Primary Lymphovenous Anastomosis After Extended Soft Tissue Resection in the Medial Thigh for Reduction of Lymphocele and Lymphedema.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative chronic lymphocele and lymphedema represent severe burdens for soft tissue sarcoma patients who are already physically handicapped after an extensive surgery and a long recovery time. Incidences are high in the upper medial thigh. We have shifted our focus to lymphedema and lymphocele risk reduction with immediate lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) after sarcoma resection. METHODS: We performed immediate lymphatic reconstruction in 11 patients after soft tissue sarcoma resection in the upper medial thigh. The postoperative course was followed up closely, and postoperative occurrence of lymphocele and lymphedema was clinically assessed. A literature search outlining the latest clinical data, current treatment strategy landscape, and their application into clinical practice was added to the investigation. RESULTS: A total of 19 LVA and 2 lympho-lymphatic anastomoses were performed in 11 patients immediately after tumor resection in an end-to-end manner. We found a postoperative lymphedema rate of 36% and a postoperative lymphocele rate of 27%. Mean follow-up time was 17 months. Average tumor volume was 749 cc. Our literature search yielded 27 articles reporting on immediate LVA in cancer patients. Incidences of secondary lymphedema after LVA for lymphedema prevention vary between 0% and 31.1%. Lymphocele prevention with LVA is poorly studied in sarcoma patients. CONCLUSION: Immediate lymphatic reconstruction improved the overall postoperative course of our patients. The current literature does not serve with high-quality studies about primary LVA preventing lymphedema and lymphocele formation. We conclude that this technique should be seen as an additional concept to achieve overall better postoperative outcomes in these challenging surgical settings. We strongly recommend to either anastomose or ligate severed lymphatics under the microscope primarily after sarcoma resection in the upper medial thigh area.

Robotic Microsurgery in Extremity Reconstruction - Experience With a Novel Robotic System.

Background: Robotic systems have successfully been introduced into other surgical fields in the past. First attempts with different setups are made in the field of microsurgery. The Symani® Surgical System, a flexible platform consisting of two robotic arms, features motion scaling with tremor filtration to address the demands and complexity of microsurgery. Symani's NanoWrist Instruments are the world's smallest, wristed surgical instruments, intended to improve a surgeon's range of motion beyond the capability of the human hand. This combination allows surgeons to scale their hand movements while seamlessly articulating the robotic micro instruments. Purpose: We report on our experience in extremity reconstruction with this novel system.Research Design: The Symani Surgical System® was used for 6 cases of extremity reconstruction. The surgeon controlled the manipulators along with the footswitch while either sitting away from the operating table relying on 3D visualization with an exoscope or sitting at the operating table using a standard microscope.Data Collection: Microsurgical anastomoses were performed in 4 patients (3 end-to-end arterial anastomoses and one end-to-side arterial anastomosis) and nerve grafting was performed in 2 patients.Results: Microvascular anastomoses were slower vs conventional microsurgery, but all anastomoses were patent. Epineural coaptation showed proper fascicle alignment and tissue manipulation could be kept to a minimum. The platform's motion scaling allows the surgeon to perform precise micro-movements with only minimal tissue manipulation and hard-to-reach anatomy becomes accessible more easily.Conclusions: Robotic microsurgery might gain importance in the nearer future but more data will need to be collected.

Evaluation of the Effect of Botulinum Toxin A on the Lymphatic Endothelial Cells.

INTRODUCTION: Botulinum toxin A (BoTA) is a neurotoxin formed by Clostridium botulinum, with a broad medical application spectrum. While the primary effect of BoTA is on the muscles, the effects of BoTA in other systems including the blood vasculature have already been examined, revealing unexpected actions. However, no studies exist to the best of our knowledge regarding the potential effects of BoTA on the lymphatic vascular system, possessing a critical role in health and disease. Isolated human lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) were cultured in dedicated in vitro culture systems. The analysis including imaging and cell culture approaches as well as molecular biology techniques is performed to examine the LEC alterations occurring upon exposure to different concentrations of BoTA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human LECs were cultured and expanded on collagen-coated petri dishes using endothelial basal medium and the commercial product Botox from Allergan as used for all our experiments. Harvested cells were used in various in vitro functional tests to assess the morphologic and functional properties of the BoTA-treated LECs. Gene expression analysis was performed to assess the most important lymphatic system-related genes and pathways. RESULTS: Concentrations of 1, 5 or 10 U of BoTA did not demonstrate a significant effect regarding the proliferation and migration capacity of the LECs versus untreated controls. Interestingly, even the smallest BoTA dose was found to significantly decrease the cord-like-structure formation capacity of the seeded LECs. Gene expression analysis was used to underpin possible molecular alterations, suggesting no significant effect of BoTA in the modification of gene expression versus the starvation medium control. CONCLUSION: LECs appear largely unaffected to BoTA treatment, with an isolated effect on the cord-like-structure formation capacity. Further work needs to assess the effect of BoTA on the smooth-muscle-cell-covered collecting lymphatic vessels and the possible aesthetic implications of such an effect, due to edema formation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: 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 Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Botulinum toxin to improve facial expression in a patient with Urofacial (Ochoa) Syndrome.

The Urofacial or Ochoa Syndrome is a very rare congenital disorder that includes vesical bladder dysfunction and a peculiar inverse facial expression, which brings patients to express a sad-crying face while they intend to laugh. Up-to-date treatments have addressed only the urological side of this disease. However, also the impaired facial mimicry has a strong impact on patients' quality of life. We treated a young patient with Botulinum toxin to address this impairment and obtained pleasing results, including a harmonic smile and a very satisfied patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the use of Botulinum toxin is reported in literature to address the facial expression component of this disease.

A Comparative Analysis to Dissect the Histological and Molecular Differences among Lipedema, Lipohypertrophy and Secondary Lymphedema.

Lipedema, lipohypertrophy and secondary lymphedema are three conditions characterized by disproportionate subcutaneous fat accumulation affecting the extremities. Despite the apparent similarities and differences among their phenotypes, a comprehensive histological and molecular comparison does not yet exist, supporting the idea that there is an insufficient understanding of the conditions and particularly of lipohypertrophy. In our study, we performed histological and molecular analysis in anatomically-, BMI- and gender-matched samples of lipedema, lipohypertrophy and secondary lymphedema versus healthy control patients. Hereby, we found a significantly increased epidermal thickness only in patients with lipedema and secondary lymphedema, while significant adipocyte hypertrophy was identified in both lipedema and lipohypertrophy. Interestingly, the assessment of lymphatic vessel morphology showed significantly decreased total area coverage in lipohypertrophy versus the other conditions, while VEGF-D expression was significantly decreased across all conditions. The analysis of junctional genes often associated with permeability indicated a distinct and higher expression only in secondary lymphedema. Finally, the evaluation of the immune cell infiltrate verified the increased CD4+ cell and macrophage infiltration in lymphedema and lipedema respectively, without depicting a distinct immune cell profile in lipohypertrophy. Our study describes the distinct histological and molecular characteristics of lipohypertrophy, clearly distinguishing it from its two most important differential diagnoses.

Impact of a High-Fat Diet at a Young Age on Wound Healing in Mice.

As the prevalence of juvenile-onset obesity rises globally, the multitude of related health consequences gain significant importance. In this context, obesity is associated with impaired cutaneous wound healing. In experimental settings, mice are the most frequently used model for investigating the effect of high-fat diet (HFD) chow on wound healing in wild-type or genetically manipulated animals, e.g., diabetic ob/ob and db/db mice. However, these studies have mainly been performed on adult animals. Thus, in the present study, we introduced a mouse model for a juvenile onset of obesity. We exposed 4-week-old mice to an investigational feeding period of 9 weeks with an HFD compared to a regular diet (RD). At a mouse age of 13 weeks, we performed excisional and incisional wounding and measured the healing rate. Wound healing was examined by serial photographs with daily wound size measurements of the excisional wounds. Histology from incisional wounds was performed to quantify granulation tissue (thickness, quality) and angiogenesis (number of blood vessels per mm2). The expression of extracellular matrix proteins (collagen types I/III/IV, fibronectin 1, elastin), inflammatory cytokines (MIF, MIF-2, IL-6, TNF-α), myofibroblast differentiation (α-SMA) and macrophage polarization (CD11c, CD301b) in the incisional wounds were evaluated by RT-qPCR and by immunohistochemistry. There was a marked delay of wound closure in the HFD group with a decrease in granulation tissue quality and thickness. Additionally, inflammatory cytokines (MIF, IL-6, TNF-α) were significantly up-regulated in HFD- when compared to RD-fed mice measured at day 3. By contrast, MIF-2 and blood vessel expression were significantly reduced in the HFD animals, starting at day 1. No significant changes were observed in macrophage polarization, collagen expression, and levels of TGF-ß1 and PDGF-A. Our findings support that an early exposition to HFD resulted in juvenile obesity in mice with impaired wound repair mechanisms, which may be used as a murine model for obesity-related studies in the future.

Differential regulation of macrophage activation by the MIF cytokine superfamily members MIF and MIF-2 in adipose tissue during endotoxemia.

Sepsis is a leading cause of death worldwide and recent studies have shown white adipose tissue (WAT) to be an important regulator in septic conditions. In the present study, the role of the inflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and its structural homolog D-dopachrome tautomerase (D-DT/MIF-2) were investigated in WAT in a murine endotoxemia model. Both MIF and MIF-2 levels were increased in the peritoneal fluid of LPS-challenged wild-type mice, yet, in visceral WAT, the proteins were differentially regulated, with elevated MIF but downregulated MIF-2 expression in adipocytes. Mif gene deletion polarized adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype while Mif-2 gene knockout drove ATMs toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype and Mif-deficiency was found to increase fibroblast viability. Additionally, we observed the same differential regulation of these two MIF family proteins in human adipose tissue in septic vs healthy patients. Taken together, these data suggest an inverse relationship between adipocyte MIF and MIF-2 expression during systemic inflammation, with the downregulation of MIF-2 in fat tissue potentially increasing pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization to further drive adipose inflammation.

A Distinct Cytokine Profile and Stromal Vascular Fraction Metabolic Status without Significant Changes in the Lipid Composition Characterizes Lipedema.

Lipedema is an adipose tissue disorder characterized by the disproportionate increase of subcutaneous fat tissue in the lower and/or upper extremities. The underlying pathomechanism remains unclear and no molecular biomarkers to distinguish the disease exist, leading to a large number of undiagnosed and misdiagnosed patients. To unravel the distinct molecular characteristic of lipedema we performed lipidomic analysis of the adipose tissue and serum of lipedema versus anatomically- and body mass index (BMI)-matched control patients. Both tissue groups showed no significant changes regarding lipid composition. As hyperplastic adipose tissue represents low-grade inflammation, the potential systemic effects on circulating cytokines were evaluated in lipedema and control patients using the Multiplex immunoassay system. Interestingly, increased systemic levels of interleukin 11 (p = 0.03), interleukin 28A (p = 0.04) and interleukin 29 (p = 0.04) were observed. As cytokines can influence metabolic activity, the metabolic phenotype of the stromal vascular fraction was examined, revealing significantly increased mitochondrial respiration in lipedema. In conclusion, despite sharing a comparable lipid profile with healthy adipose tissue, lipedema is characterized by a distinct systemic cytokine profile and metabolic activity of the stromal vascular fraction.

Adipose tissue and the vascularization of biomaterials: Stem cells, microvascular fragments and nanofat-a review.

Tissue defects in the human body after trauma and injury require precise reconstruction to regain function. Hence, there is a great demand for clinically translatable approaches with materials that are both biocompatible and biodegradable. They should also be able to adequately integrate within the tissue through sufficient vascularization. Adipose tissue is abundant and easily accessible. It is a valuable tissue source in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, especially with regard to its angiogenic potential. Derivatives of adipose tissue, such as microfat, nanofat, microvascular fragments, stromal vascular fraction and stem cells, are commonly used in research, but also clinically to enhance the vascularization of implants and grafts at defect sites. In plastic surgery, adipose tissue is harvested via liposuction and can be manipulated in three ways (macro-, micro- and nanofat) in the operating room, depending on its ultimate use. Whereas macro- and microfat are used as a filling material for soft tissue injuries, nanofat is an injectable viscous extract that primarily induces tissue remodeling because it is rich in growth factors and stem cells. In contrast to microfat that adds volume to a defect site, nanofat has the potential to be easily combined with scaffold materials due to its liquid and homogenous consistency and is particularly attractive for blood vessel formation. The same is true for microvascular fragments that are easily isolated from adipose tissue through collagenase digestion. In preclinical animal models, it has been convincingly shown that these vascular fragments inosculate with host vessels and subsequently accelerate scaffold perfusion and host tissue integration. Adipose tissue is also an ideal source of stem cells. It yields larger quantities of cells than any other source and is easier to access for both the patient and doctor compared with other sources such as bone marrow. They are often used for tissue regeneration in combination with biomaterials. Adipose-derived stem cells can be applied unmodified or as single cell suspensions. However, certain pretreatments, such as cultivation under hypoxic conditions or three-dimensional spheroids production, may provide substantial benefit with regard to subsequent vascularization in vivo due to induced growth factor production. In this narrative review, derivatives of adipose tissue and the vascularization of biomaterials are addressed in a comprehensive approach, including several sizes of derivatives, such as whole fat flaps for soft tissue engineering, nanofat or stem cells, their secretome and exosomes. Taken together, it can be concluded that adipose tissue and its fractions down to the molecular level promote, enhance and support vascularization of biomaterials. Therefore, there is a high potential of the individual fat component to be used in regenerative medicine.

Adipose Tissue Hypertrophy, An Aberrant Biochemical Profile and Distinct Gene Expression in Lipedema.

BACKGROUND: Lipedema is a common adipose tissue disorder affecting women, characterized by a symmetric subcutaneous adipose tissue deposition, particularly of the lower extremities. Lipedema is usually underdiagnosed, thus remaining an undertreated disease. Importantly, no histopathologic or molecular hallmarks exist to clearly diagnose the disease, which is often misinterpreted as obesity or lymphedema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aim of the present study is to characterize in detail morphologic and molecular alterations in the adipose tissue composition of lipedema patients compared with healthy controls. Detailed histopathologic and molecular characterization was performed using lipid and cytokine quantification as well as gene expression arrays. The analysis was conducted on anatomically matched skin and fat tissue biopsies as well as fasting serum probes obtained from 10 lipedema and 11 gender and body mass index-matched control patients. RESULTS: Histologic evaluation of the adipose tissue showed increased intercellular fibrosis and adipocyte hypertrophy. Serum analysis showed an aberrant lipid metabolism without changes in the circulating adipokines. In an adipogenesis gene array, a distinct gene expression profile associated with macrophages was observed. Histologic assessment of the immune cell infiltrate confirmed the increased presence of macrophages, without changes in the T-cell compartment. CONCLUSIONS: Lipedema presents a distinguishable disease with typical tissue architecture and aberrant lipid metabolism, different to obesity or lymphedema. The differentially expressed genes and immune cell infiltration profile in lipedema patients further support these findings.

Does lipofilling after oncologic breast surgery increase the amount of suspicious imaging and required biopsies?-A systematic meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our systematic meta-analysis was to find out if lipofilling to the breast alters follow-up imaging procedures and leads to an increased number of biopsies because of suspicious findings. METHODS: We conducted a systematic meta-analysis of the literature including all prospective and retrospective studies focusing on imaging outcomes in patients with a history of breast cancer who have received one or more lipofilling procedures after oncologic surgery to the breast. RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 1711 patients and at least 2261 lipofilling procedures. 564 patients (33%) were followed up only with ultrasound, 735 patients (43%) only received mammography, 273 (16%) had a combination of ultrasound, mammography and MRI, and 37 patients (2.1%) were followed up via ultrasound and mammography. A collective of 102 patients making up a matched-cohort study received ultrasound, mammography, MRI, and PET/CT, while only 51 of them made up the investigation group who had autologous fat grafting (3%). Biopsy rates were 1%-24% with a medium of 6.5% over all groups. Medium follow-up was 18.8 months (range 6-50 months). The rate of local oncologic events among the patients with lipofilling procedures detected during the study periods was 0.7%. CONCLUSION: Lipofilling to the breast after oncologic operations appears to be a safe procedure with overall low biopsy and local recurrence rate. Suspicious imaging occurs in most cases out of physiologic remodeling and inflammation processes at the operation site and needs to be distinguished from malignant focusses. The amount of required biopsies stands in relation to the used imaging method and the time to follow-up.

Donor site aesthetics and morbidity after DIEP flap breast reconstruction-A retrospective multicenter study.

The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap (DIEP) has gained widespread popularity in autologous breast reconstruction due to its natural aesthetic results and muscle-sparing design. However, donor site results regarding aesthetic outcome are often less favorable. We therefore aimed to identify crucial factors that might increase the risk for abdominal bulging and an impaired aesthetic appearance. We conducted a multicenter study evaluating all patients receiving autologous breast reconstruction using a DIEP flap between 2013 and 2017. Medical records were analyzed with special attention to flap technique, number of perforators, localization of perforator, and donor site complications. In addition, the aesthetic appearance of the abdominal donor site was evaluated by blinded clinicians at one-year follow-up. A total of 242 patients underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Abdominal bulging occurred in 7%. Further subgroup analysis revealed a significant correlation between abdominal bulging and two or more perforators (P = .003), the use of lateral row perforators (P = .009), and a higher BMI (P = .002). Obesity (P = .003) and higher patient's age (P = .003) could be identified as risk factors for an undesirable appearance of the donor site. We recommend the use of a medial-row single perforator whenever possible in order to optimize donor site morbidity and decrease the risk of abdominal bulging. Proper patient selection and careful donor site closure following a standardized approach should be performed to limit the risk of aesthetically undesirable results.

Lymphovenous Anastomosis for the Treatment of Thoracic Duct Lesion: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Chylous leak is an uncommon complication after head and neck surgery and typically results from a lesion of the thoracic duct (TD). Beside conservative treatment, different minimally invasive and surgical procedures exist, of which almost all lead to a total closure of the TD. METHODS: We report on a rare case of microsurgical lymphovenous anastomosis to treat a TD lesion. An additional systematic review on surgical procedures to treat TD lesions with special attention to lymphovenous anastomoses was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: A 52-year-old patient with a chylous fistula after modified radical neck dissection was successfully treated by a lymphovenous anastomosis of the TD and external jugular vein with additional coverage by sternocleidomastoid muscle flap. The patient showed a complete resolution of chylous leak with an uneventful postoperative course.The systematic search of literature yielded 684 articles with 4 case reports on lymphovenous anastomosis in chylous leak with a high success rate. Other surgical techniques include transcervical, thoracoscopic, or video-assisted thoracoscopic TD ligation, either alone or combined with a local muscle flap. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphovenous anastomosis of the TD is a feasible and safe technique allowing for treatment of cervical TD lesions, especially if minimally invasive procedures fail. Compared with other techniques, lymphatic circulation can successfully be maintained.

Sclerotherapy With OK-432 for the Treatment of Symptomatic Lymphocele After Lymph Node Dissection: A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the benefits of sclerotherapy with OK-432 for the treatment of postoperative chronic lymphocele. BACKGROUND: Postoperative chronic lymphocele formation is common and accounts for a high postoperative morbidity. Nonsurgical strategies comprise repetitive percutaneous fluid aspiration or percutaneous sclerotherapy. OK-432 has been used to treat congenital lymphatic malformations with several reports of promising results. We hypothesized that it is more beneficial than repetitive percutaneous fluid aspiration for the treatment of symptomatic lymphocele. METHODS: Two cohorts of melanoma patients who developed recurrent lymphocele after lymph node dissection from January 2013 to August 2017 were compared. The first cohort was treated with repetitive percutaneous fluid aspiration (n = 20). The second cohort received OK-432 sclerotherapy (n = 20). Primary end points were overall treatment duration, number of treatment sessions, and the clinical success in both cohorts. Secondary end points were surgical site infection rate, need for additional antibiotic treatment, wound healing disorders, and the need for revision surgery. RESULTS: Mean overall duration of treatment with sclerotherapy was significantly shorter than with repetitive aspiration (9.4 ± 7.2 vs 47.5 ± 31.9 days, P < 0.01). Mean number of sclerotherapy treatment sessions were 2.5 ± 1.2. Clinical success with OK-432 was 19 of 20, and that with repeated aspiration was 7 of 20 (χ = 15.82, P < 0.001). No surgical site infection occurred in the sclerotherapy cohort, which was significantly lower than those treated with repetitive aspiration (P < 0.03). Surgical revision was mandatory in 12 of 20 patients who were treated with repetitive aspiration, and only 1 of 20 patients in the sclerotherapy cohort. CONCLUSION: Sclerotherapy with OK-432 for the treatment of postoperative lymphocele is highly beneficial with a significant reduction of morbidity and the overall treatment time compared with repetitive aspiration.

The Crucial Role of Vascularization and Lymphangiogenesis in Skin Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of extensive skin defects and bradytrophic wounds remains a challenge in clinical practice. Despite emerging tissue engineering approaches, skin grafts and dermal substitutes are still the routine procedure for the majority of skin defects. Here, we review the role of vascularization and lymphangiogenesis for skin grafting and dermal substitutes from the clinician's perspective. SUMMARY: Graft revascularization is a dynamic combination of inosculation, angiogenesis, and vasculogenesis. The majority of a graft's microvasculature regresses and is replaced by ingrowing microvessels from the wound bed, finally resulting in a chimeric microvascular network. After inosculation within 48-72 h, the graft is re-oxygenated. In contrast to skin grafts, the vascularization of dermal substitutes is slow and dependent on the ingrowth of vessel-forming angiogenic cells. Preclinical angiogenic strategies with adipose tissue-derived isolates are appealing for the treatment of difficult wounds and may markedly accelerate skin reconstruction in the future. However, their translation from bench to bedside is still restricted by major regulatory restrictions. Finally, the lymphatic system contributes to edema reduction and the removal of local wound debris. Therapeutic lymphangiogenesis is an emerging field of research in skin reconstruction. Key Messages: For the successful engraftment of skin grafts and dermal substitutes, the rapid formation of a microvascular network is of pivotal importance. Hence, to understand the biological processes behind revascularization of skin substitutes and to implement this knowledge into clinical practice is a prerequisite when treating skin defects. Furthermore, a functional lymphatic drainage crucially contributes to the engraftment of skin substitutes.

Nanofat Grafting for Scar Treatment and Skin Quality Improvement.

BACKGROUND: Fat grafting has been gaining attention in tissue augmentation over the past decade, not only for lipofilling, but also for its observed regenerative properties and overall skin texture improvement. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of nanofat grafting on scars, wrinkles, and skin discolorations in our clinic. METHODS: Nanofat was prepared by a standard emulsification and filtration protocol. The resulting liquid was injected intradermally or directly into the scar tissue. Skin quality was evaluated based on a scoring system, and patient satisfaction was documented. Three physicians compared and analyzed standardized pre- and posttreatment photographs in respect to general improvement of skin aesthetics. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were treated with nanofat from November 2013 to April 2016. The mean (± standard deviation) posttreatment follow up was 155 ± 49 days and average volume of harvested fat amounted to 165 cc. The primary harvesting areas were the abdomen and flanks, and the injected volume of nanofat ranged from 1 to 25 mL (mean, 4.6 mL). A total of 40 scars (76% of all patient defects) were effectively treated as well as 6 patients with wrinkles, and 6 patients with discoloration. Posttreatment clinical evaluations showed a marked improvement of scar quality and a high patient satisfaction. The results in our clinic showed that nanofat grafting softened the scars, made discolorations less pronounced, and wrinkles appeared less prominent. CONCLUSIONS: Nanofat grafting has been shown to have beneficial effects in the treatment of scars, wrinkles, and skin discolorations.

Reconstruction of Penile Shaft Defects Following Silicone Injection by Bipedicled Anterior Scrotal Flap.

PURPOSE: Numerous causalities, including attempts at penile augmentation with silicone or paraffin, can lead to extensive circular penile shaft defects. Reconstruction is challenging and skin grafting is a suboptimal option despite its widespread use. We present a surgical technique for penile shaft reconstruction with a bipedicled anterior scrotal flap. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective data analysis was performed of patients treated for symptomatic penile siliconomas who underwent subsequent penile reconstruction with a bipedicled anterior scrotal flap between 2010 and 2015. The surgical technique is described and depicted in detail. RESULTS: A total of 43 men were treated with radical circular excision of penile siliconomas and extensive shaft defects were reconstructed with a bipedicled anterior scrotal flap. Mean ± SD age was 36.95 ± 11.27 years, mean followup duration was 10.69 ± 9.54 months and mean operative time was 2.53 ± 0.46 hours. The operation proved uneventful in all cases. Only minor complications were observed, such as partial necrosis in 9% of patients, hematoma of the donor site in 12% and partial wound disruption in 19%. The mean patient satisfaction score was 4.37 on a scale of 1 to 5. All patients reported postoperative erection ability and the ability to achieve sexual intercourse. CONCLUSIONS: We present a surgical technique to reconstruct extensive penile shaft defects with an axial scrotal flap, which provides well vascularized coverage with comparable donor skin quality and thickness. The results are associated with minor donor site morbidity, good functional and aesthetic outcomes, and high patient satisfaction.

Current and emerging vascularization strategies in skin tissue engineering.

Vascularization is a key process in skin tissue engineering, determining the biological function of artificial skin implants. Hence, efficient vascularization strategies are a major prerequisite for the safe application of these implants in clinical practice. Current approaches include (i) modification of structural and physicochemical properties of dermal scaffolds, (ii) biological scaffold activation with growth factor-releasing systems or gene vectors, and (iii) generation of prevascularized skin substitutes by seeding scaffolds with vessel-forming cells. These conventional approaches may be further supplemented by emerging strategies, such as transplantation of adipose tissue-derived microvascular fragments, 3D bioprinting and microfluidics, miRNA modulation, cell sheet engineering, and fabrication of photosynthetic scaffolds. The successful translation of these vascularization strategies from bench to bedside may pave the way for a broad clinical implementation of skin tissue engineering.

The vertical posteromedial thigh (vPMT) flap for autologous breast reconstruction: A novel flap design.

BACKGROUND: The vertical posteromedial thigh (vPMT) perforator flap is a new reliable flap with versatility. The purpose of this article was to report our experience with the use of free vPMT flap for reconstruction of the breast. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 2015 to December 2015, seven patients received immediate unilateral breast reconstruction with seven free vPMT flaps. The flaps were raised based on the first medial perforator of the profunda femoris artery (PFA). The internal mammary artery and vein were dissected as recipient vessels. RESULTS: The flap sizes varied from 25 × 9 cm to 30 × 10 cm. The average weight of the flap and mastectomy specimen was 431 g (range: 390 to 470 g) and 410 g (range: 360 to 450 g) respectively. The average pedicle length was 10.4 cm (range, 8.5 to 12.5 cm) and the average arterial diameter was 2.1 mm (range, 1.8 to 2.6 mm). All of the flaps survived completely after surgery. The donor sites were all primarily closed with minimal morbidities. Follow-up observations were conducted from 3 to 9 months. All of patients were satisfactory with the reconstruction. CONCLUSION: The vertical vPMT is suitable for breast reconstruction in women with small to moderate breast size; the vertical pattern of the PMT avoids some of the problems related to other flaps with transverse patterns and represents an alternative design that can be successfully used for breast reconstruction. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:371-376, 2017.

Animal models in surgical lymphedema research--a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Chronic secondary lymphedema is a well-known complication in oncologic surgery. Autologous lymph node transplantation, lymphovenous anastomosis, and other lymphatic surgeries have been developed in the last decades with rising clinical application. Animal models to explore the pathophysiology of lymphedema and microsurgical interventions have reached great popularity, although the induction of stable lymphedema in animals is still challenging. The aim of this review was to systematically assess lymphedema animal models and their potential use to study surgical interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines was performed without time or language restriction. Studies describing new or partially new models were included in chronological order. Models for primary and secondary lymphedema were assessed, and their potential for surgical procedures was evaluated. RESULTS: The systematic search yielded 8590 discrete articles. Of 180 articles included on basis of title, 84 were excluded after abstract review. Ninety-six were included in the final analysis with 24 key articles. CONCLUSIONS: No animal model is perfect, and many models show spontaneous lymphedema resolution. The rodent limb appears to be the most eligible animal model for experimental reconstruction of the lymphatic function as it is well accessible for vascularized tissue transfer. There is a need for standardized parameters in experimental lymphedema quantification. Also, more permanent models to study the effect of free vascularized lymph node transfer are needed.