The MEDICVAX Project demonstrated the feasibility of EMS agencies to safely provide influenza immunizations. The project reached some adults who likely would not have been immunized.
Objective: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a well-documented cause of patient morbidity, with an associated increase in cost to the healthcare system. The move to outpatient surgery is to reduce the overall cost of surgery in conjunction with improved patient morbidity. The authors aim to determine the incidence of SSIs in the outpatient setting and associated risk factors. This information will prove to be invaluable to overall patient care. Methods: The databases of 2205 spinal procedures performed over 10 years by a single surgeon were reviewed. Two groups were created; Group 1 patients with procedures performed in the hospital setting and Group 2 patients with procedures performed in the ambulatory surgery centre. Excluded cases were patients under 18 years old, acute trauma and minor orthopaedic procedures. Included cases were cervical fusions, disc replacement and lumbar decompressions with or without fusion. Outcomes assessed included; age, body mass index (BMI), surgeon time and estimated blood loss (EBL). Relative risk factors such as BMI, smoking, alcohol use and a number of spinal levels operated on were also assessed as independent risk factors for SSIs.
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