[Analysis of results, quality indicators, and postsurgical complications in an outpatient dermatological surgery program]. / Análisis de resultados, índices de calidad y complicaciones extrahospitalarias de un programa de cirugía ambulatoria en Dermatología.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of an outpatient program for major dermatological surgery in patients with a range of skin conditions. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective, observational study of patients who underwent scheduled dermatological surgery as outpatients in a public hospital between 2004 and 2007. The most common procedures were excision of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma with or without graft reconstruction. The rates of substitution (of inpatient procedures), cancellation, hospital admission, and readmission were analyzed along with service utilization and systemic complications arising within the first 72 hours of surgery. Variables were analyzed as relative frequencies. The occurrence of complications during the study period was analyzed by chi square test. RESULTS: A total of 2789 patients underwent surgery during the study period, and of those, 2757 procedures were performed on an outpatient basis (overall substitution rate, 17.99%). The service utilization was 74.36%. Fourteen patients were admitted to hospital following surgery (2.62%), and of those 12 were admitted immediately (85.71%). Nine patients had serious complications (cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic, or infectious), representing a proportional risk of 1:59. Less serious complications (hypertension, nausea, vomiting, and vasovagal syncope) requiring hospital admission occurred in 25 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Major surgery undertaken on an outpatient basis is an excellent multidisciplinary surgical care model that allows well-selected patients to be treated effectively, safely, and efficiently. A small percentage of postoperative complications of varying severity can still occur despite patients' meeting optimal criteria for success. Fortunately, however, the rate of mortality is practically zero.

[Urinary tract infections in a postoperative recovery unit]. / Infecciones urinarias en una unidad de reanimación.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency, etiology, risk factors, and mortality relating to urinary tract infection (UTI) in a postoperative recovery unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out from 1998 through 2003 of all patients who stayed longer than 48 hours in a 12-bed critical care unit and who were followed to 48 hours following discharge from the unit. A descriptive statistics were compiled and univariate and multiple variable Cox regression analyses were performed for episodes of nosocomial UTI. RESULTS: The incidence density for UTI associated with bladder catheterization was 8.4 cases per 1000 patient-days. The pathogens most frequently isolated in patients with bacteriuria were Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. The pathogen most frequently isolated in UTI in trauma patients was E. coli, whereas C. albicans was most often found in the postoperative patients. Multivariable analysis identified 3 risk factors: degree of severity on admission, duration of catheterization, and presence of diabetes mellitus. The mortality risk in patients with bladder catheterization and UTI was 2.20. CONCLUSIONS: UTIs can have serious consequences and are responsible for excess mortality. The real importance of UTI is unknown and is probably underestimated despite the publication of many studies. We found that the UTI microbiology findings were markedly different for the trauma and postoperative cohorts in our department.