Optimizing Closed Incision Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Emergency Laparotomy
Surgical Site InfectionSurgical Wound6 moreThe purpose of this study is to find differences in rates of surgical site infections following emergency laparotomy with the use of two different incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT)devices.
fMRI and IVCM Cornea Microscopy of CXL in Keratoconus
PainPostoperative9 moreEvaluation of neuroplasticity of pain pathways and corneal afferent nerve regeneration following corneal crosslinking (CXL) in keratoconus patients using fMRI and corneal In Vivo Confocal Microscopy (IVCM).
Aesthetic Outcome of Tie-over Bolster Application in Surgical Wounds
ScarringWhen patients have surgery on the head and face, stitches are the standard way to close the wound. Wounds always result in a scar, but doctors are always looking for ways to reduce scarring. Several studies have been done to test ways to close wounds that reduce scarring. One idea is to reduce the tension around the cut. One way to reduce tension is to stitch a small piece of a special gauze over the top of the regular stitches. This procedure is called a "tie-over bolster dressing." As the name implies, this extra dressing "bolsters" the wound closure so that the skin on each side of the cut stays in place. The bolster dressing procedure has been used in the past in special cases, such as when skin grafts are necessary. The bolster dressing helps the skin graft heal by making sure the graft stays exactly in place. Keeping the wound stable with a bolster dressing also reduces bleeding under the wound. For non-grafted wounds, the bolster dressing procedure has not normally been used, and has not been well-studied. In this study the whole wound will be stitched normally and then the bolster dressing will be applied over half of the wound. This will allow us to see if the side with the bolster dressing heals with less scarring.
Reconstruction Flaps for Nasal Surgical Wounds RCT
Surgical WoundThe purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a significant difference in aesthetic and functional outcomes between nasalis sling flaps and lobed flaps of nasal tip wounds requiring reconstruction. This is a randomized clinical trial. Approximately 32 participants who are undergoing nasal tip wound reconstruction surgery will be invited to participate and randomized to receive either the nasalis sling repair or the lobed flap repair. Patients will be asked to complete a few questionnaires including a VAS scale, the Surgical Outcomes scale, the NOSE instrument, and the Nasal Appearance and Function Evaluation Questionnaire (NAFEQ). This study was a pilot study designed to determine the feasibility of these procedures.
Early Versus Delayed Bathing of Orthopaedic Surgical Wounds
Surgical WoundPost Operative Wound InfectionThis is a single center randomized control trial assessing the effect of early versus delayed bathing on orthopaedic surgical wounds in patients undergoing surgical treatment of fractures. Patients will be recruited by screening all patients undergoing surgical treatment for fractures at our institution. Patients who provide written consent will be randomized to one of two treatment arms after confirming eligibility criteria. Group A will be advised to begin early normal bathing (non-submerged showering) with uncovered surgical wounds. Group B will be advised to follow traditional delayed bathing with covered wounds.
Implementation and Evaluation of CBPM Technology
Pressure InjurySurgical WoundBackground & Rationale: Pressure injuries are costly to treat and are prevalent in about 26% of patients across all healthcare settings in Canada. Wounds Canada has developed recommendations for prevention and management to tackle this problem that include pressure injury risk assessment, pressure relief surfaces, nutrition, wound monitoring, and wound care. Continuous bedside pressure mapping (CBPM) technology can assist with effective repositioning of patients to prevent pressure injuries. The ForeSite Intelligent Surface system (ForeSite IS) is a CBPM technology that uses machine learning and artificial intelligent software for more intuitive repositioning of patients. Various studies have shown the technology to be effective in reducing pressure injuries and providing adequate pressure redistribution for patients with a PI flap reconstruction. Furthermore, some studies have indicated the device's cost savings, but there are no known publications on cost-effectiveness. Despite the few studies evaluating CBPM technology, few have implemented it in nursing care. Particularly in Canada, there are no guidelines for incorporating CBPM technology into pressure injury prevention care plans or post-surgical recovery in any healthcare setting. Research Question and Objectives: In this study we will be piloting the ForeSite IS system in long-term care, acute care, plastic surgery and trauma patients to further identify the benefits of utilizing the device and evaluate its implementation. The primary objectives are: To determine if the ForeSite IS system can be incorporated in improving quality of care for at risk patients by providing continuous skin exposure monitoring To determine if the ForeSite IS system can provide evidence of skin breakdown to reduce the incidence and risk of PIs To determine if the ForeSite IS system can assist with offloading of pressure to improve healing of post-surgical patients The secondary objectives are: To determine if the device improves nursing workflow and productivity To determine the cost-effectiveness of using the ForeSite IS system Methods: The ForeSite IS system will be piloted in long-term care and acute care for six months. The researchers will identify patients with nursing staff and get permission to approach them. Once permitted, they will explain the study and obtain written consent from patients who agree to participate. Nursing staff will be responsible for setting up and removing the device from the patient's bed. For the first 48 hours of monitoring with the device, no visual feedback (blinded period) will be provided to the nursing staff to collect interface pressure and patient repositioning data on current care practices. Nursing staff will then have another 48 hours to use the visual feedback from the device and acclimatize to the device (acclimatization period). Afterwards, nursing staff will use the visual feedback for the remainder of the patient's two to three weeks of monitoring (active period), depending on the clinical setting. Nurses will continue with routine skin assessments throughout the entire monitoring with additional skin assessments if prompted by the visual feedback during the active period. Interface pressure and patient repositioning in the first 48-hour blinded period will be compared to the monitoring period after the 48-hour acclimatization period. After implementation of the pilot, clinical outcomes will be compared to clinical outcomes of a six-month period prior to the pilot. Pre-implementation focus groups/interviews will be conducted with nursing staff to help each clinical setting develop a protocol for using the ForeSite IS system and develop strategies for implementation. Post-implementation focus groups/interviews will be conducted one to two months after implementation of the system to understand the system's barriers, facilitators, and sustainability aspects.
Liposomal Bupivacaine Pharmacokinetic Study After Median Sternotomy Incision Infiltration in a Pediatric...
Cardiac ConditionsThe purpose of the study is to determine the plasma concentration of bupivacaine at various time points after Exparel (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension, Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Parsippany, NJ) is injected subcutaneously for median sternotomy incisions in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.
Evaluation of a Novel Post-Surgical Dressing
Post Surgical WoundThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Closed-Incision SNaP Device.
Repair of Challenging Abdominal Wall Defects: Strattice(TM) TM in Abdominal Wall Repair (StAR)
HerniaSurgical Wound DehiscenceThe objective of this study is to compare the incidence of post-repair wound related complications, including hernia occurrence/recurrence, between challenging abdominal wall defects repaired with Strattice(TM) Reconstructive Tissue Matrix (TM) and those managed by standard repair. It is hypothesized that the use of Strattice(TM) TM to reinforce the repair will reduce the incidence of these post-repair complications.
Current Surgical Practices and Surgical Site Infection at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital...
Surgical Wound InfectionInfected Wound4 moreThis study evaluates the current surgical practices at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in comparison to the World Health Organization's Surgical Unit Based Safety Programme guidelines and aims to determine how deviations from those guidelines are associated with varying rates of surgical site infection incidence in this population. The results of this study will help elucidate risk factors for surgical site infection and prioritize future interventions to decrease the rate of surgical site infection at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, as well as other low and middle-income hospitals. The data collected regarding surgical site infection rates will also prove beneficial in measuring outcomes of any interventions that are developed as a result of this study.