Fluorescent Light Energy and Chronic Lesions: A Winning Association.

BACKGROUND: Chronic ulcers represent a challenge for healthcare professionals and a large expense for national health care systems for their difficulty in achieving complete healing and for their high incidence of recurrence. With the progressive aging of the general population, the incidence of these injuries will only increase, further affecting the public health budget, hence the need to find new strategies for their management. The purpose of this study was to share the experience of the Complex Operational Unit of Plastic Surgery of the University Hospital of Padua with fluorescent light energy therapy, outlining its role in the treatment of chronic ulcers in the daily use outside the previous EUREKA study. METHODS: In this case series study, we enrolled 15 patients with chronic ulcers of any etiology between January 2018 and July 2019 and we treated them using fluorescence light energy. We evaluated efficacy and safety endpoints reporting data in excel files completed by medical staff during the study. RESULTS: The study confirms the effectiveness of fluorescent light energy inducing chronic ulcer healing, regardless of etiology, or at least preparing the lesions for a skin graft closure surgery. The system showed a low rate of complications established by patient adherence to treatment. Patients also reported a reduction in pain both at home and during outpatient dressings. CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, fluorescent light energy shows an excellent safety and efficacy profile in chronic ulcers no more responsive to traditional dressings and/or surgery.

Nutritional Support for Bariatric Surgery Patients: The Skin beyond the Fat.

Body contouring surgery after the massive weight loss due to bariatric surgery deals with different kinds of complications. The aim of this review is to analyze the role that some nutrients may play in tissue healing after surgery, thus helping plastic surgeons to improve the aesthetic and health outcomes in massive weight loss patients under a multidisciplinary approach. As a matter of fact, preoperative nutritional deficiencies have been shown for vitamins and minerals in a large percentage of post-bariatric patients. Preoperative deficiencies mainly concern iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins (both fat-soluble and water-soluble), but also total protein. During the postoperative period, these problems may increase because of the patients' very low intake of vitamins and minerals after bariatric surgery (below 50% of the recommended dietary allowance) and the patients' low compliance with the suggested multivitamin supplementation (approximately 60%). In the postoperative period, more attention should be given to nutritional aspects in regard to the length of absorptive area and the percentage of weight loss.

The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for COVID-19: A Review.

The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic produced high and excessive demands for hospitalizations and equipment with depletion of critical care resources. The results of these extreme therapeutic efforts have been sobering. Further, we are months away from a robust vaccination effort, and current therapies provide limited clinical relief. Therefore, several empirical oxygenation support initiatives have been initiated with intermittent hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy to overcome the unrelenting and progressive hypoxemia during maximum ventilator support in intubated patients, despite high FiO2. Overall, few patients have been successfully treated in different locations across the globe. More recently, less severe patients at the edge of impending hypoxemia were exposed to HBO preventing intubation and obtaining the rapid resolution of symptoms. The few case descriptions indicate large variability in protocols and exposure frequency. This summary illustrates the biological mechanisms of action of increased O2 pressure, hoping to clarify more appropriate protocols and more useful application of HBO in COVID-19 treatment.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Plastic Surgery practice: case series and literature overview.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the use of 100% oxygen at pressures more than atmospheric. Several approved applications and indications exist for HBOT in the literature. Non-healing wounds, such as diabetic and vascular insufficiency ulcers, have 1 Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy 2 Department of Physiology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy Corresponding author: Ilaria Tocco-Tussardi, e-mail: ilaria.toccotussardi@gmail.com © Copyright 2019, CIC Edizioni Internazionali, Romabeen a major area of application, and the use of HBOT as an adjunct has been approved by several studies and trials. HBOT is also indicated for acute soft tissue infections like clostridial myonecrosis, necrotising soft tissue infections, as also for traumatic wounds, crush injury, compartment syndrome, and compromised skin grafts and flaps. Another major area of application of HBOT is radiation-induced wounds. With increasing availability of chambers and studies proving the benefits of use, HBOT should be considered as an essential part of the overall management strategy for plastic surgeons.

Evaluation of fluorescence biomodulation in the real-life management of chronic wounds: the EUREKA trial.

OBJECTIVE: Fluorescence biomodulation (FB), a form of photobiomodulation (PBM) that is also known as low energy level light (LELL), has become an increasingly used clinical tool to induce wound healing in wounds that remain recalcitrant to treatment. In a real-life clinical setting, the aim of the EUREKA (EvalUation of Real-lifE use of Klox biophotonic system in chronic wound mAnagement) study was to confirm the efficacy and safety of LumiHeal, a system based on FB, in the treatment of chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers (VLUs), diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and pressure ulcers (PUs). The effects of this FB system on the modulation of wound healing in chronic ulcers through FB induction were previously examined in an interim analysis of this study. METHOD: A multicenter, prospective, observational, uncontrolled trial in 12 clinical sites in Italy. The wound was cleansed with saline and a 2mm thick layer of a chromophore gel was applied to the affected area in a biweekly regimen. The area was then illuminated with the LED activator for five minutes at a distance of 5cm. Treatment was used in combination with standard of care specific to each type of chronic wound (VLU, DFU, PU). Wound area evaluation was assessed using the Silhouette Imaging System and quality of life (QoL) with the Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule (CWIS). A seven-point evaluation of the clinicans' view was also examined. RESULTS: We enrolled 100 subjects, with the final analysis including 99 patients/ulcers consisting of 52 VLUs, 32 DFUs and 15 PUs. Total wound closure at the end of the study was achieved in 47 patients by aetiology: 26 VLUs (50% of VLUs); 16 DFUs (50% of DFUs); and five PUs (33.3% of PUs). The mean wound area regression at last study assessment was significant for VLUs (41.0%; p<0.001) and DFUs (52.4%; p<0.001). After four weeks of treatment, it was possible to significantly predict if the ulcer would respond (defined as a decrease of wound size) to the study treatment. Adherence was high (95.2%) and no related serious adverse events were reported during the study. QoL significantly improved, with an increase of 15.4% of the total score, using the CWIS (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed a positive efficacy profile of the FB system in inducing the wound healing process in three different types of hard-to-heal chronic wounds. The treatment was shown to be safe and well tolerated by the patients, with a significant improvement in patient QoL. This approach offers an effective modality for the treatment of hard-to-heal chronic ulcers.

Leeching as Salvage Venous Drainage in Ear Reconstruction: Clinical Case and Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Ear avulsion is a rare complication of different traumas, such as car accidents, human or animal bites and stab wounds, and can result in dramatic cosmetic consequences for the patient. Ear replantation, revascularization, and reattachment are the options offering best aesthetic results. But venous outflow insufficiency is responsible for a high rate of failures. Leeching is one the most efficient methods to relieve venous congestion. It has been used as an alternative venous outflow in case of severe impairment of the physiologic one. METHODS: We present a case of successful rescue of a congested reattached ear by leeching after subtotal avulsion, along with a review of the literature on cases of avulsed auricle reconstruction salvaged by hirudotherapy. Data were collected and analyzed to identify a best regimen to deal with venous congestion. RESULTS: More than 130 cases of avulsed auricle savage are described in the literature, in a fourth of which leech therapy was used in the management of venous congestion. DISCUSSION: In case of both venous outflow deficit or absence, leeches are a potentially successful option to correct the congestion while new veins reestablish normal physiology. The need for anticoagulant/antiaggregant therapy, antibiotics, and often blood transfusion are the main pitfalls of leeching. CONCLUSION: Leeches can be considered a salvage method for ear replantation and reattachment in those cases that lack venous outflow in the presence of valid arterial inflow.

EUREKA study - the evaluation of real-life use of a biophotonic system in chronic wound management: an interim analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Interest has grown regarding photobiomodulation (PBM) with low-level light therapy, which has been shown to positively affect the stages of the wound healing process. In a real-life context clinical setting, the objective of the EUREKA study was to investigate efficacy, safety, and quality of life associated with the use of a BioPhotonic gel (LumiHeal™) in the treatment of chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers (VLUs), diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), and pressure ulcers (PUs). This BioPhotonic gel represents a new, first-in-class emission spectrum of light, including fluorescence, to induce PBM and modulate healing. DESIGN: The multicenter, prospective, interventional, uncontrolled, open-label study enrolled 100 patients in 12 wound centers in Italy. We performed an early interim analysis based on the first 33 subjects (13 VLU, 17 DFU, 3 PU) in seven centers who completed the study. MAIN RESULTS: Seventeen patients (52%) achieved total wound closure (full re-epithelialization for 2 weeks) during the study period. Two patients (6%) were considered "almost closed" (decrease of the wound area of more than 90% at study end) and three others (9%) were considered "ready for skin grafting". No related serious adverse events were observed, and the compliance was excellent. After the treatment, the average time to "pain-free" was 11.9 days in the VLU group. Quality of life was improved with overall increase of 26.4% of the total score (Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The study revealed a positive efficacy profile of the BioPhotonic gel in promoting wound healing and reactivating the healing process in different types of chronic, hard-to-heal wounds. The treatment was shown to be safe and well tolerated by the patients, and a reduction of pain perception was also detected during the treatment period. The improvement of the quality of life was accompanied by a high level of clinician satisfaction.

Updated scar management practical guidelines: non-invasive and invasive measures.

Hypertrophic scars and keloids can be aesthetically displeasing and lead to severe psychosocial impairment. Many invasive and non-invasive options are available for the plastic (and any other) surgeon both to prevent and to treat abnormal scar formation. Recently, an updated set of practical evidence-based guidelines for the management of hypertrophic scars and keloids was developed by an international group of 24 experts from a wide range of specialities. An initial set of strategies to minimize the risk of scar formation is applicable to all types of scars and is indicated before, during and immediately after surgery. In addition to optimal surgical management, this includes measures to reduce skin tension, and to provide taping, hydration and ultraviolet (UV) protection of the early scar tissue. Silicone sheeting or gel is universally considered as the first-line prophylactic and treatment option for hypertrophic scars and keloids. The efficacy and safety of this gold-standard, non-invasive therapy has been demonstrated in many clinical studies. Other (more specialized) scar treatment options are available for high-risk patients and/or scars. Pressure garments may be indicated for more widespread scarring, especially after burns. At a later stage, more invasive or surgical procedures may be necessary for the correction of permanent unaesthetic scars and can be combined with adjuvant measures to achieve optimal outcomes. The choice of scar management measures for a particular patient should be based on the newly updated evidence-based recommendations taking individual patient and wound characteristics into consideration.

The periprosthetic capsule and connective tissue diseases: a piece in the puzzle of autoimmune/autoinflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants.

Breast prostheses have been criticized for being responsible for triggering systemic autoimmune disease. The presence of breast implants causes a natural foreign body reaction characterized by the infiltration of macrophages and T-cells. Using PubMed, Medline and eMedicine, we performed a systematic literature review on the stages of periprosthetic capsule formation and cells involved in order to understand which immunological pathways could be responsible for giving rise to, and the development of, connective tissue disease such as systemic sclerosis. We focused on the relationship between tissue growth factor-ß, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and T helper 17 or T regulatory cells, as well as on their effects on the different steps of capsular tissue formation. A disturbance in the modulation of these key cytokines may be responsible, in susceptible individuals, for a perpetuation of the inflammatory reaction which can locally lead to capsular contracture and at the systemic level may contribute to triggering autoimmune diseases.