Reduced Anterolateral Thigh Flap Donor-Site Morbidity Using Incisional Negative Pressure Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Primary closure of the donor-site after harvest of a large anterolateral thigh flap (ALT) is associated with significant morbidity. Incisional negative pressure therapy (INPT) may decrease complications in high-risk incisions. This study assessed if the incidence of complications after primary closure of the ALT flap donor-site decreases with INPT. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of a prospectively maintained database including patients who underwent upper and lower limb reconstruction, using an ALT free flap with primary closure of the donor-site. Two groups were defined: primary closure and INPT (study group) and primary closure with traditional dressings (control group). Nonparametric statistics were employed to identify prognostic factors, p < 0,05. RESULTS: Fifty-eight free ALT flaps in 58 patients (study group n = 28; control group n = 30) were included. Median flap width and length were 9 cm (range: 5-14) and 25 cm (range: 10-48), respectively. Median follow-up was 19 months (range: 3-78 months). No significant differences in age or flap size were identified in both groups (p > 0.05). The global complication rate was 7.14% (n = 2) in the INPT group, and 37% (n = 11) in the control group (p = 0.007). The study group had a lower dehiscence and skin necrosis rate (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed IPNT was associated with a significant reduction of donor-site complications (p = 0.006), especially in patients with defects > 8 cm (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: In this cohort study the use of INPT significantly reduced the donor-site morbidity after ALT flap harvest.

Detection of Perforators for Free Flap Planning Using Smartphone Thermal Imaging: A Concordance Study with Computed Tomographic Angiography in 120 Perforators.

Design and preoperative planning of microsurgical flaps are fundamental steps for successful surgery. Currently, computed tomographic angiography is considered the gold standard, and new technologies such as thermography could complement its usefulness. The aim of this study was to determine the concordance between thermographic images obtained with a smartphone thermal camera and computed tomographic angiography for detecting perforators using the anterolateral thigh flap area as a model. A concordance study of diagnostic tests was performed in patients who underwent limb reconstruction in 2016. Perforators identified in thigh computed tomographic angiographic images and hotspots on thermographic images obtained by means of the FLIR ONE smartphone camera were compared based on the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine. The authors studied 20 patients, including 38 anterolateral thigh flap territories in total, and identified 117 perforators by computed tomographic angiography and 120 hotspots by thermography. The average mean distance from the anterior superior iliac spine using these methods was 193.14 mm, and the mean difference in distance was 2.37 mm, with both measurements being obtained within a radius of 20 mm, with a concordance kappa index of 0.975 (p < 0.001). Thermographic imaging presented a sensitivity of 100 percent and a specificity of 98 percent in detecting perforators. Thermographic images obtained with a smartphone thermal camera have a high concordance with the method considered the gold standard for perforator detection. In addition, its sensitivity and specificity are comparable to those of computed tomographic angiography, which makes it a very useful method for mapping perforators in free flap planning. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, II.

[High voltage electrical burns as a risk factor for mortality among burn patients]. / La quemadura eléctrica por alto voltaje es un factor predictor de mortalidad en pacientes "grandes quemados"

BACKGROUND: Electrical burns are associated with complications and may aggravate burned patients. AIM: To evaluate the effect of electrical burns in mortality and length of stay in a critical care unit for burn patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records of 182 patients aged 15 to 90 years, admitted to an intensive care unit for burn patients. The length of stay and mortality of 14 patients that suffered electric burns was compared with the features of 168 patients with other type of burns. RESULTS: Patients with electrical burns were younger, had a lower percentage of total body surface burnt and had a lower frequency of inhalatory injuries than their counterparts with other type of burns. Mortality rate among patients with electric or other types of burns was similar (three and 49 patients, respectively). Intensive care unit stay was also similar. A multivariate analysis showed that high voltage electric burns were an independent risk factor for death with an odds ratio of 12 (95% confidence intervals 1.8-79.4). CONCLUSIONS: High voltage electric burns are an independent risk factor for death among burn patients.

Effect of subcutaneous lidocaine infiltration on blood loss secondary to corporal lipoaspiration: a prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Lipoaspiration is one of the most frequently performed aesthetic surgical procedures worldwide. The use of tumescent solution containing lidocaine to infiltrate subcutaneous fat before surgery has been accepted as the standard of care for these procedures. Its objective is to diminish postoperative analgesic necessities and secondary blood loss, but its role in hematocrit reduction is not clear at this time. This study aimed to measure the effect of subcutaneous lidocaine infiltration on blood loss secondary to corporal liposuction. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-masked clinical trial was performed. Between November 2005 and July 2007, 70 consecutive female patients submitted to corporal liposuction as a single surgery were included in the study. All the patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The study group received tumescent solution containing lidocaine and epinephrine, whereas the control group received tumescent solution containing only epinephrine. Hematocrit was measured preoperatively, then 2 to 4, 12, and 24 h postoperatively. RESULTS: The comparison between the two groups did not show significant statistical differences with respect to age, body mass index, infiltrated volume, aspirated fat volume, surgical time, hospital stay, preoperative hematocrit, or comparison of the areas lipoaspirated. The mean hematocrit reduction in the study group was 10.8% +/- 2.9% compared with 8.8% +/- 2.6% in the control group (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The use of lidocaine in the tumescent solution for subcutaneous fat infiltration significantly increases postoperative anemia compared with the results obtained when epinephrine infiltration alone is used.