Post-Operative Complication

In colorectal surgery, one of the most feared complications is anastomotic leak (AL). To limit the consequences of AL, it must be diagnosed as early as possible, before it becomes symptomatic. Digestive surgeons use a variety of pre-, per- and post-operative techniques to reduce the rate of anastomotic fistula, but the risk persists, with a rate of 7% reported in the literature. It has been shown that the value of CRP between D1 and D5 correlates with the risk of AL, and that the trajectory between two consecutive days (D1 to D5 post-op) is the most discriminating element in predicting the risk of AF. This assay requires repeated intravenous sampling, which is the opposite of simplifying care. CRP point-of-care testing (POCT) is used in clinical practice, notably in pediatrics and outpatient medicine (in children and adults) to help prescribe probabilistic antibiotic therapy, as the instantaneousness of the result has an impact on patient management. For the diagnosis of AL, CRP POCT assessment could reduce the number of blood samples taken, shorten the time between sampling and medical management in cases of suspected AL, and thus improve the patient's post-operative experience.

Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after thoracic surgery often experience complications related to immobility, such as muscle weakness, pulmonary issues, and longer recovery times. Early mobilization has been shown to improve outcomes, but its implementation is often limited by patient fragility and staff resources. This study will test the safety and feasibility of using the Atalante X, a self-balancing exoskeleton, in the Thoracic Surgical ICU at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The exoskeleton is designed to support patients in standing and walking, even if they have limited strength or balance, thereby reducing the physical burden on healthcare staff and increasing patient mobility. Eligible participants are adults recovering from thoracic surgery, who are debilitated (Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility scale ≤ 5). Each participant will undergo up to 2-3 exoskeleton sessions per week for a maximum of 2 weeks. Sessions will be personalized, with progressive standing time and walking depending on patient tolerance. The primary goal is to evaluate the safety of exoskeleton use, measured by adverse events such as skin lesions, cardiovascular instability, or accidental device-related issues. The secondary goals are to evaluate: Feasibility (ability to deliver sessions as planned, duration of standing/walking, level of assistance needed), Usability (patient and staff satisfaction, ease of donning/doffing, staff workload), and Preliminary effectiveness (improvement in mobility scores at discharge). Results will provide early insights into whether robotic exoskeletons can be safely integrated into ICU rehabilitation programs after thoracic surgery.

The aim of this study is to determine if lung ultrasound score has a strong predictive value for post operative pulmonary complications in living liver transplant recipient