Minimizing Incision in Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Initial Experience and Comparative Analysis of Upper Midline Incision in 115 Recipients.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) needs "Mercedes Benz" or "J-shaped" incision, causing short and long-term complications. An upper midline incision (UMI) is less invasive alternative but technically challenging. Reporting UMI for recipients in LDLT vs. conventional J-shaped incision. Retrospective analysis, July 2021 to December 2022. Peri-operative details and post-transplant outcomes of 115 consecutive adult LDLT recipients transplanted with UMI compared with 140 recipients with J-shaped incision. Cohorts had similar preoperative and intraoperative variables. The UMI group had significant shorter time to ambulation (3 ± 1.6 vs. 3.6 ± 1.3 days, p = 0.001), ICU stay (3.8 ± 1.3 vs. 4.4 ± 1.5 days, p = 0.001), but a similar hospital stay (15.6±7.6 vs. 16.1±10.9 days, p = 0.677), lower incidence of pleural effusion (11.3% vs. 27.1% p = 0.002), and post-operative ileus (1.7% vs. 9.3% p = 0.011). The rates of graft dysfunction (4.3% vs. 8.5% p = 0.412), biliary complications (6.1% vs. 12.1% p = 0.099), 90-day mortality (7.8% vs. 12.1% p = 0.598) were similar. UMI-LDLT afforded benefits such as reduced pleuropulmonary complications, better early post-operative recovery and reduction in scar-related complaints in the medium-term. This is a safe, non-inferior and reproducible technique for LDLT.

Modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach to condyle reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the application value of a modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach to condyle reconstruction. METHODS: Condyle reconstruction was performed in 16 patients (9 females and 7 males) with modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach. After regular follow-up, the function of condyle reconstruction was evaluated by clinical indicators, such as parotid salivary fistula, facial nerve function, mouth opening, occlusal relationship, and facial scar. The morphology of rib graft rib cartilage was evaluated by imaging indicators, such as panoramic radiography, CT, and three-dimensional CT image reconstruction. RESULTS: At 6-36 months postoperative follow-up, all patients had good recovery of facial appearance, concealed incisional scar, no parotid salivary fistula, good mouth opening, and occlusion. One case had temporary facial paralysis and recovered after treatment. Radiographic evaluation further showed that costochondral graft survived in normal anatomic locations. CONCLUSIONS: The modified tragus edge incision and transmasseteric anteroparotid approach can effectively reduce parotid salivary fistula and facial nerve injury in condylar reconstruction. The surgical field was clearly exposed, and the incision scar was concealed without increasing the incidence of other complications. Thus, this approach is worthy of clinical promotion.

Pictorial essay of vestibular incision outcomes from transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy.

PURPOSE: The transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) has emerged as a new treatment option for patients with selected thyroid disease requiring surgery. The aim of this pictorial essay is to illustrate the healing outcomes of the vestibular incisions. METHODS: TOETVA patients were recruited at two Centers in China and Italy. TOETVA is initiated with one 10-20-mm median incision in the center of the oral vestibule 10 mm above the inferior labial frenulum, and two 5-mm lateral incisions, just below the lower lip near the labial commissure. Healing of the vestibular incision was monitored through serial photographs 1, 3, 7, 30, and 90 days after surgery. Outcomes were evaluated by Landry's score, time to healing, issues affecting wound outcomes, scar, fibrin, granulation, necrotic tissue formation, and infections. RESULTS: Results of TOETVA were monitored in 52 patients. There were no postoperative infections. All lateral incisions demonstrated favorable surgical outcomes. Landry's criteria scores indicated worse outcomes for the median incisions vs. the lateral ones (p<0.05). Median incisions healed well in 65.4% of patients, but 34.6% of patients had visible scars from the median incision 90 days after surgery. Eight (15.4%) had cicatricial diathesis, seven (13.5%) experienced displacement of the stitches, and three (5.8%) developed synechia with gingiva. When the central vestibular incision was <10mm from the gingiva, patients tended to form synechia (60%). There were no significant differences in wound healing between the Chinese and Italian patients. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of vestibular incision healing is essential to provide practical TOETVA clinical guide and to define optimal outcomes evaluation for transoral surgeons. Vestibular wound problems were confined only to the central incision.

Cesarean scar endometriosis: our recent experiences.

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue, endometrial glands or endometrial stroma outside the uterine cavity causing chronic inflammatory response. The prevalence of abdominal wall endometriosis is less than 1%. Cesarean scar endometriosis is the most common type of abdominal wall endometriosis. Chronic lower abdominal pain amplified during menstruation and palpable mass in the area of scar are the main symptoms. Generally, surgical resection with negative resection margins offers the best chance for definitive treatment of abdominal wall endometriosis. CASE REPORT: The authors present two female patients in fertile age with chronic pain in the area of Cesarean scar. The preoperatively assumed endometriosis was histologically confirmed after complete surgical excision. CONCLUSION: Abdominal wall endometriosis is rare. However, it is a possible cause of constant lower abdominal pain, impacting quality of life of the patient.

Antera 3D camera: A novel method for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of fractional CO2 laser for surgical incision scars.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a novel method for evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of fractional CO2 laser for incision scars. METHODS: A total of 72 patients after incision healing for at least 2 years were included in the series, with scars on neck, thyroid, chest, and limb from September 2013 to September 2016. The image of scar was taken by Antrea 3D camera before the treatment, VSS, and UN4P were also applied for scar evaluation. A total of four sessions at 4-6 intervals were conducted to each patient. After 3 months of last session, a final assessment was carried out by Antera 3D and VSS, UN4P independently. RESULTS: The Antera scores for color after 4 sessions were 8.78 ± 2.11, which were significantly lower than the prior treatment (9.62 ± 1.90, t = 2.51, P < 0.05). The Antera scores for texture after four sessions were 22.80 ± 5.23, which was significantly lower than the prior treatment (30.33 ± 5.41, t = 8.48, P < 0.05). The Antera scores for melanin levels after four sessions were 0.52 ± 0.05, which was significantly lower than the prior treatment (0.54 ± 0.05, t = 2.4, P < 0.05). The Antera scores for hemoglobin levels after four sessions were 1.88 ± 0.50, which was significantly lower than the prior treatment (2.11 ± 0.45, t = 2.90, P < 0.05). The Vancouver Scar scores after four sessions were 7.1 ± 2.0, which showed no statistically significant differences with the prior treatment (7.5 ± 2.4, t = 1.09, P = 0.25 > 0.05). The University of North Carolina "4P" Scar scores after four sessions were 6.6 ± 1.5, which also showed no statistically significant differences with the prior treatment (7.0 ± 1.9, t = 1.40, P = 0.15 > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For scar therapeutic evaluation, Antera 3D camera is objective and accurate, and is worthy of wide promotion.