Vancomycin versus cefazolin prophylaxis for cardiac surgery in the setting of a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of vancomycin prophylaxis with that of cefazolin in preventing surgical site infections in a tertiary medical center with a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections. METHODS: All adult patients (> or = 18 years) scheduled for cardiac surgery requiring sternotomy were randomly assigned to receive vancomycin (1 g every 12 hours) or cefazolin (1 g every 8 hours). Prophylaxis was started during the induction of anesthesia and continued for only 24 hours. Patients were followed up for at least 30 days (1 year for those receiving a cardiac implant). Surgical site infections were stratified according to the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System risk index. RESULTS: Of the 885 patients included in the study, 452 received vancomycin and 433 received cefazolin. The overall surgical site infection rates were similar in the two groups (43 cases in the vancomycin group, 9.5%, vs 39 cases in the cefazolin group, 9.0%, P =.8). Superficial and deep incisional surgical site infection rates were also similar in the two groups. There was a trend toward more frequent organ-space infections and infections with beta-lactam-resistant organisms among patients receiving cefazolin, but this trend did not reach statistical significance. In contrast, surgical site infections caused by methicillin-susceptible staphylococci were significantly more common in the vancomycin group (17 cases, 3.7%, vs 6 cases, 1.3%, P =.04). The durations of postoperative hospitalization and the mortalities were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This trial suggests that vancomycin and cefazolin have similar efficacy in preventing surgical site infections in cardiac surgery.

Evaluation of the SQA IIB: a new version of a sperm quality analyzer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the SQA IIB (Sperm Quality Analyzer; MES-Medical Electronic Systems, Migdal Haemek, Israel), sperm analyzer that claims to read the three main sperm indices through algorithmic means and without a microscope. DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study comparing two methods of sperm analysis. SETTING: Academic environment. PATIENT(S): Twenty-six healthy volunteers. INTERVENTION(S): Samples from intact or manipulated specimens were analyzed with the standards of the World Health Organization and the SQA IIB. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Results by the two methods were compared and evaluated statistically. RESULT(S): Values from the SQA IIB deviated significantly from those obtained by the standard method for all three indices. Disagreement was more than twofold in 53% and more than threefold in 33% of cases. In specimens with <8% motility or total lack of motility, the SQA IIB showed zero concentration, zero motility, and no normal forms. CONCLUSION(S): Analysis of the three main sperm indices by the SQA IIB is of limited accuracy and reliability. The principle of an indirect evaluation through algorithmic means is inadequate. Because it may furnish misleading information, which is sometimes crucial for the treated couple, it is not suitable for screening and cannot be recommended for clinics, sperm banks, or research studies in andrology.

Phenol lumbar sympathetic block in diabetic lower limb ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Patients with arteriosclerotic peripheral vascular disease and lower limb ischemia have painful ulceration or incipient gangrene of the lower limb with intractable rest pain. The arteriosclerotic changes may preclude any surgery other than amputation. METHODS: We examined whether chemical sympathectomy could relieve pain, arrest gangrene and postpone amputation, even in diabetic patients. RESULTS: Phenol lumbar sympathectomy was performed on 373 patients, of whom 226 (60.6%) were diabetic. Over 24-120 months of follow-up, 219 patients (58.7%) experienced total relief from pain and healing of gangrenous ulcers, although the treatment was unsuccessful in 154 patients. A favorable result was marked in diabetic patients who had rest pain and in non-diabetic patients who had digital gangrene or digital ulcers. Age and sex did not affect the results but heavy smoking did. CONCLUSION: Phenol sympathectomy should be considered as an alternative to surgical sympathectomy. Furthermore, the technique may be a precursor to and even an alternative to amputation in patients who have diabetes and advanced arteriosclerosis of the lower limb.

Carotid surgery under local anesthesia in the elderly.

Carotid endarterectomy in 39 elderly patients was carried out under local anesthesia and neuroleptic analgesia. There were no deaths within 30 days. Two patients required an intraoperative shunt because of signs of ischemic changes (aphasia, motor changes) during two-minute test cross-clamping. In two patients, transient vocal cord paresis was observed, and seven patients (18%) experienced immediate postoperative hypertension. Our results support the contention that in awake elderly patients the need for an intraoperative shunt can be accurately assessed by simple neurological monitoring. Carotid surgery under local anesthesia and neuroleptic analgesia appears to be a safe procedure, and is especially recommended for elderly patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus or ischemic heart disease.

Cryosurgery for life-threatening bleeding hemorrhoids in the elderly.

Forty-three elderly patients with massive bleeding of hemorrhoidal varices were treated by cryosurgery at a single outpatient session, using nitrous oxide gas, without premedication or anesthesia. The results were excellent in all but one patient, who had ulcerative colitis and required another session of cryotherapy following a recurrence of bleeding. There was no morbidity and no mortality. The patients have remained free of symptoms over follow-up periods ranging from two to five years. The authors believe that cryosurgery is the treatment of choice and indeed may sometimes be life-saving for elderly, poor-risk patients who are unfit for general anesthesia and surgical hemorrhoidectomy.

Changes in behavioural characteristics of elderly populations of local authority homes and long-stay hospital wards, 1976-7.

Behavioural characteristics of the elderly populations of seven local authority residential homes and three long-stay hospital wards were assessed in 1976 and 1977 with the Crichton Royal behavioural rating scale. In 1977 the levels of behavioural problems had increased in the residential homes, but declined in the hospital wards. Differences between the homes had decreased as the overall level of problems increased. The findings suggested that the additional burden of caring for increasing numbers of severely disabled elderly people was affecting the balance of institutional care, and a radical reappraisal of present patterns of care may be necessary to meet their future needs.