Impact of the Revised NRP Meconium Aspiration Guidelines on Term Infant Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program, Seventh Edition changes on term infants born with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated the effect of no longer routinely intubating nonvigorous term infants born with MSAF in 14 322 infants seen by the resuscitation team from January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017 in a large, urban, academic hospital. RESULTS: Delivery room intubations of term infants with MSAF fell from 19% to 3% after the change in guidelines (P = <.0001). The rate of all other delivery room intubations also decreased by 3%. After the implementation of the Seventh Edition guidelines, 1-minute Apgar scores were significantly more likely to be >3 (P = .009) and significantly less likely to be <7 (P = .011). The need for continued respiratory support after the first day of life also decreased. Admission rates to the NICU, length of stay, and the need for respiratory support on admission were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program, Seventh Edition recommendations against routine suctioning nonvigorous infants born with MSAF was temporally associated with an improvement in 1-minute Apgar scores and decreased the need for respiratory support after the first day of life. There was also a significant decrease in total intubations performed in the delivery room. This has long-term implications on intubation experience among frontline providers.

Closed suction drainage following routine primary total joint arthroplasty is associated with a higher transfusion rate and longer postoperative length of stay: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In an enhanced recovery after surgery program, not placing a closed suction drain following routine primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is becoming more acceptable. However, the influence of drain use on transfusion rate and postoperative length of stay (PLOS) in TJA remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to compare drain use with no drain in routine primary TJA to determine the differences in transfusion rate and PLOS. METHODS: We analyzed the data from 12,992 patients undergoing primary unilateral TJA: 6325 total knee arthroplasties (TKA) and 6667 total hip arthroplasties (THA). Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they received a drain postoperatively following TKA and THA. We extracted information for transfusion and PLOS from patients' electronic health records and analyzed the data by logistic and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The transfusion rate and PLOS were 15.07% and 7.75 ± 3.61 days, respectively, in the drain group and 6.72% and 6.54 ± 3.32 days, respectively, in the no-drain group following TKA. The transfusion rate and PLOS were 20.53% and 7.00 ± 3.35 days, respectively, in the drain group and 13.57% and 6.07 ± 3.06 days, respectively, in the no-drain group following THA. After adjusting for the following variables: age, gender, body mass index, orthopedic diagnoses, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, preoperative hemoglobin, albumin, analgesic use, anesthesia, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, tranexamic acid use, intraoperative bleeding, operative time, and tourniquet use (for TKA), drain use correlated significantly with a higher transfusion rate (risk ratio = 2.812, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.224-3.554, P < 0.001 for TKA and risk ratio = 1.872, 95% CI 1.588-2.207, P < 0.001 for THA) and a longer PLOS (partial regression coefficient (B) = 1.099, 95% CI 0.879-1.318, P < 0.001, standard regression coefficient (B') = 0.139 for TKA; B = 0.973, 95% CI 0.695-1.051, P < 0.001, and B' = 0.115 for THA). Two groups showed no significant difference in wound complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that drain use was associated with a higher transfusion rate and a longer PLOS in patients undergoing routine primary TJA. The routine use of postoperative drainage is not recommended in primary unilateral TJA.

Closed Wound Subfascial Suction Drainage in Posterior Fusion Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Prospective Randomized Control Study.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective randomized control study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the complication rate in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) posterior spinal fusion (PSF) surgery with and without drainage. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: PSF is the mainstay of surgical treatment for AIS. Drains are commonly used despite contradictory findings in the literature for their having any clear advantage. METHODS: A total of 100 AIS patients undergoing instrumented PSF were blindly randomized into two groups of either a deep drain or no drain. The collected data included wound follow-up findings, hemoglobin, hematocrit, vital signs and fever levels, and mean 20 months follow-up. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were randomly allocated to the "no drain" group and 48 to the "drain" group. There were no differences in patient characteristics, surgical data, and hemoglobin and hematocrit levels between the two groups. Only 4 units of packed cells were given in total. Fever during the first postoperative 1 to 3 days was equal, but increased in the no drain group on day 6 (P = 0.017). Length of hospitalization was equal (6 days) for all the patients. The mean follow-up period was 20 months [8.5-30.7 (SD 6.4)]. Complications included one case (1.9%) of pneumonia in the "no-drain" group, wound dehiscence in two cases (3.8%) in the "no-drain" group and in one case (2.1%) in the "drain" group, and two cases (3.8%) of superficial wound infection in the "no-drain" group. There was no case of deep infection in either group. CONCLUSION: The current results indicate that there is no advantage to deep drainage in AIS patients undergoing PSF. The number of wound healing complications was low and identical for both the drain and no-drain groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Airway Clearance of the Term Newborn.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore airway clearance practices for the preterm newborn in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive, retrospective medical record review analyzed airway clearance practices in a level III regional NICU from 2016 to 2017 in preterm newborns ranging from 32 weeks to 36 weeks and 6 days. There were 87 preterm newborns and 384 suctioning events reviewed during the entire length of stay. Practices reviewed include device used, frequency, color, consistency, and tolerance of airway clearance. Method of nursing documentation for these practices was also reviewed. RESULTS: Babies born via cesarean required more suctioning (65.5%). Males (60.9%) required more airway clearance events than females (39.1%). After suction events, nurses reported no distress (74%), equal bilateral breath sounds (30%), desaturation (6%), and collectively color change, apnea, or bradycardia (<1%). The most common discharge diagnosis was respiratory distress syndrome (90%). Preterm newborns were suctioned with the blue bulb syringe (15.6%), oral/nasal-pharyngeal suction device (42.7%), and endotracheal suction devices (41.7%). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Electronic medical records promote less detailed, narrative documentation and more point and click documentation. If electronic medical record systems are not designed to gather airway clearance indications, specifics about the procedure and the preterm newborn response to the procedure, evidence-based practice cannot be measured. More studies are needed to evaluate suction practices applied in the NICU setting.

Management of Early Deep Wound Infection After Thoracolumbar Instrumentation: Continuous Irrigation Suction System versus Vacuum-Assisted Closure System.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of continuous irrigation suction systems (CISS) or vacuum-assisted closure system (VACS) in early deep wound infection (DWI) after thoracolumbar instrumentation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: DWI after thoracolumbar instrumentation is challenging and debridement followed by either CISS or VACS has been proven to be effective. So far, which one of the system has more advantages over the other remains unclear. METHODS: Patients after thoracolumbar instrumentation were evaluated at our spine surgery center from 2005 to 2015. Patients who were diagnosed with early deep DWI after spinal instrumentation and treated by meticulous debridement in the operating room followed by either CISS or VACS were included. Detailed information was obtained from the medical records, including clinical features, results of laboratory examinations, medical therapies, and outcomes. A follow-up was conducted to observe whether recurrent spinal infection or other complications happened. RESULTS: We identified 11 patients in the CISS group and 12 patients in the VACS group. There were no significant differences in terms of age, gender, follow-up duration, symptoms of infection, laboratory examinations, etc. The number of CISS or VACS replacement was 1.3 and 1.6, respectively, before wound healing (P > 0.05). And there were significant differences in terms of hospital stay and extra cost of infection treatment between the two groups. In the follow-up period, we observed sinus tract formation and low back pain in both groups and one patient in the VACS group died of pulmonary infection 4 years after the initial surgery. CONCLUSION: Thorough debridement followed by CISS or VACS are comparable in treating early DWI after thoracolumbar instrumentation. The CISS treatment was statistically significant in comparison to the VACS treatment in terms of hospital stay and cost. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Trends in Use of Percutaneous Versus Open Surgical Drainage of Abdominal Abscesses.

PURPOSE: To compare recent trends in the use of percutaneous and surgical approaches to treating abdominal abscesses in a large population. METHODS: The nationwide Medicare Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files for 2001 through 2013 were searched. Current Procedural Terminology-4 codes were selected for the four types of abdominal abscesses that had distinct codes for both open surgical and percutaneous drainage-appendiceal, peritoneal, subphrenic, and liver. Medicare specialty codes were used to determine if the procedures were performed by radiologists or other nonradiologist physicians. Trends in use of the two approaches were compared. RESULTS: In 2001, a total of 14,068 abdominal abscesses were drained percutaneously. This volume increased progressively every year thereafter, reaching 28,486 in 2013 (+102%). Open surgical drainage volume was 8,146 in 2001, decreasing progressively to 6,397 in 2013 (-21%). In 2001, 63% of all abdominal abscesses had been drained percutaneously; by 2013, this figure had risen to 82%. In 2001, radiologists had performed 90% of all percutaneous abdominal abscess drainages; this percentage share increased to 97% in 2013. Of all abdominal abscesses treated in 2013 in Medicare patients, 79% were treated by radiologists. CONCLUSIONS: Use of percutaneous drainage of abdominal abscesses has steadily increased, whereas use of open surgical drainage has declined. The vast majority of these abscesses are now treated percutaneously. Radiologists are a strong majority of those performing the procedures. Although this database does not provide information on outcomes, percutaneous drainage is another good example of radiology-related value.

Phospholipase A2 expression in coronary thrombus is increased in patients with recurrent cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: Intracoronary thrombus is a source of active lipid mediators including eicosanoids that play a critical role in the pathogenesis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Eicosanoids are derived from arachidonic acid generated by phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). This study examined whether PLA(2) is expressed in the aspirated coronary thrombus and whether PLA(2) expression in the thrombus may be related to recurrence of cardiac events and development of atherosclerosis in the culprit coronary artery after AMI. METHODS: Intracoronary thrombus was obtained using an aspiration catheter from 48 patients with AMI, who had successful emergent treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Repeated intravascular ultrasound in the culprit coronary artery was performed at emergent PCI and 6 months later in a subgroup of 20 patients. RESULTS: There was a higher prevalence of cells in the thrombus that were immunopositive to group IIA, IVA, V and X PLA2s in patients with (n = 11) than without (n = 37) cardiac events during 6 months of follow-up (P < 0.05 for all). The prevalence of the cells that were immunopositive to group IIA, IVA and V PLA2s in the thrombus was significantly associated with the percent increase in atheroma volume (r = 0.60, 0.55 and 0.45, respectively, P < 0.05 for all) after 6 months in the native coronary segment distal to the culprit coronary lesion. CONCLUSION: PLA(2) expression in coronary thrombus is associated with recurrence of cardiac events and development of atherosclerosis in the culprit coronary artery in AMI survivors.

Benefits of digital thoracic drainage systems.

A number of risks and complications are associated with traditional chest drainage systems. A trust decided to trial digital drainage systems, and found the new systems improved treatment time and patient mobility.

Advances in negative pressure wound therapy: the VAC instill.

Acute and chronic wounds affect millions of patients. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been available for several decades, and it has significantly impacted treatment of multiple types of wounds. The vacuum- assisted closure (VAC) system has recently been modified, allowing intermittent instillation of fluids into wounds. A description of the system, guidelines for use and novel application techniques developed by the author are discussed.

Subatmospheric pressure wound therapy and the vacuum-assisted closure device: basic science and current clinical successes.

This article reviews the development, current theories behind the mechanism of action and clinical use of subatmospheric pressure wound therapy with the vacuum-assisted closure device. An evolving list of indications for subatmospheric pressure therapy is discussed including its use in chronic wounds, traumatic wounds and orthopedic salvage, infected sternal wounds, management of the open abdomen, enterocutaneous fistulae, burn wounds, skin grafts and dermal substitutes, as well as systemic disease processes, such as myoglobinuria. The vacuum-assisted closure device Instill system is also reviewed, in which subatmospheric pressure therapy has been combined with the instillation of therapeutic solutions for the treatment of difficult infected wounds.

Negative pressure wound therapy: "a rose by any other name".

Negative pressure wound therapy is one of the dominant adjunctive wound care modalities used in North America. One company has a proprietary hold on the market for this type of wound therapy and recent wound care literature has focused on the company's products rather than on the concept itself. Currently utilized standards for negative pressure wound therapy are based on a few relatively recent publications originating after 1997. However, a review of the English and Russian literature that predates this work reveals discrepancies regarding optimal duration of treatment, intensity of negative pressure, mode of application, timing of application, and intervals between treatments. A careful review of research that has rarely been cited in recent wound care literature elucidates the inconsistencies between currently held dogma and less well known negative pressure research. In order to achieve optimal outcomes of care, current practices must be re-evaluated and researched using well-established guidelines for determining treatment safety and effectiveness.

Topical negative pressure (TNP): the evolution of a novel wound therapy.

Topical negative pressure is a novel non-pharmacological therapy that is now being adopted as a standard of care in wound care management programmes. This review assesses where and how it can be best used.