Plastic and reconstructive surgery
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The medical profession is besieged by concerns about cost containment. This in turn has focused attention on the use of ambulatory surgical facilities. However, the costs of hospital outpatient surgery programs usually prevent them from being competitive when compared with the costs of using office surgical facilities. ⋯ A death occurred in 1 in 57,000 cases (0.0017 percent). The overall risk is comparable in an accredited office (plastic surgical facility) and in a free-standing or hospital ambulatory surgical facility. This study documents an excellent safety record for plastic surgery done in accredited office surgical facilities by board-certified plastic surgeons.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · May 1997
Reduction of progressive burn injury by using a new nonselective endothelin-A and endothelin-B receptor antagonist, TAK-044: an experimental study in rats.
Endothelins are well-known vasoconstrictor peptides produced by vascular endothelial cells that have been reported to have a fundamental role in regulation of the systemic blood circulation. Plasma levels of endothelins are increased by burn injury, which also causes thrombosis and occlusion of vessels in the dermis as well as a vascular response in the adjacent uninjured dermis. Diminished blood flow leads to progressive ischemia and necrosis of the dermis beneath and around the burn (zone of stasis). ⋯ This supports the role of endothelins in the progression of burn injury in the zone of stasis. TAK-044 was most effective in preventing progressive burn damage at a dose of 1 mg/kg. The extent of necrosis and edema was reduced significantly, and blood flow in the zone of stasis was increased in the treated rats.