The effects of a synthetic epidermis spray on secondary intention wound healing in adult horses.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate secondary intention wound healing in the horse's limbs when treated with the synthetic epidermis spray (Novacika®, Cohesive S.A.S, France) or with a standard bandaging technique. METHODS: Six Standardbred mares were included in the study. Four 2.5 x 2.5 cm full-thickness skin wounds were created on each thoracic limb. Two wounds were located on the dorsoproximal aspect of the cannon bone and the other two at the dorsoproximal aspect of the fetlock. Six hours after creation, wounds were randomly treated with synthetic epidermis spray or standard bandaging. The wounds were assessed every 4 days by gross visual assessment and using a 3D imaging camera. Analysis was performed with a 3D imaging application. RESULTS: Out of 46 wounds, 22 showed exuberant granulation tissue and were part of the standard bandaging group. Whether the wounds were treated with synthetic epidermis spray or standard bandaging, the time for healing was the same. CONCLUSION: The synthetic epidermis spray studied in this model has allowed healing without the production of exuberant granulation tissue but did not reduce the median wound healing time compared to a standard bandaging technique. The synthetic epidermis spray is potentially an interesting alternative for the management of secondary intention wound healing of superficial and non-infected distal limb wounds in adult horses on economical and practical aspects. However, all statistical inference (p-values especially) must be interpreted with caution, given the size of the sample.

Typical dynamic electrocardiographic changes in Takotsubo syndrome.

AIMS: Negative T waves and QTc prolongation often occur in patients with Takotsubo syndrome. Description of typical electrocardiographic changes could be a diagnosis element of this syndrome. This study aimed to clarify on the one hand the more preciously possible the typical electrocardiographic changes, and on the other hand, the timing of occurrence of these abnormalities compared to the trigger occurrence, the symptoms onset and the hospital admission. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied ECGs at admission of 59 patients with Takotsubo syndrome, a 'reference' ECG and each one available during the first five days after admission.We observed significant changes on the pathological ECG compared to reference ECG: the mean number of leads with negative T waves (7.4 ± 1.9 mm vs 2.1 ± 1.4 mm, p < 0.0001), the highest value of negative T wave deflection among all the leads (-6.2 ± 4mm vs -1.4 ± 0.9 mm, p < 0.0001), the sum of all negative T waves (-27 ± 1.7 mm vs -2.8 ± 3.6 mm, p < 0.0001 and a QTc max and QTc mean prolongation (539 ± 63ms vs 457 ± 42ms, p < 0.0001 and 491 ± 52ms vs 421 ± 33ms, p < 0.0001 respectively). We also demonstrated that T waves were significantly more positive in pathological ECG in aVR and V1 compared to the reference one (mean value of T waves respectively of 1.8 ± 1.8 vs -1 ± 1.3, p < 0.0001 and 0.7 ± 1.6 vs 0.004 ± 1.2, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The QTc prolongation, the profound negative T waves except in aVR and V1 occurring the first two days after admission are electrocardiographic changes typically of Takotsubo syndrome.

Anatomy and external landmarks of the superficial temporal artery using 3-dimensional computed tomography.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the anatomical variability of the superficial temporal artery (STA) and to provide an easy visual landmark to find the STA and its branches to facilitate its surgical access. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 57 patients who underwent a head and neck computed tomography with contrast injection. A visual landmark running from the tragus to the corner of the eye was used: the "eye-tragus-line" (ETL). On the ETL, the distance between the tragus and the STA was measured. The length of the STA main branch, its parietal and frontal branch and the angle of the STA and its branches with the ETL were measured. The division of the STA was studied as above/at the same level/below the zygomatic arch (ZA) and the ETL. RESULTS: The STA division was located above the ZA in 61.54% of cases, at the same level in 26.92% of cases and below in 11.54% of cases. Regarding the ETL, 93.27% of the STA divisions were located above the ETL, 5.77% at the same level and 0.96% below. On the ETL, the STA was located 15.55 ± 4.5 mm in front of the tragus. CONCLUSION: This study allowed to define an easy visual landmark: the ETL running from the tragus to the corner of the eye. The STA main branch was located 15.55 ± 4.5 mm of front of the tragus on the ETL. The STA division was nearly always located above the ETL (99.04%). Furthermore, this study provides a statistical representation of the anatomy of the STA and its branches.