American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse in reducing prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia in patients undergoing heart surgery.
Decreasing the levels of bacteria in the oropharynx should reduce the prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia. ⋯ Although rates of nosocomial pneumonia were lower in patients treated with Peridex than in patients treated with Listerine, the difference was significant only in those patients intubated more than 24 hours who had the highest degree of bacterial colonization.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of an augmented postoperative fluid protocol on wound healing in cardiac surgery patients.
Cardiac surgery patients are vulnerable to hypoperfusion postoperatively and often have subcutaneous tissue oxygen tension less than 50 mm Hg. Hypovolemia most likely contributes to this hypoperfusion and may lead to impaired wound healing. ⋯ The frequency of low oxygen levels is consistent with data from earlier studies. Determination of other interventions to improve subcutaneous tissue perfusion in cardiac surgery patients is needed.