Predicting the Timing and Cause of Microvascular Free Flap Failure: An Australian Study of 1569 Free Flaps.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to assess the possible predictors of microvascular free flap failure and determine the critical postoperative timing of flap failure, thereby minimizing this adverse outcome. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-institutional review of 1569 free flap operations. All free flaps with outcome status recorded were analyzed for possible predictors in the development of microvascular compromise. Compromised cases were then analyzed for differences in time to compromise and time to theater takeback between salvaged versus failed free flaps. RESULTS: Of the assessable 1569 free flaps, 31 developed microvascular compromise (2.0%); the salvage rate was 20.0%, and overall failure rate was 1.5%. Osteocutaneous free flaps in head and neck had increased risk of developing free flap failure compared to other flaps (odds ratio = 3.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-12.7). Among breast patients, previous radiotherapy had a significant association with flap failure (P < 0.001). Free flap salvage rates dropped from 38.5% to 7.7% for compromises detected after 24 hours (P = 0.160), and from 57.1% to 11.1% for free flaps taken back to theater greater than 3 hours after compromise detection (P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Delays in compromise detection and flap takeback to theater resulted in reduced salvage rates, with the critical timing of takeback being under 3 hours. Standardized flap monitoring protocols and incorporation of newer technologies could see faster detection and improved salvage rates. Additional care is required when reconstructing: osteocutaneous head and neck free flaps and previously irradiated breast patients.

The thoracoacromial axis in salvage head and neck reconstructive surgery, a case series.

We present the surgical technique, relevant anatomy and a consecutive case series of salvage head and neck free flap reconstructions utilising the thoracoacromial axis. We demonstrated that the thoracoacromial axis is safe and reliable in salvage head and neck reconstruction with particular use in reconstruction of tracheoespophageal and pharyngolaryngectomy fistulae.

Mobilisation versus Bed Rest after Skin Grafting Pretibial Lacerations: A Meta-Analysis.

Pretibial lacerations are problematic and best managed by surgical debridement, then skin grafting. Traditional postoperative care involves bed rest to optimise graft survival. This meta-analysis assesses early mobilisation versus bed rest for skin graft healing of these wounds. Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Cinahl, and Google Scholar databases were searched. Analyses were performed on appropriate clinical trials. Four trials met with the inclusion criteria. No difference was demonstrated in split skin graft healing between patients mobilised early compared to patients admitted to hospital for postoperative bed rest at either 7 (OR 0.86 CI 0.29-2.56) or 14 days (OR 0.74 CI 0.31-1.79). There was a statistically significant delay in healing in patients treated with systemic corticosteroids (OR 8.20 CI 0.99-15.41). There was no difference in postoperative haematoma, bleeding, graft infection, or donor site healing between the comparison groups. In the available literature, there is no difference between early mobilisation and bed rest for the healing of skin grafts to pretibial wounds. Corticosteroids exert a negative effect on skin graft healing unlike early mobilisation, which does not cause increased haematoma, bleeding, infection, or delayed donor site healing. Modality of anaesthesia does not affect skin graft healing.

Maffucci syndrome: a rare and important differential diagnosis for lumpy hands.

Maffucci syndrome belongs to a group of disorders known as enchondromatoses. First described in 1881, it features multiple enchondromas and vascular abnormalities, mainly haemangiomas. The syndrome is a variant of Ollier's disease, which consists solely of multiple enchondromas. This case serves to highlight important features of a rare condition.

Should serum pancreatic lipase replace serum amylase as a biomarker of acute pancreatitis?

BACKGROUND: Serum pancreatic lipase may improve the diagnosis of pancreatitis compared to serum amylase. Both enzymes have been measured simultaneously at our hospital allowing for a comparison of their diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: Seventeen thousand five hundred and thirty-one measurements of either serum amylase and or serum pancreatic lipase were made on 10 931 patients treated at a metropolitan teaching hospital between January 2001 and May 2003. Of these, 8937 were initially treated in the Emergency Department. These results were collected in a database, which was linked by the patients' medical record number to the radiology and medical records. Patients with either an elevated lipase value or a discharge diagnosis of acute pancreatitis had their radiological diagnosis reviewed along with their biochemistry and histology record. The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made if there was radiological evidence of peripancreatic inflammation. RESULTS: One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five patients had either elevated serum amylase and or serum pancreatic lipase. The medical records coded for pancreatitis in a further 55 whose enzymes were not elevated. Three hundred and twenty of these had radiological evidence of acute pancreatitis. Receiver operator characteristic analysis of the initial sample from patients received in the Emergency Department showed improved diagnostic accuracy for serum pancreatic lipase (area under the curve (AUC) 0.948) compared with serum amylase (AUC, 0.906, P < 0.05). A clinically useful cut-off point would be at the diagnostic threshold; 208 U/L (normal <190 U/L) for serum pancreatic lipase and 114 U/L (normal 27-100 U/L) for serum amylase where the sensitivity was 90.3 cf., 76.8% and the specificity was 93 cf., 92.6%. 18.8% of the acute pancreatitis patients did not have elevated serum amylase while only 2.9% did not have elevated serum pancreatic lipase on the first emergency department measurement. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that serum pancreatic lipase is a more accurate biomarker of acute pancreatitis than serum amylase.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in hip fracture surgery: a metaanalysis.

A metaanalysis was done to identify the most effective prophylactic antibiotic regimen in hip fracture surgery. Specific comparisons addressed were antibiotics at any dose versus placebo, multiple doses (>24 hours coverage) versus one dose of antibiotics, and multiple doses versus 24 hours antibiotic coverage. Outcomes measured included overall wound infections, deep wound infection, superficial wound infection, urinary tract infection, and mortality. A computer search of the Medline and EMBASE databases (English language literature from 1966 to 2000 and 1988 to 2000, respectively) retrieved 15 randomized controlled trials which addressed the specific aims. Most studies evaluated antibiotics from the cephalosporin group. Antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduced overall wound infections when compared with placebo and was equally effective for deep and superficial infections. One dose of intravenous antibiotics seemed no different than multiple doses. Antibiotic use also was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of urinary tract infection but had no significant effect on mortality.