Plastic and reconstructive surgery
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Jun 2004
Case ReportsImportance of additional microvascular anastomosis in esophageal reconstruction after salvage esophagectomy.
Esophageal reconstruction after salvage esophagectomy in patients who have undergone curative-intent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer is associated with a significant risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. In particular, anastomotic leakage can cause severe and potentially fatal complications, including mediastinitis and pneumonia. The authors performed esophageal reconstruction with a pedicled right colon graft after salvage esophagectomy in eight patients. ⋯ Postoperative swallowing function was satisfactory in all patients. Although the incidence of anastomotic leakage is reportedly high, the authors observed anastomotic leakage in only one of eight patients. The authors believe that additional microvascular anastomosis helps prevent anastomotic leakage, especially in patients who have undergone salvage esophagectomy after curative chemoradiotherapy.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Jun 2004
Basic fibroblast growth factor expression following surgical delay of rat transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps.
Partial transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap loss in breast reconstruction can be a devastating complication for both patient and surgeon. Surgical delay of the TRAM flap has been shown to improve flap viability and has been advocated in "high-risk" patients seeking autogenous breast reconstruction. Despite extensive clinical evidence of the effectiveness of surgical delay of TRAM flaps, the mechanisms by which the delay phenomenon occurs remain poorly understood. ⋯ Surgical delay of rat TRAM flaps is associated with improved flap viability and significantly elevated levels of bFGF over nondelayed TRAM flaps at postoperative day 3 after TRAM surgery. The increases in bFGF noted at this time point suggests that bFGF may play a role in the improved TRAM flap viability observed after delay surgery. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the role bFGF may play in the delay phenomenon.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Jun 2004
Letter Case ReportsA lethal necrotizing fasciitis after human bite.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Jun 2004
The patient and observer scar assessment scale: a reliable and feasible tool for scar evaluation.
At present, various scar assessment scales are available, but not one has been shown to be reliable, consistent, feasible, and valid at the same time. Furthermore, the existing scar assessment scales appear to attach little weight to the opinion of the patient. The newly developed Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale consists of two numeric scales: the Patient Scar Assessment Scale (patient scale) and the Observer Scar Assessment Scale (observer scale). ⋯ Linear regression of the general opinions on scars of the observer and the patient showed that the observer's opinion is influenced by vascularization, thickness, pigmentation, and relief, whereas the patient's opinion is mainly influenced by itching and the thickness of the scar. Such an impact of itching and thickness of the scar on the patient's opinion is an important and novel finding. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale offers a suitable, reliable, and complete scar evaluation tool.
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Plast. Reconstr. Surg. · Jun 2004
Letter Case ReportsCerebral fat embolism induced by facial fat injection.