Annals of surgery
-
Multicenter Study
Timing of antimicrobial prophylaxis and the risk of surgical site infections: results from the Trial to Reduce Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Errors.
The objective of this study is to determine the optimal timing for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP). ⋯ These data from a large multicenter collaborative study confirm and extend previous observations and show a consistent relationship between the timing of AMP and SSI risk with a trend toward lower risk occurring when AMP with cephalosporins and other antibiotics with short infusion times were given within 30 minutes prior to incision.
-
Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are elevated for weeks after minimally invasive colorectal resection (MICR). Decreased plasma angiopoietin-(Ang) 1 and increased Ang-2 levels have been noted on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 3. These proangiogenic changes may stimulate tumor growth postoperatively (postop). This study's purpose was to track plasma VEGF, Ang-1, and Ang-2 levels for 4 to 8 weeks after MICR for cancer and to assess the impact of preoperative (preop) and postop plasma on in vitro endothelial cell (EC) behavior. ⋯ MICR is associated with proangiogenic plasma changes for 2 to 4 weeks and plasma from POD 7 to 13 and 14 to 20 stimulated EC growth, invasion, and migration. Postop plasma may stimulate the growth of residual tumor.
-
Multicenter Study
Early hypothermia in severely injured trauma patients is a significant risk factor for multiple organ dysfunction syndrome but not mortality.
To evaluate the relationship of early hypothermia to multiple organ failure and mortality in a prospectively-collected database of severely injured trauma patients. ⋯ Hypothermia is common in severely injured trauma patients (nearly half of patients in this series) and is a significant risk factor for MODS but not mortality. The predictive value of base deficit for development of MODS is blunted in the presence of hypothermia. A low StO2 value predicts MODS and mortality in trauma patients and is a durable measure in both normothermic and hypothermic patient groups.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Interrupted or continuous slowly absorbable sutures for closure of primary elective midline abdominal incisions: a multicenter randomized trial (INSECT: ISRCTN24023541).
In patients undergoing midline incisions, the abdominal fascia can be closed with a continuous or interrupted suture using various materials. The aim of this study is to compare: (1) interrupted technique with rapidly absorbable sutures and (2) continuous techniques with different slowly absorbable sutures, focusing on the incidence of incisional hernias within 1 year. ⋯ The incidence of incisional hernias and the frequency of wound infection was higher than expected in all groups. New concepts need to be developed and studied to substantially reduce the frequency of incisional hernias.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Effect of subjective preoperative variables on risk-adjusted assessment of hospital morbidity and mortality.
To examine the influence of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (ASA) and preoperative Functional Health Status (FHS) variables on risk-adjusted estimates of surgical quality and to assess whether classifications are inflated at some hospitals. ⋯ The small improvements in model quality when both ASA and FHS are present versus absent, suggest that they make a unique contribution to assessing severity of preoperative risk. With little indication that these subjective variables are subject to an important level of institutional bias, it is appropriate that they be used to assess risk-adjusted surgical quality. Periodic monitoring for inappropriate inflation of ASA status is warranted.