Mesoappendix as potential donor site for vascularized lymph node transfer: anatomic study.

BACKGROUND: The standard of care for treatment of lymphedema is manual lymphatic drainage and compression therapy, which is time intensive and requires a life-long commitment. Autologous lymph node transfer is a microsurgical treatment in which a vascularized lymph node flap is harvested with its blood supply and transferred to the lymphedematous region to assist with lymph fluid clearance. An ideal donor lymph node site minimizes the risk of iatrogenic lymphedema and other donor site morbidity. To address this, we have used jejunal mesentery lymph nodes and omental flaps and hypothesize that the mesoappendix, as a "spare part," may be an ideal autologous lymph node transfer donor site. METHODS: In this Institutional Review Board-approved study, 25 mesoappendix pathology specimens resected for benign disease underwent gross pathologic examination for the presence of lymph nodes and measurement of the appendicular artery and vein caliber and length. RESULTS: A single lymph node was present in two of 25 specimens (8%). Mean arterial and vein calibers at the point of ligation were 0.87 ± 0.44 mm and 0.86 ± 0.48 mm (range 0.30-2.2 mm and 0.25-2.2 mm), respectively. Mean arterial and vein length was 1.70 ± 1.06 cm and 1.84 ± 1.09 cm (range 0.8-4.5 cm for each), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The mesoappendix rarely contains a lymph node. The artery and vein calibers of 46% of the specimens were greater than 0.8 mm, the minimum caliber preferred for microsurgical anastomosis. If transplantation of a vascularized lymph node for the treatment of lymphedema is desired, the mesoappendix is inconsistent in providing adequate lymph nodes.

Early geriatric consultation increases adherence to TQIP Geriatric Trauma Management Guidelines.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Surgeons' Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) Geriatric Trauma Management Guidelines recommend geriatric consultation for injured older adults. However it is not known how or whether geriatric consultation improves compliance to these quality measures. METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart review of our institutional trauma databank. Adherence to quality measures was compared before and after implementation of specific triggers for geriatric consultation. Secondary analyses evaluated adherence by service: trauma service (Trauma) or a trauma service with early geriatric consultation (GeriTrauma). RESULTS: The average age of the 245 patients was 76.7 years, 47% were women, and mean Injury Severity Score was 9.5 (SD ±8.1). Implementation of the GeriTrauma collaborative increased geriatric consultation rates from 2% to 48% but had minimal effect on overall adherence to TQIP quality measures. A secondary analysis comparing those in the post implementation group who received geriatric consultation (n = 94) to those who did not (n = 103) demonstrated higher rates of delirium diagnosis (36.2% vs 14.6%, P < 0.01) and better documentation of initial living situation, code status, and medication list in the GeriTrauma group. Physical therapy was consulted more frequently for GeriTrauma patients (95.7% vs 68.0%, P < 0.01) Documented goals of care discussions were rare and difficult to abstract. A subgroup analysis of only patients with fall-related injuries demonstrated similar outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Early geriatric consultation increases adherence to TQIP guidelines. Further research into the long term significance and validity of these geriatric trauma quality indicators is needed.

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Technique in Below-Knee Amputation.

Approximately 25 percent of major limb amputees will develop chronic localized symptomatic neuromas and phantom limb pain in the residual limb. A method to treat and possibly prevent these pain symptoms is targeted reinnervation. Previous studies prove that targeted reinnervation successfully treats and, in some cases, resolves peripheral neuropathy and phantom limb pain in patients who have undergone previous amputation (i.e., secondary targeted reinnervation). This article seeks to share the authors' clinical indications and surgical technique for targeted muscle reinnervation in below-knee amputation, a surgical description currently absent from our literature. Targeted reinnervation for the below-knee amputee has been performed on 22 patients at the authors' institution. Each patient has been followed on an outpatient basis for 1 year to evaluate symptoms of neuroma or phantom limb pain, patient satisfaction, and functionality. All subjects have denied neuroma pain following amputation. The majority of subjects reported phantom pain at 1 month. However, at 3 months, all patients reported resolution of this pain. Dumanian et al. first noted the improvement of symptomatic neuroma and phantom limb pain in patients undergoing targeted reinnervation to provide intuitive control of upper limb prostheses. These findings have been substantiated by multiple previous studies at various amputation levels. This study extends the success of targeted muscle reinnervation to below-knee amputations and provides a description for this technique.