Carolin Freccero

Scalding injuries in immigrant families.

From 1990 to 1996, 214 patients aged up to 6 years were treated at our inpatient burns unit. Ages ranged from 3 to 70 months. Scalding was the cause in 186 cases. The median size of the burned areas was 5.0% (range 0.5%-40%). One hundred and nine were deep dermal burns that required surgical treatment, but this was refused in seven instances. Duration of hospital stay was 11 days (2-45). The number of follow-up visits ranged from 0 to 17. Secondary reconstructions for scarring have been done for seven children so far. Ninety-eight (46%) came from immigrant families, mostly from the Middle East and the Balkans. Of the 186 scalded children, 94 (51%) were immigrants, and they also had a tendency to have more severe injuries. Explanations might be that they were more likely to cook with water and oil, they were unfamiliar with Swedish safety standards and measures, and they had difficulty in communicating (language) and a limited social network. The ensuing scar also may disturb or delay the childs adaptation to the new environment. Our preventive work is now based on a model that states that frequency, type, and severity of injury is dictated by the variables: risk, personality, supervision, and education.From 1990 to 1996, 214 patients aged up to 6 years were treated at our inpatient burns unit. Ages ranged from 3 to 70 months. Scalding was the cause in 186 cases. The median size of the burned areas was 5.0% (range 0.5%-40%). One hundred and nine were deep dermal burns that required surgical treatment, but this was refused in seven instances. Duration of hospital stay was 11 days (2-45). The number of follow-up visits ranged from 0 to 17. Secondary reconstructions for scarring have been done for seven children so far. Ninety-eight (46%) came from immigrant families, mostly from the Middle East and the Balkans. Of the 186 scalded children, 94 (51 %) were immigrants, and they also had a tendency to have more severe injuries. Explanations might be that they were more likely to cook with water and oil, they were unfamiliar with Swedish safety standards and measures, and they had difficulty in communicating (language) and a limited social network. The ensuing scar also may disturb ordelay the childs adaptation to the new environment. Our preventive work is now based on a model that states that frequency, type, and severity of injury is dictated by the variables: risk, personality, supervision, and education.

Development of a pressure-measuring device to optimize compression treatment of lymphedema and evaluation of change in garment pressure with simulated wear and tear.

The use of compression garments in treating lymphedema following treatment of genital (penis, testes, uterus, cervical) and breast cancer treatment is a well-established practice. Although compression garments are classified in compression classes, little is known about the actual subgarment pressure exerted along the extremity. The aims of this study were to establish an in vitro method for measuring subgarment pressure along the extremity and to analyze initial and over time subgarment pressure of compression garments from three manufacturers. The measurements were performed with I-scan(®) (Tekscan Inc.) pressure measuring equipment once a week during a period of 4 weeks. Wear and tear was simulated by washing and putting on the garments on plastic legs every day. There was a statistically significant difference between the garments of some of manufacturers. There was no difference between garments from the same manufacturer. No significant decrease of subgarment pressure was observed during the trial period. The study demonstrated that Tekscan pressure-measuring equipment could measure subgarment pressure in vitro. The results may indicate that there was a difference in subgarment pressure exerted by garments from different manufacturers and that there was no clear decrease in subgarment pressure during the first four weeks of usage.

Plastic surgery in the Norwegian undergraduate medical curriculum: students’ knowledge and attitudes. A nationwide case-control study

Abstract Objective: Changes in medical education have resulted in less available time for plastic surgery, which might jeopardise the availability of plastic surgery for patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the level of knowledge within and attitudes towards plastic surgery among medical students, and find predictors for a wish to pursue a career in plastic surgery. Methods: A previously used questionnaire was sent to all clinical medical students. Law students were used as a control group. Results: Thirty per cent of all clinical medical students in the country responded. The majority of students considered education in plastic surgery valuable/very valuable and 23% were considering it as a career. Nonetheless, about half of the students were unaware of the plastic surgical education at their faculty and reported non-academic sources of learning. Only 44% of medical students were able to name five common plastic surgical procedures and 8% were unable to name any. Law students were superior to medical students in the task (p = 0.005). Forty-two per cent of medical students were successful in indicating on which body parts plastic surgeons operate, whereas law students were less successful (p = 0.001). Male gender and positive valuing of clinical attachment could predict a wish for a career in plastic surgery. Conclusion: In some aspects, medical students are only as knowledgeable as their non-medical peers. These results call for higher quality plastic surgery teaching, to secure referral of the correct patients and successful specialist recruitment to plastic surgery.

Glucose concentration in seromas after plastic surgery: A pilot study.

Abstract Previously, glucose concentration has been presumed to be similar in seroma, lymph, and plasma. However, there are few studies actually measuring glucose concentration in seroma. The aim of this pilot study was to determine if the glucose concentration in seroma is similar to that in plasma, as it has previously been presumed. Biochemical analysis of seroma was performed on 11 patients that had undergone plastic surgery. Fluid was taken from the drains between postoperative day 3 and 6. The median glucose concentration was 3.09 millimolar (mM) (range 2.25–3.89 mM). Glucose concentration in seroma does not seem to be similar to that of plasma and lymph that has previously been presumed. The result of this pilot study warrants further investigation to determine the span of normal glucose concentration, its development over time, its relation to plasma glucose concentration, and how it is affected by infection.