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INTRODUCTION: The regional hand trauma service in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, underwent significant reorganisation early in the COVID-19 pandemic, with a shift from predominantly general anaesthesia (GA) procedures to the adoption of a Wide-Awake Local Anaesthetic No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique. We implemented strategies targeted towards optimising patient experience, largely applicable to most healthcare settings. METHODS: Four domains were explored: (i) compliance in timing to nationally agreed treatment guidelines, (ii) the role of patient information leaflets, (iii) the introduction of a post-operative analgesia protocol, and (iv) broadly evaluating the environmental impact following the implementation of a same-day 'see and treat' service. RESULTS: Following reorganisation to a predominantly WALANT service, we observed an increase in compliance with nationally agreed standards for the treatment of common hand injuries. Patient education and peri-operative counselling reduced anxiety, whereas post-operative pain was better managed with the introduction of an analgesic protocol. Using a travel carbon calculator, it can be inferred that there are significant reductions in carbon emissions generated when patients are evaluated and treated on the same day as their clinical presentation. CONCLUSIONS: It is widely acknowledged that WALANT benefits patients and the healthcare system. We contemplated whether further incremental changes in clinical practice could further improve patient experience. Given our findings, we advocate a multi-modal approach with a greater focus on patient outcomes (trials are currently underway, e.g., WAFER) supplemented by universally accepted validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
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Overcoming immunological rejection remains a barrier to the safe adoption of Vascularised Composite Allotransplantation (VCA). To mitigate this risk, clinical protocols have been derived from solid organ transplantation, targeting recipient immunomodulation, yet VCA is unique. Face and hand composite allografts are composed of multiple different tissues, each with their own immunological properties. Experimental work suggests that allografts carry variable numbers and populations of donor leukocytes in an organ specific manner. Ordinarily, these passenger leukocytes are transferred from the donor graft into the recipient circulation after transplantation. Whether alloantigen presentation manifests as acute allograft rejection or transplant tolerance is unknown. This review aims to characterise the immunological properties of the constituent parts of the donor face and hand, the potential fate of donor leukocytes and to consider theoretical graft specific interventions to mitigate early rejection.
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Transplante de Face , Rejeição de Enxerto , Transplante de Mão , Alotransplante de Tecidos Compostos Vascularizados , Humanos , Rejeição de Enxerto/imunologia , Animais , Tolerância ao Transplante , Aloenxertos/imunologia , Doadores de Tecidos , Leucócitos/imunologia , Isoantígenos/imunologia , Transplante Homólogo , Aloenxertos Compostos/imunologiaRESUMO
Twenty years have surpassed since the first vascularised composite allotransplantation (VCA) of the upper limb. This is an opportunity to reflect on the position of VCA as the gold standard in limb reconstruction. The paucity of recipients, tentative clinical outcomes, and insufficient scientific progress question whether VCA will remain a viable treatment option for the growing numbers of amputees. Bionic technology is advancing at a rapid pace. The prospect of widely available, affordable, safely applied prostheses with long-standing functional benefit is appealing. Progress in the field stems from the contributions made by engineering, electronic, computing and material science research groups. This review will address the ongoing reservations surrounding VCA whilst acknowledging the future impact of bionic technology as a realistic alternative for limb reconstruction.
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INTRODUCTION: Recent experimental evidence suggests normothermic machine perfusion of the vascularized composite allograft results in improved preservation compared to static cold storage, with less reperfusion injury in the immediate post-operative period. However, metabolic acidosis is a common feature of vascularized composite allograft perfusion, primarily due to the inability to process metabolic by-products. We evaluated the impact of combined limb-kidney perfusion on markers of metabolic acidosis and inflammation in a porcine model. METHODS: Ten paired pig forelimbs were used for this study, grouped as either limb-only (LO, n = 5) perfusion, or limb-kidney (LK, n = 5) perfusion. Infrared thermal imaging was used to determine homogeneity of perfusion. Lactate, bicarbonate, base, pH, and electrolytes, along with an inflammatory profile generated via the quantification of cytokines and cell-free DNA in the perfusate were recorded. RESULTS: The addition of a kidney to a limb perfusion circuit resulted in the rapid stabilization of lactate, bicarbonate, base, and pH. Conversely, the LO circuit became progressively acidotic, correlating in a significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines. Global perfusion across the limb was more homogenous with LK compared to LO. CONCLUSION: The addition of a kidney during limb perfusion results in significant improvements in perfusate biochemistry, with no evidence of metabolic acidosis.
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Acidose/prevenção & controle , Aloenxertos Compostos , Rim/fisiologia , Perfusão/métodos , Animais , Membro Anterior , Inflamação/prevenção & controle , Traumatismo por Reperfusão , Sus scrofaRESUMO
For biopsy proven skin cancers that are deemed to be high risk, a wide local excision (WLE) is recommended to reduce the risk of local recurrence. For this reason, it is pragmatic to account for the likelihood of a WLE at the time of the initial biopsy. We illustrate a staged approach to excision of lesions to facilitate this, bearing in mind the optimal reconstruction is primary closure. In our experience as plastic surgeons, having to perform a locoregional flap or skin graft prevents the opportunity to perform a local anesthetic procedure. This increases the risk of postoperative complications, especially if adjuvant radiotherapy further exposes reconstructed tissues to radiation toxicity. Collectively, this often results in an inferior aesthetic outcome. We value the referrals from allied colleagues and want to share the principles we adhere to when planning an excision biopsy, which aid in the delivery of the optimal reconstruction.
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BACKGROUND: Passenger leucocytes and inflammatory debris transferred from the donor limb to the recipient can induce allorecognition, which activates the host immune response. This is the first study to evaluate whether the transfer of this inflammatory burden can be reduced via post-preservation flush prior to revascularisation, and whether this is influenced by ischaemia. METHODS: Bilateral forelimbs from the same pig were procured and infused with preservation flush and stored on ice. Each limb from the same pig underwent a post-preservation intravascular flush with isotonic solution at either 2 or 6 h. Venous effluent underwent flow cytometry to phenotype leucocyte populations, with additional quantification of cytokines and cell-free DNA. RESULTS: We identified large populations of viable leucocytes in the flush effluent (8.65 × 108 ± 3.10 × 108 cells at 2 h and 1.02 × 109 ± 2.63 × 108 at 6 h). This comprised T cells, B cells, NK cells and monocytes. Post-preservation flush yielded significant concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-6, IL-18, GM-CSF, IL-1ß, IL1α and CXCL-8 and mitochondrial DNA. The regulatory cytokine, IL-10 was undetectable. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the finding that a post-preservation flush removes leucocytes and inflammatory components that are responsible for direct presentation. This study also gives an indication of how ischaemia impacts on the inflammatory burden transferred to the recipient upon reperfusion.
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Citocinas/metabolismo , Leucócitos/fisiologia , Preservação de Órgãos/métodos , Reperfusão/métodos , Transplante Homólogo , Extremidade Superior/cirurgia , Aloenxertos , Animais , Soluções Isotônicas , Contagem de Leucócitos , Modelos Animais , Solução de Ringer , Suínos , Migração Transendotelial e TransepitelialRESUMO
An important and often underinvestigated contributor to solid organ transplant rejection is ischemia reperfusion injury. This pathophysiological response releases damaging reactive oxygen species and cell stress signals that initiate inflammation, which has a critical role in priming the immune system for allorecognition. In time, this renders graft dysfunction and how this response is mediated in composite tissues remains unknown. Current protocols are drawn from solid organ transplantation with little scientific basis as to how this informs current hand transplantation practices. In addition to preservation flush and allograft cooling, machine perfusion is placing itself experimentally as a concept that could act to promote viability and increase the critical ischemic window, which is especially beneficial at a time of limited donors. With the increasing prevalence worldwide of hand transplantation, we review the potential contribution of ischemia reperfusion injury to hand allograft rejection including both current and experimental strategies.