Postoperative infections should be comprehensively controlled in the context of infection control, rather than as activities of individual surgeons. We started a surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance program in 2009 in which prophylactic measures for preventing SSIs were applied. These measures were as follows : 1) screening for nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; 2) dental checks and oral screening ; 3) antibiotic prophylaxis in the intra- and postoperative period ; 4) control of glucose levels to ≤160 mg/dl in the immediate postoperative period ; and 5) early removal of surgical drain. After the introduction of prophylactic measures, we reexamined SSI surveillance and added the following prophylactic measures at the beginning of 2011 : 6) data concerning SSI and compliance with prophylactic measures for all surgical and ward staff were published monthly, and the Infection Control Team (ICT) and surgeons performed weekly ward visits to assess SSIs ; 7) recommendations were made for wearing two pairs of gloves and surgical hoods to cover the hair, scalp, ears and neck ; and 8) collaboration with diabetologists was implemented to control glucose levels in diabetics. We compared incidences of SSI in cardiovascular surgery from the periods before (469 cases, Group B) and after (118 cases, Group A) introduction of the additional prophylactic measures. Clinical characteristics of patients in each group did not differ significantly. Operative time was significantly shorter in Group A (400±116 min) than in Group B (434±145 min). Compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis in the intraoperative period improved progressively from 93% in Group B to 99% in Group A. Compliance with control of glucose levels to ≤160 mg/dl on postoperative day 1 improved progressively from 71% in Group B to 81% in Group A. Duration of drain placement was significantly shorter in Group A (2.9±1.8 days) than in Group B (3.6±2.9 days). Incidence of SSI decreased significantly from 6.0% in Group B to 0.8% in Group A. Revision of preventive measures based on the results of surveillance and enhancement of cooperation between the ICT and surgeons could help to decrease the incidence of SSI.

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) causes fragility of the blood vessels, skin, and hollow organs, and the most common clinical feature is vascular rupture. We report a surgical case of a spontaneous ruptured dissection of the left common iliac artery (CIA) in a patient with vascular EDS. A 27-year-old man with documented vascular EDS with a mutation of the collagen type III alpha-1 [COL3A1] gene, presented with acute left lower abdominal pain. The enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a ruptured dissection of the left CIA with extravasation, and left iliopsoas hematoma. The enhanced CT performed 1 month previously showed no arterial aneurysm. The left CIA was anastomosed end-to-end using a 7 mm heparin-bonded polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) graft (Fusion, MAQUET Cardiovascular LLC, USA). A PTFE graft was anastmosed end-to-side to the left external iliac artery (EIA). The distal side of the CIA was closed. The postoperative enhanced CT showed aneurysmal formation in the right inferior gluteal artery. The follow-up CT showed enlargement of the left EIA (from 7.5 to 12 mm in a diameter), and aneurysm formation in the proper hepatic artery. Therefore, a close follow-up based on noninvasive imagings is mandatory to detect life-threatening vascular complecations in patients with vascular EDS.