Combinación de distintos dispositivos de Terapia V. A. C. (R) para el cierre de defectos abdominales complejos / Combination of different V. A. C. (R) therapy devices for the closure of complex abdominal defects

La terapia de presión negativa Vacuum-Assisted Closure o V.A.C.(R) (KCI Clinic Spain SL) ha resultado ser de gran utilidad en la curación de heridas complejas de la pared abdominal, desde la fase aguda con abdomen abierto o grandes desbridamientos, hasta las fases de granulación y cobertura final del defecto, gracias a los distintos tipos de apósitos que pueden aplicarse sucesivamente, incluso ante una posible exposición intestinal con drenaje purulento hasta la granulación del defecto, y que empleados conjuntamente con matrices dérmicas y/o injertos cutáneos. Aceleran el cierre definitivo del defecto de forma poco lesiva y confortable para el paciente. Presentamos 3 casos de heridas complejas de pared abdominal en los que logramos la cicatrización de los defectos combinando técnicas quirúrgicas más tradicionales con los distintos apósitos de terapia V.A.C.(R) (ABTheraTM, V.A.C. GranuFoamTM, V.A.C. GranuFoam Silver(R) y V.A.C.(R) WhiteFoam dressing) (AU)

The negative-pressure therapy Vacuum-Assisted Closure, or V.A.C.(R) (KCI Clinic Spain SL) has proved to be useful in healing complex abdominal wall wounds, from the acute phase, with open abdomen or large debridement, to the stages of granulation and final defect coverage, thanks to the different types of dressings that can be applied on, even against a possible intestinal exposure with purulent drainage, until default's granulation, and also used together with dermal matrices and / or skin grafts accelerate the closure of the defect in a little harmful and comfortable way to the patient. We present 3 cases of complex abdominal wall wounds in which has been achieved the defects healing combining traditional surgical techniques with different VAC (R) therapy dressings (ABTheraTM, VAC Granu-FoamTM, VAC GranuFoam Silver(R) and VAC(R) dressing WhiteFoam) (AU)

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in situs inversus totalis: The importance of being left-handed.

Since laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard procedure for the treatment of gallstone disease, several cases have been reported in patients with situs inversus. These cases require more technically demanding procedures due to the symmetrical disposition of the anatomy. Thus, handedness could influence the performance of these operations. The two of us (L.M.O.) and (J.M.B.), a right-handed and a left-handed surgeon, respectively, placed the instruments in reverse mode from that used in orthotopic patients. The right-handed surgeon felt more impairment when dissecting with his left hand and decided to cross the instruments within the abdomen. The left-handed surgeon was able to alternate the performance of the dissection maneuvers between the right and left hands. Surgical procedures are apparently designed for right-handed surgeons and can be approached by the left-handed in alternative ways. In fact, the accommodation of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to left-handedness has been described in the literature. The rare opportunity to operate in a symmetrical way allows the right-handed surgeon to understand the absence of comfort and ergonomy often experienced by left-handed colleagues.

A clinical trial on the prevention of catheter-related sepsis using a new hub model.

BACKGROUND: Catheter hub contamination is being increasingly recognized as a source of catheter-related sepsis. The authors have investigated the efficacy of a new hub design in preventing endoluminal catheter contamination and catheter-related sepsis arising at the hub. METHODS: Adult surgical and intensive care patients requiring a subclavian catheter for at least 1 week were randomly assigned to receive catheters with standard connectors (control group, n=73) or equipped with a new hub model (new hub group, n=78). Skin, catheter tip, and hub cultures were performed at the time the catheter was withdrawn because therapy was terminated or because of suspicion of sepsis, in which case peripheral blood cultures were taken. RESULTS: Of the 151 patients included, 15 (10%) developed catheter-related sepsis. Catheters were more often withdrawn because suspicion of infection in the control group (42 vs. 19%, p<0.005). Catheter sepsis rate was higher in the control group (16 vs. 4%, p<0.01) because of the low rate of catheter sepsis arising at the hub observed in the new hub group (1 vs. 11%, p<0.01). The prevalence of culture-positive catheter hubs without associated bacteremia (colonization) was higher in the control group (18 vs. 5%, P<0.03). CONCLUSIONS: A new catheter hub has proved to be useful in preventing endoluminal bacterial colonization and catheter-related sepsis in subclavian lines inserted for a mean of 2 weeks.

[A randomized prospective study of antibiotic prophylaxis compared to lavage of the surgical wound in nonperforating appendicitis]. / Estudio prospectivo aleatorizado de la profilaxis antibiótica comparada con el lavado de la herida quirúrgica en apendicitis no perforada.

BACKGROUND: There are many doubts as to the efficacy of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis versus the methods of local treatment in the prevention of infection of the contaminated surgical wound. A controlled prospective study was designed to compare the effectiveness of a combination of parenteral antibiotics with lavage with physiologic serum of the surgical wound to prevent infection of the postappendectomy wound. METHODS: The patients in group A (antibiotic, n = 70) received a sole preoperative dose of methronidazol and gentamicin while in those in group I (irrigation, n = 71) the wounds were irrigated with physiologic serum prior to and following closure of aponeurosis. The patients were controlled at one week and one month after the intervention. RESULTS: The global rate of infection was 9.3%. Six patients of group A and five of group I developed wound infection (p = 0.06), The age and length of the intervention were significantly higher in the infected patients (41 vs 23 years, p = 0.0001 and 53 vs 41 minutes, p = 0.03, respectively). Intraperitoneal culture was positive in 70% of the patients who posteriorly developed wound infection, being positive in only 9.4% of the uninfected patients (p = 0.0001). Eight of the infections (73%) were detected following discharge from hospital. The cost of prophylaxis in group A was seven-fold higher than that of group I. CONCLUSIONS: Lavage of the surgical wound with physiologic serum may be an effective, safe and inexpensive method to prevent infection of the wound following appendicectomy for unperforated appendicitis.

Reduced water and sodium intakes associated with high levels of natriuretic factor following common bile duct ligation in the rabbit.

Renal failure complicating obstructive jaundice (OJ) is probably linked to reduction of the extracellular water compartment. To elucidate the mechanism by which OJ leads to isotonic water depletion we studied a group of rabbits with OJ after common bile duct ligation (n = 17) and another group of sham operated rabbits (n = 14) for 10 days. Water intake and balance for two study periods (1-4 and 7-10 days after operation) were calculated. Renal function, sodium balance and plasma atrial natriuretic factor were determined on the fourth and tenth days after operation. Water intake and balance were lower in the OJ group both in the first study period (230 versus 519 ml/days 1-4, P less than 0.001; and -2.4 versus 219 ml/days 1-4, P less than 0.0001 respectively) and in the second study period (260 versus 865 ml/days 7-10, P less than 0.0001; and 11 versus 379 ml/days 7-10, P less than 0.0001 respectively). Sodium intake was negligible in the OJ group both on day four (0.73 versus 7.15 mM/24 h, P less than 0.0001) and on day 10 (0.78 versus 15.78 mM/24 h, P less than 0.0001). As a result plasma osmolality did not change. Day 10 urine osmolality and osmolar clearance were reduced in the OJ group (653 versus 1103 mOsm/kg, P less than 0.0001 and 0.09 versus 0.25 ml/min, P less than 0.0001 respectively) together with a decreased creatinine clearance (3 versus 11 ml/min, P less than 0.0001). Atrial natriuretic factor was increased in jaundiced rabbits (day 4, 22.7 versus 7.5 fmol/ml, P less than 0.0001; and day 10, 26.5 versus 11.2 fmol/ml, P less than 0.02). These findings suggest that OJ leads to an isotonic volume depletion resulting from abnormalities of the extracellular volume regulating mechanisms. These appear to be secondary to an inappropriate elevation of the atrial natriuretic factor plasma concentration.

[Catheter sepsis: pathogeny and prevention with a new connection model]. / Sepsis por catéter: patogenia y prevención con un nuevo modelo de conexión.

A revision is made of the issue regarding sepsis related to central intravenous catheterization. A special point was made on the relevance of latest discoveries in the field of pathogenicity in order to prevent, diagnose and treat this entity. Preventive measures should be geared to avoid intralumen infection, and success may depend on new connection models and industrial preparation of nutrient mixtures. Infected catheters must be removed, but in highly selected patients local and systemic antibiotic therapy may be attempted.

In vitro bacteriological study of a new hub model for intravascular catheters and infusion equipment.

We investigated in vitro the antibacterial properties of a simulated new hub model in which the female part has an antiseptic chamber through which the needle (male part) must pass before connection of the set and the catheter. To establish the time needed for disinfection, the magnitude of reduction of the contaminating inocula by the new hub model, and the antibacterial properties of the different components of the hub, we used needles contaminated with solutions containing high inocula (1.9 x 10(7) to 1.2 x 10(11) CFU/ml) of microorganisms involved in hub-related catheter sepsis. Sterilization of the needles was accomplished by allowing them to remain in the antiseptic chamber for 10 s in all assays with Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The rubber closures limiting the antiseptic chamber and the dilution effect of the antiseptic itself accounted for a minor part of the inoculum reduction achieved by the new hub model. This simulated hub provides good protection against endoluminal contamination. Further studies seem warranted to prove its industrial viability and clinical efficacy.

A new experimental model for secondary hyperparathyroidism.

We have developed an animal model to study the pathogenesis of secondary hyperparathyroidism by inducing stable uremia in Sprague-Dawley rats by selective microligation of terminal branches of the left renal artery, followed by right nephrectomy. After 4 weeks the animals were killed, the parathyroid glands were removed and weighed, and blood samples were obtained. Of 30 rats, uremia developed in 22 (73%; uremic group) and eight (27%) died or did not become uremic. A sham-operated group of 15 rats served as control (control group). Creatinine levels were 1.8 +/- 0.5 mg/dl in the uremic group versus 0.5 +/- 0.1 mg/dl in the control group (p less than 0.0001). Parathyroid glands were hyperplastic in all rats with uremia and were heavier than parathyroid glands of control animals (70.3 +/- 26 vs 19.1 +/- 8 micrograms; p less than 0.0001). In the group with uremia, parathyroid hormone levels were increased over those of the control group (112.6 +/- 13 vs 28.9 +/- 6.2 pg/ml; p less than 0.0001), whereas osteocalcin levels were similar (36.6 +/- 11 vs 37.5 +/- 1 ng/ml). Serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels were similar in both groups. Our model can be used to test hypotheses concerning the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism and the relative pathogenetic relevance of vitamin D deficiency and phosphate retention.

Measurement of body water compartments after ligation of the common bile duct in the rabbit.

To elucidate the pathogenesis of renal insufficiency associated with obstructive jaundice we have studied spontaneous water intake and body water compartments in rabbits undergoing common bile duct ligation. Total body water, extracellular water and plasma volume were measured by multi-isotope dilution technique. During the initial 6 postoperative days spontaneous water intake was 898 ml in sham operated animals (SO) but only 280 ml in jaundiced rabbits (OJ6) (P less than 0.01). Creatinine clearance was almost unchanged in SO but fell to 60 per cent of the preoperative values both in OJ6 and in paired-drink sham operated animals (SO2). There was a 15 per cent decrease in total body water (P less than 0.01) and a 24 per cent decrease in extracellular water (P less than 0.01) 6 days after bile duct ligation. There was a further reduction of the extracellular water to 35 per cent and a 15 per cent reduction of plasma volume 12 days after ligation. Water restriction mimicked the alterations in body composition produced by bile duct ligation. We conclude that bile duct ligation is associated with hypodypsia and a depletion of extracellular water and plasma volume. These alterations could explain the tendency to develop hypotension and renal failure which are associated with obstructive jaundice.