Alexandre Wada

Experience with local negative pressure (vacuum method) in the treatment of complex wounds

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Use of topical negative pressure over difficult-to-heal wounds has been studied. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects from negative pressure in the treatment of complex wounds. DESIGN AND SETTING Case series developed at Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. METHODS Twenty-nine patients with complex wounds were treated with the vacuum system and then underwent a surgical procedure to close the wound. RESULTS 85% of the skin grafts took well, and 87.5% of the local flaps were successful, thus demonstrating adequate wound preparation. The wounds were closed within shorter times than observed using other conventional treatments In two cases, the vacuum system was also used to stabilize the skin grafts over the wounds. CONCLUSIONS Use of the vacuum method is safe and efficient for preparing wounds for surgical closure. It allows for an improvement of local wound conditions, and healthy granulation tissue develops with control over local infection.

The vacuum assisted closure of complex wounds: report of 3 cases

Treatment of wounds using conventional methods is frequently limited by inadequate local wound conditions, or by a poor systemic clinical situation. Vacuum system may promote faster granulation tissue formation, remove excessive exudate, increase blood flow in the wound, and attract the borders of the wound to the center, reducing its dimension. We present 3 cases of patients with difficult wounds, due to bad local conditions, or poor clinical situation, in whom we used a vacuum system to prepare the wound for the surgical closure. One patient had a pressure ulcer, another had a diabetic foot ulcer, and the third one had an open foot stump. In the 3 cases a significant improvement of the wound conditions was achieved after 7 to 8 days, allowing successful surgical treatment with flap or skin grafts.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on the regeneration of experimental crush injuries of nerves

Hyperbaric oxygen has been successfully used on treatment of acute ischemic injuries involving soft tissues and chronic injuries. In nerve crush injuries, the mechanisms involved are very similar to those found in ischemic injuries. Consequently, it is logical to hypothesize that hyperbaric oxygen should improve nerve repair, which is a critical step on functional recovery. In the present study, we created standard nerve crush injuries on sciatic nerves of rats, which underwent treatment with hyperbaric oxygen. Results were assessed by functional evaluation using walking-track analysis. The functional recovery indexes observed did not differ from control group. We concluded that hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in the schedule used, had no influence on functional recovery after nerve crush injuries.

Rectangular flaps technique for treatment of congenital hand syndactyly

The authors analysed a series of 22 patients undergoing surgical correction of congenital hand syndactyly by the rectangular flap technique. Using our evaluation method, we found that good functional and aesthetic results were obtained in 77.3% of the patients, with a complication rate of 13.6%. We concluded that the rectangular flap technique has a simple design, is easily reproducible by in-training staff, has good results, and can be applied on the majority of the syndactyly cases.

Tratamento da ptose mamária e hipomastia utilizando técnica de mamoplastia com pedículo súpero-medial e implante mamário

BACKGROUND: One-stage treatment of breast ptosis with hypomastia using mastopexy techniques combined with breast augmentation is often believed to have the potential for more serious complications than when the procedures are performed separately. However, available data show that the incidence of complications associated with the combined treatment is similar to that of both procedures performed separately. Several authors have developed standard and specific care techniques that facilitate the safe use of this combined technique. The aim of this study is to describe the surgical technique used for breast augmentation in patients with breast ptosis, as well as the incidence of complications and surgical revision. METHODS: The incidence of complications and surgical revision was analyzed in 27 patients who underwent one-stage mastopexy combined with breast augmentation using the superomedial pedicle technique, between 2005 and 2010. RESULTS: There were no immediate complications that required early reoperations. Three (11.1%) patients had slight dehiscence of the suture at the inverted-T junction, with spontaneous resolution. One (3.7%) patient developed capsular contracture 1 year after the operation. Four (14.8%) patients underwent scar revision procedures. A history of smoking was associated with a four-fold increase in the incidence of suture dehiscence and doubled the number of scar revision procedures; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The mastopexy technique combined with breast augmentation using the superomedial pedicle technique was effective and safe for the treatment of breast ptosis with hypomastia.

Cirurgia torácica geral em pacientes com revascularização miocárdica prévia

It was analysed the experience of the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, in 24 patients undergone non-cardiac thoracic surgeries, and who had been submitted to previous myocardial revascularization. Factors related to morbi-mortality were studied in this group of patients. Results showed a better outcome in patients who were submitted to myocardial revascularization between 6 months and 5 years before the thoracic surgery. It was noted a worst outcome in patients with previous myocardial infarction. The kind of surgeries and age greater than 70 years old showed to be important immediate and late risk factors