Clinical prediction models and risk tools for early detection of patients at risk of surgical site infection and surgical wound dehiscence: a scoping review.

Objective: Despite advances in surgical techniques, intraoperative practice and a plethora of advanced wound therapies, surgical wound complications (SWCs), such as surgical site infection (SSI) and surgical wound dehiscence (SWD), continue to pose a considerable burden to the patient and healthcare setting. Predicting those patients at risk of a SWC may give patients and healthcare providers the opportunity to implement a tailored prevention plan or potentially ameliorate known risk factors to improve patient postoperative outcomes.

Method: A scoping review of the literature for studies which reported predictive power and internal/external validity of risk tools for clinical use in predicting patients at risk of SWCs after surgery was conducted.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Acute Hypoxaemic Respiratory Failure in Wales: The PANDORA-WALES Study.

Background: We aimed to identify the prevalence of acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and its associated mortality. The secondary aim was to describe ventilatory management as well as the use of rescue therapies.

Methods: Multi-centre prospective study in nine hospitals in Wales, UK, over 2-month periods.

Correcting thrombin generation ex vivo using different haemostatic agents following cardiac surgery requiring the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Recently, lower thrombin generation has been associated with excess bleeding post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Therefore, treatment to correct thrombin generation is a potentially important aspect of management of bleeding in this group of patients. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa), prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) inhibition on thrombin generation when added ex vivo to the plasma of patients who had undergone cardiac surgery requiring CPB.

Treating the boxer's fracture in Wales: a postal survey.

Introduction: There is no standardised treatment for fifth metacarpal neck fractures. Treatment of this common fracture can vary from immediate mobilisation to immobilisation in a plaster cast for 3 weeks. There is no literature identifying current practice amongst surgeons.

Retraction transaminitis: an inevitable but benign complication of laparoscopic fundoplication.

Background: Transient transaminitis has been identified following laparoscopic abdominal surgery. However, the importance of posture, duration of surgery, and mechanical retraction in its etiology remain unclear.

Methods: Liver function was assessed preoperatively then at 8, 24, 48 and 72 h following laparoscopic surgery including the following procedures: Nissen fundoplication (LN: n = 10); cholecystectomy (LC: n = 10); inguinal herniorrhaphy (LH: n = 10); and gastrectomy (LG: n = 5).