Annals of plastic surgery
-
Annals of plastic surgery · Sep 2008
Risk analysis of deep sternal wound infections and their impact on long-term survival: a propensity analysis.
The objectives of this study are to determine risk factors associated with deep sternal wound infections (DSWIs) following cardiac surgery, and to describe their impact on long-term survival. Data was obtained from a departmental database. Analysis included 7,978 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery between 1997 and 2003. ⋯ There were no differences between groups in 4-year and 8-year survival rates, with 77.2% and 61.8%, respectively, in patients with DSWI compared with 78.0% and 67.5% in patients without DSWI (P = 0.16). After adjustments for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors, the adjusted hazard ratio of long-term mortality for patients with DSWI was 0.9 (95% CI, 0.6 to 1.2, P = 0.39). Though DSWIs are associated with increased early mortality, patients undergoing cardiac surgery complicated by DSWI do not experience worse long-term survival.
-
Annals of plastic surgery · Aug 2008
Decreased postoperative pain, narcotic, and antiemetic use after breast reduction using a local anesthetic pain pump.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a prospective trial evaluating the efficacy of a local anesthetic pain pump in breast reduction surgery. Ninety-eight women undergoing bilateral breast reduction were enrolled. Thirty-seven patients received a pain pump containing 0.25% bupivicaine, and 61 patients received no pain pump. ⋯ Patients receiving a pain pump reported significantly lower pain scores on the day of surgery, as well as on the first and second postoperative days when compared with patients who did not (P < 0.01). The amount of intravenous and oral narcotics used paralleled the reduction in pain (P < 0.01), and there were fewer episodes of PONV and antiemetics used in the patients receiving a pain pump (P < 0.01). A postoperative local anesthetic pain pump can reduce pain, narcotic use, and PONV in women undergoing breast reduction.
-
Annals of plastic surgery · Jun 2008
Reconstruction of advanced-stage electrical hand injury in a one stage procedure using a prefabricated medial lateral crural composite flap.
To explore the possibility of a one stage restoration of protective sensation and finger flexion after electrical burn of the hand, 5 patients with electrical injuries at the wrist were treated by a new free composite flap, originating from the medial lateral crural skin flap. This flap can repair skin, blood vessels, tendons, and nerves in a one-stage procedure. The harvest of the medial lateral crural flap is described. ⋯ At 6 months, 2 patients improved from 6 cm and 5 cm to 4 cm and 4 cm, respectively. The sensation reached to S2 level, and skin temperature rose. The medial lateral crural composite flap is an ideal, one-stage method to restore protective sensation and finger flexion for advanced-stage patients who have suffered severe high voltage electrical injuries in the wrist.
-
Annals of plastic surgery · Jun 2008
Full-thickness skin grafts: maximizing graft take using negative pressure dressings to prepare the graft bed.
Full thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) remain a good option for resurfacing defects of the face, neck, and dorsum of the feet. It results in soft, pliable, functional skin with minimal contraction. However, FTSG may result in patchy or irregular "take" resulting in recurrent contractures and pigmentary discrepancies. This study examines the use of a negative pressure dressing (NPD) to increase FTSG take. ⋯ The results of this study confirm that the use of NPD enhances FTSG take.
-
Annals of plastic surgery · May 2008
Ischemic complications in pedicle, free, and muscle sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps for breast reconstruction.
Muscle sparing and perforator flaps techniques for breast reconstruction have focused in reducing the donor site morbidity. Theoretically this may result in a less robust blood supply to the flap. The purpose of this study was to assess flap ischemic complications with the pedicle, free, and the different muscle sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAMs) flaps for breast reconstruction and determine the factors associated with these complications. ⋯ No differences in donor site bulging or hernia were observed between the groups. In our study, the free TRAM flap demonstrated lower ischemic complications than the pedicle TRAM. A trend for decreased flap blood supply when more muscle is preserved and less number of perforators are used with a constant tissue volume was observed.