Measurement of vancomycin hydrochloride concentration in the exudate from wounds receiving negative pressure wound therapy: a pilot study.

It has been reported that negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is effective in the treatment of contaminated wounds. We hypothesised that systemically administered antibiotics migrate to wound site effectively by NPWT, which provides the antibacterial effect. We measured and compared the concentrations of vancomycin in the exudate and blood serum. Eight patients with skin ulcers or skin defect wounds who were treated with NPWT and were administered an intravenous drip of vancomycin were enrolled in this study. The wound surfaces were muscle, muscle fascia or adipose tissue. We administered vancomycin intravenously to NPWT patients (1-3 g/day). The exudate was obtained using 500 ml V.A.C. ATS canisters without gel. Three days later, the concentrations of vancomycin were measured. The mean concentration of vancomycin in the exudate from NPWT was 67% of the serum vancomycin concentration. We found that concentrations of vancomycin in NPWT exudates are higher than the previously reported concentrations in soft tissue without NPWT. The proactive use of NPWT might be considered in cases of suspected wound contamination when a systemic antibiotic is administered.

Effects of supplementation with a combination of ß-hydroxy-ß-methyl butyrate, L-arginine, and L-glutamine on postoperative recovery of quadriceps muscle strength after total knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed in knee osteoarthritis patients is reported to be immediately followed by a decrease in quadriceps muscle strength. We investigated the effects of supplementation with a combination ß-hydroxy-ß-methyl butyrate, L-arginine, and L-glutamine (HMB/Arg/Gln) on the postoperative recovery of quadriceps muscle strength in patients after TKA. METHODS: Study subjects were 23 patients (12 women; mean age: 70.5) who underwent TKA. The patients were randomly allocated into the control group or the group that consumed HMB/Arg/Gln supplementation (HMB/Arg/Gln group). HMB/Arg/Gln supplementation or control food were consumed for 5 days before the surgery and for 28 days after the surgery, and maximal quadriceps strength was measured at 7 days before the surgery, and at 14, 28 and 42 days after the surgery. During the study, total energy expenditure was measured using a lifestyle recording device. The two groups followed the rehabilitation in the same way. RESULTS: The maximal quadriceps strength was 1.1±0.62 Nm/Kg before surgery and 0.7±0.9 Nm/Kg after surgery 14 days in the control group (p=0.02), and 1.1±0.3 Nm/Kg before surgery and 0.9±0.4 Nm/Kg after surgery 14 days in the HMB/Arg/Gln group. Although the control group experienced a significant loss of muscle strength after the surgery, the HMB/Arg/Gln group did not. There was no significant difference in total energy expenditure between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Consuming HMB/Arg/Gln supplementation may suppress the loss of muscle strength after TKA. Intervention with exercise and nutrition appears to enable patients to maintain their quadriceps strength.

Anatomy of the superficial layer of superficial fascia around the nipple-areola complex.

BACKGROUND: The periareolar incision is the preferred method for mammaplasty because of the minimal scarring, and suturing of the superficial fascial system (SFS) is useful for avoiding hypertrophic scarring. In this report, we describe the anatomical location of the SFS around the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) and its histological structure. METHODS: To define the location of the SFS, 20 healthy women were assessed by ultrasonography, and sections of the NAC of 10 female cadavers were examined under a light microscope. RESULTS: Ultrasonographic examination of sagittal sections of the breast revealed a hyperdense line immediately beneath the skin, which ran parallel with the skin and turned under the NAC. At the turning point, the line thickened to an average of 3.09 mm. The distance between the nipple and the thickest point of the hyperdense line was 10.14 mm on average. Histological structures of the line were collagen and elastic fibers containing smooth muscles that were connected to the dermis and adipose tissue. At the turning point, nerves, blood vessels, and mammary ducts were irregularly observed in the area of collagen and elastic fibers. These structures were intermingled, and the fiber bundle was very thick. CONCLUSIONS: The thickest area of the turning point is an area of the superficial layer of superficial fascia, which is a key structure around the NAC. The detailed anatomical data shown in our study provide good morphological landmarks for the closure of periareolar incisions. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://www.springer.com/00266.

Syndactyly correction using a venous flap with the plantar cutaneous venous arch.

A combination of skin grafts and local flaps is widely used in the reconstruction of syndactyly of the toes. Covering the skin defect without skin grafts on the unilateral side of the toe is preferred, and for this purpose, a rotated flap from the plantar area is typically used. However, the flap can become ischemic or congested in some cases. To avoid this, we elevated a plantar flap with the plantar cutaneous venous arch using a triangular venous flap and covered the lateral side of the web in 7 cases of syndactyly. The dorsal flap was used to create the new web, and the opposite lateral side was reconstructed using a skin graft. The flap circulation was stable, the pedicle of the flap was narrow, and the flap relocation was simple. No flap in any patient showed any evidence of congestion or ischemia. Follow-up demonstrated that the new web was patent in all cases, with no evidence of contraction.

Removal of adhesive wound dressing and its effects on the stratum corneum of the skin: comparison of eight different adhesive wound dressings.

In recent years, adhesive wound dressings have been increasingly applied postoperatively because of their ease of use as they can be kept in place without having to cut and apply surgical tapes and they can cover a wound securely. However, if a wound dressing strongly adheres to the wound, a large amount of stratum corneum is removed from the newly formed epithelium or healthy periwound skin. Various types of adhesives are used on adhesive wound dressings and the extent of skin damage depends on how much an adhesive sticks to the wound or skin surface. We quantitatively determined and compared the amount of stratum corneum removed by eight different wound dressings including polyurethane foam using acrylic adhesive, silicone-based adhesive dressing, composite hydrocolloid and self-adhesive polyurethane foam in healthy volunteers. The results showed that wound dressings with silicone adhesive and self-adhesive polyurethane foam removed less stratum corneum, whereas composite hydrocolloid and polyurethane foam using acrylic adhesive removed more stratum corneum.

[Aged burn victims: its special features and treatment].

The percentage of aged patients in burns are enlarged today. Usually they have some physiological disorders and less reserve organic functions. In treatment for aged burn victims, special care should be taken to keep their general conditions. And to keep their original ADLs, super early surgical treatment is very effective. In post surgical period, patients need to manage both different conditions one is to keep rest at the operated area and the other to exercise active general rehabilitation. In these purpose, we use negative pressure dressings for skin graft instead of tie-over dressings.

A model for quantitative evaluation of skin damage at adhesive wound dressing removal.

The removal of adhesive wound dressings from the wound surface involves a risk of damaging the intact stratum corneum and regenerating epithelium. Pain associated with the removal of wound dressings is a major issue for patients and medical personnel. Recently, wound dressings coated with a silicone adhesive have been developed to reduce such skin damage and pain on removal and they have received good evaluation in various clinical settings. However, there is neither a standard method to quantify whether or not the integrity of the stratum corneum and regenerating epithelium is retained or if both structures are damaged by the removal of wound dressings, nor are there standardised values with which to assess skin damage. We applied six different types of adhesive wound dressing on plain copy paper printed with black ink by a laser printer, removed the dressings, examined the adhesive-coated surface of the wound dressings using a high-power videoscope, and examined the stripped areas. Wound dressings coated with a silicone adhesive showed significantly less detachment of the stratum corneum and regenerating epithelium, followed by those coated with polyurethane, hydrocolloid, and acrylic adhesives. The assessment method utilised in this study revealed distinct differences between wound dressing types, but less variation in the evaluation outcome of each type. This assessment method may be useful for the evaluation of adhesive wound dressings, particularly during product development. However, further studies will be needed to examine the effectiveness of this assessment method in the clinical setting because the adherent properties of polyurethane and hydrocolloid adhesives may be altered by the absorption of water from the skin.

Chronological histological findings of cultured epidermal autograft over bilayer artificial dermis.

The application of cultured epidermal autograft (CEA) over bilayer artificial dermis theoretically should minimize surgical stress and donor site morbidity in severe burn patients. However, CEA over regenerated dermis is very fragile and easily detaches soon after application, because the very weak attachment. We performed chronological histological studies of the wounds of a 29 year-old patient, which was reconstructed using CEA (JACE(®)) and bilayer artificial dermis (Integra™). These studies included immunohistochemistry of anti-collagen (types III, IV, and VII) and anti-laminin, in addition to H&E and EVG staining. Reconstructed epidermis and dermis showed almost normal histological appearance with time, but formation of basement membrane proteins was delayed. Absent or immature basement membrane protein in the early phase after the CEA application was considered to be an important problem. In the late phase after the CEA application over the bilayer artificial dermis, the reconstructed skin was very durable and demonstrated no sign of skin stripping (although there was still a lack of basement membrane proteins).

Evaluation of pain intensity measurement during the removal of wound dressing material using 'the PainVision™ system' for quantitative analysis of perception and pain sensation in healthy subjects.

Reducing pain caused by the removal of adhesive wound dressing materials is very important in clinical practice and is also one of the factors to consider when choosing dressing materials. A visual analogue scale is the most popular method for assessing pain, but it is subjective and is difficult to evaluate quantitatively or statistically. Recently, a new method for the quantitative measurement of pain intensity using a painless electrical stimulation system, PainVision™, has been developed. In this study, we evaluated pain intensity during the removal of wound dressing materials in healthy volunteers by comparing pain during the removal of wound dressing materials, which use acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive and pain during the removal of materials, which use soft silicone adhesive, as evaluated using the PainVision™ system. Pain intensity was significantly lower with the dressing materials, which use soft silicone adhesive when measured with the PainVision™ system. The PainVision™ system promises to be useful for the quantitative assessment of pain caused by the removal of adhesive wound dressing materials. Further studies are needed to determine whether the PainVision™ system is also effective in measuring pain caused by the removal of wound dressing materials in actual wounds.

Anatomical study of the perforators from the ulnar palmar digital artery of the little finger and clinical uses of digital artery perforator flaps.

Our aim was to explore the anatomical features of the cutaneous perforators from the ulnar palmar digital artery of the little finger and to establish the anatomical basis of the ulnar palmar digital artery perforator flap for reconstruction of the ulnar aspect of the palm and fingers. We found that at least one perforator is present between the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint and 9 mm proximal to the MCP joint. This finding establishes the anatomical basis of the distal base ulnar palmar digital artery perforator flap for reconstruction of the ulnar aspect of the palm and fingers.

Comparison of Doppler sonography and multidetector-row computed tomography in the imaging findings of the deep inferior epigastric perforator artery.

BACKGROUND: Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) has been recently introduced to detect the perforator vessels. The aim of this study is to compare the MDCT with Doppler ultrasound and assess the usefulness of the MDCT for the preoperative planning. METHODS: Five healthy adult men were first assessed for the perforators and marked with rubber using the Doppler ultrasound before MDCT was performed. Using these images, the number and the location of the perforator were evaluated. RESULTS: We could detect 83 perforators on five cases, while could detect 35 perforators by the Doppler ultrasound. We measured the distance from the fascia perforating points to rubber markings points. It ranged from 0 to 22.47 mm (7.62 mm on average). CONCLUSION: MDCT angiography is useful for preoperative planning of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap at the point of more accurate anatomical findings and clear images of perforator vessels compared to the findings using Doppler ultrasound.

Perioperative hemodilutional autologous blood transfusion in burn surgery.

It is important to avoid or minimise allogeneic blood transfusion, because of possible alloimmunisation or disease transmission. In burn cases these risks are high, and predonated autologous transfusion is not practical. Perioperative haemodilutional autologous blood transfusion is considered applicable in burn surgery. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the technique in the treatment of burns.