AORN journal
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Although wrong site surgeries are rare, these incidents have received a great deal of media attention in recent years, prompting health care organizations and associations to search for ways to eliminate this problem. This article examines the quest for ways to prevent wrong site surgeries and considers the contributions of organizations such as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and AORN toward eliminating wrong site surgeries.
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This systematic review examines whether preventing hypothermia during surgery prevents postoperative complications and thereby improves outcomes for patients. Twenty-six randomized controlled trials were identified, and data extraction and assessment of study quality were carried out by two researchers independently. ⋯ Postoperative complications identified were shivering, cardiac events, need for blood transfusion, wound infections, and pressure ulcers. The majority of studies favored treatment.
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Unplanned hypothermia is commonly encountered in the perioperative period. Nursing has contributed to the literature on hypothermia with studies on shivering and treatment modalities; however, the direct physiological consequences of postoperative hypothermia have been reported mainly in the medical literature. ⋯ The Roy Adaptation Model is explained as a framework for nursing care of patients with hypothermia. Clinical practice guidelines for unplanned perioperative hypothermia also are provided.
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Approximately 500,000 surgical site infections (SSIs) occur each year in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine if the bacteria most frequently involved in SSIs could be found on telephones in the OR. ⋯ Using standard laboratory procedures, the researchers identified coagulase-negative staphylococci in the cultures. The study found that telephones in the OR can serve as reservoirs for SSI-causing bacteria.
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Practice Guideline
Recommended practices for sponge, sharps, and instrument counts.