Timing of staples and dressing removal after cesarean delivery (the SCARR study).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate optimal timing of dressing and staples removal after cesarean delivery (CD). METHODS: This prospective clustered clinical trial enrolled women undergoing CD between January 1, 2013, and October 31, 2014, at Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem. Women were assigned to one of five clusters differing in timing of dressing and staples removal. We assessed scar healing at 6 weeks. RESULTS: 920 women completed telephone questionnaires. Wound healing did not differ significantly among the clusters: the healing complication rate was 21% in the control group (n=46) and ranged from 18% to 26% (n=27-50) in clusters two to five (P=0.49). More healing complications were observed in women with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 35 kg/m2 versus 35 kg/m2 or less (P=0.016), urgent versus elective CD (P=0.013), preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) versus intact membranes (P=0.016), and chorioamnionitis at delivery versus no chorioamnionitis (P=0.001). 586 (64%) women underwent physician assessment at staples removal and at 6 weeks post CD. CONCLUSIONS: Timing of dressing and staples removal has no effect on CD scar healing in low- and high-risk parturients. A BMI of more than 35 kg/m2 , urgent CD, PPROM, and chorioamnionitis were associated with mal-healing, regardless of cluster. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01724255.

Improvement of Nutritional Intake in Intensive Care Unit Patients via a Nurse-Led Enteral Nutrition Feeding Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Enteral nutrition in intensive care unit patients has important prognostic clinical value. Feeding protocols are recommended by clinical practice guidelines as a key strategy to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of enteral feedings. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether enteral nutrition in critically ill patients could be improved by implementation of a nurse-led evidence-based feeding protocol. METHODS: An interprofessional group of intensive care unit nurses, physicians, and a clinical dietitian designed a protocol to address and correct the shortcomings of enteral feeding. Data on feeding and clinical outcomes were collected retrospectively for patients for 12 months before (control group) and then for 12 months after (interventional group) implementation of the protocol. RESULTS: Enteral feeding was started significantly earlier (P = .007) after admission to the intensive care unit in the intervention group (52.3 hours; SD, 42.6) than in the control group (70.3 hours; SD, 65.2). Use of the protocol resulted in a significant increase in nutritional intake; 90% of patients in the intervention group but only 34% in the traditional feeding group achieved their caloric target within 96 hours after admission (P < .001). After implementation of the protocol, cessation of feeding due to intolerance was significantly less (P = .03) in the intervention group (6%) than in the traditional feeding group (14 %), and no adverse events were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to standardized guidelines with a written protocol for an early start and timely escalation of enteral feeding can improve nutritional intake among intensive care unit patients.

Effects of moderate intensity glycemic control after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The impact of intensive insulin therapy on the clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients is highly controversial. We used a protocol based on dynamic insulin administration targeted to achieve moderately tight glycemic control and tested its impact on clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Patients with diabetes mellitus or random blood glucose greater than 150 mg/dL were treated in the intensive care unit with intravenous insulin, followed by a multi-injection protocol consisting of 4 glargine/aspart insulin injections in the ward, with a glycemic target of 110 to 150 mg/dL. The study cohort (n = 410) consisted of consecutive patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. Control patients (n = 207) were admitted during the first 8 months and treated according to standard of care. The intervention group of patients (n = 203) were operated on during the following 8 months. The main outcome measures were glycemic control and the rate of postsurgery infections. RESULTS: During the intervention, mean blood glucose ± SD was 151 ± 19 mg/dL and 157 ± 32 mg/dL in the intensive care unit and ward, respectively, versus 166 ± 27 mg/dL and 184 ± 46 mg/dL during the control period (p < 0.0001). The incidence of hypoglycemia (blood glucose less than 60 mg/dL) was low and similar in the two groups (2.5% control versus 3% intervention). Intensive insulin treatment decreased the risk for infection from 11% to 5% (56% risk reduction, p = 0.018), mainly by reducing the incidence of graft harvest site infection (6.9% versus 2.5%, p = 0.034). The incidence of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery decreased from 30% to 18% (39% risk reduction; p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-intensity dynamic blood glucose control after cardiac surgery is effective and safe, and is associated with improved clinical outcomes.