Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation: A Tool in the Multidisciplinary Approach to Limb Function Preservation.

SUMMARY: The multidisciplinary approach to lower extremity function preservation is well established and is globally considered the standard of care. Every member of the team contributes their unique skills and knowledge to patient care. The effective integration of negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation (NPWTi) has fundamentally changed the approach to the infected or contaminated wound. Initially, in conjunction with excisional debridement, NPWTi has demonstrated its utility of expediting wound bed preparation for closure or coverage. With the introduction of a novel foam design, the effectiveness has increased and provided an option in cases where surgical intervention is not available or recommended. The successful implementation and continued monitoring of NPWTi provides an efficient tool to expedite ultimate wound healing and involves all members of the team.

Management of Gustilo-Anderson Type II and IIIA Open Long Bone Fractures in Children: Which Wounds Require a Second Washout?

INTRODUCTION: Timing of wound closure in pediatric Gustilo-Anderson grade II and IIIA open long bone fracture remain controversial. Our aims are (1) to determine the proportion of patients with these fractures whose wounds can be treated with early primary wound closure (EPWC); (2) to compare the complication rates between EPWC and delayed wound closure (DWC); and (3) to determine factors associated with higher likelihood of undergoing DWC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: At a level-1 pediatric trauma center, 96 patients (younger than 18 y) who sustained Gustilo-Anderson grade II and IIIA open long bone fractures (humerus, radius, ulnar, femur, or tibia) within a 10-year period (2006-2016) were included for this study. Decision for EPWC versus DWC was at the discretion of the attending surgeon at time of initial surgery. Data collection was via retrospective review of charts and radiographs. Particular attention was paid to the incidence of return to operating room rate, nonunion, compartment syndrome, and infection. Median follow-up duration was 7.5 months (interquartile range: 3.6 to 25.3 mo). All patients were followed-up at least until bony union. RESULTS: Overall, 81% of patients (78/96) underwent EPWC. Of the grade II fractures, 86% underwent EPWC. Four patients (5%) in the EPWC group and 1 patient (6%) in the DWC group had at least 1 complication. When controlling for mechanism of injury, Gustilo-Anderson fracture type and age, there was no difference in rate of complications between the EPWC and the DWC groups. Grade IIIA fractures and being involved in a motor vehicle accident were factors associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing DWC. CONCLUSION: The majority of grade II and IIIA pediatric long bone fractures may be safely treatable with EPWC without additional washouts. Future prospective research is required to further define the subgroups that can benefit from DWC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-therapeutic, case cohort study.

Implementation of the small bites closure of abdominal midline incisions in clinical practice is correlated with a reduction in surgical site infections.

BACKGROUND: Small steps wound closure of midline laparotomy has been reported to decrease the incidence of incisional hernia development in two randomized controlled trials. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of implementing the small steps wound closure technique in clinical practice with regards to the development of incisional ventral hernia (IVH) and surgical site infections (SSI) in clinical practice. METHODS: Implementation of the small steps wound closure technique using the small tissue bites technique as the standard closure technique for abdominal midline incisions in our clinical practice was done in March 2015. For this study, all patients from June 2013 until June 2016 with a midline laparotomy, either long or small in case of specimen extraction in laparoscopic surgery, in either elective or emergency setting were included. Conventional large bite wound closure was compared to small steps wound closure with regards to the development of SSI, IVH as well as burst abdomen. RESULTS: A total of 327 patients were included. The small steps suture technique was used in 136 (42%) of the patients, whereas the conventional large bites suture technique was used in 191 patients (58%). A total of 54 patients in the large bites group developed SSI (28%) compared to 23 (17%) patients in the small steps group (p = 0.02). A total number of 10 patients (7%) developed IVH in the small steps group compared to 27 patients (14%) in the large bites group (p = 0.08). CONCLUSION: Implementation of small bites wound closure of abdominal midline incisions in clinical practice was correlated with a reduction in surgical site infections.

Plastic Surgeon Closure of Index Spinal Cases: A Single-Institution Review of 928 Cases.

PURPOSE: The role of the plastic surgeon in wound management following complications from prior spinal surgeries is well established. The present study evaluates wound complications following plastic surgeon closure of the primary spinal surgery in a large patient population. METHODS: Spinal surgeries closed by a single plastic surgeon at a large academic hospital were reviewed. Descriptive statistics were applied and outcomes in this sample were compared with previously published outcomes using 2-sample z tests. RESULTS: Nine hundred twenty-eight surgeries were reviewed, of which 782 were included. Seven hundred fifteen operations were for degenerative conditions of the spine, 22 for trauma, 30 for neoplasms, and 14 for congenital conditions. Four hundred twenty-one were lumbosacral procedures (53.8%) and 361 (46.2%) cervical. Fourteen patients (1.8%) required readmission with 30 days. This compares favorably to a pooled analysis of 488049 patients, in which the 30-day readmission rate was found to be 5.5% (z=4.5, P<0.0001). Seven patients (0.89%) had wound infection and 3 (0.38%) wound dehiscence postoperatively, compared with a study of 22,430 patients in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database who had an infection incidence of 2.2% (z=2.5, P=0.0132) and 0.3% dehiscence rate (z=0.4, P=0.6889). The combined incidence of wound complications in the present sample, 1.27%, was less than the combined incidence of wound complications in the population of 22,430 patients (z=2.2, P=0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-day readmissions and wound complications are intensely scrutinized quality metrics that may lead to reduced reimbursements and other penalties for hospitals. Plastic surgeon closure of index spinal cases decreases these adverse outcomes. Further research must be done to determine whether the increased cost of plastic surgeon involvement in these cases is offset by the savings represented by fewer readmissions and complications.

Expertise in Head and Neck Cutaneous Reconstructive Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The management of skin cancers has evolved with the development of Mohs micrographic surgery and a greater emphasis on surgical training within dermatology. It is unclear whether these changes have translated into innovations and contributions to the reconstructive literature. OBJECTIVE: To assess contributions from each medical specialty to the cutaneous head and neck oncologic reconstructive literature. METHODS: The authors conducted a systematic review of the head and neck reconstructive literature from 2000 through 2015 based on a priori search terms relating to suture technique, linear closure, advancement, rotation, transposition and interpolation flaps, and identified the specialty of the senior authors. RESULTS: The authors identified 74,871 articles, of which 1,319 were relevant. Under suture technique articles, the senior authors were primarily dermatologists (58.2%) and plastic surgeons (20.3%). Under linear closure, the authors were dermatologists (48.1%), plastic surgeons (22.2%), and otolaryngologists (20.4%). Under advancement and rotation flaps, the senior authors were plastic surgeons (40.5%, 38.9%), dermatologists (38.1%, 34.2%), and otolaryngologists (14.4%, 21.6%). Under transposition and interpolation flaps, the senior authors were plastic surgeons (47.3%, 39.4%), dermatologists (32.3%, 27.0%), and otolaryngologists (15.3%, 23.4%). CONCLUSION: The primary specialties contributing to the cutaneous head and neck reconstructive literature are plastic surgery, dermatology, and otolaryngology.

Proposal of Standardization of Closure Techniques After Endoscopic Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery Based on Postoperative Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Risk Classification.

Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak still represents the main limitation of endonasal endoscopic surgery. The aim of the study is to classify the risk of postoperative leak and to propose a decision-making protocol to be applied in the preoperative phase based on radiological data and on intraoperative findings to obtain the best closure.One hundred fifty-two patients were treated in our institution; these patients were divided into 2 groups because from January 2013 the closure technique was standardized adopting a preoperative decision-making protocol. The Postoperative CSF leak Risk Classification (PCRC) was estimated taking into account the size of the lesion, the extent of the osteodural defect, and the presence of intraoperative CSF leak (iCSF-L). The closure techniques were classified into 3 types according to PCRC estimation (A, B, and C).The incidence of the use of a nasoseptal flap is significantly increased in the second group 80.3% versus 19.8% of the first group and the difference was statistically significant P < 0.0001. The incidence of postoperative CSF leak (pCSF-L) in the first group was 9.3%. The incidence of postoperative pCSF-L in the second group was 1.5%. An analysis of the pCSF-L rate in the 2 groups showed a statistically significant difference P = 0.04.The type of closure programmed was effective in almost all patients, allowing to avoid the possibility of a CSF leak. Our protocol showed a significant total reduction in the incidence of CSF leak, but especially in that subgroup of patients where a leak is usually unexpected.

Rationale and Options for Choosing an Optimal Closure Technique for Primary Midsagittal Osteochondrotomy of the Sternum. Part 3: Technical Decision Making Based on the Practice of Patient- Appropriate Medicine.

The topographic anatomy of the sternum is similar in a healthy population. However, in a clinical subset of patients with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high body mass index, chronic renal disease, or age-related osteoporosis, there are significant changes in the normal physiology that may influence overall patient outcome following trans-sternal intrathoracic surgery. These changes can create technical difficulties in reconstructing the bisected sternum and adversely affect the biomechanics of the thoracic wall, forcing difficult surgical choices with regard to implant options and increasing the cost of an otherwise routine cardiac surgery. A thorough preoperative surgical and technical planning is essential to avert perioperative complications such as failure of wound healing, non-union of the sternum, and life-threatening mediastinitis. Patient expectations need to be explored and the patients should be well informed so that they can make knowledgeable choices regarding their illness and surgical interventions. They should also be given a probable prognosis to provide psychological support. Within the realm of clinical methodology, the concept of patient-appropriate medicine is introduced to direct attending team to become aware of overall health of its patient. The inclusion of a clinical biomechanical engineer as a surgical team member is recommended to perform patient-specific finite element analysis to select an optimal implant to fix the sternum. To help assess the overall benefit-risk profile objectively, an absolute therapeutic index has been proposed.

Early and Late Closure of Loop Ileostomies: A Retrospective Comparative Outcomes Analysis.

The optimal timing of loop ileostomy reversal remains largely unknown, but evidence that delayed ileostomy closure may increase postoperative complication rates is increasing. PURPOSE: Retrospective research was conducted to compare outcomes between patients who had early (<6 months) or late (>6 months) loop ileostomy closure. METHODS: Records of patients >18 years of age who underwent circumstomal reversal of a loop ileostomy over a period of 5 years in 1 hospital's colorectal unit were abstracted and analyzed. Data from patients who had a planned or conversion to laparotomy, a concurrent bowel resection, reversal of double-barrel small bowel and colonic stomas, or closure of an end ileostomy or patients whose records were incomplete were excluded. Demographic information, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, primary operation indication, surgery and inpatient dates, readmission within 30 days of discharge, reasons for readmission, complication type, and Clavien-Dindo classification were extracted and compared between early and late closure groups using independent-sample t test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Among the 75 study participants, 25 had an early closure (mean age 68.6 [range 26 - 93] years, mean time since primary surgery 3.8 months) and 50 had a late closure procedure (mean age 71.6 [range 46 - 93] years, mean time since primary surgery 12.8 months). Gender distribution, ASA grades, primary surgery indication, and total number of readmissions were similar between the 2 groups. Hospital length of stay was significantly shorter (5.5 days vs 9.4 days; P = .01) and average number of complications was significantly lower (0.33 vs 0.61; P = .04) in the early closure group. Rates of postoperative ileus, anastomotic bleed, and wound-related complications were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Hospital length of stay and average number of postoperative complications following circumstomal loop ileostomy closure were significantly lower in the early than in the late closure group. Additional studies are warranted to help guide practice.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary patient care bundle for reducing surgical-site infections.

BACKGROUND: Surgical-site infection (SSI) is associated with significant healthcare costs. To reduce the high rate of SSI among patients undergoing colorectal surgery at a cancer centre, a comprehensive care bundle was implemented and its efficacy tested. METHODS: A pragmatic study involving three phases (baseline, implementation and sustainability) was conducted on patients treated consecutively between 2013 and 2016. The intervention included 13 components related to: bowel preparation; oral and intravenous antibiotic selection and administration; skin preparation, disinfection and hygiene; maintenance of normothermia during surgery; and use of clean instruments for closure. SSI risk was evaluated by means of a preoperative calculator, and effectiveness was assessed using interrupted time-series regression. RESULTS: In a population with a mean BMI of 30 kg/m2 , diabetes mellitus in 17·5 per cent, and smoking history in 49·3 per cent, SSI rates declined from 11·0 to 4·1 per cent following implementation of the intervention bundle (P = 0·001). The greatest reductions in SSI rates occurred in patients at intermediate or high risk of SSI: from 10·3 to 4·7 per cent (P = 0·006) and from 19 to 2 per cent (P < 0·001) respectively. Wound care modifications were very different in the implementation phase (43·2 versus 24·9 per cent baseline), including use of an overlying surface vacuum dressing (17·2 from 1·4 per cent baseline) or leaving wounds partially open (13·2 from 6·7 per cent baseline). As a result, the biggest difference was in wound-related rather than organ-space SSI. The median length of hospital stay decreased from 7 (i.q.r. 5-10) to 6 (5-9) days (P = 0·002). The greatest reduction in hospital stay was seen in patients at high risk of SSI: from 8 to 6 days (P < 0·001). SSI rates remained low (4·5 per cent) in the sustainability phase. CONCLUSION: Meaningful reductions in SSI can be achieved by implementing a multidisciplinary care bundle at a hospital-wide level.

An Innovative Advance in Non-invasive Wound Closure: A New Paradigm.

Injury is the leading health and readiness threat to the armed forces, with two million instances per year; therefore, innovating wound care solutions can help improve readiness. The DermaClip Skin Closure Device is a new, non-invasive, painless, and easy-to-apply wound closure device that does not require either needles or painful anesthesia injections or create additional damage to the wounded area. The efficacy of the device was tested in a 120-patient trial, composed of 60 experimental cases and 60 control cases. The trial of the DermaClip device demonstrated the device's efficacy in meeting the needs of clinical applications. Additionally, the experimental group had no adverse events in the product safety test. The efficacy of the device coupled with the features of ease of use and limited requirements for application make this a wound closure device particularly applicable to the emergency and battlefield setting.

Quality improvement initiative: Preventative Surgical Site Infection Protocol in Vascular Surgery.

Objective A quality improvement initiative was employed to decrease single institution surgical site infection rate in open lower extremity revascularization procedures. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In an attempt to lower patient morbidity, we developed and implemented the Preventative Surgical Site Infection Protocol in Vascular Surgery. Surgical site infections lead to prolonged hospital stays, adjunctive procedure, and additive costs. We employed targeted interventions to address the common risk factors that predispose patients to post-operative complications. Methods Retrospective review was performed between 2012 and 2016 for all surgical site infections after revascularization procedures of the lower extremity. A quality improvement protocol was initiated in January 2015. Primary outcome was the assessment of surgical site infection rate reduction in the pre-protocol vs. post-protocol era. Secondary outcomes evaluated patient demographics, closure method, perioperative antibiotic coverage, and management outcomes. Results Implementation of the protocol decreased the surgical site infection rate from 6.4% to 1.6% p = 0.0137). Patient demographics and comorbidities were assessed and failed to demonstrate a statistically significant difference among the infection and no-infection groups. Wound closure with monocryl suture vs. staple proved to be associated with decreased surgical site infection rate ( p < 0.005). Conclusions Preventative measures, in the form of a standardized protocol, to decrease surgical site infections in the vascular surgery population are effective and necessary. Our data suggest that there may be benefit in the incorporation of MRSA and Gram-negative coverage as part of the Surgical Care Improvement Project perioperative guidelines.

Bundles Prevent Surgical Site Infections After Colorectal Surgery: Meta-analysis and Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal surgeries (CRS) have one of the highest rates of surgical site infections (SSIs) with rates 15 to >30%. Prevention "bundles" or sets of evidence-based interventions are structured ways to improve patient outcomes. The aim sof this study is to evaluate CRS SSI prevention bundles, bundle components, and implementation and compliance strategies. METHODS: A meta-analysis of studies with pre- and post-implementation data was conducted to assess the impact of bundles on SSI rates (superficial, deep, and organ/space). Subgroup analysis of bundle components identified optimal bundle designs. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies (51,413 patients) were identified and 23 (17,557 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. A SSI risk reduction of 40% (p < 0.001) was noted with 44% for superficial SSI (p < 0.001) and 34% for organ/space (p = 0.048). Bundles with sterile closure trays (58.6 vs 33.1%), MBP with oral antibiotics (55.4 vs 31.8%), and pre-closure glove changes (56.9 vs 28.5%) had significantly greater SSI risk reduction. CONCLUSION: Bundles can effectively reduce the risk of SSIs after CRS, by fostering a cohesive environment, standardization, and reduction in operative variance. If implemented successfully and complied with, bundles can become vital to improving patients' surgical quality of care.

[The key points of prevention for special surgical complications after radical operation of gastric cancer].

Incidence of gastric cancer is high in China and standard radical operation is currently the main treatment for gastric cancer. Postoperative complications, especially some special complications, can directly affect the prognosis of patients, even result in the increase of mortality. But the incidences of these special complications are low, so these complications are often misdiagnosed and delayed in treatment owing to insufficient recognition of medical staff. These special complications include (1) Peterson hernia: It is an abdominal hernia developed in the space between Roux loop and transverse colon mesentery after Roux-Y reconstruction of digestive tract. Peterson hernia is rare and can quickly result in gangrenous ileus. Because of low incidence and without specific clinical symptoms, this hernia does not attract enough attention in clinical practice, so the outcome will be very serious. Once the diagnosis is made, an emergent operation must be performed immediately. Peterson space should be closed routinely in order to avoid the development of hernia. (2) Lymphatic leakage: It is also called chyle leakage. Cisterna chylus is formed by gradual concentration of extensive lymphatic net to diaphragm angle within abdominal cavity. Lymphadenectomy during operation may easily damage lymphatic net and result in leakage. The use of ultrasonic scalpel can decrease the risk of lymphatic leakage in certain degree. If lymphatic leakage is found during operation, transfixion should be performed in time. Treatment includes total parenteral nutrition, maintenance of internal environment, supplement of protein, and observation by clamp as an attempt. (3)Duodenal stump leakage: It is one of serious complications affecting the recovery and leading to death after subtotal gastrectomy. Correct management of duodenal stump during operation is one of key points of the prevention of duodenal stump leakage. Routine purse embedding of duodenal stump is recommend during operation. The key treatment of this complication is to promt diagnosis and effective hemostasis.(4) Blood supply disorder of Roux-Y intestinal loop: Main preventive principle of this complication is to pay attention to the blood supply of vascular arch in intestinal edge. (5) Anastomotic obstruction by big purse of jejunal stump: When Roux-en-Y anastomosis is performed after distal radical operation for gastric cancer, anvil is placed in the remnant stomach and anastomat from distal jejunal stump is placed to make gastrojejunal anastomosis, and the stump is closed with big purse embedding. The embedding jejunal stump may enter gastric cavity leading to internal hernia and anastomotic obstruction. We suggest that application of interruptable and interlocking suture and fixation of stump on the gastric wall can avoid the development of this complication.

Comparing Steri-Strip and surgical staple wound closures after primary total knee arthroplasties.

BACKGROUND: Steri-Strips (3M, Two Harbors, MN, USA) have recently been employed for skin closures after orthopedic surgeries. Here we compare the performance of Steri-Strips and skin staples for wound closure after primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). METHODS: A total of 76 consecutive osteoarthritic knees (71 patients) that underwent a primary TKA at our facility were included in this study. Thirty-eight knees received Steri-Strips for wound closure and were evaluated prospectively. The other 38 knees were closed with skin staples (Staple group) and evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: No deep or superficial infections developed in this series. Although Steri-Strips detached from three knees during the 10-day postoperative period, no dehiscence was observed. Thirteen knees developed blisters around the surgical incision in the Steri-Strip group compared with five knees in the Staple group. The average operative time for the Steri-Strip group was 60.6 min (SD 7.3) compared with 54.1 min (SD 6.9) in the Staple group. There were significant differences in operative time (p < 0.001) and tourniquet time (p < 0.001) between the two groups. The average time until patients were permitted to start showering was significantly shorter in the Steri-Strip group (p = 0.0496). The material cost for Steri-Strips was approximately $3.00 USD for one operation compared with $26 USD for skin staplers. CONCLUSIONS: Wound closure with Steri-Strips after a TKA does not require postoperative material removal and may have improved safety, comfort, cosmesis and cost-effectiveness compared with traditional skin closures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, Prognostic study.

Excision and Primary Closure May Be the Better Option in the Surgical Management of Pilonidal Disease in the Pediatric Population.

The optimal management of pilonidal disease in the pediatric population is still debated. We conducted a retrospective review of patients 21 years old and younger who underwent surgical management for pilonidal disease between 2009 and 2013 at a single pediatric institution. Sixty patients (41.7% male) were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 15.0 years (range, 13-20). Twelve (20%) had a prior drainage procedure for pilonidal abscess before the definitive operative treatment. After excision to the presacral fascia, 36 (60%) had primary closure, 17 (28.3%) were left to heal by secondary intention, and 7 (11.7%) had flap closure. Overall recurrence rate was 41.7 per cent with 33.3 per cent in the primary, 58.8 per cent in the secondary, and 42.9 per cent in the flap group, respectively. Ten (16.7%) patients developed postoperative complications, which were similar among surgical groups, gender, and body mass index. The average length of stay was 0.67 (median 0, range, 0-5) days. Primary closure had the shortest length of stay (analysis of variance P = 0.04), and flap closure had no reoperations (analysis of variance P < 0.01). Pilonidal disease remains surgically challenging. Our data suggest that excision and primary closure is a better option in the pediatric population.

Effects of an optional clinical skills laboratory on surgical performance of third-year veterinary students.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether addition of an optional clinical skills laboratory (OCSL) to the traditional surgery curriculum would affect total surgery time or incision closure time in veterinary students performing ovariohysterectomy of a dog during a third-year surgery course. DESIGN: Retrospective and prospective study of veterinary student attendance at OCSL sessions and student performance during the third-year surgery course. SAMPLE: Students from the classes of 2012, 2013, and 2014 at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. PROCEDURES: For all students, total surgery time and incision closure time were recorded when students performed an ovariohysterectomy of a dog during their third-year live-animal surgery course. Times were analyzed to identify differences among classes and determine whether times were associated with number of OCSL sessions attended, previous experience performing ovariohysterectomies, or enrollment in an elective clinical skills course. RESULTS: Total surgery and incision closure times were not significantly different between students in the class of 2012 (no access to the OCSL prior to the third-year surgery course) and students in the class of 2013 (ie, access to 4 OCSL sessions during the spring semester prior to the third-year surgery course). However, times were significantly shorter for students in the class of 2014 (ie, students who had access to OCSL sessions during the 3 semesters prior to the third-year surgery course) than for students in the other 2 classes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that attendance in the OCSL sessions was associated with improvements in surgical performance, as reflected in faster total surgery and incision closure times while performing an ovariohysterectomy during the third-year surgery course.

Early closure of temporary loop ileostomies: a systematic review.

A temporary loop ileostomy is a common surgical procedure to protect colorectal anastomoses. The aim of this systematic review was to determine whether early closure of a defunctioning loop ileostomy (<2 weeks from index operation) is safe and reduces stoma-related morbidity. A systematic literature search was conducted using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Collaboration, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL®) databases to identify all publications from January 1996 to March 2014 that reported the outcomes of early ileostomy closure. The following search terms (and their variations) were used as both medical subject headings (MeSH terms) and text words: ileostomy, surgical stoma, stoma, early, reversal, closure. No language restrictions were applied. The main outcomes of interest were stoma-related complications and postclosure complications. Studies that included pediatric patients (<18 years of age), small cohorts (<10 participants), case reports, conference abstracts, reviews, and letters; studies involving defunctioning colostomies or other types of small bowel stomas; and studies where results from closure of an ileostomy at >14 days could not be separated from early closure results were excluded. Where multiple studies were reported by the same institution and/or authors, only the most recent was included. This search strategy identified 4 studies (2 retrospective case series, 1 prospective nonrandomized study, and 1 randomized controlled trial), yielding a pooled population of 142 patients, ages 18-89 years old. Three studies reported indication for ileostomy; colorectal cancer accounted for 96 patients (78%). Time to ileostomy closure ranged from 8-14 days. No reported deaths were related to ileostomy closure. Wound infections were reported in 3 studies and were the most common complications, affecting 24 patients (19.8%). Of the 2 studies that reported ileostomy-related complications, 4 patients (3.6%) experienced a stoma-related complication before closure. Ileus or small bowel obstruction (SBO) occurred in 7 patients (4.9%). Compared to traditionally timed closure (8-12 weeks), reported stoma-related complication rates were lower in patients undergoing early closure. Both mortality and ileus/SBO rates also compare favorably with traditionally timed closure; however, wound infection rates appear to be increased. Additional studies to accurately define which individuals stand to benefit from early closure, as well as to further evaluate the impact of early ileostomy closure on quality of life and health care costs, are warranted.

[Laparotomy closure - do we know how?(Guideline of the European Hernia Society)]. / Uzáver laparotomie - víme jak?(Doporucení Evropské kýlní spolecnosti).

The recurrence rate of surgical treatment of incisional hernia is high. The material and surgical technique used to close the abdominal wall following every surgery contribute as important risk factors in incisional hernia formation. However, by optimising abdominal wall closure, many patients can be spared from developing this type of complication. The European Hernia Society has established a Guidelines Development Group with a goal to research the literature and write a series of recommendations of how to close the abdomen and minimize the risk of incisional hernia in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine. To decrease the incidence of incisional hernias, the following is recommended: To utilise a non-midline approach to a laparotomy whenever possible. To perform a continuous suturing technique using a slowly absorbable monofilament suture in a single layer aponeurotic closure technique. To perform the small bites technique with a suture to wound length (SL/WL) ratio at least 4/1. Not to close the peritoneum separately. To avoid rapidly resorbable materials. To consider using a prophylactic mesh in high-risk patients. To use the smallest trocar size adequate for the procedure and closing the fascial defect if trocars larger or equal to 10 mm are used in laparoscopic surgery. Key words: incisional hernia laparotomy laparotomy closure suturing material.

Técnicas para retirada de enxertos primários de retalhos traumáticos em áreas de desenluvamento / Techniques for removal of primary grafts from traumatic skin flaps in areas with degloving injuries

No tratamento dos pacientes vítimas de desenluvamento atendidos de maneira correta e precoce, a enxertia primária, com utilização da pele proveniente dos retalhos traumáticos é fundamental. Podem ser utilizados enxertos em ambas as espessuras, parcial ou total, não existindo na literatura uma definição em relação à melhor opção. Esta pele, também, pode ser utilizada de maneira imediata ou após conservação em banco de tecidos. Descrevemos neste artigo as principais técnicas para retirada de enxertos dos retalhos traumáticos.

Primary grafting using skin from traumatic flaps is essential in the correct and early treatment of patients with degloving injuries. Split- or full-thickness grafts can be used; however, the literature does not yet provide any indication of the best option. Moreover, this skin also can also be used immediately or after tissue bank storage. This report describes the main techniques for graft removal from traumatic flaps.