Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome: Surgical Approach in Patients Presenting with Ulnar Artery Aneurysm.

Hypothenar hammer syndrome is an uncommon condition but of high clinical importance due to ischemia-related complications. In this article, we discuss about our surgical approach to deal with hypothenar hammer syndrome patients suffering from ulnar artery aneurysm, which is surgical exploration and end-to-end anastomosis of the ulnar artery.

Using Amniotic Membrane as a Novel Method to Reduce Post-burn Hypertrophic Scar Formation: A Prospective Follow-up Study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that the application of amniotic membrane as a biological dressing in the management of burns is accompanied by rapid re-epithelialisation. In this follow-up study, we aimed to evaluate the possible role of amniotic membrane as an adjunct to split thickness skin grafting on reducing itching and severity of hypertrophic scar formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From October 2013 to January 2015, in a prospective follow-up study, 54 patients (108 limbs) with second and third degree burns, covering 4%-15% of total body surface area (TBSA), were included in the study. All patients needed split-thickness skin grafts for burn-wound coverage. Selected patients had symmetric burns on two (upper or lower) extremities. Then, in every patient, the extremities were randomly divided into two groups: In one limb, the skin graft was traditionally fixed with skin staples (control group) and in the other limb, the skin graft was covered with an amniotic membrane (amnion group). Therefore, in every patient, the graft was covered with an amniotic membrane in one extremity and fixed with skin staples in the other extremity. Finally, after 6 months, the degree of itching and hypertrophic scar formation was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The study group was composed of 108 limbs in 54 patients (27 males and 27 females) with a mean age of 23.54 ± 4.9 years and burn 9.03 ± 2.69% TBSA. The patients were divided into two groups: 54 limbs in amnion group and 54 limbs in control group. In 59.25% of the cases, patient had less itching in the extremity covered with amniotic membrane. Furthermore, in 64.81% of the cases, patients had less hypertrophic scar formation in the extremity covered with amniotic membrane. These differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Amniotic membrane used as an adjunct in split thickness skin grafting is a novel modality which significantly reduces scar formation and itching that can be greatly distressing to burn patients. However, still more prospective well designed studies are needed to prove it.

Effect of Folic Acid therapy on Homocysteine Level in patients with Atherosclerosis or Buerger's Disease and in Healthy individuals: A clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis and some other vascular diseases such as Buerger's disease. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to measure the Homocysteine levels in 3 different groups of participants (Buerger's disease, atherosclerosis patients, and healthy cases) and determine the therapeutic effect of folic acid therapy on homocysteine levels for these three groups. METHODS: This nonrandomized clinical trial study was conducted in the vascular and endovascular surgery research center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashhad, Iran. This interventional study consisted of 44 participants of which 22 patients had Buerger's disease and a control group of 22 healthy individuals, all of which were enrolled in this study. All of the study's participants had their serum homocysteine levels measured both before and after 12 weeks of folic acid (5mg/day) therapy. The data analysis used fo data analysis was a Chi square and t-test or their non-parametrical equivalents for data analysis by means of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. RESULTS: The homocysteine levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with Buerger's disease as compared to other groups before treatment with folic acid (Buerger = 21.8 ± 8.5 Mm/L, atherosclerosis = 17.3 ± 6.9, healthy = 13.8 ± 3.1; p < 0.001). After treatment with folic acid at 5 mg/daily for 12 weeks, the new plasma homocysteine levels did not show any significant difference (p = 0.38) between the Buerger's disease group (14.6 ± 4.5 Mm/L) and atherosclerosis group (13.9 ± 4.7), but it was found to besignificantly higher in both groups when compared to the healthy group (10.7 ± 3.9, p<0.05). The plasma homocysteine level was reduced significantly when compared to its initial level in all 3 groups. The comparison of differences among three groups was found not to be significant (p=0.41). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that supplementary therapy with folic acid at a dose of 5 mg daily may reduce the serum homocysteine levels significantly and may have a role in the development of vascular diseases such as Buerger's disease. We suggest that folic acid should be considered as a routine agent in the Buerger's disease therapeutic regime. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.clinicaltrials.in.th) with the ID: TCTR20160601003. FUNDING: This study was not funded by any organization.

Effect of decortication and pleurectomy in chronic empyema patients.

BACKGROUND: Fibrosis that occurs in the chronic phase of pleural empyema restricts lung movement and impairs pulmonary function. It also leads to asymmetry of the chest wall. We evaluated the efficacy of decortication and pleurectomy in improving these adverse consequences. METHODS: Data of 50 patients (42 males, mean age 49.1 ± 19.46 years) with chronic empyema who underwent lung decortication via a posterolateral thoracotomy between 2004 and 2014 were reviewed in this study. All patients had pulmonary function tests before and after surgery. Computed tomography was used to determine transverse and anteroposterior diameters of the chest before and after surgery. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for 11.5 ± 4.5 months. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s was 62.5% ± 13.61% before surgery vs. 77.3% ± 13.31% after surgery (p < 0.001). Mean forced vital capacity was 60.6% ± 14.38% before surgery vs. 78.5% ± 12.64% after surgery (p < 0.001). The improvement in patients with reduced chest wall diameters was significant (p < 0.001). Improvements in pulmonary function tests and chest wall diameters were not significantly different between patients with tuberculosis (n = 10) and those with other diseases (n = 40; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Decortication and pleurectomy via a posterolateral thoracotomy significantly improves pulmonary function and chest wall diameters in patients with chronic empyema due to tuberculosis or other diseases.

Therapeutic Outcomes of Pectoralis Major Muscle Turnover Flap in Mediastinitis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic results and safety of pectoralis major muscle turnover flaps in the treatment of mediastinitis after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures. METHODS: Data regarding 33 patients with post-CABG deep sternal wound infections (DSWIs) who underwent pectoralis major muscle turnover flap procedures in the Emam Reza and Ghaem Hospitals of Mashhad, Iran were reviewed in this study. For each patient, age, sex, hospital stay duration, remission, recurrence, and associated morbidity and mortality were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 2,447 CABG procedures that were carried out during the time period encompassed by our study, DSWIs occurred in 61 patients (2.5%). Of these 61 patients, 33 patients (nine females [27.3%] and 24 males [72.7%]) with an average age of 63±4.54 years underwent pectoralis major muscle turnover flap placement. Symptoms of infection mainly occurred within the first 10 days after surgery (mean, 10.24±13.62 days). The most common risk factor for DSWIs was obesity (n=16, 48.4%) followed by diabetes mellitus (n=13, 39.4%). Bilateral and unilateral pectoralis major muscle turnover flaps were performed in 20 patients (60.6%) and 13 patients (39.4%), respectively. Complete remission was achieved in 25 patients (75.7%), with no recurrence in the follow-up period. Four patients (12.1%) needed reoperation. The mean hospitalization time was 11.69±6.516 days. Four patients (12.1%) died during the course of the study: three due to the postoperative complication of respiratory failure and one due to pulmonary thromboembolism. CONCLUSION: Pectoralis major muscle turnover flaps are an optimal technique in the treatment of post-CABG mediastinitis. In addition to leading to favorable therapeutic results, this flap is associated with minimal morbidity and mortality, as well as a short hospitalization time.

Efficacy of minimally invasive surgery in diagnosis of interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of video-assisted thoracic surgery in reaching a specific diagnosis in patients with interstitial lung disease. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with interstitial lung disease (19 males, 19 females; mean age 47.73 years) who had undergone video-assisted thoracic surgery at Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, between 2010 and 2013 were evaluated retrospectively in this study. Preoperative evaluations including cardiac and pulmonary assessments were performed. Data were recorded in forms prepared for this study and included age, sex, symptoms, imaging findings, operation duration, chest drain withdrawal time, postoperative hospital stay, hospital mortality, and specific diagnosis of the disease. RESULTS: The most common symptom was dyspnea (38 patients, 100%). The most common computed tomography finding was a reticular pattern (30 patients, 78.94%). Surgery complications included persistent air leak in 3 (7.9%) cases and wound infection in 2 (5.26%). There was no hospital death and no need for reoperation. The average of operative time was 50 min. The mean time for chest drain withdrawal and postoperative hospitalization was 4 and 5 days, respectively. The most common diagnoses were usual interstitial pneumonia in 9 (23.68%) patients and sarcoidosis in 6 (15.78%). A specific diagnosis was not reached in 2/38 (5.26%) patients after video-assisted thoracic surgery. CONCLUSION: Video-assisted thoracic surgery is a highly effective and safe method for establishing a specific diagnosis in patients with interstitial lung disease.

Evaluation of the results of surgery treatment in patients with benign lung tumors.

BACKGROUND: Lung tumors are among the common tumors and can be benign or malignant. Benign lung tumors are less common compared to the malignant types. Recognition of the clinical symptoms, types of tumors, paraclinical findings, and treatment approaches can bring better therapeutic results. The present study aims to evaluate the characteristics, diagnosis methods, and therapeutic approaches of different benign lung tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 32 patients with a diagnosis of benign lung tumor, who had been referred to the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences between 1981 and 2009, were studied. Some of the studied variables were symptoms, the pulmonary location involved, surgery technique, pathology findings, recurrence, and surgery complications. Data were analyzed by SPSS package version 16. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 51.69 ± 20.5 years. Prevalence of benign lung tumors was equal in both genders. The most common symptom was cough (31.2%); right lung involvement was more common (71.9%), and the most common sampling technique was transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) (62.5%); 53.1% of the patients were operated on by thoracotomy and the wedge resection technique. In 78.1% of the patients, no complications occurred after surgery. There was no recurrence. Most operations were performed in one month after the start of the symptoms (68.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Benign lung tumors are commonly diagnosed by routine radiography because most of them are asymptomatic. The most common finding in radiography is the presence of mass in the lungs. Transbronchial lung biopsy is a valuable technique to be used for diagnosis. We chose thoracotomy and wedge resection for the treatment of patients. We recommend this approach as a useful method.

Evaluation of sternochondroplasty efficacy in treatment of pectus deformities.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sternochondroplasty for repair of pectus deformities. METHODS: Thirty-three patients underwent repair of pectus deformity with a sternochondroplasty technique between 1989 and 2009. Studied variables were age, sex, symptoms, pulmonary function tests before and after surgery, Haller index, complications, recurrence, and cosmetic results. RESULTS: The median age at operation was 13.27 years. Twenty patients (13 male and 7 female) had pectus excavatum, and 13 (11 male and 2 female) had pectus carinatum. Congenital anomalies associated with pectus excavatum included a skeletal anomaly in 6 (30%) patients and a cardiac anomaly in 4 (20%); only 1 patient with pectus carinatum had cardiac anomaly. Inspiratory vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were significantly different before and after surgery in patients with pectus excavatum, but there was no significant difference in functional residual capacity. Pulmonary function tests showed no significant differences before and after surgery in patients with pectus carinatum. Complications after surgery were seroma in 2 cases and 1 case each of pneumothorax and atelectasis. Recurrence was observed in 2 cases of pectus excavatum. The cosmetic result was excellent in 93.9% of cases. Hospital mortality was zero. CONCLUSION: Sternochondroplasty is a desirable procedure for repairing pectus deformities. This procedure has minimal complications and the cosmetic and physiologic results are excellent.