Clinicians' experiences of using a sterile non-woven surgical dressing on 394 patients.

Surgical wounds and periwound skin require protection to prevent complications, which affect clinical outcomes and patient quality of life. This study surveyed 45 health professionals treating 394 patients to elicit their experiences of the performance, quality, ease of application and usability of the sterile surgical wound dressing Curapor under routine conditions. Most (90%) wounds were acute, including postoperative wounds, lacerations, cuts and abrasions.

Ocular Sticks for Routine Ophthalmic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Monocentric Trial.

Introduction: Ocular sticks are used to absorb fluids during ophthalmic surgeries. Hence, this prospective study was conducted to evaluate the clinical performance, safety, and usability of Pro-optha Ocular Sticks in comparison to an alternative device under the conditions of routine ophthalmic surgeries.

Methods: Patients requiring eye surgery were randomly allocated into two equal groups, with the investigational device, Pro-ophta Ocular Sticks, as the intervention group (IG) and the alternative stick as the comparator group (CG).

Sedation during dynamic bronchoscopy for expiratory central airway collapse: Which is the ideal protocol?

Objective: To compare sedation protocols for dynamic bronchoscopy (DB) in the evaluation of expiratory central airway collapse (ECAC).

Materials And Methods: This observational study included adult patients (≥18 years) referred to Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, from March 2023 to July 2024, for suspected ECAC. Patients were grouped based on sedation protocols: propofol (Protocol 1), remimazolam (Protocol 2), and remimazolam/fentanyl (Protocol 3).

Indications, contraindications, side effects, general assessment, and outlook for the future: An International Compression Club survey.

Background: The effectiveness of compression therapy (CT) and the best compression modality choice are questioned in many clinical stages of chronic venous disease (CVD). This work aims to obtain information on indications, contraindications, and the best treatment option for CT in different clinical scenarios of CVD.

Method: An online survey was made among members of the International Compression Club, experts in CT.

Stress-Induced Sensitization of Insula Activation Predicts Alcohol Craving and Alcohol Use in Alcohol Use Disorder.

Background: Stress and alcohol cues trigger alcohol consumption and relapse in alcohol use disorder. However, the neurobiological processes underlying their interaction are not well understood. Thus, we conducted a randomized, controlled neuroimaging study to investigate the effects of psychosocial stress on neural cue reactivity and addictive behaviors.

Psychometric properties of the German Penn Alcohol Craving Scale.

Craving for alcohol is an important diagnostic criterion in alcohol use disorder (AUD) and an established predictor of future relapse. The 5-item Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) is one of the most widely used questionnaires to quantify craving and has been translated into different languages. It is assumed that the PACS constitutes one factor, although theoretical considerations suggest an additional second factor.

Prosocial behavior in the time of COVID-19: The effect of private and public role models.

In public good provision and other collective action problems, people are uncertain about how to balance self-interest and prosociality. Actions of others may inform this decision. We conduct an experiment to test the effect of watching private citizens and public officials acting in ways that either increase or decrease the spread of the coronavirus.

Preintervention imaging and intraoperative management care of the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patient.

With an estimated overall mortality of less than 1 percent per year, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is the most common genetic cardiomyopathy. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography is the standard of care for assessing patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy undergoing surgical septal myectomy, allowing surgical planning, intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring, and postprocedural assessment of the repair, including detection of immediate complications. At various phases during surgical septal myectomy, the changing hemodynamic conditions may lead to worsening or improvement in left ventricle outflow tract obstruction by change in preload or afterload, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, or sympathetic stimulation.

Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: Discrepancy Between Hemodynamic Measurements in the Cardiac Laboratory and Operating Room Is to Be Expected.

Objectives: It is not uncommon to observe some discrepancy in hemodynamic values characterizing left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction preoperatively and in the operating room in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Interpretation of this discrepancy can be challenging. To clarify the extent of the discrepancy, the authors compared hemodynamic variables in patients undergoing septal myectomy at the time of preoperative and intraoperative evaluation.

Path to Reopening Surgery in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Neurosurgery Experience.

Objective: To test the efficacy of an innovative coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preoperative triage protocol as a way to gradually reopen and ramp-up elective surgeries.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed clinical, radiographic, and laboratory data for all patients who underwent surgery within the neurosurgery department from March 26 through April 22, 2020. We collected data on demographic information, comorbidities, preoperative COVID-19 test results, whether COVID-19 respiratory or other symptoms were developed during hospitalization, hospital length of stay, discharge disposition, and postoperative COVID-19 test results.

Impact of Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis on Perioperative Outcomes Following Major Noncardiac Surgery.

Objective: To compare the incidence of major adverse cardiac events and death among severe aortic stenosis patients with and without aortic valve replacement (AVR) before noncardiac surgery.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 491 severe aortic stenosis patients undergoing non-emergency/non-urgent elevated-risk noncardiac surgery between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2013, including 203 patients (mean age, 74±10 years, 63.5% men) with previous AVR and 288 patients (mean age, 77±12 years, 55.

Use of a monofilament debridement pad in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Objective: Acne vulgaris (acne) presents with increased oil-sebum secretion and subsequent formation of comedones, papules, pustules and nodules. Skin cleansing is part of the daily routine to improve skin condition. A monofilament debridement pad has shown to be effective when used for wound debridement and skin cleansing in dermatological conditions.

Left ventricular ejection hemodynamics before and after relief of outflow tract obstruction in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and valvular aortic stenosis.

Objective: There has been debate on the importance and pathophysiologic effects of the dynamic subaortic pressure gradient in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The study was conducted to elucidate the hemodynamic abnormalities associated with the dynamic pressure gradient in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Eight patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and 7 patients with valvular aortic stenosis underwent a detailed hemodynamic study of pressure flow relationships before and after myectomy or aortic valve replacement during operation.

Effect of non-adhering dressings on promotion of fibroblast proliferation and wound healing in vitro.

Non-adhering dressings are commonly used during granulation, tissue formation, and re-epithelialization. Elucidating cytotoxic effects and influence on proliferation/migration capacity of cells like fibroblasts is of interest. Dressings' effects were investigated by comprehensive in vitro approach: (1) MTT assay measuring cell viability after direct contact, (2) ATP assay determining effects on cell proliferation, and (3) scratch wound assay featuring an in vitro wound healing model.

Hemostatic wound dressings: Predicting their effects by in vitro tests.

Background: Application of controlled in vitro techniques can be used as a screening tool for the development of new hemostatic agents allowing quantitative assessment of overall hemostatic potential.

Materials And Methods: Several tests were selected to evaluate the efficacy of cotton gauze, collagen, and oxidized regenerated cellulose for enhancing blood clotting, coagulation, and platelet activation.

Results: Visual inspection of dressings after blood contact proved the formation of blood clots.

Accuracy of Jet Direction on Doppler Echocardiography in Identifying the Etiology of Mitral Regurgitation in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) mediated by systolic anterior motion (SAM) in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is traditionally characterized by a posteriorly directed jet on Doppler echocardiography. Many believe that MR in the absence of a posteriorly directed jet signals the presence of intrinsic mitral valve (MV) disease.

Methods: A total of 709 adult patients with obstructive HCM who underwent septal myectomy were evaluated; 330 of these patients had >2 + MR preoperatively and constituted the study group.

Improving outcome of valve replacement for carcinoid heart disease.

Objective: Carcinoid heart disease is characterized by tricuspid valve regurgitation and varying degrees of pulmonary valve regurgitation or stenosis. Valve replacement procedures may be complicated by systemic effects of carcinoid syndrome, as well as hepatic dysfunction and right heart failure. This study was performed to identify factors that might be associated with improving early mortality rates and late outcomes.

Inflammatory potential of cotton-based surgically invasive devices: Implications for cardiac surgery.

Cotton-based surgical invasive devices with their desired hemostyptic properties have been used for decades in the surgical field. However, in cardiac surgery using the heart-lung machine with direct retransfusion of suction blood, activated blood may re-enter the circulation without filtration and may trigger a cascade reaction leading to systemic inflammation and thrombosis. We therefore set out to evaluate the inflammatory potential of untreated and pyrogen-impregnated cotton-based surgical invasive medical devices.

A purpose-designed monofilament-fibre pad for debridement of hard-to-reach wounds: experience in clinical practice.

Objective: Effective and comfortable debridement is an important part of managing complex wounds. This user test evaluated a monofilament-fibre pad (with handle) (Debrisoft Lolly, Lohmann & Rauscher GmbH & Co. KG) in the debridement of various hard-to-reach wounds.

Handling properties of a superabsorbent dressing in the management of patients with moderate-to-very high exuding wounds.

Objective: Exudate control is an important aspect of wound management in both acute and chronic wounds. Exudate can be an indicator of the wound bed condition, specifically inflammation and infection. This study aimed to evaluate the performance, in terms of usability, handling properties, exudate management, user satisfaction and patient comfort, in daily clinical practice, of a superabsorbent dressing, Vliwasorb Pro (Lohmann & Rauscher), suitable for the management of moderate-to-very high exudate levels.

Acute aortitis of the ascending aorta.

We report a rare presentation of focal non-aneurysmal aortitis with mural thrombus of the ascending aorta. This was successfully treated with surgical resection and intravenous antibiotics. Pathology of the surgical specimen suggests that this was likely infectious aortitis, but the source of infection has not been identified.

In vitro Evaluation of the Cleansing Effect of a Monofilament Fiber Debridement Pad Compared to Gauze Swabs.

Background: Removal of nonvital tissue is an accepted method to eradicate biofilms and to stimulate wound healing. Debridement using a monofilament polyester fiber pad has clinically been shown to be effective as well as pain and trauma free.

Methods: For in vitro determination of the cleansing capacity of this product compared to gauze swabs, a wound debridement model was used with glass plates coated with a bovine serum albumin solution, stained with hematoxylin.