Articles
Chlorhexidine Gluconate As An Antiseptic Agent
February 17, 2010 6:04 am | CommentsResearchers explore the effect not adhering to the product guidelines has on the efficacy of CHG as a surgical antisepsis in patient prep. February 17, 2010 Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is often diluted prior to its use in surgical antisepsis and is applied in a one-scrub application. The manufacturer of this solution, however, does not advocate dilution of the product and recommends a two-scrub application.
Surgical Instrument Re-Use
February 16, 2010 6:05 am | Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp. | CommentsHospitals today are looking for ways to “go green” in their processes, especially in the OR. Reusing surgical instruments and equipment is one way the OR can be more eco-friendly in its practices, but it’s important how to do so properly. Here, Matt Rudolph, Vice President of Operations and Chief Customer Advocate for Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp.
Apparently … Homey Does Play That Game!
February 16, 2010 6:03 am | CommentsBy Zoe Kiren Deol, MD, FACS As I pack for my much-anticipated trip to Dubai (which I affectionately refer to as the “Lost Vegas” of the Middle East), and Jordan, I am making a conscious effort to recite my meditation mantra over and over in my head in an attempt to remain calm.
Surgical Brainstorm: Patient Mobility
February 12, 2010 9:02 am | by Michael Haeusler, Surgical Workplaces, Director of Marketing, MAQUET | MAQUET Medical Systems USA | CommentsConsidering purchasing equipment to mobilize patients in and out of the OR? Surgical patient mobility is an important investment decision your hospital must make. Here, Michael Haeusler of MAQUET discusses what to take into account when purchasing patient mobility equipment. February 15, 2010 1.
Practicing On Patients, Real And Otherwise
February 12, 2010 8:58 am | by Pauline W. Chen, MD | CommentsNear the end of my surgical training, I spent three months as chief resident of a hospital trauma team. Two other doctors-in-training and I formed the first-line emergency room response, resuscitating patients who had been mangled, burned or otherwise injured. It was my first experience as a leader, but each of us was already fairly proficient and we all got along.
Purchasing Tips: Mobile Surgical Carts
February 12, 2010 6:25 am | by Karen Almdale, Product Coordinator for Armstrong Medical Industries | Armstrong Medical Industries | CommentsStorage space, locking options and lightweight /easy maneuverability are three very important topics to consider when purchasing mobile surgical carts. 1. The storage options should be versatile. Available space must accommodate the needs of each specialty.
Outside The Comfort Zone
February 12, 2010 6:22 am | by Bruce Campbell, MD | CommentsA life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing. -GB Shaw After over twenty years working as a head and neck cancer surgeon, much of what I do has become routine. Even the operations that once kept me awake at night or the procedures that required a trip to the library are just part of a day’s work.
Purchasing Surgical Mobility Equipment
February 9, 2010 12:25 pm | HoverTech International | CommentsConsidering purchasing new equipment for your OR related to surgical mobility? Patient transport and transfer products, as well as mobile surgical equipment such as carts, need to be safe and efficient for your surgical staff and patients. So, we asked manufacturers of surgical mobility equipment: what should OR staff members consider when purchasing this equipment? Here, Katie Kramer, Marketing Communication Manager at HoverTech International offers her advice related to surgical patient transfer equipment.
When The Patient Can’t Afford The Care
February 8, 2010 1:24 pm | by Pauline W. Chen, MD | CommentsDuring my training, I took care of a man in his 50s with a devastating surgical complication: His abdominal incision had split open a week after an emergency operation. Even after we had taken him back to the operating room, sewn the deepest layer of his abdominal wall closed and treated the infection that had caused his wound to fall apart in the first place, he still had a three-inch long crevice along the middle of his belly.
Exclusive: Infection Prevention
February 8, 2010 5:02 am | by Robert Edelstein, president, Millennium Surgical Corp. | Millenium Surgical Corp. | CommentsHow to achieve compliance to increasingly robust standards for improved patient safety, risk reduction and staff safety. February 8, 2010 The trend over the last five years has been a continued, dedicated effort to establishing standards and steps for improving patient safety.
Do You And Your Patient Speak The Same Language?
February 8, 2010 5:02 am | CommentsBy Zoe Kiren Deol, MD, FACS Most every physician I know has hilarious stories of doctor-patient encounters where the patient, when asked his or her medical history, had trouble conveying the name of a medication or procedure that they had taken or had undergone. I distinctly remember my first such encounter with medical translation.
Risk Factors For Severe Adverse Outcomes In VHR
February 2, 2010 6:56 am | CommentsAccording to an abstract in the September 2009 issue of the supplement to the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, ventral hernia repair (VHR) has been identified as one of 10 general surgery procedures responsible for over half of complications and extended hospital stays. The researchers included Brook V Nelson MD, Fengming Tang MS, Philip Jones MS, John Spertus MD, MPH and Kimberly Brown MD, of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, St.
The Foreign Body That Didn’t Exist
February 2, 2010 6:55 am | by GruntDoc | CommentsExcept, of course, that it did… A patient comes in with the entirely understandable complaint of “I have a fishbone lodged in my throat”. Came straight from dinner to the ED. When I ask a stupid question I’m given a stupid answer: “It feels like…a fishbone…”.
Where East Meets West In Modern Medicine
February 1, 2010 5:20 am | CommentsBy Zoe Kiren Deol, MD, FACS When my good friend, Amy, called to tell me that her new house in the Chicago suburbs had been broken into, I didn’t realize that was only half of the problem. The other half was that she had also injured her neck and was losing sensation and strength in her right hand.
Titan Looks To Take The Next Step In Robotic Surgery
February 1, 2010 5:19 am | by Interview by Jeff Reinke, editorial director | CommentsReiza Rayman, MD is the president of Tital Medical and holds a destinctive PhD in robotic surgery.. Reiza Rayman MD, is the president of Titan Medical and also holds a distinctive PhD in robotic surgery. This rare combination of knowledge and perspective has helped spearhead what may be the first significant competitor to Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci® surgical system.
