American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Silver-Impregnated Dressings for Sternotomy Incisions to Prevent Surgical Site Infections in Children.
The consequences of surgical site infections can be severe and range from short-term delays in discharge from the hospital to life-threatening infections such as mediastinitis. ⋯ The evidence did not support the superiority of silver-impregnated dressings for prevention of surgical site infections in children after cardiac surgery. Adherence to a bundle for prevention of surgical site infections may have decreased the incidence of such infections in the study population during the study period.
-
In 2010, the incidence of prolonged mechanical ventilation (> 24 hours) after isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery was 26.9% at the study site, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, compared with the national like-hospital rate of 10.9%. ⋯ Success factors included the multidisciplinary task force and continual protocol reeducation among front-line staff.