[Aztreonam and clindamycin in short-term antibiotic prophylaxis in colorectal surgery: results of a multicenter studies]. / Aztreonam e clindamicina nella profilassi antibiotica a breve termine in chirurgia colorettale: risultati di uno studio policentrico.

The Authors studied the effects of a short-term prophylaxis (Aztreonam + Clindamycin) administered to 259 patients operated on for colo-rectal diseases. Thirteen wound sepsis (5.15%) and 49 different infections (19.44%) occurred in this group of patients. The study confirms the link between P.N.I. greater than 50 and the incidence of wound infections. The incidence of urogenital sepsis was correlated with the catheterization period (greater than 6 days), operative time (greater than 200 min.), hospitalization (greater than 12 days) and age (greater than 70 years). General tolerance to the antibiotics was good.

[Pre-deposited autologous blood transfusion in elective surgery: our experience]. / La trasfusione autologa di sangue con predeposito nella chirurgia di elezione: la nostra esperienza.

The risk of contracting infective diseases, which may be potentially lethal, from transfused blood has led to a necessary critical review of the transfusion practice. Autologous transfusion eliminates such risk and appears as an ideal procedure for a pre-hospital donation program particularly useful in elective surgery. To determine the extent to which predeposited autologous blood is used in patients undergoing elective surgery and to assess whether predonation decreases the use of homologous blood and the demand of blood supply, the Authors studied 261 patients submitted to elective surgery from October 1986 to October 1989. In the Authors' opinion a predeposit autotransfusion program is cost-effective, practical and nondisruptive. Therefore, it should be considered as a necessary and standard medical practice by clinicians and patients.