Scrimp technique in the rapid cytologic diagnosis of surgical specimens - A local experience

A rapid tissue preparation to establish the diagnosis of surgical specimens was reported. The specific reason to request such a preparation usually relates to a suspicion of a neoplastic lesion. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of scrimp technique, a modification of imprint cytology, in the rapid intraoperative diagnosis of tumors as compared with frozen section. Scrape and imprints of tumors were made from 86 unfixed specimens at the time of frozen section. Rapid and permanent staining methods were employed and the accuracy of diagnosis was compared with frozen and paraffin preparations. The results showed that the sensitivity and specificity of scrimp preparation were 95% each as compared with frozen section which has 98% and 100% respectively which manifested a negligible inferiority over frozen section. This technique was simple, fast, easy, and reliable and does not require special instruments or time consuming set-up. While not meant to replace frozen section, it can be an excellent adjunct or alternative especially in remote and secondary hospitals unequipped with sophisticated apparatus. (Author)

A comparative study using two different agents and duration of scrubbing for disinfection of the skin

Reduction of skin bacteria on the hands of the surgeon and the rest of the operating team is widely believed to be of paramount importance. In this study we compared the efficacy of two currently available surgical scrub preparations, and the duration of scrubbing as a means of reducing bacterial flora of the hands before every operation using the fingertip culture technique in six different groups: those who will scrub for 3 and 5 minutes using chlorhexidine and povidone iodine, and those who will dip their hands for one minute using the two separate solutions. Bacteriologic studies were done using nutrient agar plates incubated prior to bacterial determination and colony counting derived from 3 separate occasions: before any washing of the hands; immediately after scrubbing for the prescribed period of time; and after 1 minute dipping with the assigned agents. It was found out that there is no significant difference between a 3 and a 5-minute scrub. Brief dipping of the hands permits adequate microbial reduction and chlorhexidine produced the greatest reduction against bacterial flora. (Author)