Zhonghua wai ke za zhi [Chinese journal of surgery]
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Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi · Mar 1989
[Optimal conditions for the storage of split-thickness skin at 4C].
Split-thickness human skin must, out of necessity, be stored for days to years prior to usage as a burn wound covering. This study was designed to utilized three different parameters of tissue viability in order to determine optimum conditions for skin survival at 4 degrees C for various periods of time in RPMI-1640 media. Viability was determined by 1) trypan blue dye exclusion of trypsinized basal cells (TBC), 2) 14C-leucine incorporation into TBC, and 3) in vitro skin explant growth. Electron microscopy was also done on selected samples. ⋯ RPMI-1640 is an excellent medium for the storage of split-thickness skin at 4 degrees C, 2-4 cm2/ml, for up to 7 days. Because of the high viability retained in skin stored under these conditions, further long term storage in liquid nitrogen should provide good quality tissue for transplantation.
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Sixty-five cases of chylothorax treated at the Shanghai Chest Hospital over the past 30 years are reviewed. The causes of chylothorax in this series were mainly traumatic and postoperative (47/65). Two cases were associated with chylopericardium and another 2 with chylous sputum. ⋯ The most favorable site for ligation is immediately above the diaphragm. Over dissection of the thoracic duct should be avoided; (3) The proper surgical approach is on the side of the effusion in unilateral chylothorax, but right side approach is preferred in case of bilateral chylothorax or when the origin of chylous fistula is unknown; (4) Pleurodesis is indicated for those cases if the duct is not obviously present or chyle comes from the pleural lymphatics. Concentrated glucose solution with or without Talc suspension is recommendable.