The Role of HbA1c as a Positive Perioperative Predictor of Surgical Site and Other Postoperative Infections: An Explorative Analysis in Patients Undergoing Minor to Major Surgery.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) inhere impaired peripheral insulin action leading to higher perioperative morbidity and mortality rates, with hospital-acquired infections being one important complication. This post hoc, observational study aimed to analyze the impact of surgical and metabolic stress as defined by the surrogate marker hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), in relation to self-reported DM2, on perioperative infection rates in a subcohort of the Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Trial population.

Methods: All patients of the SSI study were screened for HbA1c levels measured perioperatively for elective or emergency surgery and classified according to the American Diabetes Association HbA1c cutoff values.

Surgical Outcomes After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Followed by Curative Surgery in Patients With Esophageal Cancer: An Intergroup Phase III Trial of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK 75/08).

Objective: To assess the impact of surgical technique in regard to morbidity and mortality after neoadjuvant treatment for esophageal cancer.

Background: The SAKK trial 75/08 was a multicenter phase III trial (NCT01107639) comparing induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation and surgery in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Methods: Patients in the control arm received induction chemotherapy with cisplatin and docetaxel, followed by concomitant chemoradiation therapy with cisplatin, docetaxel, and 45Gy.

Teaching in the operating room: A risk for surgical site infections?

Background/aim: To investigate whether teaching procedures and surgical experience are associated with surgical site infection (SSI) rates.

Methods: This prospective cohort study of patients undergoing general, orthopedic trauma and vascular surgery procedures was done between 2012 and 2015 at two tertiary care hospitals in Switzerland/Europe.

Results: Out of a total of 4560 patients/surgeries, 1403 (30.

The impact of surgical site infections on hospital contribution margin-a European prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are common surgical complications that lead to increased costs. Depending on payer type, however, they do not necessarily translate into deficits for every hospital.

Objective: We investigated how surgical site infections (SSIs) influence the contribution margin in 2 reimbursement systems based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs).

Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Redosing Reduces Surgical Site Infection Risk in Prolonged Duration Surgery Irrespective of Its Timing.

Background: Long-duration surgery requires repeated administration of antimicrobial prophylaxis (amp). Amp "redosing" reduces incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) but is frequently omitted. Clinical relevance of redosing timing needs to be investigated.

Quality of Life After Total Mesorectal Excision and Rectal Replacement: Comparing Side-to-End, Colon J-Pouch and Straight Colorectal Reconstruction in a Randomized, Phase III Trial (SAKK 40/04).

Background: Functional outcomes of different reconstruction techniques have an impact on patients' quality of life (QoL), but information on long-term QoL is lacking. We compared QoL among three reconstruction techniques after total mesorectal excision (TME).

Methods: Quality of life was assessed within a randomized, multicenter trial comparing rectal surgery using side-to-end anastomosis (SEA), colon J-pouch (CJP), and straight colorectal anastomosis (SCA) by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal scale (FACT-C) before randomization and every 6 months up to 2 years post-TME.

Clinical Outcome After Rectal Replacement With Side-to-End, Colon-J-Pouch, or Straight Colorectal Anastomosis Following Total Mesorectal Excision: A Swiss Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Trial (SAKK 40/04).

Objective: To compare, in a phase 3, prospective, randomized, multi-center clinical trial functional outcome of reconstruction procedures following total mesorectal excision (TME).

Summary Background Data: Intestinal continuity reconstruction following TME is accompanied by postoperative defecation dysfunctions known as "anterior resection syndrome." Commonly used reconstruction techniques are straight colorectal anastomosis (SCA), colon J -pouch (CJP), and side-to-end anastomosis (SEA).

Associations of Hospital Length of Stay with Surgical Site Infections.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. Postoperative and total hospital length of stay (LOS) are known to be prolonged by the occurrence of SSI. Preoperative LOS may increase the risk of SSI.

The association of surgical drains with surgical site infections - A prospective observational study.

Background: Surgical drains are widely used despite limited evidence in their favor. This study describes the associations between drains and surgical site infections (SSI).

Methods: This prospective observational double center study was performed in Switzerland between February 2013 and August 2015.

Linear Mixed Effects Analysis Reveals the Significant Impact of Preoperative Diet Success on Postoperative Weight Loss in Gastric Bypass Surgery.

Background: Several studies investigated the impact of preoperative weight loss on bariatric surgery outcome. However, they mostly focus on small groups of patients or lack updated statistical support.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty-nine consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic, proximal Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at our institution between September 2009 and November 2015 were studied.

Implementation of an IT-guided checklist to improve the quality of medication history records at hospital admission.

Background Medication discrepancies often occur at transition of care such as hospital admission and discharge. Obtaining a complete and accurate medication history on admission is essential as further treatment is based on it. Objective The goal of this study was to reduce the proportion of patients with at least one medication discrepancy in the medication history at admission by implementing an IT-guided checklist.

The role of preoperative blood parameters to predict the risk of surgical site infection.

Background: Routine preoperative blood work is not recommended but selected biochemical markers may predict the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). This study examines the association between preoperative biochemical markers and the risk of SSI.

Methods: This observational cohort study, nested in a randomized controlled trial, was conducted at two tertiary referral centers in Switzerland.

Recurrence Patterns and Long-term Results After Induction Chemotherapy, Chemoradiotherapy, and Curative Surgery in Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer.

Objective: The long-term follow up data of 2 prospective phase II trials is reported (NCT00072033, NCT00445861), which investigated neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery in patients with esophageal carcinoma. Postoperative complications as well as prognostic factors and patterns of relapse during long-term observation are shown.

Summary Of Background Data: Long-term follow-up is often missing in the complex setting of multimodal treatments of esophageal carcinoma; this leads to rather undifferentiated follow-up guidelines for this tumor entity.

Timing of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis: a phase 3 randomised controlled trial.

Background: Based on observational studies, administration of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI) is recommended within 60 min before incision. However, the precise optimum timing is unknown. This trial compared early versus late administration of SAP before surgery.

Residents' performance in open versus laparoscopic bench-model cholecystectomy in a hands-on surgical course.

Introduction: Laparoscopy has become the gold standard for many abdominal procedures. Among young surgeons, experience in laparoscopic surgery increasingly outweighs experience in open surgery. This study was conducted to compare residents' performance in laparoscopic versus open bench-model task.

Evaluating the optimal timing of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Surgical site infections are the most common hospital-acquired infections among surgical patients. The administration of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis reduces the risk of surgical site infections . The optimal timing of this procedure is still a matter of debate.

Prevention and control of surgical site infections: review of the Basel Cohort Study.

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSI) are the most common hospital-acquired infections among surgical patients, with significant impact on patient morbidity and health care costs. The Basel SSI Cohort Study was performed to evaluate risk factors and validate current preventive measures for SSI. The objective of the present article was to review the main results of this study and its implications for clinical practice and future research.

Spectrum of pathogens in surgical site infections at a Swiss university hospital.

Background: The type of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is determined by the spectrum and antimicrobial resistance of pathogens causing surgical site infections (SSI). The aim of this study was to define the microbiological features of SSI in general surgery patients at Basel University Hospital in order to validate our current strategy of single-shot SAP with 1.5 g cefuroxime (plus 500 mg metronidazole in colorectal surgery).

[Fecal incontinence].

Fecal incontinence is underestimated in its prevalence. Therapeutic approaches vary; in mild-to-moderate cases, dietary changes and biofeedback sessions accompanied by specific medications can achieve a salutary effect. In cases of severe fecal incontinence, a conservative approach is ineffective and surgical intervention is indicated.

Intranodal immunization with a vaccinia virus encoding multiple antigenic epitopes and costimulatory molecules in metastatic melanoma.

Recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) encoding tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and adhesion or costimulatory molecules may represent important immunogenic reagents for cancer immunotherapy. Recently, intranodal (IN) antigen administration was suggested to be more immunogenic than intradermal (ID) vaccination. However, IN rVV administration has not been attempted so far.

Surgical glove perforation and the risk of surgical site infection.

Hypothesis: Clinically apparent surgical glove perforation increases the risk of surgical site infection (SSI).

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: University Hospital Basel, with an average of 28,000 surgical interventions per year.

The association of preoperative anemia and perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion with the risk of surgical site infection.

Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) and preoperative anemia as risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI).

Study Design And Methods: A prospective, observational cohort of 5873 consecutive general surgical procedures at Basel University Hospital was analyzed to determine the relationship between perioperative ABT and preoperative anemia and the incidence of SSI. ABT was defined as transfusion of leukoreduced red blood cells during surgery and anemia as hemoglobin concentration of less than 120 g/L before surgery.

Impact of surgical training on incidence of surgical site infection.

Background: Despite availability of other training forms, tutorial assistance cannot be entirely replaced in surgical education. Concerns exist that tutorial assistance may lead to an increased rate of surgical site infection (SSI). The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the risk of SSI is higher after surgery with tutorial assistance than after surgery performed autonomously by a fully trained surgeon.