Superiority of topical negative pressure over closed irrigation therapy of deep sternal wound infection in cardiac surgery.

AIM: We sought to compare clinical outcomes, in-hospital mortality and 1-year survival of two different treatment modalities of deep sternal wound infection, topical negative pressure and the closed irrigation therapy. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 66 consecutive patients treated for deep sternal infection at our institution. A total of 28 patients (February 2002 through September 2004) underwent primarily closed irrigation therapy, and 34 patients (November 2004 through December 2007) had the application of topical negative pressure. Four patients (July 2004 through December 2004) who underwent a combination of both strategies were excluded from the study. Clinical and wound care outcomes were compared, focusing on therapeutic failure rate, in-hospital stay and the 1-year mortality of both treatment strategies. RESULTS: Topical negative pressure was associated with a significantly lower failure rate of the primary therapy (P<0.05), shortening of the intensive care unit stay (P<0.001), a particular decrease in the in-hospital stay (P<0.05) and the 1-year mortality (P<0.05) in comparison with closed irrigation therapy. Comparable overall length of the therapy, in-hospital stay and the risk of wire-related fistulas after chest reconstruction were found. CONCLUSION: Topical negative pressure is a superior method of treatment for deep sternal wound infection, which is based on lower therapeutic failure rate, significant decrease in-hospital stay, and the decrease of the 1-year mortality rate, compared with primarily applied closed irrigation.

Some manoeuvres for releasing the hypertonus of spastic and shortened muscles.

We describe some physiotherapeutic techniques and manoeuvres releasing the increased tone of spastic and shortened muscles. The techniques can be generally characterised and summed up into three groups as follows: I. First types of manoeuvres consists in setting up the extremity or segment into the position usually opposed or antagonistic to the limited direction. This position is held for several tens of seconds. After this, partial of the originally limited range of motion could be observed. A modification of this approach is effective for persistent extensor spasticity of the lower extremities. Extremity is taken up into the internal rotation and flexion of the hip joint, into the maximal flexion of knee joint and into dorsiflexion of ankle joint, and this position is held at least for 30 seconds. After this, the extensor spasticity is usually diminished and also the voluntary movements and gait pattern improved. II. Short active jerk (not exceeding 1/2 sec) in the free direction, alternatively against mild resistance, followed by 3-4 second release and slow stretch into the restricted range. It is essentially important that the initial jerk is as brisk as possible but performed with no special effort. In case the resistance is applied, it should be only slight. Then the therapist must grasp a "melting" of the hypertonus and cautiously guide the segment into the slow and gentle stretch. III. Pressure stimulation of the particular active zones. The application of these manoeuvres and its combinations are demonstrated in case reports.