years. The primary end points were survival and valve-related complications. Results A 15% cardiac- or valve-related 10-year mortality after receiving a mechanical prosthesis corresponded with a significantly higher mortality rate than that of a matched population. Overall cumulative survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 93.5% (87.0-96.9), 86.4% (78.4-91.8), and 78.1% (67.5-86.0), respectively, and the corresponding cumulative freedom from combined thromboembolism and bleeding was 94.4% (88.2-97.5), 87.4% (79.4-92.5), and 86.1% (77.9-91.6), respectively. Conclusions In low- to middle-income countries, with their unique mix of indigent and “First World” patients, rheumatic heart disease still accounts for a significant proportion of patients requiring isolated aortic valve replacement. Although mechanical prostheses are often selected in these young adults, survival remains suboptimal. Major bleeding and thromboembolic events account for the majority (77%) of the reported valve-related complications.

Background: Team dynamics influence infection prevention and management practices and implementation of antibiotic stewardship (AS). Using an innovative visual mapping approach, alongside traditional qualitative methods, we aimed to study team dynamics and flow of communication (who gets to speak, and whose voice is heard) during surgical ward rounds, and how team dynamics and communication patterns may shape decision-making in relation to infection management and AS. Materials/methods: Between May and November 2019, data were gathered through direct observations of ward rounds and face-to-face interviews with ward round participants in selected surgical specialties at a tertiary hospital in South Africa. Using a visual mapping method – sociograms – content and flow of communication and the social links between individual participants were plotted. Field notes from observations and interview transcripts were analysed using a grounded theory approach. Results: Data were gathered from 60 hours of ward round observations, including 1024 individual patient discussions; 60 sociograms, interviews with healthcare professionals (60) and patients (7). The nature of discussions about AS and IPC on ward rounds vary across specialties and are affected by the content and structure of the clinical update provided, the consultant’s leadership and interaction style, and competing priorities at the bedside. Registrars act as gatekeepers, initiating antibiotic discussions; consultants are key decision-makers. Other team members have limited input in ward round conversations, despite having recognised roles in AS and IPC. Hierarchies in teams manifest themselves on ward rounds in where staff position themselves, influencing their contribution to care. Varied leadership styles affect ward-round dynamics, in particular, whether nurses and patients are actively engaged in key decisions on infection management and antibiotic therapy, and whether actions are assigned to identified persons. Conclusions: The surgical bedside ward round, though attended by many specialties, remains a medium of communication between registrars and consultants, with little interaction with the patient or other healthcare professionals. A more team-focused and inclusive approach could result in more effective decision making about infection management and AS.

Spontaneous endothelialization of synthetic vascular grafts may occur via three independent or concurrent modalities: transanastomotic (TA) outgrowth, transmural (TM) ingrowth or fallout (FO) from the blood. The limited TA and FO endothelialization, which occurs in humans, results in poor long-term patency in the small diameter position, where TM ingrowth may offer a clinically relevant alternative. To achieve sequential analysis of each mode of healing, loop grafts comprising anastomotically isolated angiopermissive polyurethane control grafts were abluminally sealed using either ePTFE wraps or solid polyurethane skins and implanted in the rat infrarenal aortic loop model for twelve weeks. Positive control grafts showed improved endothelialization and patency compared to the abluminally isolated mid-grafts. Furthermore, the mid-graft healing was accelerated with surface heparin and heparin-growth factor (VEGF, PDGF) modification in a three-week sub-study. We are thus able to distinguish between the three vascular graft endothelialization modes, and conclude that fallout plays a secondary role to TM healing. The increased endothelialisation for growth factor presenting grafts indicates the promise of this simple approach but further optimization is required . Statement of Significance In addition to the full elucidation of, and differentiation between, the three healing/endothelialisation modes of vascular grafts, the significance of the work relates to the near-complete lack of endothelialisation of small diameter vascular grafts in humans (1–2 cm transanastomotic outgrowth on a graft that may be 60 cm long) even after decades of implantation. The concomitant retained midgraft thrombogenicity leads, together with anastomotic hyperplastic responses, to poor long-term outcomes. The large impact of successful translation of the current research to the achievement of full endothelialisation of long peripheral grafts in humans via transmural ingrowth (half a millimetre distance; thickness of the graft wall), is evident, and supported by the large improvements in clinical patencies achievable in by pre-seeding of ePTFE grafts with confluent endothelia.

Peripheral arterial disease results in morbidity and has significant cost implications to health care systems. The surgical solution is to bypass the occlusion with autologous tissue, with saphenous vein the conduit of choice in small-diameter positions. Synthetic grafts are required where autologous grafts are not available and should ideally have good handling characteristics, structural integrity, kink-resistance, and need to be incorporated in the body and promote healing. Ultimately the performance of grafts is dependent on their physical and chemical characteristics. It has been well established that some form of wall porosity is essential for patency. Contemporary grafts have sufficient porosity for initial patency but are not conducive to tissue ingrowth or adequate endothelialization, thereby compromising mid- to long-term outcomes.

There is a significant need for small diameter vascular grafts to be used in peripheral vascular surgery; however autologous grafts are not always available, synthetic grafts perform poorly and allografts and xenografts degenerate, dilate and calcify after implantation. We hypothesized that chemical stabilization of acellular xenogenic arteries would generate off-the-shelf grafts resistant to thrombosis, dilatation and calcification. To test this hypothesis, we decellularized porcine renal arteries, stabilized elastin with penta-galloyl glucose and collagen with carbodiimide / activated heparin and implanted them as transposition grafts in the abdominal aorta of rats as direct implants and separately as indirect, isolation-loop implants. All implants resulted in high patency and animal survival rates, ubiquitous encapsulation within a vascularized collagenous capsule, and exhibited lack of lumen thrombogenicity and no graft wall calcification. Peri-anastomotic neo-intimal tissue overgrowth was a normal occurrence in direct implants; however this reaction was circumvented in indirect implants. Notably, implantation of non-treated control scaffolds exhibited marked graft dilatation and elastin degeneration; however PGG significantly reduced elastin degradation and prevented aneurismal dilatation of vascular grafts. Overall these results point to the outstanding potential of crosslinked arterial scaffolds as small diameter vascular grafts.

BackgroundIn humans, transanastomotic endothelial outgrowth onto the surface of prosthetic vascular grafts is limited to the immediate perianastomotic region, even after years of implantation. In contrast, continual transanastomotic outgrowth together with short graft lengths has led to early endothelial confluence in most animal models pre-empting endothelialization through transmural capillary sprouting. We describe an isolation loop-graft model that clearly separates these distinctly different events.MethodsBaseline transanastomotic endothelialization was assessed by implanting low-porosity expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (ePTFE; internal diameter 1.7 mm; internodal distance 15-25 μm; 14.2 ± 1.6 mm long) for 2, 4, and 6 weeks (n = 6/time point) in the abdominal aorta of Wistar rats. High-porosity polyurethane (internal diameter 1.7 mm-150 μm pore size) grafts were then interposed (“welded”) into the midsection of the ePTFE grafts for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks (n = 6/time point). Looping the interposition grafts increased their length to 70.3 ± 8.3 mm. After implantation periods of 6, 8, 12, and 24 weeks (n = 8/time point) isolation loop grafts were analyzed by light, immune-fluorescence (CD31) and scanning electron microscopy, and endothelialization was expressed as maximal transanastomotic endothelial outgrowth (Imax), mean transanastomotic outgrowth (Imean), and segmental graft coverage (GSE).ResultsTransanastomotic outgrowth slowed down between 2 and 6 weeks of implantation (proximal: [Imax from 0.9 ± 0.5 to 0.3 ± 0.3 mm/wk; P < .04; Imean from 0.3 ± 0.1 to 0.2 ± 0.1 mm/wk; nonsignificant (NS)]; distal: [Imax from 0.7 ± 0.3 to 0.3 ± 0.2 mm/wk; P < .02; Imean from 0.3 ± 0.2 to 0.2 ± 0.0 mm/wk; NS]) but remained constant thereafter (Imax = 0.5 ± 0.2 mm/wk; Imean = 0.4 ± 0.2 mm/wk at 24 weeks NS). In straight composite grafts, the ePTFE separation zones were too short to isolate transmural ingrowth beyond week 4. In contrast, a broad endothelial-free separation zone was preserved in all looped composite grafts even after half a year of implantation (25.9 ± 5.9 vs 8.7 ± 4.9 mm proximally and 21.9 ± 13.4 vs 12.3 ± 6.2 mm distally at 6 and 24 weeks, respectively). Ninety-three percent of patent loop-grafts showed isolated transmural midgraft endothelium after 4 weeks and 97% after 6 weeks. Midgraft preconfluence was reached by 6 weeks (GSE = 55 ± 45%) and confluence between week 12 and 24 (GSE = 95.0 ± 10.0% and 84.0 ± 30.13%). The subintimal thickness stayed constant with a nonsignificant trend toward regression (91.8 ± 93.9 mm vs 71.4 ± 59.4 mm at 6 and 24 weeks, respectively; NS).ConclusionsTransmural endothelialization can be clearly distinguished from transanastomotic outgrowth in a high throughput rat model. A looped interposition graft model provides sufficient isolation length to separate the two events for up to half a year and does not result in an increase in intimal hyperplasia.Clinical RelevanceAlthough the mode of graft deployment has changed over the years, the problem of an absent surface endothelium remains, whether small- to medium-diameter grafts are surgically implanted or placed endovascularly as “covered stents.” In contrast to humans, most animal models experience progressive transanastomotic endothelial outgrowth. Together with graft lengths that were too short, the clinically irrelevant transanastomotic endothelialization inadvertently led to early endothelial confluence in the vast majority of experimental vascular graft studies pre-empting or concealing alternative modes of endothelialization. The isolation loop-graft model we propose allows the long-term differentiation of the different modes of endothelialization in a small animal screening model.