Shampoo after craniotomy: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The primary goal of this study was to assess the effect of postoperative hair-washing on incision infection and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in craniotomy patients. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the effect of postoperative hair-washing on incision infection and HRQOL, 2) provide evidence to support postoperative patient hygienic care, and 3) develop neurosurgical nursing research capacity


OBJECTIVE
Does hair-washing 72 hours after craniotomy and before suture or clip removal influence postoperative incision infection and postoperative HRQOL?


METHODS
A prospective cohort of 100 adult patients was randomized to hair-washing 72-hours postoperatively (n = 48), or no hair washing until suture or clip removal (n = 52). At five to -10 days postoperatively, sutures or clips were removed, incisions were assessed using the ASEPSIS Scale (n = 85) and participants were administered the SF-12 Health Survey (n = 71). At 30 days postoperatively, incisions (n = 70) were reassessed.


RESULTS
No differences were found between hair-washing and no hair-washing groups for ASEPSIS scores at five to 10 days and 30 days, and total SF-12 scores at five to 10 days postoperatively (p > or = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative hair-washing resulted in no increase in incision infection scores or decrease in HRQOL scores when compared to no hair-washing in patients experiencing craniotomy.
Ireland
Sandra
S
Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton General Hospital, ON. irelasan@hhsc.ca
Carlino
Karen
K
Gould
Linda
L
Frazier
Fran
F
Haycock
Patricia
P
Ilton
Suzin
S
Deptuck
Rachel
R
Bousfield
Brenda
B
Verge
Donna
D
Antoni
Karen
K
MacRae
Louise
L
Renshaw
Heather
H
Bialachowski
Ann
A
Chagnon
Carol
C
Reddy
Kesava
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001494:Baths; D003399:Craniotomy; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000451:nursing*; D012915:Soaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control
D012915:Soaps