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Weeks Post-operatively (week + post-operatively)
Selected AbstractsAnaesthesia and post-operative morbidity after elective groin hernia repair: a nation-wide studyACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2008M. BAY-NIELSEN Background: Randomised studies suggest regional anaesthesia to have the highest morbidity and local infiltration anaesthesia to have the lowest morbidity after groin hernia repair. However, implications and results of this evidence for general practice are not known. Methods: Prospective nation-wide data collection in a cohort of n=29,033 elective groin hernia repairs, registered in the Danish Hernia Database in three periods, namely July 1998,June 1999, July 2000,June 2001 and July 2002,June 2003. Retrospective analysis of complications in discharge abstracts, identified from re-admission within 30 days post-operatively, prolonged length of stay (>2 days post-operatively) or death. Results: Complications after groin hernia repair were more frequent in patients 65+ years (4.5%), compared with younger patients (2.7%) (P<0.001). In patients 65+ years, medical complications were more frequent after regional anaesthesia (1.17%), compared with general anaesthesia (0.59%) (P=0.003) and urological complications were more frequent after regional anaesthesia (0.87%), compared with local infiltration anaesthesia (0.09%) (P=0.006). Seventeen prostatectomies occurred after post-operative urinary retention, but with no case after local anaesthesia. Mortality within 30 days after elective groin hernia repair was 0.12%. Regional anaesthesia was disproportionately more often used in patients dying within 1 week post-operatively. Conclusion: Choice of the anaesthetic technique should be adjusted to available procedure-specific scientific evidence and the use of regional anaesthesia in elderly patients undergoing groin hernia repair is not supported by existing evidence. [source] Dexamethasone decreases oxycodone consumption following osteotomy of the first metatarsal bone: a randomized controlled trial in day surgeryACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2010K. MATTILA Background: Dexamethasone may improve multimodal pain management following painful orthopedic day surgery procedures, and decrease the need for post-operative opioids. We hypothesized that dexamethasone would reduce the need for oxycodone after surgical correction of hallux valgus. Methods: Sixty patients planned to undergo unilateral osteotomy of the first metatarsal as a day surgery procedure were randomized to receive pre-operatively and 24 h afterwards, orally either dexamethasone 9 mg or placebo. For pain medication, paracetamol and oxycodone capsules for rescue medication were given. The study ended on the evening of the third post-operative day (POD). The primary endpoint was the cumulative oxycodone consumption. Secondary endpoints were maximal pain scores before oxycodone intake and daily oxycodone doses. In addition, adverse effects were documented. Results: Twenty-five patients in both groups completed the study. The total median (range) oxycodone consumption during the study period was 45 (0,165) mg in the dexamethasone group and 78 (15,175) mg in the placebo group (P=0.049). The major differences in oxycodone consumption were seen on PODs 0,1. In the dexamethasone group, patients reported significantly lower pain scores on PODs 0,1, and significantly less nausea on POD 1. On PODs 2,3 no differences were seen. However, at 2 weeks post-operatively, patient satisfaction to drug therapy did not differ , in both groups 81% would have chosen the same medication again. Conclusion: Oral dexamethasone combined with paracetamol significantly reduced total oxycodone consumption following surgical correction of hallux valgus. [source] Early detection of bone infection and differentiation from post-surgical inflammation using 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro- D -glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in an animal modelJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 6 2005Laurie Jones-Jackson Abstract Diagnosing bone infection in the context of post-surgical inflammation is problematic since many of the early signs of infection are similar to normal post-surgical changes. We used a rabbit osteomyelitis model to evaluate the use of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro- D -glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) as a means of detecting post-operative infection in the context of post-surgical inflammation. Comparisons were made between infected and non-infected rabbits in which infection with Staphylococcus aureus was initiated at the time of surgery. Weekly PET scans were obtained 30 and 60 min after the introduction of FDG and analyzed based on standardized uptake values (SUV) at the surgical site and visual assessment of the presence or absence of infection. Concurrent X-rays were taken immediately prior to scanning. At 4 weeks post-operatively, animals were sacrificed for histologic and bacteriologic confirmation of infection. Uptake of FDG was evident in the bone of all rabbits on day 1 post-surgery, however, SUV comparisons from the surgical site could not be used to distinguish between the infected and uninfected groups until day 15. Visual analysis of FDG-PET scans revealed a significant difference (p < 0.01) between the infected and uninfected groups as early as day 8. This was due in part to the ability to visualize regional lymph nodes by FDG-PET.© 2005 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [source] Skin grafts: a rural general surgical perspective,ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 5 2009Nigel J. Henderson Abstract Background:, Skin grafts are a common method of closing skin defects. The literature comparing methods of graft application and subsequent outcomes is poor, but reports indicate a graft failure rate between 2 and 30%. The aim of this study was to audit our current skin graft practice. Methods:, Data were collected prospectively on all skin grafts performed by the general surgical department between 1st December 2005 and 1st December 2006. A standardized proforma on each patient included data on age, gender, graft indication, application method, comorbidities, length of stay, and graft outcomes including graft take at 1, 2 and 6 weeks post-operatively. Results:, There were 85 grafts performed on 74 patients, median age 72 years (9,102 years), with 10 (12%) acute admissions. Prophylactic antibiotics were given to 50% (38 of 74) of patients. Successful grafts (>80% take) were performed in 68 (80%) patients. The overall graft complication rate was 24.7% (22 of 85 grafts). Infection occurred in 13 of 17 graft failures. No patients underwent re-operation for graft failure. Patients who received prophylactic antibiotics had a reduced risk of graft failure (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.016). Conclusion:, Skin grafts were performed successfully in the majority of patients. Graft complication and failure rates compare well with the world literature. The use of prophylactic antibiotics was the only predictor of successful graft take. [source] |