Effect of 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate-Impregnated Cloth on Surgical Site Infections in Vascular Surgery.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant burden to patients and health care systems. This retrospective study evaluates the observed rates of SSI after our institution implemented chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated (CHG) cloth as a preoperative antiseptic preparation in elective vascular surgery.

Methods: Between March 2011 and January 2012, we reviewed 250 patients who underwent elective vascular surgery who used the CHG cloth preoperatively.

Comparing Nonrandomized Observational Studies With Randomized Controlled Trials in Cervical Disc Arthroplasty: A Meta-analysis.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare the treatment effects of observational studies versus randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in cervical disc arthroplasty.

Summary Of Background Data: RCTs can be logistically challenging and sometimes insufficiently generalizable; well-designed observational studies have been suggested as an alternative.

Site-selective spectroscopy of the solid-state defect chemistry in erbium-doped barium titanate.

Erbium-doped barium titanate crystals were studied by laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. Thirteen spectroscopically distinct erbium ion sites were found. The relative concentrations of the different sites changed as a function of the crystal and its preparation and treatment.

Characterization of prostate cancer missed by sextant biopsy.

There is a trend to increase the number of prostate biopsies taken to increase the detection rate of prostate cancer. We examined radical prostatectomy specimens and correlated the findings to those of preoperative sextant biopsy in an effort to identify the characteristics of tumors that went undetected by our biopsy regimen. Seventy-one patients diagnosed with prostate cancer based on sextant biopsy who underwent radical prostatectomy at our institution from June 1995 to November 2001 had prostatectomy specimens and biopsy slides reviewed.

Use of gelatin matrix thrombin tissue sealant as an effective hemostatic agent during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

Purpose: We describe a technique for achieving effective hemostasis during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using gelatin matrix thrombin tissue sealant.

Materials And Methods: Between June 2002 and April 2003, 6 patients underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using the 2-component tissue sealant. Median patient age was 59 years (range 28 to 71) and followup time ranged from 1 to 10 months (median 4.