OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE USE OF 40% BENZOIC ACID FOR NECRECTOMY IN DEEP BURNS.

INTRODUCTION: Chemical necrectomy of deep burns using 40% benzoic acid has been used extensively by the Department of Burns and Reconstructive Surgery at the University Hospital since its establishment in 1982. In spite of definite advantages for the patient and medical staff, hard data concerning benzoic acid absorption through skin necrosis and patient safety was missing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 22 burn patients in collaboration with the University Hospital Brno, Department of Clinical Biochemistry. The plasmatic levels of benzoic acid, hippuric acids and glycine, which is consumed during the metabolism of benzoic acid, were measured. Urine samples were collected to determine the total amount of hippuric acid that is excreted. We were able to determine the total amount of absorbed and excreted benzoic acid from these values. RESULTS: We consistently found that there was a rapid and short-term increase of plasmatic levels of benzoic acid (maximum 1.3 mmol/l). This value is about 5 times lower than the minimum toxic level of this acid (6.5 mmol/l). The same course has been observed in hippuric acid. The level of glycine dropped slightly, but was still within the normal range. DISCUSSION: Typical and atypical courses of the levels of both acids were discussed as well as the correlation of the dynamics of elimination with the extent of benzoic acid application in relationship with the clinical status of the patient. The effectiveness and safety of this method was evaluated. CONCLUSION: After summarizing the observations, it was demonstrated that chemical necrectomy using 40% benzoic acid is a selective method comparable with other types of sharp necrectomy. Chemical necrectomy is inexpensive, easy to perform and also reduces blood loss. Toxicity of absorbed benzoic acid is clinically negligible. Furthermore, benzoic acids antimycotic and antibacterial properties prevent the development of wound infection.

[The treatment of walled-off pancreatic necrosis. Review]. / A demarkált pancreasnecrosis kezelése. Irodalmi áttekintés.

Walled-off pancreatic necrosis is a late complication of severe acute pancreatitis that generally needs some interventions. The aim of this review is to analyse the indications, technical aspects and limits of these therapeutic options. The development of the walled-off pancreatic necrosis needs 4-6 weeks from the onset of the disease. The necrosectomy is recommended after this time. Endoscopic necrosectomy offers good results if the necrosis is in retrogastric or retroduodenal localisations. Open necrosectomy can be performed through the gastrocolic ligament or the mesocolon. It is suggested to complete necrosectomy with open or closed omental bursa drainage or packing. The transgastric necrosectomy does not need external drainage. Surgical procedures can be performed with laparoscopy either. In localized necrosis other minimal invasive approaches can be used. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the transluminal endoscopic or minimal invasive necrosectomies different types of surgical procedures has an important role in the treatment of walled-off pancreatic necrosis. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(47), 1866-1870.

[Our experience in Fournier's gangrene with severe septic shock]. / Súlyos septicus állapotot okozó Fournier-gangraena kezelésével szerzett tapasztalataink.

Fournier's gangrene is a rare, rapidly progressing necrotizing fasciitis, which involves the genital area and perineum, progresses towards the thighs and abdominal wall through fascial plains. In our surgical department we treated seven patients with Fournier's gangrene between 2007 and 2011. Early diagnosis, immediate radical surgical debridement, necrosectomy, appropriate antibiotics and intensive care are all required and necessary for the successful treatment. Despite appropriate therapy, two patients were lost in septic shock.

Vibrio vulnificus-Induced Necrotizing Fasciitis Complicated by Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infection: Efficacy of Chemical Necrectomy Using 40% Benzoic Acid.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening skin and soft tissue infection associated with high morbidity and mortality in adult patients. This infection can present as either type 1 infection caused by a mixed microflora (Streptococci, Enterobacteriacae, Bacteroides sp., and Peptostreptococcus sp.), most commonly developing in patients after surgery or in diabetic patients, or as type 2. The latter type is monomicrobial and, usually, caused by group A Streptococci. Rarely, this type can be also caused by other pathogens, such as Vibrio vulnificus. V vulnificus is a small mobile Gram-negative rod capable of causing 3 types of infections in humans-gastroenteritis, primary infection of the vascular bed, and wound infections. If infecting a wound, V vulnificus can cause a life-threatening condition-necrotizing fasciitis. We present a rare case of necrotizing fasciitis developing after an insect bite followed by exposure to the seawater. Rapid propagation of the infectious complication in the region of the right lower limb led to a serious consideration of the necessity of amputation. Due to the clearly demarcated necroses and secondary skin and soft tissue infection caused by a multiresistant strain of Acinetobacter baumannii, we, however, resorted to the use of selective chemical necrectomy using 40% benzoic acid-a unique application in this kind of condition. The chemical necrectomy was successful, relatively gentle and thanks to its selectivity, vital parts of the limb remained preserved and could have been subsequently salvaged at minimum blood loss. Moreover, the antimicrobial effect of benzoic acid led to rapid decolonization of the necrosis and wound bed preparation, which allowed us to perform defect closure using split-thickness skin grafts. The patient subsequently healed without further complications and returned to normal life.

Qualitative analysis of surgical smoke produced during burn operations.

Burned tissue is necrotic and it is surrounded by a zone of stasis and hyperaemia with changed cell metabolism. The removal of burned tissue using an electric knife releases large amounts of surgical smoke. The aim of the research was to analyse volatile, nonpolar, organic compounds that are released during the excision of burned tissue using an electric knife (mono- and bipolar). The study includes analysis from 40 solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibres, exposed during 10 interventions (6 escharotomy and 4 necrectomy). The analysis of volatile compounds was performed using mass spectrometry gas chromatography (GCxGC-ToFMS).The total analysis covered 432 compounds, whereas after the removal of the "background" compounds - 153 volatile organic substances remained. The analysis of surgical smoke showed that, including derivatives, benzene constituted as much as 17.65% of all of the studied compounds. Cyclic compounds constituted on average 22.5% of the analysed substances, out of which cycloheptatrien constituted 20.26%. Alkanes, alcohols and their derivatives constituted nearly 25% of volatile organic compounds, with chloromethane constituting as much as 13.7%. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) revealed statistically significant differences between escharotomy and necrectomy patients (F(1.9) = 5.91, p = 0.007).Our study revealed the presence of complex toxic hydrocarbon derivatives in surgical smoke. We also observed that the content of surgical smoke is different depending on the type of the conducted intervention. So far, no studies focusing on hazards posed by surgical smoke that is released during the resection of burned tissue are in the literature.

A curative-intent endoscopic surgery for postradiation nasopharyngeal necrosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Postradiation nasopharyngeal necrosis (PRNN) is a severe complication after radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which can severely affect the quality of life and threaten the patient's life. Only 13.4%-28.6% of patients can be cured by traditional repeated endoscopic debridement. Here, we introduced an innovative curative-intent endoscopic surgery for PRNN patients and evaluated its clinical efficacy. METHODS: Clinical data of 72 PRNN patients who underwent radical endoscopic necrectomy, followed by reconstruction using a posterior pedicle nasal septum and floor mucoperiosteum flap were analyzed to determine the efficacy of this surgery. The endpoints were complete re-epithelialization of the nasopharyngeal defect, relief of headache, and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: All surgeries were successfully performed without any severe postoperative complications or death. The median value of numeric rating scales of pain decreased from 8 before surgery to 0 after surgery (P < 0.001). Fifty-one patients (70.8%) achieved complete re-epithelialization of the nasopharyngeal defect. The number of cycles of radiotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 7.254; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.035-50.821; P = 0.046), postoperative pathological result (OR, 34.087; 95% CI 3.168-366.746; P = 0.004), and survival status of flap (OR, 261.179; 95% CI 17.176-3971.599; P < 0.001) were independent risk factors of re-epithelialization of the nasopharyngeal defects. Postoperative pathological result (hazard ratio [HR], 5.018; 95% CI 1.970-12.782; P = 0.001) was an independent prognostic factor for OS. The 2-year OS rate of the entire cohort was 77.9%. CONCLUSION: Curative-intent endoscopic necrectomy followed by construction using the posterior pedicle nasal septum and floor mucoperiosteum flap is a novel, safe, and effective treatment of PRNN in patients with NPC.