Anatomical and functional outcomes of Boston type I keratoprosthesis as primary penetrating corneal procedure in high-risk and non-high-risk cases.

PURPOSE: To analyze the anatomical and functional results of Boston type I keratoprosthesis (B1-KPro) as a primary corneal procedure in high-risk (HR) cases and non-high-risk (NHR) cases. METHODS: In this retrospective interventional case series, all patients who underwent B1-KPro at a single center between January 2006 and March 2021 were reviewed and identified. Cases were classified according to the primary diagnosis. Anatomical failure was considered in the case of prosthesis extrusion or phthisis bulbi. Functional failure was a postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) ≥ 1.3 LogMAR (≤ 0.05 decimal) at the end of the follow-up period. RESULTS: Twenty-three eyes were included for analysis. Thirteen eyes were classified as HR and 10 as NHR. The mean age was 46.5 ± 26.5 years (5-84 years) in the HR group and 49.5 ± 26.9 years (2-78 years) in the NHR group. The mean follow-up was 42.0 ± 35.9 months (1.5-118 months) in HR and 44.8 ± 38.8 months (1-107 months) in NHR. Three eyes in the HR and none in the NHR group showed anatomical failure. Functional failure was reported in 5/13 eyes in the HR and 8/10 in the NHR group. Functional cumulative survival probability was 92% and 82% for the HR group at 1 and 2 years, respectively. In the NHR group, it was 27% at both times. No significant differences were found between groups, except for functional survival in the HR group due to better visual potential of the eyes. CONCLUSIONS: B1-KPro as a primary corneal procedure is a valid option for visual rehabilitation in high-risk cases.

[The role of endosonography in the treatment of chemical ulcerative-necrotic burns of the esophagus]. / Rol' endosonografii v opredelenii taktiki lecheniya khimicheskogo yazvenno-nekroticheskogo ozhoga pishchevoda: klinicheskoe nablyudenie.

The authors present ultrasonography-assisted endoscopic diagnosis of chemical burn of the esophagus. This method early predicted decompensated cicatricial stenosis of the esophagus that was valuable to determine treatment strategy. Preventive mini-invasive endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy provided adequate enteral nutrition in a patient with decompensated esophageal stenosis before reconstructive surgery.

Garlic burn trauma of the oral mucosa in a patient with trigeminal neuralgia: A case report.

Garlic is one of the most common medicinal plants used since ancient times to treat diverse diseases within several cultures worldwide. Nevertheless, this plant has the potential to cause chemical burns of the skin and mucosa. This report presents a case of a garlic burn in the palate of a 57-year-old woman who applied garlic to the palate to relieve the pain of trigeminal neuralgia. This case demonstrates the potential of garlic to cause chemical burns to the oral mucosa and raises an alert to oral health professionals regarding inappropriate self-treatment methods.

[Clinical analysis of 25 cases of acute oral 84 disinfectant poisoning].

Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment effect of patients with acute oral 84 disinfectant poisoning, so as to improve the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Methods: In January 2022, 25 hospitalized patients with acute oral 84 disinfectant poisoning admitted to our department from March 2016 to August 2021 were selected as the research objects, and their general conditions, poisoning reasons, poisoning time, dose of poisoning, clinical manifestations, blood routine and biochemical indicators, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were selected. Results: A retrospective analysis was performed. Among the 25 patients, there were 4 males and 21 females, aged from 20 to 91 years, and M (Q(1), Q(3)) was 38.7 (27, 46) years; The poisoning time (from exposure to poison to treatment) was 1~72 h, and M (Q(1), Q(3)) was 10.5 (3, 11.5) h. The length of stay was 1~20 days, and M (Q(1), Q(3)) was 5.72 (2, 7) days.The dose was 40-500 ml, and the M (Q(1), Q(3)) was 219.6 (100, 330) ml. Chest CT showed exudative changes in both lungs in 4 patients, excessive decreased permeability in 1 case and pleural effusion in 1 case. Gastroscope showed 2 cases of erosive inflammation of gastric body and antrum, 1 case of esophageal ulcer and cardiac ulcer, 1 case of corrosive gastritis, gastric fundus ulcer and esophageal stenosis. Abdominal X-ray showed 1 case of abdominal intestinal dilatation and pneumatosis with multiple gas-liquid planes.There were 1 case of type I respiratory failure, 6 cases of gastrointestinal bleeding and 1 case of incomplete intestinal obstruction. There were 19 cases of nausea and vomiting, 9 cases of abdominal pain, 6 cases of pharyngeal pain and 6 cases of retrosternal burning pain, 1 case of cough and 2 cases of fatigue. Conclusion: Acute oral 84 disinfectant will cause varying degrees of damage to the human digestive tract and lungs. In severe cases, gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction, hypoxemia, etc, and even life-threatening, should be paid attention to clinically. The treatment is mainly symptomatic support treatment, such as protecting gastrointestinal mucosa, controlling acute inflammatory reaction, protecting the functions of liver and kidney and other important organs.

CEMENT BURNS.

BACKGROUND: Burns are a common condition presenting to the emergency department; the majority are thermal burns. The treatment for thermal burns and chemical burns differs greatly, and prompt recognition of a chemical burn is necessary. An often unrecognized and underestimated type of chemical burn is an alkali burn from wet cement. CASE REPORT: A 7-year-old boy was transferred from an outside facility for evaluation of burns after exposure to wet cement. The patient underwent partial decontamination at the outside facility with polyethylene glycol and, to prevent ongoing alkali burns, the patient necessitated further decontamination with irrigation. Burn surgery was consulted for additional evaluation. The patient required no further intervention and the patient was discharged to home and made a full recovery. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Serious morbidity and mortality can occur from unrecognized cement burns, and early decontamination and evaluation by a burn surgeon is necessary. It is critical that emergency physicians both recognize and appropriately treat this condition in a timely manner to prevent adverse outcomes.

Dermal Hydrofluoric Acid Toxicity Case Review: Looks Can Be Deceiving.

Hydrofluoric acid is a caustic compound found in a wide variety of items for household and industrial uses. Dermal exposures can be visually unimpressive on presentation but still have fatal complications. This case review includes a description of a patient presenting with a dermal hydrofluoric acid burn that was effectively treated with topical calcium gluconate gel. Also highlighted are the challenges faced with recognizing the severity and appropriately treating dermal hydrofluoric acid burns in the emergency department.

Enzymatic debridement as an effective treatment for combined flame and chemical burns caused by e-cigarettes.

Since its introduction on the market in 2007, the number of reports on injuries caused by the ignition or explosion of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has increased significantly. Two male patients have been treated at our burn center, the for ENDS-related injuries. Their batteries came into contact with metal objects stored in their pants pockets, resulting in a short circuit and finally ignition. In both patients, the combined flame and chemical burn wounds were initially irrigated with water upon arrival at the emergency department, leading to increased levels of pain. In our burn center, the wounds were extensively cleansed which led to a subsequent drop in NRS-scores. Laser Doppler Imaging showed a clear indication for surgery as both patients suffered a partial-thickness burn, with one patient having a patch of full-thickness burn as well. We swiftly performed an enzymatic debridement in both patients, followed by conservative wound management. Although enzymatic debridement is not generally recommended in the treatment of chemical burns, we successfully made use of this treatment option. Different authors advocate the use of mineral oils to irrigate or cover alkali burns, as contact between the chemical compounds and water can set off an exothermic reaction, leading to further injury. We believe that a hypertonic rinsing solution could be recommended as well in an emergency setting and we want to stress the importance of rapid removal of the chemical compounds in suspected chemical burns as well as swift debridement.

Comparison of Subconjunctival Aflibercept and Betamethasone for the Treatment of Formed Corneal Neovascularization in a Rabbit Model.

AIM: To compare the efficacy of aflibercept (Eylea®), a potent antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent, with betamethasone (Celestone®) and placebo for the treatment of formed corneal neovascularization in a rabbit model. METHODS: A central corneal chemical burn was created in the right eye of 24 New Zealand albino rabbits. Four weeks later, the rabbits were randomly divided into 4 equal groups for subconjunctival injection of aflibercept, betamethasone, aflibercept+ betamethasone, or saline (control). Digital photographs taken at weekly intervals were rated by 2 masked observers for extent, centricity, and density of corneal neovascularization according to a predefined scale. The percentage of corneal surface involved by neovascularization was quantified by image analysis software (Fiji-J). The change in corneal neovascularization from treatment administration (4 weeks after injury) to 4 weeks later (8 weeks after injury) was assessed. The rabbits were then euthanized, and their eyes were enucleated and processed for histopathological and immunofluorescence studies. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the change in corneal neovascularization after treatment among the 4 groups according to the digital images (p > 0.15) or histological evaluation with hematoxylin and eosin (p > 0.08). On immunofluorescence assay, a lower VEGF concentration was observed in all treatment groups compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In this rabbit model, corneal neovascularization induced by chemical burn failed to regress with treatment with aflibercept, betamethasone, or their combination.

Efficacy of fixation of the amniotic membrane on a symblepharon ring with continuous suturing in acute ocular chemical burn patients.

PURPOSE: To describe a modified non-traumatic amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) technique and evaluating its efficiency for the ocular surface injury after chemical burn were aimed. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 20 patients (F: 6, M: 14) with acute chemical burn for whom modified non-traumatic AMT was utilized were evaluated retrospectively. In this technique, amniotic membrane (AM) was fixated onto a symblepharon ring with continuous suturing. The healing time of the corneal epithelial defect due to ocular surface chemical injury and melting duration of AM were evaluated. Development of infection or symblepharon, recurrence or persistence of epithelial defect, corneal perforation and the ring falling out with AM were evaluated as complications. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 24.7 ± 11.7 years old (14 months-40 years). Mean duration of applying the non-traumatic AMT after contact with the chemical agent was 8.4 ± 6.2 days (2-21 days). The mean duration of the epithelial defect healing was 27.8 ± 8.8 days (11-40 days) in the grade II, III, and IV (n = 12) cases, while in the grade V and VI (n = 8) cases, a persistent epithelial defect developed, and the mean duration of the epithelial defect healing was 83 ± 23.1 days (42-120 days) (p = 0.0002). The mean melting duration of the AM was 22.7 ± 10 days (10-42 days). CONCLUSION: By using this modified AMT technique, AM can be utilized efficiently, easily, and non-traumatically in every center for the treatment of the ocular surface injury due to chemical burn.

[Esophageal cancer after chemical burn]. / Rak pishchevoda posle khimicheskogo ozhoga.

AIM: To analyze patients with chemical burn of esophagus followed by cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since 2010 till 2017 esophageal cancer has been diagnosed in 4 patients with esophageal cicatrical stenosis after previous chemical burn. Cervical segment of the esophagus was involved in 1 case. RESULTS: Resectable tumor was observed only in 1 patient. In 3 cases stenting was performed (palliative intervention in 2 patients and as preoperative stage in 1 case). Stomach probe for feeding was deployed in 1 observation. CONCLUSION: Patients after previous chemical burn of the esophagus and esophagoplasty should be under follow-up for timely diagnosis and treatment of esophageal malignancies.

Successful single treatment with ziv-aflibercept for existing corneal neovascularization following ocular chemical insult in the rabbit model.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of ziv-aflibercept as a treatment for established corneal neovascularization (NV) and to compare its efficacy to that of bevacizumab following ocular chemical insult of sulfur mustard (SM) in the rabbit model. METHODS: Chemical SM burn was induced in the right eye of NZW rabbits by vapor exposure. Ziv-aflibercept (2 mg) was applied once to neovascularized eyes by subconjunctival injection while subconjunctival bevacizumab (5 mg) was administered twice a week, for 3 weeks. Non-treated exposed eyes served as a control. A clinical follow-up employed by slit-lamp microscope, was performed up to 12 weeks following exposure and digital photographs of the cornea were taken for measurement of blood vessels length using the image analysis software. Eyes were taken for histological evaluation 2, 4 and 8 weeks following treatment for general morphology and for visualization of NV, using H&E and Masson Trichrome stainings, while conjunctival goblet cell density was determined by PAS staining. RESULTS: Corneal NV developed, starting as early as two weeks after exposure. A single subconjunctival treatment of ziv-aflibercept at 4 weeks post exposure, significantly reduced the extent of existing NV already one week following injection, an effect which lasted for at least 8 weeks following treatment, while NV in the non-treated exposed eyes continued to advance. The extensive reduction in corneal NV in the ziv-aflibercept treated group was confirmed by histological evaluation. Bevacizumab multiple treatment showed a benefit in NV reduction, but to a lesser extent compared to the ziv-aflibercept treatment. Finally, ziv-aflibercept increased the density of conjunctival goblet cells as compared to the exposed non-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Subconjunctival ziv-aflibercept single treatment presented a highly efficient long-term therapeutic benefit in reducing existing corneal NV, following ocular sulfur mustard exposure. These findings show the robust anti-angiogenic efficacy of ziv-aflibercept and demonstrate the advantage of this treatment over the other anti-angiogenic therapies in ameliorating corneal NV and protecting the ocular surface.

Comparative evaluations of hypertrophic scar formation in in vivo models.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hypertrophic scar (HTS) results from a connective tissue reaction to trauma, inflammation, surgery, or burn on skin. In spite of various techniques for wound generation, the degree of scar in animal models after healing is still unpredictable and less reproducible. The objective of the current study was to identify the appropriate method to create the maximal HTS tissue in a reliable manner by comparing three different methods in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 27 ICR mice were tested for the in vivo evaluations. Three different methods were applied to develop wounds on the back of each mice for quantitative evaluations on collagen formation: Group 1 (thermal burn), Group 2 (chemical burn), and Group 3 (physical punch). After injury, each lesion was photographed to examine physical variations in the wound areas. Histological analysis was conducted on days 0, 7, and 28 to assess the extent of the injury in the tissue and to quantitatively compare the amount of collagen formation after wound healing. RESULTS: Compared with Groups 1 and 3, Group 2 demonstrated the largest wound area that gradually decreased with healing time. However, the minimal axial damage (along tissue depth) occurred to Group 2 at day 0 (183.7 ± 28.9, 38.1 ± 9.2, and 296.0 ± 81.7 µm for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). After 28 days, all the groups showed the complete healing and accompanied a significant increase in the number of fibroblast and collagen generation with well-oriented and denser collagen fibers, in comparison with normal skin. Group 2 yielded twice thicker skin (both epidermis and dermis) than the other groups (970.8 ± 108.8 µm for Group 2 vs. 381.5 ± 30.8 µm for Group 1 and 442.9 ± 56.3 µm for Group 3; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The proposed chemical burn can be the optimal method to create collagenous scar tissue in the mouse model. Further in vivo investigations with rat models will be performed to validate the current technique for laser scar treatment in terms of reliability and immunohistochemical responses. Lasers Surg. Med. 9999:XX-XX, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Trifluoroacetic acid: Three times the fluoride, three times the toxicity?

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA) is a carboxylic acid, similar to acetic acid, used industrially and in laboratories. There is a paucity of data regarding exposure and the concern is that toxicity may mimic that of hydrofluoric acid (HF), causing electrolyte abnormalities, dysrhythmia, and cardiac arrest. We report a case of a 27-year-old male that presents with a dermal exposure to TFAA. His exam was remarkable for a 4% body surface area partial thickness burn to the right forearm. There were no initial electrolyte abnormalities or dysrhythmias and the patient was admitted to telemetry monitoring overnight. Serial laboratories were normal, dysrhythmias did not occur, and patient was ultimately discharged with routine burn care of the wound. Previously reported TFAA exposures are uncommon and tend to be very small body surface area chemical burns without clear systemic toxicity. HF as well as sodium and ammonium bifluorides have been shown to cause clinically significant electrolyte disturbances that can lead to dysrhythmias and fatalities. While TFAA may be structurally similar, it does not appear to have similar toxicity. This is an important difference in presentation and treatment that emergency physicians should be aware of as occupational exposures are likely to present to the emergency department.

Sclerocorneal graft and sequential removal of melted cornea after severe corneal burn with perforation.

Corneal burn grade IV usually leads to blindness. Several different surgical techniques remain challenging owing to the extensive tissue damage. Here, we introduce a novel technique with a 15 mm corneoscleral and limbal homologous graft combined with sequential autologous corneal removal ab interno, with a vitrectomy probe to save the anterior chamber angle. In vivo anatomy with optical coherence tomography is the surgical key. A large 15 mm sclerocorneal graft is sutured on top of the remainder of the destroyed cornea and sclera after removal of the epithelium and conjunctiva, with anterior synechiolysis if necessary, peripheral iridectomy and conjunctivoplasty. The recipient central corneal stroma is not removed, primarily to protect the anterior chamber angle. After three weeks, the collagenolytic central recipient corneal stroma can be removed with a small 23 g vitrectomy probe, respecting the lens and scleral spur. The corneoscleral graft remains clear under systemic and local immunosuppression. Intraocular pressure is well controlled because the anterior chamber angle is respected. Recurrent corneal erosions need close follow-up. Therapeutic soft contact lenses can support topical therapy. In cases of sclercorneal graft decompensation or rejection after 3-5 years, a new sclerocorneal graft (with limbal donation) seems to be superior to perforating keratoplasty without limbal stem cell transplantation. Repeated sclerocorneal grafts after severe corneal burn with limbal transplantation and maintenance of the complete anterior angle structure are a successful option for preventing blindness and achieving good visual acuity. Clin. Anat. 31:39-42, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Scalp burns induced by hair bleaching]. / Brûlure du cuir chevelu induite par les décolorations capillaires.

BACKGROUND: Hair bleaching is increasingly being carried out in hairdressing salons. The products used are a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and persulfates, both active chemical agents. Scalp burns secondary to hair bleaching are a traumatic adverse effect rarely discussed in publications that continue to be little known among healthcare professionals. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the case of a 15-year-old girl with a plaque of scarring alopecia on the vertex. This lesion resulted from a deep burn following a hair-bleaching procedure. Healing took around 4 months, resulting in discomfort for our patient. DISCUSSION: This is a rare case of scarring alopecia following a basic chemical burn to the scalp. The oxidation reaction induced by the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and persulfates, prepared in a basic medium, causes bleaching of the melanin pigments in hair. The clinical presentation of a single, well limited, painful, oozing ulceration located at the vertex was similar to the other cases published in the literature. Although a chemical burning mechanism is most often incriminated, the procedure is always coupled with use of a heat source and associated thermal burn may occur. The delayed appearance of the lesion appears to be caused by the forming of surfactants by the hydrogen peroxide/persulfate mixture, resulting in slow dissolution of the oxidizing compounds within the stratum corneum.

Ocular surface inflammation impairs structure and function of meibomian gland.

Dysfunction of the meibomian glands alters secreted meibum quantitatively and qualitatively that can lead to damage to the ocular surface epithelium. In response to an unstable tear film cause by meibomian gland dysfunction, ocular surface epithelium is damaged and expresses inflammatory cytokines leading to secondary ocular inflammation. In turn, inflammatory disorders of the palpebral conjunctiva and lid margin may affect the structure and function of meibomian gland. The disorders include allergic conjunctivitis, long-term usage of contact lenses, dermatological diseases that affect conjunctival homeostasis, Stevens-Johnson's syndrome or chemical burning of the ocular surface and lid margin.

Long-term outcome of allogeneic cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation for symblepharon caused by severe ocular burns.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic effects of allogeneic cultivated limbal epithelial transplantation (CLET) for symblephara at different degrees caused by ocular burns were evaluated in this study. METHODS: A series of interventional cases were involved in this retrospective study. Eighty eyes (80 patients) with symblephara underwent CLET and the success rates of surgical treatment as well as corneal conditions and risk factors for recurrent symblepharon were analyzed. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 32.4 ± 13.7 years (ranged from 4 to 60 years). The average follow-up time was 26.4 ± 13.6 months (ranged from 12 to 60 months). Symblepharon cases were caused by chemical burns (36 eyes) or thermal burns (44 eyes). The first surgical intervention achieved complete success in 40 eyes (50%), partial success in 25 eyes (31.3%), and failure in 15 eyes (18.8%). The rate of complete success was 85.0% in eyes with grade I/II symblephara, 51.5% in eyes with grade III eyes and 22.2% in eyes grade IV symblephara (P = 0.001). The treatment was completely successful in 23.1% of eyes with moderate or severe preoperative inflammatory action and 63.0% of eyes with mild or no inflammation (P = 0.000). The corneal conditions were improved in 43 eyes (53.8%), of which 21 eyes had improved visual acuity. The recurrence of symblepharon after the first CLET was positively correlated with symblepharon length (P = 0.003), preoperative inflammatory activity (P = 0.016) as well as postoperative cicatricial entropion and trichiasis (P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: CLET was effective on the recovery of anatomically deep fornixes in eyes caused by symblephara and corneal surface condition could be improved simultaneously. The success of surgical treatment was dependent on the effective control of inflammation and timely management of eyelid abnormalities.

The safety and efficacy of Diphoterine for ocular and cutaneous burns in humans.

CONTEXT: Diphoterine, developed by the French company Prevor, is a polyvalent, chelating, amphoteric and slightly hypertonic solution used in the management of chemical cutaneous and ocular burns. While used extensively in Europe and Canada, it is has not been approved by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as an alternative to the water-rinse method due to a lack of evidence of its safety and efficacy on human subjects. An unbiased and extensive systematic review was undertaken in order to better understand Diphoterine's safety and efficaciousness on humans. OBJECTIVE: Review the safety and efficacy of Diphoterine for treating chemical burns of the skin and eyes in humans. METHODS: Data sources: Information sources included Pubmed, the National Library of Medicine's Medline Database and the "Publications" sections of the Prevor website. Search terms included Diphoterine, chemical burn, ocular burn and cutaneous burn. STUDY SELECTION: Any study type published through a peer-reviewed journal up to May 2016 was considered eligible. Published data must have included Diphoterine in the treatment of chemical burns on the skin or eyes as well as meet other specified criteria. Acceptable studies had to use either a quantitative (e.g. number of work days lost) or qualitative (e.g. level of erythema) approach when measuring cutaneous or ocular lesion outcomes. DATA EXTRACTION: Independent assessment of article inclusion by two authors using predefined criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Diphoterine is safe and highly effective in improving healing time, healing sequelae and pain management of chemical burns on the skin and eyes of humans. Outcomes are significantly improved when compared to water or a physiologic solution equivalent. We recommend that this product be readily available to emergency responders and companies that expose their employees to hazardous chemical substances in order to improve healing sequelae, pain management and lost work days from these types of burns.

Chemical burn to the gingiva after misuse of an over-the-counter oral whitening mouthwash.

A well-recognized consequence of the use of tooth whitening gels and strips, particularly prescription strength formulations, is gingival irritation and tooth sensitivity. Limited information is available in the literature on the risk of gingival chemical burns associated with over-the-counter (OTC) oral whitening rinses. This case report details the development of gingival chemical burns consequent to misuse of a whitening rinse. The affected patient had rinsed for 30 seconds daily for 3-4 days but had failed to rinse with water after usage, as specified by the manufacturer. Within 2 weeks, successful resolution of the gingival injury was achieved through product withdrawal and saline rinses. Patients should be familiar with the manufacturer's designated instructions for OTC oral healthcare products and be advised to use them cautiously.