Marcelo Sacramento Cunha

TISSUE EXPANDER COMPLICATIONS IN PLASTIC SURGERY. A 10-YEAR EXPERIENCE

INTRODUCTION Tissue expanders have been of great value in plastic surgery. Tissue expansion was developed for a specific indication; however, within a very short time, the concept of tissue expansion found wide applicability. From 1990 to 1999, 315 expanders in 164 patients were utilized. A retrospective analysis of complications and prognostic factors for complications were done. METHODS The indications for tissue expansion were burns (50%), trauma (32%), and sequelae of previous surgery (8.8%). The expanders were inserted most frequently in the scalp, trunk and neck. RESULTS There were 22.2% of complications and the most common were expander exposure (50%), infection (24%) and bad function of the expander (12.8%). The present study revealed an increased rate of minor complications in the group of 0 to 10 years of age and an increased rate of major complications for face and neck expansions compared to trunk expansion. There were no increased complication rates for the other age and anatomic site groups, previous expansion, concomitant expansion and type of expander used. CONCLUSIONS The outcomes from tissue expansion procedures done in our hospital are similar to those reported in the literature. Tissue expansion is a good and safe technique.

Sensibility of the breast after reduction mammaplasty.

Changes in breast sensibility after reduction mammaplasty remain a controversial subject and most previous studies report only qualitative results. There is more accurate measuring of the sensibility of the skin with the Pressure-Specified Sensory Device (PSSD), which measures the pressure perception of the skin in grams per square millimeter. The evaluation of breast sensibility before and after reduction mammaplasty using the upper medial pedicle technique was undertaken in 25 patients. The PSSD was used to measure one dynamic point threshold in nine points of the breast during the preoperative period and 6 months after surgery. After surgery all patients had decreased sensation in all points studied, and this was significant. There are few reports of breast sensibility after mammaplasty using the PSSD, and the discrepancy in results reported using other methods of evaluation could be related to precision in evaluation.

Importance of lateral row perforator vessels in deep inferior epigastric perforator flap harvesting

Free flaps based on perforator vessels, and in particular the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap, are currently being applied in abdominal reconstruction. However, one of the main disadvantages is the operative complexity. Through anatomical study and clinical experience with the DIEP flap in breast reconstruction, the intramuscular path of the perforator vessels was comparatively studied, to establish the main anatomical parameters that favor procedure planning. Thirty DIEP flaps from 15 fresh cadavers were used. The number, location, and intramuscular course of the perforator vessels were determined. In addition, an initial clinical study was performed in 31 patients using 35 DIEP flaps in breast reconstruction. The number, location, and the intramuscular course of the perforators were assessed. In the cadaver study, 191 perforator vessels were detected (6.4 vessels per flap). Thirty-four percent were located in the lateral row, and the rectilinear course was observed in 79.2 percent of these vessels. In the medial row, only 18.2 percent of the perforator vessels presented this configuration (p = 0.001). Thirty-one patients underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction, with 26 immediate and four bilateral reconstructions. In 22 of 35 flaps (62.9 percent), two perforators were used. In 25 flaps (71.4 percent), the lateral row perforators with a rectilinear course were observed. Mean operative time was 7 hours and 37 minutes. Two total flap losses and two partial necroses were observed. The majority of the lateral row perforators presented a rectilinear intramuscular course, which was shorter than that of the medial row perforators. This anatomical characteristic favors dissection with reduced operative time and vascular lesion morbidity, resulting in an important anatomical parameter for DIEP flap harvesting.

Evaluation of Cutaneous Abdominal Wall Sensibility After Abdominoplasty

Changes in cutaneous sensibility are common after diverse plastic surgical procedures. Although prior studies examined aesthetic results, combined procedures, and new abdominoplasty techniques, few examined the effect of undermining on cutaneous sensibility. This study aimed to analyze and quantify cutaneous sensibility after classic abdominoplasty. Two groups of patients were studied: a control group of 10 patients without surgery and another group of 25 patients who had undergone classic abdominoplasty. The abdominal wall surface was divided into nine regions. Pain sensibility was evaluated by tests with needles, and thermal sensibility by test tubes containing hot and cold water. Superficial tactile sensibility was tested using the Pressure-Specified Sensory Device (PSSD), which is capable of determining the cutaneous pressure threshold. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student’s ‘t-test’. The results showed a decrease in the three types of sensibility. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the groups for all regions tested. The centermost regions of the abdominal wall presented the highest index of analgesia and thermal anesthesia, as well as higher cutaneous pressure thresholds.

Aesthetic refinements in breast augmentation with deep inferior epigastric perforator flap: a case report.

The principle of free flaps based on perforator vessels and the development of deep inferior epigastric perforator flap (DIEP) is currently used in reconstructive microsurgery. Clinical experience and research have shown that perforator flaps provide numerous advantages over the conventional myocutaneous flaps and combine muscle preservation and sequel minimization at the donor site. Clinical use of autogenous tissue or perforator flaps in aesthetic breast surgery or augmentation mammaplasty is not a common practice. The authors indicate the use of the DIEP flap to correct severe hypomastia after bilateral breast augmentation with silicon implants, followed by infection and implant extrusion. Using the DIEP flap is a new option for patients who have had complications from breast augmentation with implants or severe hypomastia and have excess tissue in the lower abdomen. Additional studies and clinical research are necessary to evaluate the real benefits as compared to silicone implants, such as operative time, the recovery period and financial implications.

Study of warm ischemia followed by reperfusion on a lower limb model in rats: effect of allopurinol and streptokinase

UNLABELLED Prolonged tissue ischemia leads to changes in microcirculation and production of oxygen free radicals. The event eventually responsible for tissue death is the no-reflow phenomenon and its management is a challenge for the surgeon dealing with replantation or transplantation. We introduce a model of warm ischemia and reperfusion of the lower limb of rats with which we studied the effect of allopurinol and streptokinase. METHOD Section of the lower limb with preservation of vessels and nerves was performed in 110 rats. Femoral vessels clamped for periods of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours of ischemia were allowed to reperfuse (groups M0, M2, M4, M6, and M8 respectively). Other groups, E1, E2, and E3, received streptokinase, allopurinol, or a combination of the two drugs after 6 hours of ischemia. RESULTS Viability rates of the ischemic limbs after 7 days were 100% (M0), 80% (M2), 63.6% (M4), 50% (M6), and 20% (M8). In the experimental groups, E1, E2, and E3, viability rates were 67% (E1), 70% (E2), and 70% (E3). Groups M0, M2, M4, M6, and M8 differed among themselves except for groups M4 and M6. Group E1 had a higher rate of limb viability than M6 (control group) but not than M4. Groups E1, E2 and E3 had higher rates of limb viability than M6 but not than M2 or M4. DISCUSSION The results suggest that increased viability of limbs after 6 hours of ischemia occurs when allopurinol or streptokinase is used. The combination of the two drugs does not appear to produce any additional effect.

Avaliação da função pulmonar em pacientes submetidas à mastoplastia redutora

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the pulmonary function in patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty. METHODS: Twelve female patients with Gigantomastia and without medical antecedents were submitted to reduction mammaplasty at our University Hospital. The patients underwent lung function testing and arterial blood gas measurements in the preoperative and postoperative period (three to six months). The data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test and the level of statistical significance was p <0.05. As for lung function tests,total lung capacity and residual volume were higher postoperatively (p <0.05). RESULTS: As for the arterial gases, there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: The increase in total lung capacity and residual volume may suggest a better lung function after reduction mammaplasty for Gigantomastia treatment, although not altering blood gases in healthy patients.

Estreptoquinase e oxigênio hiperbárico em congestão após reimplante de membro

OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness of streptokinase and hyperbaric oxygen therapy on venous occlusion after limb reimplantation was tested in rats. METHODS: Amputation with preservation of vessels and nerves of the right hind limb was carried out in 140 rats. Groups MG0, MG1, MG2, MG3 and MG4 were submitted to 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours of venous occlusion. MG3 was elected as control for the experimental groups. Groups EG1 and EG2 were submitted to 3 hours of venous occlusion and were treated with streptokinase and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Limbs were observed for 7 days and their mortality and survival rates were studied. RESULTS: Trans-operatory mortality rates in groups MG0, MG1, MG2, MG3 and MG4 were 0, 10, 15, 30 and 60% respectively and the postoperatory mortality rates were 5; 11.1; 11.7; 14.2 and 100% respectively. The limb survival rates were 100%, 87.5%, 80% and 66.67% respectively and 76.9% and 100% in EG1 and EG2. Model groups were statistically different, except for MG1 and MG2 in trans-operatory mortality rates. There were no statistical differences in postoperatory mortality rates between model groups except for MG3 and MG4. Model groups were statistically different, with the exception of MG1 and MG2, in limb survival rates. EG1 and MG3 showed no statistical difference in limb survival and EG2 had a better limb survival than MG3. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the administration of streptokinase does not change effects of venous occlusion and that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may decrease the effects of venous occlusion in limbs.

O uso da internet como fonte de informação sobre cirurgia plástica na Bahia, Brasil

BACKGROUND: The Internet has become one of the most important sources of health information. However, few studies have assessed the characteristics of Internet usage by patients or how the information obtained affects decisions to undergo surgery. This study describes the characteristics of Internet usage by patients who intended to undergo plastic surgery at the Unified Health System (SUS) and private networks and how it affected their confidence. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was performed using data collected by 200 surveys filled out by patients before the operation. One hundred surveys were sent to patients attending the outpatient clinic of Plastic Surgery of Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital (SUS), and the remaining 100 to patients treated in private health clinics in Salvador, BA. RESULTS: The frequency of Internet use to seek health information on plastic surgery differed significantly between the SUS (n = 24; 24%) and private health services (n = 64; 64%). Most of the patients (n = 48; 54.5%) visited 1 to 3 sites. The websites of plastic surgery centers were the most sought (n = 74; 84.1%), followed by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery website. Half of the patients reported the existence of contradictory information. Moreover, 71 (80.7%) of the respondents reported feeling that undergoing surgery was safe. CONCLUSIONS: The Internet was widely used to seek information on plastic surgery. Although visited sites contained contradictory information, most patients felt safe before undergoing their desired surgery.

Effect of IIb-IIIa Glycoprotein Inhibitors in a Partial Limb Amputation Model Submitted to Warm Ischemia in Rats

Viability and functional results of a segment replantation depend on the prevention of deleterious effects of ischemia. Prolonged ischemia leads to alterations in the microcirculation: thrombosis, edema, production of oxygen free radicals, and platelet aggregation. The effect of IIb-IIIa glycoprotein inhibitors was tested in a partial limb amputation model submitted to warm ischemia. The male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: G1 with 0 hours of ischemia and saline ( N = 20), G2 with 6 hours of ischemia and saline ( N = 24), G3 with 6 hours of ischemia and abciximab ( N = 23), and G4 with 6 hours of ischemia and tirofiban ( N = 29). The limbs were observed for 7 days and classified as viable or nonviable. Viability and mortality rates were obtained and analyzed by Q-square and Fisher exact tests ( P < 0.05). The viability rates were 100% (G1), 30% (G2), 77.78% (G3), and 80.95% (G4). G2 was statistically different from G1, G3, and G4. G1, G3, and G4 were not statistically different. Transoperative and postoperative mortalities were not statistically different. The administration of abciximab and tirofiban improved limb salvage after ischemia and reperfusion and did not modify mortality rates significantly.