Posts from Month: August 2015

Immediate reconstruction after a mastectomy may be convenient, but is it the healthiest choice for a patient? Surgical site infections are common after breast operations. The National HealthCare Safety Network estimates up 2 percent of all these surgeries lead to a healthcare-associated infection. One study shows the risk increases with immediate breast reconstruction. Study Shows…

One in three patients has a chance of developing a surgical site infection, or SSI, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. They are the second most common healthcare-associated infection reported, and especially high with colorectal surgeries. While most of these infections are treatable, they introduce added risk to the patient and require additional, costly treatment. Forward-thinking…

Do patients facing colon surgery have something to worry about? A 2013 report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that colon surgery patients may be at risk for a healthcare-associated infection. This report was part of the campaign to raise awareness regarding healthcare-associated infections and the need for better controls. The…

A long-term central venous catheter is an essential tool for critical pediatric care but introduces a possible complication into the treatment plan. Central line-associated bloodstream infections, CLABSI, occur in about 2 out of every 1,000 catheter-days in children with sickle cell anemia and more frequently in infants with intestinal insufficiency – two common problems that…

What is one of the most challenging aspects of a successful endotracheal intubation? Visualization is always a critical factor. A recent study conducted by an anesthesiology team at the Medical College of Wisconsin investigated the effect head position has on visualization and found one method improved the view. The Benefit of the Sniffing Position Head…