Elane M. Gutterman

Psychological response of firefighters to a chemical fire

Samples of firefighter subjects (n = 80) and a comparison group (n = 15) were contrasted on a number of postincident psychological distress measures in the aftermath of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fire. Using a structured, self-administered questionnaire, firefighter subjects were found to be more psychologically distressed on demoralization, specific emotional distress, and perceived threat to physical health. After controlling for baseline characteristics on which subjects and the comparison group differed, these between-group effects remained significant. The three outcome scales, while correlated, measure different components of psychological distress.

Postoperative Outcomes Associated with Topical Skin Adhesives among Women Having Hysterectomies

BACKGROUND Multiple options are available for closure of hysterectomy incisions. This study compared postoperative clinical and economic outcomes using topical skin adhesive (2-octyl cyanoacrylate; OCA) vs. conventional skin closure in women undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy. METHODS A multi-hospital administrative database was used to identify women discharged in 2005 who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy. Patients, classified by skin closure as suture (n = 21,201), staples (n = 23,441), OCA (n = 880), or staples + OCA (n = 489), were compared on length of inpatient stay (LOS), total inpatient cost, and non-prophylactic antibiotic treatment after day four. RESULTS The unadjusted mean LOS was 3.9, 4.5, 3.7, and 5.2 days for suture, staples, OCA, and staples + OCA, respectively; and the percentages of patients having antibiotic treatment were 12.93, 17.51, 11.14, and 23.72. There were overall differences in adjusted mean LOS, mean total cost, and antibiotic treatment (p < 0.0001). Pairwise comparisons indicated no difference between sutures and OCA, whereas the outcomes for each of the non-staple groups were more favorable than those for the staple group (p < 0.01). Results were similar in adjusted comparisons, with pairwise comparisons between OCA and staples at or near the threshold for significance. CONCLUSIONS 2-octyl cyanoacrylate appears to be a safe and cost-effective alternative to topical sutures for patients having total abdominal hysterectomy. There were less favorable outcomes in groups receiving staples.