Priscilla Balbinot

Change in platelet count in patients with hypersplenism subjected to liver transplantation

CONTEXT Most patients subjected to liver transplantation presents hypersplenism, which is reversed after the operation. However, some patients remain with moderate to intense hypersplenism. OBJECTIVES To study the effect of liver transplantation on platelet count in patients with hypersplenism. METHOD Of a total of 233 patients who underwent liver transplantation, 162 were excluded from the present study because of occurrence of steroid-resistant rejection, absence of hypersplenism before the transplantation, absence of follow-up for at least 2 years or incomplete exams data. The electronic study protocols of the remaining 71 patients were reviewed to determine the demographics, etiology of cirrhosis, and results of pathologic examination of the explanted liver. Serial platelet count was obtained from the study protocol on the day before liver transplantation and 1, 2, 4, and 6 months and 1 year after liver transplantation. Statistical analysis was performed using the Students t-test, chi-square test, and Spearmans correlation test. RESULTS Posttransplant platelet count at all time intervals was significantly higher than the pretransplant value (P<0.001 for all time intervals). Thrombocytopenia was reversed (platelet count >100,000/mm(3)) in 58 patients (81.7%) 1 month after liver transplantation. Twelve patients (16.9%) remained with thrombocytopenia 1 year after liver transplantation. Three patients (4.2%) had recurrence of thrombocytopenia within 1 year after liver transplantation. There was no correlation between pretransplant platelet count and the Child-Pugh class or the MELD score. CONCLUSION Liver transplantation reverses hypersplenism in most patients.

Indicação e tratamento dos tumores benignos do fígado

BACKGROUND: Benign hepatic tumors occur in 9% of the population. The majority is diagnosed in asymptomatic patients during routine imaging exams. AIM: To present the main aspects of indications and treatment of benign hepatic tumors. METHODS: A review was conducted based on literature search in PubMed, Scielo and Bireme crossing the headings liver cancer, hemangioma, adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia. Was selected studies of surgical techniques and added the experience of the authors. Hemangioma is the most common hepatic tumor. It is identified in 5% to 7% of the autopsies. It is more common between the 3rd and 5th decades of the life and in female. This tumor may increase in size during pregnancy and with administration of sexual hormones. Although the etiology is not known, it is related with sexual hormones. Complications include inflammation, coagulopathy, bleeding and compression of neighboring organs. Spontaneous rupture is exceptional, with only 35 cases described in the literature. Adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia are more common in young women, aged 20 to 40 years. Adenomas are treated by hepatic resection due to the risk of malignant transformation and bleeding. Focal nodular hyperplasia does not require treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The most common benign hepatic tumors are hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and adenoma. The differentiation between benign and malign tumors is usually based on clinical data and imaging exams. Hemangioma and focal nodular hyperplasia usually do not need treatment, while adenoma requires hepatic resection due to the risk of malignant transformation and bleeding.Background - Benign hepatic tumors occur in 9% of the population. The majority is diagnosed in asymptomatic patients during routine imaging exams. Aim - To present the main aspects of indications and treatment of benign hepatic tumors. Methods - A review was conducted based on literature search in PubMed, Scielo and Bireme crossing the headings liver cancer, hemangioma, adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia. Was selected studies of surgical techniques and added the experience of the authors. Hemangioma is the most common hepatic tumor. It is identified in 5% to 7% of the autopsies. It is more common between the 3rd and 5th decades of the life and in female. This tumor may increase in size during pregnancy and with administration of sexual hormones. Although the etiology is not known, it is related with sexual hormones. Complications include inflammation, coagulopathy, bleeding and compression of neighboring organs. Spontaneous rupture is exceptional, with only 35 cases described in the literature. Adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia are more common in young women, aged 20 to 40 years. Adenomas are treated by hepatic resection due to the risk of malignant transformation and bleeding. Focal nodular hyperplasia does not require treatment. Conclusions - The most common benign hepatic tumors are hemangioma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and adenoma. The differentiation between benign and malign tumors is usually based on clinical data and imaging exams. Hemangioma and focal nodular hyperplasia usually do not need treatment, while adenoma requires hepatic resection due to the risk of malignant transformation and bleeding. ABCDDV/819

Síndrome de Romberg: uma série de casos

BACKGROUND: The Rombergs syndrome is a disease that was first described more than a century ago, and during this period had several names. It is characterized by a slow and progressive atrophy of the tissues of a hemiface, can affect all tissues and can also display neurological and ocular manifestations. The aim of this study is to report a series of patients with progressive hemifacial atrophy, addressing treatment options for each individual case. METHODS: Was conducted a retrospective, descriptive and analytic study of the patients treated in our service, Plastic Surgery at the Hospital de Clinicas - Universidade Federal do Parana, and the Centro de Atendimento Integral ao Fissurado Labio Palatal (CAIF), at Curitiba, PR, Brazil. RESULTS: Were analyzed 13 patients, 10 (76.9%) female and 3 (23.1%) male. The age of onset of symptoms ranged from 2 to 15 years. The first medical consultation with an specialist occurred at 11.7 years. The left hemiface was most commonly affected. Seven (53.8%) patients underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The Rombergs syndrome is a rare disorder, devastating to facial appearance, and it has been widely studied. Despite great advances in medicine, its etiology definition and the treatment directed to its cause is still only a wish.

Editor’s Invited Commentary: Re: “Defining Weight Stability for Post-Bariatric Body Contouring Procedures”

No Level Assigned This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of

Prophylaxis of fat embolism syndrome: a current analysis

Introduction: To analyze data from the internet on deaths from fat embolism, time of onset, and other information that could determine current reality in Brazil regarding fat embolism syndrome incidence and any ,media repercussions, and also to review methods of prevention and what are the best methods available to treat this disease. Methods: A Google search was conducted from January 2000 to January 2014 using the keywords “plastic surgery” and “death.” We included and reviewed articles containing the words “embolism”, “fat embolism” and “complications in (or of) plastic surgery”. Results: We included 235 relevant news stories over the 14 included years. There were 45 cases of death related with plastic surgery that offered few data for individualization. Of these patients, 44 were women. Possible causes mentioned were pulmonary embolism (five cases), perforation of viscera (four cases), malignant hyperthermia (three cases), anesthesia (two cases), anaphylactic shock (two cases), fat embolism (one confirmed case), and “other” (five cases). Conclusion: Guidelines to prevent fat embolism in plastic surgery are needed, however, there is also the need of more evidence based studies to understand more clearly what methods are best.

Fournier gangrene: Reconstruction of the scrotal sac with a fasciocutaneous flap from the internal thigh region

DOI: 10.5935/2177-1235.2015RBCP0159 Institution: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Introduction: Fournier gangrene is a rapidly progressing multi-bacterial infection in the perineal region. The treatment of this condition includes debridement, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, and oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber. Aggressive debridement typically results in the loss of skin coverage of the entire scrotal sac, and the exposure of both testes. During treatment, it is essential to use wellvascularized flaps to ensure the recovery of function. Method: We describe the application of a fasciocutaneous flap-which takes advantage of the rich arterial network of the internal region of the thigh-in the perineal reconstruction method proposed by Ferreira et al. that allows for the treatment of large defects. Conclusion: The flap is quite versatile. Its advantages include its utility in various clinical situations, low risk of gangrene in the donor area, single-stage reconstruction, and adequate flap thickness for reconstruction. ■ ABSTRACT

Influence of immunonutritional supplementation on skin wound healing in rats

Introduction: The wound healing process is immediate and dynamic in order to restore anatomical and functional continuity, and there must be conditions for this process, which include a normal nutritional state. Among the existing supplemental formulas, immuno-enhancing diets have been proposed to improve the wound healing process and patients’ clinical conditions. The influence of an immunomodulating diet (Impact) on different variables of the skin healing process was evaluated. Method: Healthy adult rats were randomly divided into four groups of diet supplementation or control. Two groups received their diets only pre-operatively while the other two groups received theirs perioperatively. Rats were subjected to three types of skin lesions. We evaluated the following aspects: changes in weight, development of raw areas, tensiometry of incisional wounds, re-epithelialization rates, and histological parameters. Results: There was no difference in weight changes. There was better closing rates of excisional wounds in groups supplemented with Impact beginning on the fifth day after surgery (p = 0.02). The groups receiving the dietary supplements obtained the best results in tensiometry (p = 0.03), re-epithelialization rates (p = 0.04), differential cell counts (p < 0.001), and total amount of collagen (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study diet (Impact) promoted better closure rates of raw wounds, faster re-epithelialization, scars with a greater tensile strength, and greater amounts of total collagen in wounds. There was no difference in any of the parameters analyzed compared with the groups supplemented with Impact preand perioperatively.