Antibiotic use among older adults on an acute care general surgery service.

Background: Antibiotics play an important role in the treatment of many surgical diseases that affect older adults, and the potential for inappropriate use of these drugs is high. Our objective was to describe antibiotic use among older adults admitted to an acute care surgery service at a tertiary care teaching hospital.

Methods: Detailed data regarding diagnosis, comorbidities, surgery and antibiotic use were retrospectively collected for patients 70 years and older admitted to an acute care surgery service.

The impact of adverse events on health care costs for older adults undergoing nonelective abdominal surgery.

Background: Postoperative complications have been identified as an important and potentially preventable cause of increased hospital costs. While older adults are at increased risk of experiencing complications and other adverse events, very little research has specifically examined how these events impact inpatient costs. We sought to examine the association between postoperative complications, hospital mortality and loss of independence and direct inpatient health care costs in patients 70 years or older who underwent nonelective abdominal surgery.

The Impact of Nonelective Abdominal Surgery on the Residential Status of Older Adult Patients.

Objective: To describe the change in residential status at discharge and 6 months after hospitalization among older adults who have undergone nonelective abdominal surgery and to identify risk factors associated with discharge to institution.

Background: Surgery in older adults may lead to a loss of independence that prevents them from returning to their preadmission residential status. Understanding the impact of surgery on residential status and risk factors for institutionalization is important for patient counseling, discharge planning, and resource allocation.

Management and outcomes of small bowel obstruction in older adult patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The purpose of this research was to examine the morbidity, mortality and rate of recurrent bowel obstruction associated with the treatment of small bowel obstruction (SBO) in older adults.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled all patients 70 years or older with an SBO who were admitted to a tertiary care teaching centre between Jul. 1, 2011, and Sept.

Robotic versus laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in obese adults ages 18 to 65 years: a systematic review and economic analysis.

Background: In the United States, 37.5 % of adults (78 million) are obese. The direct medical costs of treating obesity-related disease account for more than 6 % of the national health expenditure.

Effect of obesity and decompressive laparotomy on mortality in acute pancreatitis requiring intensive care unit admission.

Background: Controversy still exists on the effect that obesity has on the morbidity and mortality in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). The primary purpose of this study was to compare the mortality rate of obese versus nonobese patients admitted to the ICU for SAP. Secondary goals were to assess the potential risk factors for abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) and to investigate the performance of validated scoring systems to predict ACS and in-hospital mortality.

Practices and attitudes of surgeons toward the prevention of surgical site infections: a provincial survey in Alberta, Canada.

We surveyed 589 surgeons in Alberta, Canada, about the prevention of surgical site infections and compared their practices to the recommendations of evidence-based guidelines. Of the 247 (42%) who responded, most (156 [63%]) were not in compliance with guideline recommendations for preoperative bathing, hair removal, antimicrobial prophylaxis, or intraoperative skin preparation (although 91 [37%] state they are following guidelines).