Risk of surgical site infection and efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis: a cohort study of appendectomy patients in Thailand

BACKGROUND: No data currently exist about use of antibiotics to prevent surgical site infections (SSI) among patients undergoing appendectomy in Thailand. We therefore examined risk factors, use, and efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics for surgical site infection SSI among patients with uncomplicated open appendectomy. METHODS: From July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004 we conducted a prospective cohort study in eight hospitals in Thailand. We used the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) system criteria to identify SSI associated with appendectomy. We used logistic regression analysis to obtain relative risk estimates for predictors of SSI. RESULTS: Among 2139 appendectomy patients, we identified 26 SSIs, yielding a SSI rate of 1.2 infections/100 operations. Ninety-two percent of all patients (95% CI, 91.0–93.3) received antibiotic prophylaxis. Metronidazole and gentamicin were the two most common antibiotic agents, with a combined single dose administered in 39% of cases. In 54% of cases, antibiotic prophylaxis was administered for one day. We found that a prolonged duration of operation was significantly associated with an increased SSI risk. Antibiotic prophylaxis was significantly associated with a decreased risk of SSI regardless of whether the antibiotic was administered preoperatively or intraoperatively. Compared with no antibiotic prophylaxis, SSI relative risks for combined single-dose of metronidazole and gentamicin, one-day prophylaxis, and multiple-day antibiotic prophylaxis were 0.28 (0.09–0.90), 0.30 (0.11–0.88) and 0.32 (0.10–0.98), respectively. CONCLUSION: Single-dose combination of metronidazole and gentamicin seems sufficient to reduce SSIs in uncomplicated appendicitis patients despite whether the antibiotic was administered preoperatively or intraoperatively

Managing childhood fever and pain – the comfort loop

Parents can transmit their anxiety to their child, and just as children can pick up on parental anxiety, they can also respond to a parent's ability to stay calm in stressful situations. Therefore, when treating children, it is important to address parental anxiety and to improve their understanding of their child's ailment. Parental understanding and management of both pain and fever – common occurrences in childhood – is of utmost importance, not just in terms of children's health and welfare, but also in terms of reducing the economic burden of unnecessary visits to paediatric emergency departments. Allaying parental anxiety reduces the child's anxiety and creates a positive feedback loop, which ultimately affects both the child and parent

Study protocol: a double blind placebo controlled trial examining the effect of domperidone on the composition of breast milk [NCT00308334]

BACKGROUND: Domperidone, a drug that enhances upper gastric motility, is an anti-dopaminergic medication that also elevates prolactin levels. It has been shown to safely increase the milk supply of lactating women. To date, researchers have analyzed the effects of domperidone on lactating woman with respect to the quantity of their milk production, adverse effects, and drug levels in the breast milk. However, the effect of domperidone on the macronutrient composition of breast milk has not been studied and current guidelines for fortification of human milk for premature infants do not distinguish between those women using or those not using domperidone. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of domperidone (given to lactating mothers of very preterm infants) on the macronutrient composition of breast milk. METHODS/DESIGN: Mothers of infants delivered at less than 31 weeks gestation, who are at least 3 weeks postpartum, and experiencing lactational failure despite non-pharmacological interventions, will be randomized to receive domperidone (10 mg three times daily) or placebo for a 14-day period. Breast milk samples will be obtained the day prior to beginning treatment and on days 4, 7 and 14. The macronutrient (protein, fat, carbohydrate and energy) and macromineral content (calcium, phosphorus and sodium) will be analyzed and compared between the two groups. Additional outcome measures will include milk volumes, serum prolactin levels (measured on days 0, 4, and 10), daily infant weights and breastfeeding rates at 2 weeks post study completion and at discharge. Forty-four participants will be recruited into the study. Analysis will be carried out using the intention to treat approach. DISCUSSION: If domperidone causes significant changes to the nutrient content of breast milk, an alteration in feeding practices for preterm infants may need to be made in order to optimize growth, nutrition and neurodevelopment outcomes

Steal syndrome after internal mammary artery bypass grafting--an entity with increasing significance

Stenosis of proximal subclavian artery (SCA), malformations of the internal mammary artery (IMA) at its origin, or large IMA side branches may cause myocardial ischemia due to blood-steal through a patent IMA graft. Thirty-one cases of postoperative steal syndromes have been reported in the literature, 23 due to proximal SCA stenosis, seven due to large IMA side branches and one due to an IMA malformation. We report two additional cases and discuss them in conjunction with the cases in the literature. Thirty patients suffered from recurrent angina pectoris, three had asymptomatic reversal of flow in the IMA as diagnosed by coronary angiography during routine follow-up examination. Carotid-subclavian bypass grafting is the treatment of choice for the management of proximal SCA stenosis. IMA malformations or large side branches are treated by interruption of the responsible vessel, either by ligation or by transarterial catheter embolization. In 82% (27 of 33), steal syndrome could have been prevented by preoperative angiography of the IMA. We advocate it as a routine procedure in combination with coronary arteriography

The warm versus cold perfusion controversy: a clinical comparative study

To evaluate the effects of temperature on myocardial and total body protection, we analyzed 129 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, valve replacement, or both, with continuous cardioplegia (Cp). The patients were assigned to three groups: group I (n = 37) normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (37 degrees C) and warm (37 degrees C) Cp, group II (n = 49) normothermic CPB and cold (4 degrees C) Cp and group III (n = 43) hypothermic (28 degrees C) CPB and cold Cp. Comparison of groups I and II showed similar serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) and its myocardial-specific isoenzyme on the first postoperative day, a similar rate of perioperative myocardial infarction, postoperative need for intra-aortic balloon pump, postoperative need for inotropic support and mortality. Comparison of groups I and III showed similar serum levels of CK, amylase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatinine on the first postoperative day, a similar complication rate and mortality rate. However, normothermic CPB resulted in a shorter bypass time (83 +/- 4 vs 98 +/- 7 min, P < 0.05) and interval until extubation (25.0 +/- 3.8 vs 40.3 +/- 7.4 h, P < 0.05). In conclusion, there are no differences concerning myocardial protection, however, warm CPB shortens the perfusion time and postoperative course

Quantitative gas transfer of an intravascular oxygenator

The intravascular oxygenator is a newly developed device for intracaval gas exchange in critically ill patients with respiratory failure. In an experimental ex vivo model, performance characteristics of the intravascular oxygenator/carbon dioxide removal device were studied. With a mean hemoglobin concentration of 6.2 +/- 1.9 g/dL (mean +/- standard deviation), total O2 transfer was 21.8 +/- 4.8 mL/min at a blood flow of 1 L/min, 37.0 +/- 12.6 mL/min at 2 L/min, at 2 L/min, and 47.5 +/- 16.7 mL/min at 3 L/min. Total CO2 transfer was 27.3 +/- 6.6 mL/min at a blood flow of 1 L/min, 38.6 +/- 8.9 mL/min at 2 L/min, and 40.4 +/- 9.3 mL/min at 3 L/min. In contrast to total gas transfer, O2/CO2 transfer rates (mL/L) diminished significantly with increasing blood flow. In addition, there was a negative correlation between O2 transfer rate and venous O2 partial pressure (r = -0.73; p < 0.0001), a positive correlation between CO2 transfer rate and venous CO2 partial pressure (r = 0.65; p < 0.0001), and a positive correlation between O2 and CO2 transfer rates and blood hemoglobin level (r = 0.57 [p < 0.01] and r = 0.70 [p < 0.01], respectively). These results demonstrate that the behavior of the intravascular hollow-fiber oxygenator is similar to that of the classic membrane oxygenator used for cardiopulmonary bypass: total gas transfer correlates directly with blood flow and venous CO2 partial pressure and indirectly with venous O2 partial pressure. The O2 and CO2 transfer rates increase significantly with increasing hemoglobin content of the blood

Ist der normotherme kardiopulmonale Bypass mit einer erhohten Morbiditat verbunden? [Is normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass associated with increased morbidity?]

There is some evidence of improved myocardial protection with warm continuous blood cardioplegia. Warm cardioplegia however implies warm (normothermic) cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We evaluated retrospectively the influence of bypass temperature on the intra- and postoperative course of 121 patients, operated on for valvular and/or coronary artery disease. Only elective procedures with continuous blood cardioplegia were included. The patients were divided in two groups: warm group (n = 78): normothermic CPB (venous temperature > 33 degrees C) cold group (n = 43): hypothermic CPB (< 33 degrees C). Results: normothermic CPB resulted in a significantly shorter CPB time (84 + 3 min vs. 98 +/- 6 min, p = 0.02, mean +/- 1 standard error of the mean). In addition there was a higher need for vasoconstrictive drugs during cold CPB (Noradrenalin: 19 +/- 3 micrograms vs. 90 +/- 32 micrograms, p = 0.003). There was no difference in enzyme levels on the first postoperative day (amylase, creatinkinase, creatinin), in postoperative complication rate (resuscitations, rethoracotomies, cerebrovascular incidents) and mortality (warm 3% vs. cold 2%) between the two groups. The postoperative time until extubation however was significantly shorter in the warm group (33 +/- 5 h vs. 60 +/- 11 h, p = 0.04). Conclusion: there is no evidence of increased morbidity due to normothermic CPB. The shorter time until extubation may be due to a improved postoperative lung function and/or a more stable hemodynamic postoperative course after normothermic CPB