The effects of Brazilian chitosan-based biomaterials on wound healing in rats.

The use of natural supplies is a resource to mimic an original extracellular matrix that allows for migration, proliferation, and cellular organization. Chitosan from Brazilian Atlantic Ocean had low protein, minerals percentage and excellent antibacterial activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the effectiveness of different types of acids as solvents with Brazilian chitosan-membrane in the healing process of skin lesions. Experimental full-thickness 2 × 2 cm wounds were created on the dorsum skin of Wistar rats. The applied different treatments were saline, collagenase®, microcrystalline chitosan salt membrane (MCSM), microcrystalline chitosan acetic acid membrane (MCAAM), and microcrystalline chitosan hydrochloric acid membrane (MCHAM). The wound repairs were measured morphologically and histologically on days 0, 3, 7, 10, and 14. The exudate formation and the final wound contractions were similar in all of the groups. There were mild exudations in the groups with chitosan-membranes, despite the formation of crust under the membrane. This configured a serum hematic aspect, but there was no impact on the healing process. The MCHAM group had more favorable aspects that histologically showed the healing phases. A significant migration of neutrophils and macrophages seen by myeloperoxidade and Beta-N-Acetylglucosaminidase activities was evident in the chitosan groups, MCHAM and MCSM, respectively. Furthermore, the MCHAM group created its histological arrangement in a dense and more consistent manner.

Continuous absorbable suture versus interrupted permanent suture in the treatment of diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscle / Sutura contínua com fio absorvível versus interrompida com fio permanente no tratamento da diástase do músculo reto abdominal

Introduction: Plication of the rectus abdominis muscle is an important step in remodeling the abdomen in abdominoplasties. It can be performed using several types of threads with interrupted or continuous sutures, according to the surgeon's preferences. Few studies in the literature compared the different plication techniques in abdominoplasties. The present study aimed to compare continuous anchored suture with polydioxanone (PDS) with interrupted nylon suture regarding surgical time, relapse, and costs and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Methods: A randomized clinical trial in which 30 patients were enrolled for each of the two groups, 15 with continuous suture and 15 with interrupted suture, was conducted. The plication time was compared between the groups using the Student's t-test. Between 10 and 12 months postoperatively, all patients underwent ultrasonography for investigating diastasis recurrence. Results: Continuous suture decreased the plication time by almost 40% when compared to the interrupted suture (p < 0.001), without affecting the esthetic outcome. The PDS used in the continuous suture implied higher costs than those with the nylon threads used in the interrupted suture. No recurrence was found on the postoperative control ultrasonography results. Conclusion: Continuous suture reduced the plication time by almost 40% (p < 0.001) when compared to interrupted suture. Despite being associated with higher costs, PDS seems to be a good alternative to non-absorbable sutures, such as nylon threads, in plications of the rectus abdominis, since it is a more biocompatible material.

Introdução: A plicatura do músculo reto abdominal é um passo importante no remodelamento do abdômen nas abdominoplastias. Ela pode ser realizada com vários tipos de fios e com suturas interrompidas ou contínuas, de acordo com as preferências do cirurgião. Poucos estudos na literatura compararam diferentes técnicas de plicatura nas abdominoplastias. O objetivo do estudo é comparar a sutura contínua ancorada com polidioxanona (PDS) com a sutura interrompida com náilon quanto ao tempo cirúrgico, recidiva, custos e discutir vantagens de desvantagens de cada método. Métodos: Ensaio clínico randomizado no qual 30 pacientes foram arroladas para cada um dos grupos, 15 sutura contínua e 15 sutura interrompida. O tempo de plicatura foi comparado entre os grupos utilizando-se o teste t de Student. Entre 10 a 12 meses de pós-operatório, todas as pacientes foram submetidas à ecografia em busca de recidivas da diástase. Resultados: A sutura contínua diminuiu em quase 40% o tempo de plicatura quando comparada à sutura interrompida (p < 0,001), sem prejuízo no resultado estético. O PDS utilizado na sutura contínua implicou maiores custos que os fios de náilon utilizados na sutura interrompida. Nenhuma recidiva foi encontrada na ecografia de controle no pós-operatório. Conclusão: A sutura contínua quando comparada à sutura interrompida foi capaz de reduzir o tempo de plicatura em quase 40% (p < 0,001). A utilização do PDS, apesar dos maiores custos, parece ser uma boa alternativa às suturas com fios não absorvíveis como o náilon nas plicaturas do músculo reto abdominal, uma vez que se trata de um fio de maior biocompatibilidade.