[Surgical site infections in breast surgery: a descriptive study]. / Infezioni della ferita chirurgica e glicemia nelle pazienti sottoposte a chirurgia della mammella: studio descrittivo.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs) in breast surgery is 3.1%. The risk to develop SSIs seems correlated to the level of glycemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim is to test a correlation between glycemic values and SSIs in breast surgery with a longitudinal perspective study. The data were collected in a Surgical Department of a University Hospital of north-east Italy; the study is in the context of the Regional Surveillance Program of Health Agency. RESULTS: We have observed 100 patients. The incidence of the SSIs has been 5.7%. The patients that have developed the SSIs were in ordinary recovery, with a glycemic value taller then the patients without SSIs both in preoperative (92.6 vses 88.5) that in postoperative period (104 vses 91.8 and 108.3 vses 94). CONCLUSIONS:  We cannot test a correlation between SSIs and glycemic value nevertheless for the clinical practice we have important guideline.

[Perioperative blood glucose levels and surgical site infections in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery: a feasibility study]. / Glicemia e infezioni della ferita chirurgica nei pazienti sottoposti a chirurgia colon rettale: studio di fattibilità

This study was carried out in the framework of a regional surveillance program of surgical site infections, to assess the feasibility of performing a longitudinal study to evaluate possible correlations between perioperative blood glucose levels and surgical site infections in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. A convenience sample of patients aged 18 years and above, admitted to the University Hospital of Udine (Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy) from 1 January to 31 March 2011, were invited to participate in the study. Patients admitted for recanalization surgery for obstructing carcinomas were excluded. Twenty-five patients participated in the study, 20% (n=5) of whom had a surgical site infection. No correlation was found between blood glucose levels and surgical site infections. The costs of performing a study of this kind would be mainly related to the number of persons involved in data collection and the estimated time required is 12 to 18 months. For the future conduct of the study, it is hoped that simpler operational methods may be agreed upon within the healthcare facility.

High flow nasal oxygen vs. conventional oxygen therapy over respiratory oxygenation index after esophagectomy: an observational study.

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications after esophagectomy still represent a matter of concern. High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) early after major abdominal and thoracic surgery has demonstrated some advantages over conventional oxygen therapy. Data about respiratory effect of HFNC after esophagectomy is scarce. The primary aim of this study is to investigate if the early use of HFNC after esophagectomy could enhance patients' postoperative respiratory oxygenation (ROX) index and, ultimately, reduce postoperative pneumonia. Methods: In this single center retrospective study all patients undergoing to esophagectomy for cancer from May 2020 to November 2022 were evaluated. Historical cohort (HC) received postoperative oxygen supplementation with Venturi mask or nasal goggles, and a cohort was put under HFNC (HFNC cohort). ROX index, blood gas analysis, radiological atelectasis score (RAS), post-operative complications' data and information on hospital stay have been collected and analyzed. Results: Seventy-one patients were included for the final statistical analysis, 31 in the HFNC and 40 in the HC cohort. Mean age was 64±10 years and body mass index (BMI) was 26 [24-29] kg/m2. ROX index was higher in the HFNC patients than in the HC, 20.8 [16.7-25.9] vs. 14.9 [10.8-18.2] (P<0.0001). In the HFNC cohort patients, pH was higher, 7.42 [7.40-7.44] vs. 7.39 [7.37-7.43] than HC, while PaCO2 was lower in HFNC cohort compared with HC, 39 [36-41] vs. 42 [39-45] mmHg, respectively (P=0.01). RAS was similar between the two cohorts of patients, 1.5±0.98 vs. 1.4±1.04 in the HFNC and the HC cohort, respectively (P=0.611). Lower acute respiratory failure (ARF) rate was recorded among HFNC than HC cohort, 0% vs. 13% respectively, P=0.06. No difference in pneumonia frequency between two cohorts was shown. Conclusions: HFNC improved the ROX index after esophagectomy through significant respiratory rate reduction. This tool should be considered for early respiratory support after extubation in this category of patients, not only as a rescue therapy for ARF, but also to optimize early postoperative respiratory function. Whether this will improve patients' outcomes requires further large randomized controlled trials.

"I Am Administering Medication-Please Do Not Interrupt Me": Red Tabards Preventing Interruptions as Perceived by Surgical Patients.

INTRODUCTION: The recent introduction of red tabards aimed at avoiding interruptions during medication rounds has generated scientific and media debate, which is still ongoing. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate patients' perceptions of 3 different red tabards; the secondary aim was to explore individual factors associated with the negative perceptions that emerged. METHODS: Eligible patients had to be admitted to the selected general surgical department and give written informed consent. A total of 104 patients were interviewed. Three real-sized red tabards, made with laminated paper and displaying different messages, were shown over 3 days to each patient involved. RESULTS: Despite displaying different messages, from asking everyone not to disturb to allowing only patients to interrupt, patients perceived the tabards as directed at themselves. A different risk of preventing patients from communicating urgent needs emerged. The first tabard I am administering medication-Please do not interrupt me was most at risk to inhibit the patient. A negative impact was reported by 44 patients (42.3%) for the first tabard, 50 (48.0%) for the second tabard, and 40 (38.4%) for the third. In the logistic regression, only 2 independent factors were significantly associated with the negative perception of the message reported on the tabards: a positive attitude to interrupting nurses and receiving medication during their time in hospital. However, the variance explained by these factors ranges from 9.4% to 18.3%. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the findings that emerged, the adoption of the tabards should be evaluated considering the benefits already documented, and the potential negative effects that emerged on patients, which may be influenced by cultural and linguistic aspects. Wearing the tabard with the message reported on the back, directed to the staff and not the patients, may have less negative effects on patients; in addition, using a different color not to alarm the patients may be useful. In addition, comparing the red tabard effects with other strategies introduced to deal with avoidable interruptions (e.g., "no interruption zone") to gain a comprehensive picture regarding benefits/harm is also important.