Improved sternal closure using steel bands: early experience with three-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Use of stainless steel wires in median sternotomy closure is at times associated with serious complications. In view of this, the efficacy and safety of a stainless steel band designed for fixation and approximation of the sternum in cardiothoracic procedures was evaluated in a prospective, randomized study. METHODS: Forty-eight patients undergoing open heart operations that involved a median sternotomy were studied. Group I (n = 21) was closed with four to six steel bands, and group II (n = 27) with six to eight standard stainless steel wires. The average age of the patients and the risk factors predisposing to dehiscence were similar in both groups. RESULTS: One postoperative death occurred in each group due to cardiac failure. In group I, the mean length of the postoperative hospital stay was 10.2 +/- 1.76 days (+/- 2 standard errors), whereas in group II the mean was 13.9 +/- 3.4 days (+/- 2 standard errors). Banded patients complained less of postoperative pain, although statistical significance was not achieved. No problems arose in either group during the 3-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The steel bands, compared with wires, provided not only effective fixation, but a reduction in both postoperative pain and postoperative hospital stay. The band is now being studied in a larger group of patients to evaluate the incidence and type of complications associated with its use, as well as length of postoperative hospital stay.

Collagenase ointment and polymyxin B sulfate/bacitracin spray versus silver sulfadiazine cream in partial-thickness burns: a pilot study.

A multifaceted approach that involves early debridement and control of infection is critical to successful and rapid burn wound healing. This pilot study was conducted in 15 adult patients with burns to assess the usefulness of early enzymatic debridement with a combination of collagenase ointment and polymyxin B sulfate/bacitracin spray versus silver sulfadiazine cream in partial-thickness burns. Combination treatment with collagenase and polymyxin B sulfate/bacitracin resulted in significantly shorter time to achieve a clean wound bed than silver sulfadiazine (median 6 vs 12 days; p = 0.0012) and significantly more rapid wound healing than silver sulfadiazine (median 10 vs 15 days; p = 0.0007). These results are encouraging and justify implementation of a larger, multicenter, comparative study.

Efficacy of enhanced external counterpulsation in the treatment of angina pectoris.

Eighteen patients with chronic angina despite surgical and medical therapy were treated with an improved system of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) (1 hour daily for a total of 36 hours). Patients underwent a baseline treadmill thallium-201 stress test. After EECP treatment, a thallium stress test was repeated for the same exercise duration. One week after treatment, patients also underwent a maximal stress test. All patients improved in anginal symptoms and generally decreased antianginal medications, with 16 obtaining complete relief from angina. Pre- and post-thallium stress testing performed for the same duration showed complete resolution of ischemic defects in 12 patients (67%), reduction in the area of ischemia in 2 (11%), and no change in 4 (22%). Thus, a decrease in myocardial ischemia was observed in 14 patients (78%; p less than 0.01). The exercise duration of maximal stress testing after EECP significantly improved from 8.14 +/- 0.71 to 9.72 +/- 0.77 minutes (p less than 0.005), although the double product did not change significantly. Analysis of these 2 tests in the subgroup of 14 patients with improvement in thallium studies showed significant increases in both exercise duration (8.58 +/- 0.66 to 10.44 +/- 0.59 minutes; p less than 0.001) and double product (21,827 +/- 2,044 to 24,842 +/- 1,707 mm Hg.beats/min; p less than 0.01). The improvement in reperfusion defects and increase in exercise duration are reflections of improved perfusion to ischemic regions of the myocardium. EECP uses additional thigh balloons and sequenced balloon inflation, effecting a significant increase in diastolic augmentation over previously available methods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Randomized prospective study of the comparative efficacy of spectinomycin and gentamicin in urinary tract infections.

A prospective, randomized study was undertaken in 32 hospitalized patients with urinary tract infections to compare the efficacy of spectinomycin versus gentamicin. Spectinomycin was found to be of equal efficacy if not more efficacious in eradicating Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Proteus mirabilis in our patient population. No significant side-effects were noted. A review of the literature with emphasis on the use of spectinomycin in infections other than anogenital gonorrhea is made.