Soft tissue cover for the exposed knee prosthesis. (1/277)

This study assess the use of muscle flaps to cover exposed knee prostheses and emphasises the need for early plastic surgery consultation. In five of the six patients studied the wound was successfully covered and the knee prosthesis salvaged with a reasonable functional outcome.  (+info)

Spontaneous bilateral cornual uterine dehiscence early in the second trimester after bilateral laparoscopic salpingectomy and in-vitro fertilization: case report. (2/277)

A bilateral cornual uterine dehiscence is reported, which occurred 14 weeks after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in a patient having a medical history of previous bilateral salpingectomy via laparoscopy. Uterine rupture is a rare obstetric complication usually occurring during the third trimester of pregnancy within a uterus which has previously undergone an operation. Ectopic pregnancy is a well known complication of IVF. Post-salpingectomy cornual localization with rupture has also been published. Possible causes are discussed and the attention of the counselling physician is directed to the necessary awareness of such a complication in this high risk population. The reported case is an extreme rarity: a similar case has not been previously published in the literature.  (+info)

The impairment of wound healing process is correlated with abnormalities of TNF-alpha production by peritoneal exudate cells in obstructive jaundiced rats. (3/277)

The wound healing process and production of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) by peritoneal cells of 7-day and 14-day obstructive jaundice (OJ) and sham-operated rats were investigated. In the study the skin wound breaking strength was measured. In addition such histological and biochemical parameters as fibroblast and endothelial cell proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration and hydroxyproline content were evaluated in polyurethane sponge discs implanted subcutaneously into rats. TNF-alpha production by peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), both spontaneous and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced was determined by a bioassay. In OJ rats the process of both early as well as late phase of healing was impaired. The breaking strength of skin wound was decreased, the fibroblast and endothelial cell proliferation and collagen deposition, as well as hydroxyproline content were diminished. In 7 day OJ the numbers of inflammatory cells in the implants were lowered with a subsequent slight increase on day 14 of OJ. The spontaneous and LPS induced TNF-alpha production by PEC were significantly higher in 7 day OJ as compared with sham-operated controls. On day 14 of OJ the LPS-induced TNF-alpha level was, in contrast, much lower and did not differ much from the spontaneous TNF-alpha production. We conclude that the impairment of wound healing in OJ results from disturbances in functioning of the immune system caused by systemic endotoxaemia.  (+info)

Comparison of closure of subcutaneous tissue versus non-closure in relation to wound disruption after abdominal hysterectomy in obese patients. (4/277)

AIMS: To evaluate the role of subcutaneous tissue closure in relation to wound disruption after abdominal hysterectomy in obese patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective study at a tertiary referral centre in Mumbai, India, 60 obese patients with subcutaneous fat more than 2.5 cms were included in the study. In 30 patients, subcutaneous tissue was closed using synthetic suture (dexon) while in 30 control patients subcutaneous tissue was not closed. Average weight in the study and control groups were 69 -/+ 9.2 kg and 63.3 -/+ 11.2 kg respectively. RESULTS: The wound disruption occurred in 5 patients in non-closure group as compared to only one in the closure group. Incidence of seroma, haematoma formation and other wound complications were higher in the non-closure group. CONCLUSIONS: Closure of the subcutaneous tissue after abdominal hysterectomy of women with at least 2.5 cms of subcutaneous tissue lowers the overall rate of complications leading to disruption of the incision.  (+info)

Management of complications of tracheal surgery--a case of dehiscence. (5/277)

We report a case of tracheal stenosis in a patient with immune thrombocytopenia who presented 4 yr after splenectomy. The 20-yr progression of the stenosis and management, including resection, is charted. The period after resection was complicated by wound infection, surgical emphysema, mediastinitis and dehiscence of the anastomosis of the trachea. The management of patients with tracheal lesions is discussed, but concentrates on airway care after tracheal resection when complications developed. A laryngeal mask airway was used to stabilize an uncuffed tracheal tube at the site of dehiscence.  (+info)

Closure of abdominal wounds by adhesive strips: a clinical trial. (6/277)

In a randomized trial of wound closure in 512 abdominal wounds, wounds were closed with either reinforced Steristrip skin closures or interrupted silk sutures. Comparisons were made of wound pain and discomfort, wound infection, discharge, redness, width, and skin reaction. The causes of peeling of the tapes were assessed. The results showed that tapes were significantly more comfortable and that patients preferred them to sutures (P less than 0.01), but wide scars occurred more often. There was no difference in rates of wound infection and no case of allergy to the tapes was seen. Closure of abdominal wounds by these tapes is a satisfactory procedure that could be used more extensively.  (+info)

Photochemical keratodesmos for repair of lamellar corneal incisions. (7/277)

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of photochemical keratodesmos (PKD) for closing surgical incisions in the cornea of enucleated rabbit eyes compared with that achieved using sutures and self-sealing incisions. METHODS: A 3.5-mm incision, at an angle parallel to the iris, was made in the cornea of enucleated New Zealand White rabbit eyes. The intraocular pressure required to cause leakage (IOP(L)) from the untreated incision was then recorded. Photochemical keratodesmos treatment was then performed by application of a dye, Rose Bengal (RB), in saline solution to the surfaces of the incision wound, followed by laser irradiation at 514 nm from an argon ion laser. Immediately after treatment, the IOP(L) was measured. Both dose and laser irradiance dependencies were studied in five or more eyes for each condition and appropriate control eyes. The IOP(L)s were compared with those obtained using conventional interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures. Other dyes were tested in a similar fashion. RESULTS: The IOP(L) of 300 mm Hg was obtained using a fluence of 1270 J/cm(2) with an irradiance of 1.27 W/cm(2) (laser exposure time, 16 minutes 40 seconds). No sealing was observed using dye or light alone where control pressures of approximately 30 mm Hg were found. At higher dose (1524 J/cm(2)) and irradiance (3.82 W/cm(2); 6 minutes 35 seconds), PKD was less effective, which may be attributable to thermal effects. PKD produced IOP(L)s similar to those in closure by sutures. Other dyes such as riboflavin-5-phosphate and N:-hydroxy-pyridine thione also produced efficient bonding after PKD. Nonphotochemically active dyes did not produce significant increases in the IOP(L) at which leakage occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in IOP(L) after PKD treatment, comparable with that with sutures, in enucleated rabbit eyes demonstrates the feasibility of this technique ex vivo.  (+info)

Prediction of uterine dehiscence by measuring lower uterine segment thickness prior to the onset of labor: evaluation by transvaginal ultrasonography. (8/277)

OBJECTIVE: Lower uterine segment thickness was measured by transvaginal ultrasound examination and its correlations with the occurrence of uterine dehiscence and rupture was examined. METHODS: The thickness of the muscular layer of the lower uterine segment was measured in 186 term gravidas with previous uterine scars and its correlation with uterine dehiscence/rupture was investigated. RESULTS: Uterine dehiscence was found in 9 cases or 4.7%. There were no cases of the uterine rupture. The thickness of the lower uterine segment among the gravidas with dehiscence was significantly less in than those without dehiscence (p< 0.01). The cut-off value for the thickness of the lower uterine segment was 1.6 mm as calculated by the receiver operating characteristic curve. The sensitivity was 77.8%; specificity 88.6%; positive predictive value 25.9%; negative predictive value 98.7%. CONCLUSION: Measurement of the lower uterine segment is useful in predicting the absence of dehiscence among gravidas with previous cesarean section. If the thickness of the lower uterine segment is more than 1.6 mm, the possibility of dehiscence during the subsequent trials of labor is very small.  (+info)