Continuous in situ targeted antibiotics for late cardiovascular implantable electronic device pocket perforation.

CIED infections are a dreaded complication associated with significant morbidity and mortality and the mainstay of treatment has traditionally been extraction. A recent cohort study suggested that continuous, in situ-targeted, ultrahigh concentrations of antibiotics (CITA) delivered into the CIED pocket may be a viable alternative to extraction in selected cases. We highlight two cases of device perforation which were successfully treated with this technique.

Use of negative pressure wound therapy on locoregional flaps: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is ubiquitous in the management of complex wounds. Extending beyond the traditional utility of NPWT, it has been used after reconstructive flap surgery in a few case series. The authors sought to investigate the outcomes of NPWT use on flap reconstruction in a case-control study. METHOD: Patients who underwent flap reconstruction between November 2017 and January 2020 were reviewed for inclusion in the study, and divided into an NPWT group and a control group. For patients in the NPWT group, NPWT was used directly over the locoregional flap immediately post-surgery for 4-7 days, before switching to conventional dressings. The control group used conventional dressing materials immediately post-surgery. Outcome measures such as flap necrosis, surgical site infections (SSIs), wound dehiscence as well as time to full functional recovery and hospitalisation duration were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 138 patients who underwent flap reconstruction, 37 who had free flap reconstructions were excluded, and 101 patients were included and divided into two groups: 51 patients in the NPWT group and 50 patients in the control group. Both groups had similar patient demographics, and patient and wound risk factors for impaired wound healing. Results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between flap necrosis, SSIs, wound dehiscence, hospitalisation duration as well as functional recovery rates. Cost analysis showed that the use of NPWT over flaps for the first seven postoperative days may potentially be more cost effective in our setting. CONCLUSION: In this study, the appropriate use of NPWT over flaps was safe and efficacious in the immediate postoperative setting, and was not inferior to the conventional dressings used for reconstructive flap surgery. The main benefits of NPWT over flaps include better exudate management, oedema reduction and potential cost savings. Further studies would be required to ascertain any further benefit.

The Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the Practice of Hand Surgery in Singapore.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly evolving. Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the National Centre for Infectious Disease see the majority of confirmed and suspected cases in Singapore. This article describes the impact of COVID-19 on the practice of hand and reconstructive microsurgery (HRM) in our institution. It details our department's response as the situation escalated and the impact on the HRM elective and emergency workload, including the use of personal protective equipment on the surgical practice of HRM, as well as the effects of the condition on social and academic life.

Comparison of clinical outcomes in diabetic and non-diabetic burns patients in a national burns referral centre in southeast Asia: A 3-year retrospective review.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic burns patients may be at risk of worse clinical outcomes. This study aims to further investigate the impact of diabetes mellitus on clinical outcomes in burns patients in Singapore. METHODS: A 3-year retrospective review was performed at the Singapore General Hospital Burns Centre (2011-2013). Pure inhalational burns were excluded. Diabetic (N=53) and non-diabetic (N=533) patients were compared, and the impact of diabetes on clinical outcomes, adjusting for confounders, was investigated using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The diabetic group had a significantly higher incidence of wound infection and severe renal impairment, as well as a longer length of stay, higher number of operations and higher rate of unplanned readmission. ICU admission was significantly associated with hyperglycaemia (OR 5.44 [2.61-11.35], p<0.001) and a higher total body surface area of burn (OR per 1% TBSA 1.07 [1.05-1.09], p<0.001). Unplanned readmission was significantly associated with wound infection (OR 4.29 [1.70-10.83], p=0.002), and mortality associated with a higher TBSA (OR per 1% TBSA 1.1 [1.07-1.14], p<0.001). After adjusting for confounders, diabetes mellitus was not significantly associated with unplanned readmission or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic burns patients have an increased risk of worse clinical outcomes, including wound infections, renal impairment and longer length of stay.

Burns infection profile of Singapore: prevalence of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and the role of blood cultures.

BACKGROUND: With various changes implemented such as perioperative antibiotics for tangential excision, this retrospective study reviews the infection profile of burn patients at Singapore's only centralized burns unit. Worldwide, the appearance of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) continues to worsen patient outcomes. This study also surveys the role of blood cultures in burns at our unit. METHODS: Four hundred fifty-two burn patients admitted to the unit between 2011 and 2013, and with cultures performed, were included in the study. The yields of various cultures were evaluated and 2684 samples were amassed, of which 984 (36.7 %) were positive. Patient variables for predictors of MDR A. baumannii infection acquisition and bacteremia were evaluated through multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Pseuodomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) (67 patients) was the most common organism in those with total body surface area (TBSA) burn <20 % while MDR A. baumannii (39 patients) was most prevalent in those with TBSA burn ≥20 %. We found a yield of 1.1 % positive blood cultures for TBSA burn <20 % and a yield of 18.6 % positive cultures in TBSA burn ≥20 %. The median time between surgery and bacteremia was 6.5 days (range -18 to 68 days, interquartile range 4.5); 2.9 and 8.8 % of bacteremic episodes occurred within 24 and 48 h, respectively. This is a decrease from a predeceasing study (45.3 % for 24 h and 60 % for 48 h). Multivariate analysis revealed that length of hospital stay and TBSA burn ≥20 % were predictors of MDR A. baumannii infection and positive blood cultures. CONCLUSIONS: MDR A. baumannii infection burdens patient management, especially in those with TBSA burn ≥20 % and longer hospital stay. Prophylactic antibiotics may reduce perioperative bacteremia, but their role in MDR infections needs to be evaluated. The role of blood cultures in TBSA burn <20 % needs reconsideration.

Defining the Optimal Segment for Neurotization-Axonal Mapping of Masseter Nerve for Facial Reanimation.

BACKGROUND: Recently, there has been renewed interest in using the motor nerve to the masseter for facial reanimation. This article aims to identify the ideal segment of the masseter nerve for facial reanimation by mapping its anatomy and studying the axonal count in its branches. METHODS: Fifteen fresh cadaveric heads with 30 masseter nerves were dissected under the microscope. The masseter muscle was exposed with a preauricular incision, the course of the nerve followed and measurements of the nerve and its branches were taken to identify the topography of the nerve. The nerve was then harvested en bloc, fixed, and axon counts of cross-sections of the nerve recorded with ImageJ (an image analysing software). The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: The masseter consists of 3 discrete muscle layers, and the nerve to the masseter that entered the muscle between the middle and deep layers in all specimens was dissected. The average length of the masseter nerve from the mandibular notch to the last branch was 49.1 ± 10.5 mm. At origin, the nerve diameter was 0.80 ± 0.2 mm and had 1395 ± 447 axons. After the first major branch at a distance of 19.3 to 29.9 mm from the origin, the axon count of the main trunk ranged from 655 to 1025. CONCLUSIONS: The segment of the masseter nerve which has an axon count of 600 to 800 is located after the first branch of the masseter nerve at a distance of 29.9 ± 7.2 mm from the start of its intramuscular course. Given that an axon count of 600 to 800 approximates that of the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve it is postulated that nerve coaptation at this level is able to produce a clinically satisfactory smile.

The trends of burns epidemiology in a tropical regional burns centre.

INTRODUCTION: Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is a regional burns centre in Southeast Asia and is the only dedicated burns facility providing specialized burns care in Singapore. METHODS: A cohort study was performed for burns patients admitted to SGH from 2011 to 2013. We compared our data with earlier studies and observed the trends of burns epidemiology in Singapore. Results were analyzed using the SPSS programme. RESULTS: 655 patients were admitted during this study period, a 35.9% increase from 2003 to 2005. Scalding by water and flame injury remain the top causes of burns and the mean extent of burn is 9.5%. TBSA correlates with the incidence of burn infection, bacteremia and mortality. Patients with ≥20% TBSA are at a higher risk of bacteremia, and ≥ 34% TBSA is a predictor of mortality. 4.9% (n=32) of our patients developed bacteremia. Bacteremia was associated with a surgical duration of ≥80min. Patients with bacteremia incurred longer hospitalization, and had higher mortality rates. Overall mortality rate of our burns patients has decreased from 4.5% to 2.7% (n=18). Key factors of mortality include inhalational injury, bacteremia and ≥20% TBSA. CONCLUSION: This is a large epidemiology study of a tropical region burns centre. A total of 655 burns cases over a 3-year period were analyzed. We analysed the key factors associated with adverse outcomes including burns infection, bacteremia and mortality, factors associated with mortality, and discussed strategies on the optimization of burns care.