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Biomedical subjects

R F Edlich

Publications and source records attributed to R F Edlich.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Studies of determinants of glove hole puncture during electrosurgery.

Holes in surgical gloves are considered to be an important source of transmission of pathogens between patient and surgeon. The purpose of this study was to determine if electrosurgery could alter the integrity of latex surgical gloves. The effects of electrosurgery on 11 brands of commercially available latex surgical gloves were tested through an in vitro study that simulated the conditions in the operating room. Glove hole puncture was encountered only with coagulation current operating at the highest setting. In addition, maximal surface area contact with the hemostat to the glove surface was required to produce glove puncture. The presence of powder and glove hydration were not significant determinants of glove hole puncture. On the basis of our study, we believe that all surgical gloves tested offered the surgeon adequate protection at commonly used levels of cutting and coagulation current, as long as no breach existed prior to the donning of gloves.

Electrosurgery↗
PubMed1996

Ease of donning commercially available powder-free surgical gloves.

There are a wide variety of powder-free gloves that can now be used by surgeons. The purpose of this study was to quantify the forces required to don these powder-free surgical gloves. The lowest donning forces for wet hands was encountered with powder-free gloves coated with a hydrogel polymer. In addition, the hydrogel coated gloves exhibited the least increase in donning forces from dry hands to wet hands. While greater forces were encountered with the other commercially available powder-free gloves than the hydrogel coated gloves, they all could be safely donned on dry hands without tearing.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

Frostbite of the face after recreational misuse of nitrous oxide.

Exposure of the skin to nitrous oxide, a liquified gas stored under pressure in a cylinder, can occur in anaesthesiologists and in those involved in recreational misuse of the gas. A case is reported of a man who presented to the emergency department after sniffing nitrous oxide and sustaining frostbite injury to his left cheek. Conservative management of this injury allowed spontaneous separation of the necrotic tissue and healing of the granulating wound by contraction.

Facial Injuries↗
PubMed1996

Severe burn injury from recreational gasoline use.

This report describes the case of a 13-year-old boy who suffered severe burns with inhalation injury during the recreational use of gasoline. Gasoline sniffing is a popular form of solvent abuse for young children and adolescents in isolated, rural communities. In addition to the neurological and physiological complications of gasoline inhalation, gasoline sniffers face the significant threat of severe burn injury or death resulting from ignition of the gasoline vapor as well as from extensive physical contact with the constituents of liquid gasoline.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Femoral neck fractures in the elderly patient: a preventable injury.

There is growing evidence that many fractures of the femoral neck in the elderly occur spontaneously because of stresses imposed on osteoporotic bone, rather than because of the trauma of the fall. A case of a spontaneous femoral neck fracture (Garden type IV) in an elderly woman with osteoporosis is presented. Early detection and medical management of osteoporosis complemented with assistive technology could have prevented this common injury.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Commentary: obstacles to scientific discovery.

Over the last two centuries, obstacles to scientific discovery frequently have been encountered by visionary scientists. From Semmelweis to Marshall, many scientists have faced rigid and nonintellectual academic environments that refused to recognize innovative advances. Their heroic journeys should be a constant reminder to us to create an academic environment that fosters intellectual freedom.

Diffusion of Innovation↗
PubMed1996

Biomechanical performance of a braided absorbable suture.

Lactomer and Polyglactin 910 sutures are both made of copolymers of lactide and glycolide. Biomechanical performance tests demonstrated superior handling characteristics of the Lactomer sutures. Using sutures comparable in size and knot construction, the Lactomer sutures exhibited knot holding force superior to the Polyglactin 910. Moreover, the low knot rundown forces encountered by the Lactomer sutures facilitated construction of secure knots that failed by breakage rather than by slippage.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Biomechanical and clinical performance of a new synthetic monofilament absorbable suture.

The clinical and mechanical performance of a new, monofilament, synthetic absorbable suture (Biosyn) was evaluated and compared to that of a braided synthetic absorbable suture (Vicryl). The monofilament synthetic absorbable suture was significantly stronger than the braided synthetic absorbable suture over the 4 weeks of implantation. In addition, the monofilament suture potentiated less bacterial infection than did the braided suture. The handling characteristics of the monofilament suture were superior to the braided suture because the monofilament suture required fewer throws to achieve knot security, encountered lower drag forces in fascia and colon, and had a greater double-wrapped first-throw knot security. Evaluated independently in clinical settings, the monofilament sutures were found to have excellent strength, first-throw hold, knot security, passage through tissue, knot repositioning, and ease of handling.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1996

Potential toxicity of retrograde uterine passage of particulate matter.

Dusting powders are commonly used on surgical gloves, examination gloves, and condoms. In addition, they are used in diaphragms, sanitary napkins, and toiletries. These dusting powders can gain access to the abdominal cavity through the vagina or through surgical intervention. The toxicity of these dusting powders in the abdominal cavity can be divided into acute and chronic complications that may be life-threatening. The use of medical and surgical products without dusting powders is strongly recommended.

Condoms↗
PubMed1996

Evolution of hydrogel polymers as contact lenses, surface coatings, dressings, and drug delivery systems.

Hydrogel polymers are hydrophilic resins that display excellent biocompatibility, which has allowed their application in diverse fields of surgery and medicine. The original hydrogel polymer, a copolymer of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate, was developed by Wichterle and Lim in 1954. The development of the first soft hydrogel contact lenses by Wichterle in 1961 represented the first successful clinical application of hydrogel polymers and remains one of the most important uses of hydrogels today. The biocompatibility of hydrogel polymers may be adapted to diverse tissue types by small variations in the makeup of the polymer, including varying the type and amount of monomers and differing the amounts and characteristics of the cross-linking agents used to create the polymer chains. Hydrogels have been successfully developed for use as coatings, soft contact lenses, wound dressings, and drug delivery systems.

Bandages↗
PubMed1996

Toxic effects of surgical glove powders on the eye.

Surgical gloves are commonly coated with dusting powders that have severe toxic effects on the eye. Talcum powder causes a chronic granulomatous reaction with fibrosis and adhesion formation. Cornstarch has also been shown to cause a granulomatous reaction as well as sterile endophthalmitis. These complications are preventable by the use of powder-free gloves.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Bilateral amputations following hydrotherapy tank burns in a paraplegic patient.

Hydrotherapy is an important part of wound care and physical therapy. The benefits of hydrotherapy are derived from water's cleansing ability, buoyancy, drag, inertia and temperature. If the temperature of the water is not adequately controlled, an immersion scald burn can occur. A paraplegic patient who was receiving hydrotherapy for treatment of his malleolar ulcers sustained immersion scald burns that ultimately necessitated below-the-knee amputations.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Plantar warts in the athlete.

Plantar warts are thick, endophytic, hyperkeratotic lesions caused by human papilloma virus. Because they are frequently mistaken for calluses, they are often misdiagnosed in athletes. The diagnosis of a plantar wart is made by paring down the hypertrophic epithelium until multiple "seeds" are detected in the dermis representing the thrombosed vessels supplying the wart. A patch system containing 40% salicylic acid in the rubber-based vehicle is applied to the debrided site every 48 hours until healing occurs.

Adult↗