Topical Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Preventing Surgical Site Infections of Clean Wounds: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Topical antibiotic agents are not generally indicated for preventing of surgical site infections (SSIs) in clean incisions, and the drug concentrations that should be delivered to local incision sites remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to critically assess the efficacy of topical antibiotic agents in comparison with non-antibiotic agents for preventing SSIs in clean incisions by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We conducted a search of literature in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Databases and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on topical antibiotic use for patients with clean post-surgical incisions. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI, presented as the event rate. Eleven RCTs were included. Results: Using random-effects modeling, the pooled risk ratio (RR) of developing a post-surgical incisions infection was 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-1.16; I2, 0%). In subgroup analyses, no reductions in SSI were observed when topical antibiotic agents were used to treat incisions due to spinal (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.40-1.38; I2, 0%), orthopedic (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.37-1.29; I2, 0%), dermatologic (RR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.39-1.55; I2, 65%), or cardiothoracic surgeries (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.83-2.06; I2: 0%). The incidence of SSI across different operative phases did not differ for the application of topical antibiotic agents compared with non-antibiotic agents (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.56-1.14; I2, 0%). Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis show that topical antibiotic agents provide no clinical benefit for preventing SSI in clean incisions.

Obturator hernia: a diagnostic challenge of small-bowel obstruction.

Obturator hernia is relatively rare and is a diagnostic challenge in the emergency department because the hernia mass is usually concealed beneath the pectineus muscle. We report the case of a 91-year-old emaciated woman with an incarcerated obturator hernia. The hernia was discovered early in the emergency department by computed tomography and was reduced by emergency laparotomy. The Howship-Romberg sign and pain from the ipsilateral thigh to the knee are important clinical manifestations raising suspicion of obturator hernia, but these did not occur in our patient. One of the clinical clues in our patient was small-bowel obstruction of unknown origin, diagnosed by computed tomography. We emphasize that emergency physicians should keep a high index of clinical suspicion for obturator hernia when encountering small-bowel obstruction in emaciated elderly women. Although we cannot shorten the time from onset of symptoms to hospital admission, we can make rapid evaluation and surgical intervention to reduce the morbidity and mortality of obturator hernia.

Trigger arrhythmia to confirm the position of totally implantable access ports (TIAP).

BACKGROUND: Totally implantable access ports (TIAP) with cutdown method has few complications, but needs assessment of fluoroscopic system. METHODS: We present a method to confirm the position of TIAP catheter without fluoroscopic assessment. We use the cutdown method and trigger arrhythmia while introducing the TIAP catheter. RESULTS: This method was applied in 54 patients and no complications were found. CONCLUSIONS: Checking the position by triggering arrhythmia while performing TIAP with cephalic vein cutdown in case of C-arm was not available is simple and safe.