Randomized clinical trial of ropivacaine wound infusion following laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Wound infusions with local anaesthesia have been used with varying success following laparotomy for colonic resections. This trial sought to determine the efficacy of ropivacaine wound infusion following laparoscopic colonic surgery. METHODS: Forty-eight consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal resection were randomized to receive either a local anaesthetic wound infusion (ropivacaine 0.5%) or normal saline for a period of 72 h. The primary endpoint was postoperative pain as assessed by analgesic consumption, while secondary endpoints assessed were visual analogue pain scores, respiratory function, gastrointestinal function, length of stay and postoperative complications. RESULTS: There was no difference in mean postoperative analgesic consumption between the two groups over 72 h (143 mEq morphine control vs 94 mEq intervention; p = 0.108). Likewise, there was no difference in daily postoperative analgesic consumption or visual analogue pain scores between the two groups. Patients in the ropivacaine group experienced less reduction in their postoperative forced expiratory volume at 1 s on day 1 (mean difference FEV1 0.4 l; p = 0.015). There was no difference between the two groups with respect to return of gut function and postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, local anaesthetic wound infusion with ropivacaine following elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery improves early respiratory function, but does not appear to provide an improvement in postoperative analgesia or other clinically relevant postoperative outcomes.

Clinical and epidemiological features of Enterococcus casseliflavus/flavescens and Enterococcus gallinarum bacteremia: a report of 20 cases.

The clinical significance of intrinsically vancomycin-resistant enterococci is not yet fully established, as these organisms are infrequently recovered from clinical specimens. We report our experience with 20 cases of Enterococcus gallinarum and Enterococcus casseliflavus/flavescens bacteremia in humans from 1992 through 1998. Sixteen cases of bacteremia were caused by E. gallinarum. Underlying conditions were present in 19 (95%) of the patients and included malignancy, receipt of transplant, and Caroli's disease. Polymicrobial bacteremia was present in 9 patients (45%). E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus/flavescens, although they are infrequently isolated from clinical specimens, may cause serious invasive infections.

Adult immunizations: recommendations for practice.

Each year in the United States, 50,000 to 90,000 adults die of pneumococcal disease, influenza, and hepatitis infections. These figures vastly exceed mortality due to vaccine-preventable diseases in children. In addition, adult immunizations are cost-effective and lifesaving measures. Nonetheless, surveys reveal that both physicians and patients underuse adult immunizations as an effective means of disease prevention. The goal of achieving higher adult immunization rates is critically dependent on improving the attitudes and practices of health-care providers. In this article, we review several vaccines routinely used in the practice of adult medicine.