Journal of medicine and life
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Patients with extensive burns (TBSA over 45%) can benefit from treatment with split thickness skin allotransplants (skin bank or honorific donors). In this study, we present our protocols for the surgical treatment by using allografts. ⋯ The treatment includes a serial excision grafting with simple grafts or the sandwich method, which implies the covering of the wound with a widely meshed autograft (6:1). This layer is covered by a 1,5:1 or 3:1 expanded mesh allograft.
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Anastomotic dehiscence (AD) is the "Achilles heel" for resectional colorectal pathology and is the most common cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality. AD incidence is 3-8%; mortality rate due to AD two decades ago was around 60% and at present is 10%. This paper analyzes the incidence of AD after colorectal resection performed both in emergency and elective situations, depending on the way it is done: manually or mechanically. ⋯ Mechanical suture technique is not ideal for making digestive sutures. With the exception of low colorectal anastomoses where mechanical sutures are preferable, we cannot claim the superiority of mechanical anastomoses over those manually made, for colorectal neoplasia.
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Case Reports
Whole lung lavage for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis after surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax.
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a relatively rare lung disorder, probably under diagnosed, characterized by the accumulation of lipoproteinaceosus material in the lung alveoli. The primary (acquired or idiopathic) form occurs in more than 90% of all cases. Whole lung lavage is considered the golden standard of treatment. In this report, we describe a rare case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis with severe and incapacitating respiratory, in which whole lung lavage followed the thoracotomy for spontaneous pneumothorax. ⋯ The most severe forms of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, in which hypoxemia and cyanosis occur, have a high mortality risk during anaesthesia and whole lung lavage. When a rare complication like spontaneous pneumothorax occurs, the suturing of the pulmonary apical blebs seems to be the only viable solution, despite the high risk of dehiscence of the sutures due to the poor pulmonary tissue integrity at the time of the whole lung lavage and during postoperative care.
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Trigger digit in children is rare. Triggering predominantly occurs in thumbs presenting a flexion deformity of interphalangeal joint of finger. In children, the disease usually presents with a remained finger in locked flexion, unlike the adults in whom triggering is more prevalent. ⋯ Some treatment modalities have been suggested to cure the trigger thumb, such as conservative therapy without any invasive approach, and surgery. To the best of our knowledge, there is no report about casting as a treatment method for trigger finger in children. Herein, we report three cases of patients with trigger finger, who were treated by using long arm casting.
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Due to an ever-aging population and a growing prevalence of osteoporosis and motor vehicle accidents, the number of subtrochanteric fractures is increasing worldwide. The choice of the appropriate implant continues to be critical for fixation of unstable hip fractures. The subtrochanteric region has certain anatomical and biomechanical features that can make fractures in this region difficult to treat. ⋯ The disadvantages consist in a difficult closed reduction due to important muscular forces, although the nail can be used as a reduction instrument, and higher implant cost. In open reduction internal fixation techniques, the advantage is represented by anatomical reduction which, in our opinion, is not necessary. The disadvantages are represented by: higher operating time, demanding surgery, large devascularization, higher infection rates, late weight bearing, medial instability, refracture after plate removal and inesthetic approach.