A national analysis of readmissions for wound healing complications following the repair of lower back,hip, and buttock pressure ulcers using the Nationwide Readmissions Database

BackgroundTraditionally, a 30-day postoperative period is used to assess outcomes in surgery. However, it is not clear if this is sufficient. Our study assessed readmissions and their risk factors following the surgical repair of pressure ulcers in a 90-day postoperative period.MethodsPatients with a pressure ulcer to the lower back, hip, and/or buttocks who underwent a pedicled or flap based wound operation were identified in the National Readmissions Database. We then analyzed risk factors for overall 0–90-day readmissions, early readmissions (0–30 days), and late-readmissions (31–90 days).Results3329 patients were identified, of which 154 (4.66%) had surgical wound-related readmissions. A majority of these occurred after 30 days (53.89%). 90% of patients with a surgical-wound related readmission were readmitted within 63 days of index procedure.ConclusionsThe traditional 30-day outcome period is not enough to properly assess outcomes in pressure ulcer surgery such as readmission. We demonstrate that a period of at least 10 weeks and perhaps the entire global 90-day postoperative period would be more appropriate to evaluate readmissions after ulcer repair.     

Spasticity and dementia increase the risk of pressure ulcers

The aim of this study was to identify and characterise the association between the prevalence of pressure ulcers, spasticity levels, and advanced dementia in disable elderly patients. Data were obtained from the patient medical files. Patients were hospitalised in the geriatric skilled nursing department. A total of 40 frail elderly patients, bedbound and suffering from advanced chronic diseases, advanced dementia, and high‐grade pressure ulcers, were examined. Pressure ulcer grades and spasticity in advanced dementia versus non‐dementia patients were evaluated. Logistic regression indicated that only advanced dementia and spasticity were significantly associated with the development of pressure ulcers versus those without dementia or without spasticity. Patients with advanced dementia displayed a significantly higher prevalence of severe spasticity. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, spasticity was significantly associated with pressure ulcers. The strong association of spasticity with the onset of pressure ulcers in advanced dementia should encourage clinicians to implement preventative measures to delay the onset of pressure ulcers.     

腹腔镜下大肠癌根治术中腹内压升高对患者治疗效果影响的考察

目的探讨腹腔镜下大肠癌根治术中腹内压升高对其预后的影响。 方法回顾性分析2014年1月至2017年6月收治的114例腹腔镜下大肠癌根治术患者的临床资料,按照术中不同气腹压分为A、B和C三组：A组,术中腹内压为10 mmHg,36例;B组术中腹内压为12 mmHg,41例;C组术中腹内压为15 mmHg,37例。数据采用SPSS 20.0统计软件进行分析,比较三组患者术后各项指标、外周血内D－乳酸、IL－6及TNF－α水平以( ±s)表示,组间对比采用t检验。各组患者术后6 h内鼻胃管拔出率及并发症发生情况组间对比采用χ²检验,以P<0.05表示差异具有统计学意义。 结果三组患者术后6 h内鼻胃管拔出率、首次排气时间、首次排便时间、首次肠鸣音时间、首次进食时间以及术后住院时间相比,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。三组患者术后并发症发生率相比,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。与术前相比,三组患者的D－乳酸和白细胞介素－6(IL－6)均明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);TNF－α水平无显著变化(P>0.05)。术后C组的D－乳酸水平显著高于A、B组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。 结论腹腔镜下大肠癌根治术中腹内压升高对患者的预后没有影响。     

89例下肢瘢痕癌的诊治体会

目的：总结下肢瘢痕癌的临床特点及其诊治方法。方法：回顾性分析中南大学湘雅医院烧伤重建外科 1998年1月至2017年12月收治的89例下肢瘢痕癌患者的临床资料,包括人口统计学、致伤因素、癌变潜伏期、病变部 位、溃疡面积、病理类型、骨质侵犯、淋巴结转移情况、手术方式、修复方法与预后等。结果：89例下肢瘢痕癌患 者中,男70例,女19例;最常见致伤因素依次为火焰烧伤(42例)、创伤(19例)、烫伤(12例)。病变最常见于小腿(31 例),其次为大腿(11例)、足跟(11例);溃疡面积为1.5~600.0 cm2 。其中鳞状细胞癌80例、疣状癌8例、肉瘤1例。术前 发现腹股沟淋巴结肿大78例,行腹股沟淋巴结清扫49例,单纯淋巴结活检、切除29例;9例发现淋巴结转移,8例有 骨质侵犯;24例行截肢术,53例行病灶扩大切除皮片移植术,12例行病灶扩大切除皮瓣修复术。65例得到随访,8例 出现复发,其中截肢者2例,扩大切除者6例,且肿瘤复发与手术方式无关(P>0.05)。结论：下肢瘢痕癌复发转移率较 高,需早期发现、早期诊断,应尽早手术治疗并定期随访;腹股沟淋巴结肿大较常见,需行淋巴结活检、切除或清 扫;局部扩大切除、植皮或皮瓣修复是其主要治疗方法,但癌肿较大、侵犯较深且下肢瘢痕广泛、畸形严重者可考 虑截肢。     

Pinealectomy Does Not Affect the Healing of Experimental Colonic Anastomoses

Gastrointestinal system anastomoses, especially colonic anastomoses, have significant morbidity and mortality despite recent technical improvements. Besides regulating the circadian rhythm, the pineal gland and its main neurohormone product melatonin have widespread actions in the organism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pinealectomy on the healing of colonic anastomoses. One hundred male albino Wistar rats were used in this study. The rats were separated into three groups: control, pinealectomy, and sham groups. In the control group, only colonic resection and anastomoses were performed. Following pinealectomy, colonic anastomosis was performed 2 weeks later on one half and 2 months later on the other half of the pinealectomy group. Only craniotomy was performed on the sham group, and the rats were separated and evaluated like the pinealectomy group. Colonic anastomoses were evaluated on postanastomotic day 3 and 7 by measuring the bursting pressure and the hydroxyproline levels in the anastomotic segments. There was no difference in the bursting pressure measurements between the groups on both postoperative day 3 and 7. Although hydroxyproline levels were different between groups on both postanastomotic days 3 and 7, it has been observed that neither normal nor anastomotic hydroxyproline levels influenced the anastomotic bursting pressure measurements. The percent deviation from the normal values was compared in the anastomotic segments, and no differences were found regarding the bursting pressure and hydroxyproline levels. It was concluded that pinealectomy has no effect on the healing of colonic anastomoses.     

次侧切术治疗期肛裂前后肛门直肠压力对比分析

目的 :探讨次侧切开内括约肌治疗肛裂术前、术后肛门直肌压力的变化。方法 :采用自行设计的次侧方内括约肌切开加双缘结扎术治疗 期肛裂 6 0例 ,测定手术前后肛门直肠压力 ,并与 6 0例正常人肛压比较 ,评价新术式治疗 期肛裂的临床疗效及其对肛门功能的影响。结果 :显示术后患者肛管静息压显著降低 ,与术前比较有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1) ,与正常人比较无显著性差异 (P>0 .0 5 ) ;肛管最大收缩压与术前及正常人比较无显著性差异 (P>0 .0 5 )。结论 :次侧方内括约肌切开加双缘结扎术能有效地解除内括约肌痉挛 ,从根本上消除高肛压 ,从而彻底治愈肛裂 ,而且不影响肛门功能。     

Traditional Chinese medicine for pressure ulcer: a meta‐analysis

To assess the effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) [Chinese herbal medicine ointment (CHMO), acupuncture and moxibustion] on pressure ulcer. In this study, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTER, CBM, CNKI, WAN FANG and VIP for articles published from database inception up to 4 April 2011. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), which compared the effects of TCM with other interventions. We assessed the methodological quality of these trials using Cochrane risk of bias criteria. Ten of 565 potentially relevant trails that enrolled a total of 893 patients met our inclusion criteria. All the included RCTs only used CHMO intervention, because acupuncture and moxibustion trials failed to meet the inclusive criteria. A meta‐analysis showed beneficial effects of CHMO for pressure ulcer compared with other treatments on the total effective rate [risk ratio (RR): 1·28; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1·20–1·36; P = 0·53; I² = 0%), curative ratio (RR: 2·02; 95% CI: 1·73–2·35; P = 0·11; I² = 37%) and inefficiency rate (RR: 0·16; 95% CI: 0·02–0·80; P = 0·84; I² = 0%). However, the funnel plot indicated that there was publication bias in this study. The evidence that CHMO is effective for pressure ulcer is encouraging, but due to several caveats, not conclusive. Therefore, more rigorous studies seem warranted.     

A new method of evaluating the degree of stenosis using a multisensor catheter

Summary A new method of evaluating the degree of stenosis using the pressure loss coefficient is presented here. The pressure loss coefficient was obtained in patients with pulmonary or aortic stenosis by measuring the pressure and velocity of the blood simultaneously with a multisensor catheter. Although the pressure gradient across the stenosis was augmented by increasing the blood velocity with pharmacological loading, the pressure loss coefficient remained nearly constant. This confirmed that the pressure loss coefficient is more appropriate for evaluating the degree of stenosis than the pressure gradient, which depends on the blood velocity.The pressure loss coefficients obtained from the preoperative and postoperative catheterization data were compared to evaluate the effects of the surgical operation. A pressure loss coefficient of 15 was proposed as the critical value for the indication of operation.     

The challenge of spinal cord injury care in the developing world

Great strides have been made in reducing morbidity and mortality following spinal cord injury (SCI), and improving long-term health and community participation; however, this progress has not been uniform across the globe. This review highlights differences in global epidemiology of SCI and the ongoing challenges in meeting the needs of individuals with SCI in the developing world, including post-disaster. Significant disparities persist, with life expectancies of 2 years or less not uncommon for persons living with paraplegia in many developing countries. The international community has an important role in improving access to appropriate care following SCI worldwide.     

Physiological measurements of tissue health; implications for clinical practice

Pressure mapping alone insufficiently describes tissue health. Comprehensive, quantitative non invasive assessment is crucial. Interface pressures (IPs) and transcutaneous blood gas levels [transcutaneous tissue oxygen (T_cPO₂)] were simultaneously assessed over both ischia and the sacrum to investigate the hypotheses: (i) tissue oxygenation decreases with sustained applied pressure; (ii) tissue oxygen and IP are inversely correlated in loaded soft tissues; (iii) multisite assessments are unnecessary because healthy individuals are symmetrical. Measurements were taken at 5‐minute intervals for 20 minutes in both sitting and supine lying for a cohort of 20 able‐bodied adults. There were no statistically significant changes over time for either variable in 96% of timepoint comparisons. Specifically, no significant differences were seen between 10 and 20 minutes in either position. These findings imply that a 10‐minute assessment can reliably indicate tissue health and that tissue may adapt to applied load over time. No statistically significant correlations between T_cPO₂ and IP were observed. However, the left and right ischia were significantly different for both variables in supine lying (P < 0·001) and for sitting IP (P < 0·010). Thus, even in this healthy cohort, postural symmetry was not observed and should not be assumed for other populations with restricted mobility. If a multisite technique cannot be used, repeated tissue health assessments must use the same anatomic location.