AORN journal
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Treatment of cutaneous abscesses without postoperative dressing changes.
Treating cutaneous abscesses in children traditionally involves incision and drainage followed by moist dressing changes. This article addresses whether abscesses can safely heal with incision and drainage alone and daily warm water immersion. Sixteen children with cutaneous abscesses were treated without dressing changes. ⋯ There was one abscess recurrence. In comparison, among 19 children with cutaneous abscesses who received postoperative dressing changes, seven (37%) had significant pain, six (32%) required IV pain medications, and 11 (58%) were hospitalized. We determined that cutaneous abscesses may be treated with incision and drainage alone, thus avoiding pain and hospitalization for the patient.
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Patient education is a major concern for perioperative nurses in an ambulatory surgery setting. It has proven difficult to develop formal preoperative teaching programs in this environment, but research has shown that preoperative education can improve patient outcomes and satisfaction with the surgical experience. ⋯ Having a well-designed preoperative education program enables perioperative nurses in ambulatory surgery centers to provide a thoughtful approach to perioperative teaching in a limited time. AORN J 90 (September 2009) 381-387. (c) AORN, Inc, 2009.
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In early 2007, patients at our small community hospital's outpatient surgery center experienced postoperative nausea and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) at a rate of 27% to 35%. Many record reviews and a written survey of nurses in the postanesthesia care unit and same day surgery center revealed that little or no risk assessment and no consistent prophylaxis or treatment were in use by nurses, physicians, or anesthesia care providers. ⋯ We found that the rates of PONV had decreased to 16%. AORN J 90 (September 2009) 391-413. (c) AORN, Inc, 2009.