No description available.

The CDC estimates that one in 20 patients admitted to the hospital is a carrier of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Staphylococci are commonly found on the skin and mucous membranes within the anterior nares, which provides the principle reservoir for this organism. These organisms can go on to cause surgical site infections in hospitalized patients. Mupirocin is an effective topical medication used to eliminate nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Based on Level A evidence, the 2007 Society of Thoracic Surgeons has made a Class I recommendation for the use of mupirocin for all patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the absence of documentation of a negative culture for staphylococcal colonization. The purpose of this before-and-after study is to examine the rates of surgical site infections (SSI) for cardiac surgery patients who came through the pre-admission testing unit prior to same-day admission (SDA) for surgery before and after providing 2% mupirocin nasal ointment. Specific aims: 1. To examine the relationship between providing mupirocin to the SDA cardiac surgery patient and the prevalence of SSI. 2. To examine the cost-effectiveness of providing mupirocin to the SDA cardiac surgery patient and SSI. 3. To examine the adherence of SDA preoperative cardiac surgery patients and the use of mupirocin preoperatively, if the medication is provided at no cost to the patient. Retrospective chart reviews were completed on 330 patients: 175 patients in the pre-provision of mupirocin and 150 in the mupirocin provided group. Chi Square and students' t-tests were used to analyze the data. There were five SSIs in the pre-provision of mupirocin group and no SSIs in the mupirocin provided group. This was a significantly statistical difference between the groups (X2 = 4.497, p > 0.5) Continued provision of 2% nasal mupirocin to prevent SSI in the cardiac surgery patients is recommended.

No description available.

This study determined whether pre-operative exercise and education (PREHAB) improves the frailty status and physical activity behaviour of older adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery, more than standard care (StanC). Using a subset of patients from a multi-centre trial (NCT02219815), twenty-six patients over the age of sixty were randomized to receive StanC (n=12) or PREHAB (n=14). Blinded research assistants collected data at baseline prior to randomization and one week pre-operatively. Changes in frailty were assessed using a 30-item functional frailty index (FFI); whereas, changes in physical activity behaviour were assessed using accelerometers. Baseline data was not different between groups. Frailty status improved by 17%, 5% and 35% amongst StanC, PREHAB “non-completers” and PREHAB “completers”, respectively. No changes in moderate to vigorous physical activity were found pre-operatively. These data suggest that the PREHAB intervention is feasible to implement and may result in improved frailty status amongst frail older adults awaiting elective cardiac surgery. / October 2016

Thesis advisor: Dorothy A. Jones / The purpose of this qualitative research study was to answer the following questions: What is the life pattern manifested by individuals caring for spouses who have had coronary artery bypass surgery? What are the thematic expressions of life patterns among individuals caring for spouses who have had coronary artery bypass surgery? The theoretical framework guiding this study was Margaret Newman’s Health as Expanding Consciousness. The research method created by Newman facilitated the understanding of the individual participant’s experience, pattern identification, similarities in pattern across participants and the potential for expansion of consciousness. The study sample included ten women and two men whose spouses were recovering at home following cardiac surgery. These twelve spousal caregivers shared their life stories and their spousal caregiving experience in the first two weeks at home following their spouses discharge from the hospital. There were various levels of potential for expansion of consciousness for these spousal caregivers. Looking across participants six themes emerged from the data. First, disruption in the spousal caregivers’ roles and responsibilities impacts the relationship between the spousal caregivers and their spouses and shifts life patterns. Second, spousal caregivers face coping challenges with changes in lifestyle and response to illness. Third, Spousal caregivers experience vigilance in an effort to ease the uncertainty of the recovery process. Fourth, knowledge helps spousal caregivers gain a sense control in the face of uncertainty. Fifth, mutuality within the partnership of nurse and the spousal caregiver relationship impacts the potential for transformation. Sixth, Spousal caregivers’ awareness of their life pattern gives meaning and offers the caregivers a new perception on life they have left to live. Findings from this study have important implications for nursing theory, practice, research, education and health care policy. The study adds empirical support to Newman’s Theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness and provides a new way to examine spousal caregiving and the nurse-client relationship. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2008. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

A síndrome da fragilidade, definida como a redução da reserva energética e da resistência aos estressores, associada à indicação tardia de alguns procedimentos cirúrgicos, resulta em maior ocorrência de situações de risco para os pacientes cardiopatas, com maior predisposição para o desenvolvimento de complicações pós-operatórias, que estão relacionadas a um aumento nos casos de readmissão hospitalar e tempo prolongado de internação. Com o objetivo de melhorar o manejo pós-operatório e aperfeiçoar nossa avaliação da gravidade, prevenção e estratificação de risco, a fisioterapia pré-operatória utiliza testes funcionais que traduzem a real condição física e pulmonar do paciente, permitindo a identificação de fatores potencialmente de risco. Como forma de avaliar a prevalência de fragilidade na população candidata a cirurgia cardíaca, a associação dos testes funcionais com fragilidade e a morbidade e mortalidade peri e pósoperatória, avaliamos os candidatos à cirurgia cardíaca de acordo com os cinco critérios de propostos por Fried: perda de peso não intencional, sinais de depressão, redução da força de preensão palmar, baixo nível de atividade física e redução da velocidade da marcha, além da capacidade pulmonar (manovacuometria, ventilometria e peak flow), da tolerância ao esforço (TC6) e função cognitiva (MEEM). Após a cirurgia foram coletadas informações com relação ao procedimento cirúrgico e recuperação pós-operatória e então os indivíduos foram divididos em dois grupos: frágeis e não frágeis e subdivididos de acordo com a faixa etária em idosos e não idosos. Foram avaliados 100 indivíduos, sendo 59 valvopatas e 41 coronariopatas; 13% foram considerados não-frágeis, 70% pré-frágeis e 17% frágeis; a pressão inspiratória máxima foi significativamente menor nos indivíduos frágeis (52±21 contra 75±33 nos não-frágeis; p=0,044), assim como a força de preensão palmar (31±11 contra 22±8; p=0,007); 11 pacientes evoluíram com óbito após o procedimento, sendo 7,2% dos não frágeis contra 29,4% dos indivíduos frágeis (p=0,019). A partir dos resultados encontrados podemos concluir que a prevalência de fragilidade nos pacientes candidatos a cirurgia cardíaca foi alta, mesmo entre os indivíduos não considerados idosos e que além disso, os indivíduos frágeis apresentaram menor força de preensão palmar, menor capacidade vital e menores pressões inspiratórias e expiratórias que as observadas em pacientes não-frágeis, bem como maior mortalidade hospitalar. / Frailty syndrome, defined as the reduction of energy reserve and resistance to stressors, associated with late indication of some surgical procedures, results in a higher occurrence of risk situations for the patients with heart disease, with a greater predisposition to the development of postoperative complications, which are related to an increase in cases of hospital readmission and high length of stay. In order to improve postoperative management and our assessment of severity, prevention and risk stratification, preoperative physiotherapy uses functional tests that translate the patient\'s actual physical and pulmonary condition, allowing the identification of potentially risk factors. As a way of evaluating the prevalence of frailty in population for cardiac surgery, the association of functional tests with frailty, and peri and postoperative morbidity and mortality, we evaluated the candidates for cardiac surgery according to five criteria proposed by Fried: loss of weight, depression, low handgrip strength, low level of physical activity and reduction of walking speed, as well as lung capacity (manovacuometry, ventilometry and peak flow), effort tolerance (6MWT) and cognitive function (MMSE). After surgery, information was collected regarding the surgical procedure and postoperative recovery and then, subjects were divided into two groups: fragile and nonfragile and subdivided according to the age group in the elderly and not elderly. We evaluated 100 individuals, being 59 valvopaths and 41 coronary disease; 13% were considered nonfragile, 70% pre-fragile and 17% fragile; the maximum inspiratory pressure was significantly lower in the fragile individuals (52 ± 21 vs 75 ± 33 in non-fragile, p = 0.044), as well as the handgrip strength (31 ± 11 vs. 22 ± 8, p = 0.007); 11 patients died after the procedure (7.2% non-fragile versus 29.4% fragile individuals; p = 0.019). From the results found, we can conclude that the prevalence of frailty in cardiac surgery patients was high, even among individuals not considered elderly, and, in addition, fragile individuals had lower handgrip strength, lower vital capacity and lower inspiratory pressures and expiratory rates than those observed in non-fragile patients, as well as higher in-hospital mortality.

In a systematic review and random effects meta-analysis, we evaluated whether obesity is associated with postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Eighteen observational studies that excluded patients with preoperative AF were selected until December 2011 (n=36,147). Obese patients had a modest higher risk of POAF in comparison to non-obese (OR 1.12, 95%CI 1.04-1.21, p=0.002). The association between obesity and POAF did not vary substantially by type of cardiac surgery, study design or year of publication. POAF was significantly associated with higher risk of stroke, respiratory failure, and operative mortality. / Revisión por pares

Recovering from a cardiac surgery procedure and the transition to home can be an overwhelming experience for patients and caregivers. A tertiary care hospital's cardiothoracic surgery department suspended a nurse-practitioner-coordinated transitional care program in the 1st quarter of 2016. Following this decision, the readmission rate increased from its previous rate of 15.6% in quarter 1 to 20% in quarter 3. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG) that can bridge the gap in the transitional care process. The transitional care model informed the design of the project. A draft guideline was distributed to 5 stakeholders from the inpatient cardiac surgery care team for initial review. After initial review and revisions an edited version was then distributed to 5 additional stakeholders. Those stakeholders provided an assessment utilizing the AGREE II tool to assess the 6 domains of scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity and presentation, application and editorial independence, and overall quality. Four domains indicated a high level of agreement (96%-100%) and 2 domains indicated a response of < 76% for domains related to rigor and organizational resources. The overall guideline assessment of the quality of the CPG received a score of 96%, with a recommendation to adopt the guideline. Advanced practice nurses will utilize this guideline to provide a systematic process in bridging gaps in care for the transition of the cardiac surgery patient population from hospital to home. Social change will be promoted through improved patient management by using evidence-based transitional care, decreased readmissions, and improved health outcomes for the cardiac surgical population.

Lintérêt actuel suscité par la contribution des prostanoïdes en général et par le TXA2 en particulier à lhoméostasie cardio-vasculaire, nous a conduit à mener une série de procédures expérimentales chez le porc. Nous avons ainsi étudié son effet sur la vasomotricité systémique qui se résume en une élévation des résistances vasculaires systémiques (R2) et une diminution de la compliance vasculaire (C). Nous avons également démontré son action pro coagulante et pro inflammatoire dans un processus dischémie myocardique induit par application topique de FeCL3. Dans ce processus, le TXA2 nexerce aucun effet sur lévolution des paramètres hémodynamiques systémiques. Enfin, il joue un rôle mineur dans lischémie-reperfusion myocardique mais il est important de rappeler que dans notre procédure expérimentale, linduction de lischémie se faisait de façon abrupte par application dun clamp coronaire ce qui rend les mécanismes thrombotiques et dont la libération de TXA2 moins prépondérants.Lutilisation d'un modulateur du thromboxane A2, le BM-573, savère efficace dans la prévention des effets de lagoniste du TXA2, lU-46619, sur les résistances vasculaires périphériques. Le BM-573 exerce de plus un effet cardioprotecteur en cas dischémie myocardique, mais aucun effet bénéfique nest observé en cas dischémie-reperfusion myocardique.Le TXA2 joue donc un rôle important dans lhoméostasie cardiovasculaire et intervient avec dautres médiateurs dans la physiopathologie de lhypertension artérielle et de lischémie myocardique. Nous navons cependant pas démontré sa contribution exacte au processus dischémie-reperfusion myocardique / Prostanoids in general and thromboxane A2 in particular appear to play a crucial role in cardiovascular homeostasis. To address this issue, we have carried out a number of experimental procedures in the pigs. We were able to show that the effects of TXA2 on sytemic vascular hemodynamic, consist in an increase of vascular resistance and a decrease of vascular compliance. Additionnaly, TXA2 had a procoagulant and proinflammatory effects in a model of myocardial ischaemia induced by topical application of FECL3 on the left anterior descending coronary artery. No effects were noticed concerning the evolution of systemic hemdynamics parameters. Finally, TXA2 appeared to play a minor role in a myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion model. The use of a TXA2 modulator, BM-573, prevented the systemic vascular effects of TXA2. It also had a cardioprotective effect in the model of myocardial ischaemia, but failed to prevent reperfusion injury in acutely ischemic pigs. We conclude that TXA2 plays an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis and that it intervenes along with others mediators in the physiopathology of hypertension and myocardial ischaemia.

Alpha-tocopherol, the most abundant form of vitamin E in man, is transported in the circulation by plasma lipoproteins. It plays important roles, not only in preventing lipid peroxidation, but also in modulating several cell functions such as cell signaling and gene expression. While chylomicrons transport dietary alpha-tocopherol after intestinal absorption, LDL and HDL are the major carriers of alpha-tocopherol in fasting plasma and largely contribute to its delivery to cells and tissues. Exchanges of alpha-tocopherol occur between plasma lipoproteins. In addition, alpha-tocopherol transfers have also been observed, in both directions, between plasma lipoproteins and artificial chylomicrons such as intravenous lipid emulsion particles used in parenteral nutrition. In acute conditions, intravenous supply of vitamin E via lipid emulsions, which bypasses the intestinal tract, may offer some advantages over oral administration to rapidly increase alpha-tocopherol plasma concentration. However, many questions remain unanswered regarding kinetics and factors facilitating vitamin E exchanges between lipid emulsions and plasma lipoproteins. The first part of this work aimed at characterizing alpha-tocopherol transfers between alpha-tocopherol rich emulsion particles and plasma lipoproteins as well as the potential for plasma proteins to modulate such transfers. An in vitro model of incubation was used in which emulsion triglyceride concentration was relatively low and lipoprotein levels comparable to those commonly found in the circulation. Results indicate a high capacity for LDL and HDL to acquire extra-amounts of alpha-tocopherol by rapid mass transfers from alpha-tocopherol-rich emulsion particles. Data further shows that, at a fixed alpha-tocopherol concentration provided by emulsion particles, the limiting factor for alpha-tocopherol enrichment is not the capacity of plasma lipoproteins to accommodate extra-amounts of alpha-tocopherol but the facilitating effect of plasma proteins on alpha-tocopherol transfer, the duration of the incubation and possibly the competition between different acceptor particles. Two lipid transfer proteins, PLTP and CETP, appear to largely mediate facilitation of alpha-tocopherol transfer; however, other plasma proteins may be involved. Data further shows that alpha-tocopherol enriched LDL and HDL can readily transfer newly acquired alpha-tocopherol to cells, without any regulation by plasma proteins. Short-term prophylactic vitamin E supplementation has been suggested to be beneficial in some patients in acute conditions who present reduced plasma vitamin E concentrations in association with important changes in plasma lipids and severe oxidative stress. However, it was not clear whether low plasma vitamin E concentration in critically ill patients is related to changes in the composition of plasma lipoproteins or to a decrease in the number of alpha-tocopherol carriers. In the second part of this work, two clinical studies were conducted to analyze changes of lipoprotein concentration and composition in relation to inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress in selected subgroups of critically ill patients, namely patients undergoing cardiac surgery with different procedures. Important changes in LDL and HDL lipid content were observed, some of which contrast with previous observations made in critically ill septic patients. The reduced plasma level of alpha-tocopherol measured after cardiac surgery is entirely due to a reduced number of circulating LDL and HDL particles. Data suggests that such reduced number in alpha-tocopherol carriers post-surgery may impede the delivery of alpha-tocopherol to cells in conditions of increased requirements due to oxidative stress. Avoidance of extracorporeal circulation during cardiac surgery does not reduce inflammation-related changes in plasma lipids but largely prevents oxidative stress. This data on changes occurring in plasma lipoproteins may help to better define strategies against pro-inflammatory changes or oxidative stress. If further studies would confirm a clinical benefit with evidence-based rationale, alpha-tocopherol enriched lipid emulsions may be used to guarantee a sufficient alpha-tocopherol supply in acute conditions associated with fewer alpha-tocopherol transporters and increased requirements due to high risk of oxidative tissue injury.