The epidemiology of Medical Emergency Team calls for orthopedic patients in a teaching hospital: A retrospective cohort study. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, R.; Maher, B.; Ramos, J.G.R.; Hardidge, A.; Olenko, L.; Weinberg, L.; Robbins, R.; Churilov, L.; Peyton, P.; Jones, D.
• Is Part Of: Resuscitation. Volume 159(2021)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Orthopedic surgery -- Rapid response system -- Rapid response team -- Medical emergency team -- Intensive care unit -- Anesthesia -- Morbidity -- Mortality; Resuscitation -- Periodicals; Resuscitation -- Periodicals; Réanimation -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.025
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.12.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-9572

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Patients undergoing orthopedic surgery are at risk of post-operative complications and needing Medical Emergency Team (MET) review. We assessed the frequency of, and associations with MET calls in orthopedic patients, and whether this was associated with increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients admitted over four years to a University teaching hospital using hospital administrative and MET call databases. Results: Amongst 6344 orthopedic patients, 55.8% were female, the median (IQR) age and Charlson comorbidity index were 66 years (47–79) and 3 (1–5), respectively. Overall, 54.5% of admissions were emergency admissions, 1130 (17.8%) were non-operative, and 605 (9.5%) patients received a MET call. The strongest independent associations with receiving a MET call was the operative procedure, especially hip and knee arthroplasty. Common MET triggers were hypotension (37.5%), tachycardia (25.0%) and tachypnoea (9.1%). Patients receiving a MET call were at increased risk of anemia, delirium, pressure injury, renal failure and wound infection. The mortality of patients who received a MET call was 9.8% compared with 0.8% for those who did not. After adjusting for pre-defined co-variates, requirement for a MET call was associated with an adjusted odd-ratio of 9.57 (95%CI 3.1–29.7) for risk of in-hospital death. Conclusions: Approximately 10% of orthopedic patients received a MET call, which was most strongly associated with major hip and knee arthroplasty. Such patients are at increased risk of morbidity and in-hospital mortality. Further strategies are needed to more pro-actively manage at-risk orthopedic patients.