Comparison of the viscoelastic properties of human abdominal and breast adipose tissue and its incidence on breast reconstruction surgery. A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the leading malignant tumor in women in the world. Reconstruction after mastectomy plays a key role in the physical and psychological recuperation, being the abdominal skin and adipose tissue the best current option for the DIEP surgery. The aim of the surgery is to obtain a reconstructed breast which looks and behaves naturally. Therefore, it would be useful to characterize the mechanical behaviour of the adipose tissue in the abdomen and breast to compare their mechanical properties, also investigating possible regional differences. METHODS: Experimental tests have been carried out in breast and abdominal adipose tissue samples, obtaining their viscoelastic properties. The specimens have been subjected to uniaxial compression relaxation tests and a mechanical behaviour model has been fitted to the experimental curves. Afterwards, statistical analyses have been used to detect differences between different individuals' abdominal fat tissue and finally between different areas of the same individual's breast and abdominal adipose tissue. FINDINGS: Several conclusions could be extracted from the results: 1) inter-individual differences may exist in the abdominal adipose tissue; 2) the breast fat could be regarded as a unique tissue from the mechanical point of view; 3) significant differences were detected between the superficial breast and all the locations of the abdomen, except for the superficial lateral one and 4) the mechanical properties of the abdominal adipose tissue seem to change with the depth. These conclusions can be of great value for DIEP surgeries and other surgeries in which the adipose tissue is involved.

A comparison of long-term cost and clinical outcomes between the two-stage sequence expander/prosthesis and autologous deep inferior epigastric flap methods for breast reconstruction in a public hospital.

BACKGROUND: Postmastectomy breast reconstruction involves the use of large amounts of hospital resources. This study provides comparative data on the clinical results and long-term economic costs of two methods of breast reconstruction in a public hospital. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the costs incurred by delayed unilateral breast reconstruction performed using either the two-stage sequence expander/prosthesis (E-P) or autologous deep inferior epigastric flap (DIEP) method during 2005-2013 in 134 patients. The major evaluated variables included previous clinical records, history of radiotherapy, and number of surgical procedures. Total costs accounted for both direct intra- and extra-hospital costs derived from the initial reconstruction and those resulting from associated reoperations due to aesthetic retouches and/or complications. RESULTS: Patients undergoing E-P reconstruction required a higher number of surgery sessions to complete the reconstruction (3.07 vs. 2.32, p < 0.001) and showed higher rates of surgery-related complications (40.29% vs. 32.82%). No statistically significant differences were found between the two surgical methods in terms of total costs (€18857.77 DIEP vs. €20502.08 E-P; p = 0.89). In the E-P cohort, active smoking and history of radiotherapy were statistically significant risk factors of complications. In the DIEP group, only active smoking was significantly associated with complications. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the E-P method, breast reconstruction using the DIEP method is more cost-effective and involves fewer serious complications that result in reconstruction failure or undesirable aesthetic results. E-P reconstruction presents a higher number of complications that may cause surgical failure or poor outcomes.

Coste preciso de la reconstrucción mamaria con colgajo DIEP e implantes en un hospital público del sistema sanitario español / Accurate cost of breast reconstruction with DIEP flap and implants in a public hospital in the spanish healthcare system

La reconstrucción mamaria postmastectomía puede suponer un importante consumo de recursos humanos y económicos para cualquier sistema sanitario. El propósito de este estudio es saber si el peso económico asignado por el Sistema Nacional de Salud Español según codificación mediante Grupos Relacionados con el Diagnóstico a los dos procedimientos principales de reconstrucción mamaria, se ajusta al gasto inferido según el consumo de recursos real de las pacientes. Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo de cohortes para evaluar el coste económico de 134 pacientes intervenidas de reconstrucción mamaria unilateral diferida mediante los procedimientos expansor-prótesis (E-P) y colgajo de perforantes de la arteria epigástrica inferior profunda (DIEP), durante el periodo comprendido entre 2005 y 2013. Los datos analizados e inferidos de las pacientes fueron los costes directos intrahospitalarios y extrahospitalarios tanto de la cirugía inicial de reconstrucción como de los procedimientos secundarios. Las pacientes reconstruidas con E-P precisaron un mayor número de cirugías para completar su reconstrucción, y presentaron mayor porcentaje de complicaciones relacionadas con la cirugía. El porcentaje de cirugías de retoque estético fue superior en la reconstrucción DIEP. No encontramos diferencias significativas en el coste total inferido de las pacientes entre ambas cohortes (18.857,77 Euros DIEP frente a 20.502,08 Euros E-P, p = 0,89). El coste total de la reconstrucción mamaria según Grupos Relacionados con el Diagnóstico fue inferior al coste total inferido de las pacientes para ambas cohortes (11.596,43 Euros frente a 18.857,77 Euros, p < 0,001 DIEP; 13.565,82 Euros frente a 20.502,08 Euros E-P, p < 0,001). El coste de la reconstrucción mamaria está inadecuadamente tarifado por los gestores sanitarios; el coste según Grupos Relacionados con el Diagnóstico es inferior al coste inferido de las pacientes para cualquiera de los dos procedimientos. Consideramos que la reconstrucción con colgajo DIEP es más costeefectiva que la reconstrucción con E-P, pues requiere menos procedimientos quirúrgicos, presenta menor porcentaje de complicaciones y permanece más estable a lo largo del tiempo (AU)

Mastectomy breast reconstruction can be a significant consumption of human and financial resources for any health system. The purpose of this study is whether the economic weight assigned by the Spanish National Health System as encoding by Healthcare Resource Groups to two major breast reconstruction procedures fits true estimate of patients. A retrospective cohort study has been performed to evaluate the economic cost of 134 patients operated on for unilateral breast reconstruction delayed by the expander-prosthesis (E-P) and deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap (DIEP) procedures during the period between 2005 and 2013. The data analyzed and economic cost estimated of the patients were in-hospital and out-patient direct costs of both the initial reconstruction surgery as secondary procedures. Patients undergoing E-P reconstruction required a higher number of surgery sessions to complete the reconstruction procedure and showed higher rates of surgery-related complications. The percentage of surgery required for aesthetic retouch was higher in patients reconstituted with DIEP flap. No statistically significant differences were found regarding total cost between the two cohorts (18.857,77 Euros DIEP vs 20.502,08 Euros E-P, p = 0,89). Total cost of breast reconstruction according Healthcare Resource Groups was lower than total estimated cost of patients for both cohorts (11.596,43 Euros vs Euros 18.857,77 Euros, p < 0.001 DIEP; 13,565.82 vs 20,502.08 Euros, p < 0.001 E-P). The cost of breast reconstruction is inadequately tariffed by health managers; the cost using Healthcare Resource Groups is less than the estimated cost of the patients to either procedures. We consider that DIEP flap reconstruction is more cost-effective than E-P reconstruction, as it requires less surgical procedures, presents lower complication rate and remains more stable over time (AU)

3D surgical planning in patients affected by lipodystrophy.

Lipodystrophy is a pathological condition characterized by the focal or general absence of adipose tissue. Surgeons reset the patient's surface contours using injectable materials to recreate a normal physical appearance. However, due to difficulties in preoperative planning and intraoperative assessment, about 15% of the surgical procedures involved are reinterventions to improve volume or symmetry. This increases the need for an available, efficient tool capable of providing the surgeon with a good estimation of the volumes to be injected before the intervention proper begins. This work describes a virtual reality-based application for the surgical planning of facial lipodystrophy correction (FLIC). The tool uses points selected interactively by the surgeon to compute a curve that delimits the surface area to be operated on. It then automatically computes an estimated natural reconstructed surface and the quantity of volume that needs to be implanted during the intervention. Experiments have been carried out in which the filling volumes estimated using FLIC and ZBrush software were compared with the real volumes injected by the surgeon. ICCs higher than 0.97 indicate that there were no significant differences between the respective measurements, thus validating the tool proposed in this paper.

Reimplante de pulgar. Casuística del Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (Sevilla) entre los años 2005-2010 / Thumb reimplatation. Casuistic at University General Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain (2005-2010)

Las amputaciones de pulgar son indicación de reimplante en todos los casos, ya que el papel de este dedo es crucial para que una mano sea funcional. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es revisar la casuística de reimplantes de pulgar de los últimos 6 años en el Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío de Sevilla, España. Revisamos el mecanismo de lesión, el nivel de amputación, el uso de injerto venoso y el tipo de osteosíntesis realizado. La tasa de supervivencia lograda fue del 74,19%. Creemos que es una tasa de supervivencia elevada, que asocia los mejores resultados a las amputaciones sin componente de aplastamiento. El uso de injerto venoso se asocia igualmente a mejores resultados de la cirugía en casos de aplastamiento o arrancamiento como mecanismo de lesión (AU)

Reimplantation is indicated in all cases of thumb amputation as this digit plays a key role in hand function. The aim of the present study is to review all cases of thumb reimplantation carried out during the last 6 years at Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville, Spain. Data regarding the type of injury, the amputation level, the use of venous grafts and the type of osteosynthesis were collected in all cases. Survival rates reached 74.19%. We can conclude that survival rates in patients undergoing thumb reimplantation are high and even a better outcome can be obtained in injuries without crushing lesions. The use of venous grafts is also associated with a better surgical outcome in amputations due to crushing or avulsion mechanisms (AU)

Optimización en el uso del colgajo de segunda perforante intercostal de la arteria mamaria interna / Optimizing the use of the second intercostal perforator flap of the internal mammary artery

El colgajo en isla basado en perforantes de la arteria mamaria interna (colgajo IMAP) se emplea de manera reciente como técnica reconstructiva en cabeza y cuello. El objetivo de esta revisión es corroborar las posibilidades del arco de rotación de dicho colgajo cuando se realiza una amplia disección de su pedículo vascular. Presentamos 4 pacientes de edades comprendidas entre 46 y 75 años, todos ellos varones, con defectos faríngeos parciales, en los que empleamos un colgajo pediculado basado en la segunda perforante de la arteria mamaria interna para reconstrucción del defecto faríngeo. El tamaño medio del defecto a cubrir fue de 3,2 cm (desviación estándar +/- 1,5 cm) en sentido horizontal y 4,5 cm (desviación estándar +/- 2,2 cm) en sentido vertical. En todos los casos se disecó un colgajo en isla con un tamaño medio de 6 X 8 cm. La longitud media del pedículo fue de 5,5 cm (desviación estándar +/- 1,51 cm). En todos los casos fue posible sellar el defecto faríngeo sin necesidad de resecar costilla o de incorporar parte de la arteria mamaria interna correspondiente. El colgajo IMAP es un colgajo rápido de realizar que permite la reconstrucción de defectos faríngeos parciales de la región anterior del cuello y hasta la base de la lengua sin necesidad de resección costal o incorporación parcial de los vasos mamarios (AU)

The island flap based on perforators of the internal mammary artery (IMAP flap) is recently used in reconstruction of head and neck defects. The aim of this review is to verify the possibilities of the arc of rotation of the flap when it's necessary to carry out an extensive dissection of the vascular pedicle. We present reconstruction of partial pharyngeal defects in 4 patients, aged between 46 and 75 years and all men, using a pedicle flap based on the second perforator of the internal mammary artery. The average size of the defect was 3.2 cm (SD +/- 1.5 cm) horizontally and 4.5 cm (SD +/- 2.2 cm) vertically. In all cases, an island flap was dissected with an average size of 6 X 8 cm. The average length of the pedicle was 5.5 cm (SD +/- 1.51 cm). In all cases it was possible the sealing of the pharyngeal defect without rib resection or to incorporate part of the corresponding internal mammary artery. IMAP flap is rapid to dissect and allows coverage in case of partial pharyngeal defects from anterior neck to the base of the tongue without needing rib resection or partial incorporation of the mammary vessels (AU)

First face composite-tissue transplant recipient successfully treated for cytomegalovirus infection with preemptive valganciclovir treatment.

Little is known about cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after face transplantation, since only two of the 11 cases of face transplantation reported worldwide have documented a CMV infection after transplantation. Herein, we present the first report of a composite-tissue face allotransplant recipient at high risk for CMV infection (D(+)/R(-) [CMV serpositive donor positive/CMV seronegative receptor]) undergoing preemptive treatment. Preemptive treatment was safe and effective for controlling CMV infection and thus promoting early acquisition of a CMV-specific immune response that protected the patient from late-onset CMV disease.

Reconstruction of a severe facial defect by allotransplantation in neurofibromatosis type 1: a case report.

BACKGROUND: On January 26, 2010, our team performed a facial transplant for a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1. We detail the perioperative surgical strategies for the composite tissue allograft (CTA) of the lower parts of the face to restore a severe defect after excision of bilateral massive plexiform neurofibromas. The main distinctive feature included an innovative provisional heterotopic transplantation (PHT) technique of the facial allograft to the femoral vessels before its final orthotopic transplantation. CASE REPORT: A 35-year-old Caucasian man received a CTA of the lower two-thirds of the face, including a chin osseous segment. The face was obtained from a non-heart-beating donor. The sequence of microsurgical procedures began by performing a PHT of the CTA to the recipient's femoral vessels in the right thigh. Intraoperatively, he experienced considerable blood loss that required transfusion of 24 units of packed cells. Surgical revision was required at day 7 to remove an extensive hematoma in the right side of the CTA. The maintenance immunosuppressive regimen included steroids, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus. CONCLUSION: We have reported a case of successful provisional transplantation of a human facial allograft onto the thigh as an alternative technique in human face transplantation. PHT was a reliable alternative procedure to obtain the facial allograft from a cadaveric donor.

Severe rhabdomyolysis after allogeneic transplantation of facial structures: a case report.

We present a patient with panfacial neurofibromatosis type 1 who underwent allogeneic transplantation of facial structures, which was complicated by severe rhabdomyolysis and temporary oligoanuria. Because of his underlying disease, this 35 year-old man, weighing 68 kg and with a body mass index (BMI) of 27, had undergone 17 operations for resection modeling of hypertrophied tissues, either alone or combined with static suspension techniques. He finally underwent allogeneic transplantation of facial structures. In the early hours of the postoperative period, in the context of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome, he experienced severe rhabdomyolysis, with elevation of the muscle enzyme creatine kinase producing a minor impact on kidney function. The patient was discharged home at 12 weeks after the transplantation.

The virtual reality tool VirSSPA in planning DIEP microsurgical breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The significant variation in the vascular anatomy of the abdominal wall makes preoperative imaging essential when raising a DIEP (deep inferior epigastric artery perforator) flap due to the potential for maximizing operative success, reducing intraoperative error and minimizing operative complications. Variability in perforator anatomy makes DIEP flap surgery a suitable candidate for computer and virtual reality bio models. In this context, a study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of CTA-guided by VirSSPA application. VirSSPA is a virtual reality tool developed in our Hospital for surgical planning and training. This application allows surgeons to generate the three-dimensional (3D) model of the patient. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we present a study about VirSSPA tool for virtual reality navigation in DIEP flap surgery and compare findings with operative measurements. METHODS: We recruited 12 consecutive patients planned for an elective DIEP flap for breast reconstruction. Each patient underwent preoperative imaging of the anterior abdominal wall vasculature with both conventional CTA and VirSSPA 3D reconstruction. Imaging findings were compared to operative findings. RESULTS: 3D reconstruction of the abdominal wall with VirSSPA demonstrated a significant good correlation with perforator location compared to operative findings, showing an average error rate of 0.228 cm (95% CI, 0.17-0.30). The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was found to be 0.99 (p = 0.01), reflecting an almost linear relationship between the two distances, intraoperative and the one measured in the 3D reconstruction. CONCLUSION: VirSSPA provides additional and potentially more accurate data over conventional CTA with regard to the site of the best perforators and its course through the muscle for DIEP micro-vascular surgery.

Empleo del colgajo muscular extensordigitorum brevis con flujo retrógradopara defectos distales en el pie / Use of reverse flow extensor digitorum brevis muscle flap for distal foot defects

Los colgajos en isla con vascularización distal y, entre ellos, el colgajo muscular Extensor Digitorum Brevis, son en la actualidad una opción excelente para conseguir la cobertura satisfactoria de los defectos de tejidos blandos a nivel del dorso del pie y de los dedos. En este artículo revisamos casos publicados por otros autores de defectos distales del pie, resueltos mediante este colgajo muscular, así como estudios anatómicos sobre la vascularización del mismo y presentamos2 casos intervenidos en nuestro Servicio en los que obtuvimos una cobertura satisfactoria y una pronta recuperación, sin complicaciones vasculares, morbilidad de la zona donante o limitación funcional; solo una hipoestesia persistente a nivel del dorso del pie (AU)

Island flaps with distal vascularization, including Extensor Digitorum Brevis flap, are an excellent choice for achieving satisfactory coverage of soft tissues defects at the back of the feet and fingers. In this article we review the use of this flap by other authors in distal foot defect and the anatomical studies about its vascularization. We report 2 cases operated on our Department of Plastic Surgery with distal foot defects solved with this flap. We obtained a satisfactory coverage and a speedy recovery. No vascular complications, morbidity of the donor site or functional limitation were noticed. The only complaint was persistent hypoaesthesia on the back foot (AU)

Reconstrucción de párpado inferior mediante colgajos miocutáneos en isla de los músculos orbicular y nasal / Lower eyelid reconstruction with orbicularis oculi

Este artículo propone el empleo de dos tipos de colgajos miocutáneos en isla (pediculados en los músculos orbicular de los párpados y nasal, respectivamente),para la reconstrucción de defectos totales o parciales tras la cirugía de resección tumoral. Se presentan 7 casos, 4 de los cuales requirieron además un injerto compuesto de tabique nasal para la sustitución de la lamela interna. Los resultados funcionales y estéticos fueron óptimos (AU)

This article proposes the use of two types of myocutaneousisl and flaps (orbicularis oculi and nasalispedicle flaps respectively), for the reconstruction of full or partial defects after tumoural resection. Seven cases are reported: 4 of which required a compound nasal cartilage graft for the replacement (..) (AU)

Lesiones por Picadura de Araña. Presentación de dos Casos y Revisión del Manejo Terapéutico / Spider Bit lesions. Report of two Cases and Treatment Review

Las picaduras de araña sin trascendencia clínica son frecuentes, manifestándose en forma de eritema, edema local y dolor. Generah11ente los pacientes no identifican a la araña en el momento de la lesión. El término loxoscelismo hace referencia a las lesiones locales dedermonecrosis y las manifestaciones generales (hemólisis, fallo renal agudo, coagulación .intravascular diseminada) producidas por la picadura de un tipo de araña doméstica, la Loxosceles reclusa. Se presentan dos casos clínicos de pacientes que sufrieron una picadura de araña común, desarrollando posteriormente necrosis cutánea de rápida evolución que requirió tratamiento quirúrgico. Analizamos la fisiopatología y los mecanismos implicados en este tipo de lesiones y efectuamos una revisión y puesta al día del manejo terapéutico de las mismas (AU)

Most spider bites involving humans cause minimal medica! problems and result in erythema, local edema and pain. Patients infrcquently present with a positive identification after potential envenomation. Loxoscelism is used to describe dermonecrosis lesions and general reactions (haemolysis, acure renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation) induced by domestic spiders bite (Loxosceles reclusa). Two cases of spiders bite that develop a fast dermonecrosis and need surgical treatment are reported. We analized the fisiopathology and mecanism of these kind of Iession and present a treatment review (AU)

Hand blood supply in radial forearm flap donor extremities: a qualitative analysis using doppler examination.

This retrospective study evaluated the contribution of the forearm arteries to the blood supply of the hand after radial forearm flap surgery. Doppler ultrasound examinations of the radial, ulnar, anterior interosseous and posterior interosseous arteries were performed in the distal forearm using a continuous emission directional Doppler and a modified Allen test. Twenty-seven patients were included in this investigation which demonstrated a significant contribution of the anterior interosseous artery to hand vascularity after radial forearm flap surgery.

Digital imaging in remote diagnosis of burns.

Images are capable of giving an accurate representation of skin color and have been used extensively in teaching about and researching burn therapy. The advance from analogue to digital imaging allows the remote transmission of the clinical information contained in the digital image of a burn, using a suitable system. The large size of these image files reduces transmission speed and makes data compression desirable. Compression, by means of the JPEG algorithm, of up to 50 times the original size of 38 digital images of burns suffered by 22 consecutive patients did not lessen its great usefulness in determining the depth of burn injuries, according to a group of experts in burn care. The success rate was close to 90%, both for non-compressed images in original BMP format (mean size:1500 Kb) and for compressed images with a Q index of 50 (30 Kb files), when compared with the clinical diagnoses confirmed one week after the accident.

Mortality according to age and burned body surface in the Virgen del Rocio University Hospital.

The application of updated clinical protocols for the treatment of burned patients is showing very good results. The mortality curves according to age and the percentage of burned body surface could be of great use for the comparison of clinical results between different burns units. The probability of survival in 1000 consecutive patients admitted to the Burns Unit of the Virgen del Rocio University Hospital between July, 1993 and August, 1997, is compared, by graphic analysis, with the mortality curves of other centers, obtaining similar results. We conclude that the results of medical attendance in our unit are in line with those considered as a reference.

Flow changes in forearm arteries after elevating the radial forearm flap: prospective study using color duplex imaging.

The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in flow patterns of forearm arteries produced by excision of the radial artery when harvesting the radial forearm flap. A prospective study using color duplex imaging for quantitative flow measurements was accomplished in 11 patients. After raising the radial flap, the forearm flow tended to increase overall, the ulnar (P = 0.04), the posterior interosseous (P = 0.003), and the anterior interosseous (P = 0.003) arteries being responsible for this tendency. Therefore, harvesting of a radial flap must not be considered as causing vascular morbidity in terms of blood supply to the hand.