Scand J Surg
-
Operative treatment is often indicated in unstable pediatric diaphyseal forearm fractures. Recently minimally invasive reduction and elastic stable intramedullary nailing have been of increasing interest, instead of open reduction and internal fixation with plates. There are several disadvantages of metallic intramedullary implants, such as soft-tissue irritation and a risk of disturbing later imaging. Thus, they are generally removed in later operations. We aimed to develop a new technique to stabilize pediatric forearm fractures by the bioabsorbable intramedullary nailing. ⋯ We report our preliminary experience of a new surgical mini-invasive procedure to stabilize the unstable pediatric forearm shaft fractures by bioabsorbable elastic stable intramedullary nailing. Our clinical experience suggests that the procedure combined with long-arm casting is feasible in treating the pediatric forearm fractures. The technique may bring benefits to handling these challenging fractures. The disadvantages of metallic implants may be avoided. In addition, removal of the implant will not be required. There was one refracture in the series, but it was due to new high-energy trauma. According to our understanding, it was not related to the type of former osteosynthesis. However, ignoring the good preliminary experience, still we do not have results of the superiority of the procedure over traditional elastic stable intramedullary nailing. Our ongoing randomized multicenter study is aimed to determine its long-term outcome against the present golden standard. Nevertheless, due to encouraging preliminary results, we see it necessary to report the technique.
-
Complex abdominal wall defects refer to situations where simple ventral hernia repair is not feasible because the defect is very large, there is a concomitant infection or failed previous re-pair attempt, or if there is not enough original skin to cover the repair. Usually a complex abdominal wall repair is preceded by a period of temporary abdominal closure where the short-term aims include closure of the catabolic drain, protection of the viscera and preventing fistula formation, preventing bowel adherence to the abdominal wall, and enabling future fascial and skin closure. Currently the best way to achieve these goals is the vacuum- and mesh-mediated fascial traction method achieving close to 90% fascial closure rates. ⋯ For more complex defects, our first choice of reconstruction is the component separation technique, sometimes combined with a mesh. In contaminated fields where component separation alone is not feasible, a combination with a biological mesh can be used. In large defects with grafted skin, a free TFL flap is the best option, sometimes reinforced with a mesh and enhanced with components separation.
-
"Open abdomen" is a strategy used to avoid or treat abdominal compartment syndrome. It has reduced mortality both in trauma and non-trauma abdominal catastrophes but also has created a challenging clinical problem. Traditionally, open abdomen is closed in two phases; primarily with a free skin graft and later with a flap reconstruction. ⋯ These techniques can be combined. Choice of the treatment depends on the condition of the patient and size of the fascia and skin defect, and the state of the abdominal contents. In this paper we review the literature on the closure of an open abdomen and present the policy used in our institution in the open abdomen situations.
-
Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery. It increases morbidity, length of hospital stay, and costs of operative treatment. Beta-blockers, sotalol, amiodarone, corticosteroids, and biatrial pacing have been shown to be efficient in the prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to find out how widely different prophylactic strategies for postoperative atrial fibrillation are used in Scandinavian countries. ⋯ There is still widely varying implementation of strategies for atrial fibrillation prophylaxis among Scandinavian cardiac surgeons. Lack of confidence in the efficacy of these approaches is the main rationale for nonimplementation.
-
Surgery cancelations cause inappropriate use of hospital resources and additional financial and psychological stress to patients. Cancelation rates have been described to be even more than 10% of scheduled cases. Preoperative anesthesia evaluation clinics have been initialized to decrease cancelation rates. At Hyvinkää hospital, 95% of elective surgical patients are admitted on the morning of operation, and only 25% of these patients visit preoperative anesthesia evaluation clinic prior to surgery. Cancelation rate in Finnish hospitals has not been described. ⋯ Day of surgery cancelation rate was low in same-day admission, although it varied between specialties. Specialties having explicit surgery indications had fewer cancelations than specialties having surgery indications based on more subjective diagnostic. Process improvements need to be considered continuously to further decrease cancelation rate.