International journal of surgery
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Resuscitation to euvolemia in trauma as well as in the critically ill patient, although necessary, continues to be a challenge. Focused cardiac ultrasound has been shown to be a reliable tool to evaluate fluid status and to guide therapy. The present manuscript reviews the evidence supporting the use of this tool and describes the clinical applications for image-based resuscitation using echocardiogram.
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Review Meta Analysis
Is postoperative cell salvage necessary in total hip or knee replacement? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are hematological or clinical differences with the use of postoperative cell salvage after total knee (TKR) and hip replacement (THR). ⋯ The results strengthen the fact that postoperative cell salvage is effective and safe to reduce the rate of transfusion after TKR and THR. As the relatively poor methodological quality and heterogeneity, further research is needed to confirm its safety and cost-effectiveness.
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Burns are common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and complicated by unhygienic conditions, malnutrition, use of high-risk homemade dressings and delayed presentation. Resultantly, use of routine systemic antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) to prevent wound infection is common practice despite this intervention being abandoned in high-income countries due to increased antimicrobial resistance and non-bacterial suprainfection. ⋯ On the basis of limited, currently available evidence, the use of SAP cannot be recommended for patients in LMICs that present soon after burn injury.