Quality of breast reconstruction service at a university hospital as assessed by the patients

Purpose: To evaluate the quality of breast reconstruction service at a university hospital, as assessed by the patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled adult women who underwent immediate or delayed breast reconstruction by any technique performed at a university hospital between 1 and 24 months before the assessment. The Brazilian version of the Health Service Quality Scale (HSQS) was self-applied to the participants. The HSQS produces percentage scores, which are expressed in values ranging from 0 to 10 for each domain of the scale, and into an overall percentage quality score. The management team was asked to establish a minimum satisfactory score for the breast reconstruction service. Results: Ninety patients were included. The management team considered 8.00 the minimum satisfactory score for the service. The overall percentage score was 93.3%. Only one domain, 'Support,' had an average score lower than that considered satisfactory (7.22 ± 3.0); while the others had higher scores. The domain that scored highest was 'Qualification' (9.94 ± 0.3), followed by 'Result' (9.86 ± 0.4). There was a positive correlation between 'type of oncologic surgery' and 'intentions of loyalty to the service' (ρ = 0.272; p = 0.009) and a negative correlation between 'education' and 'quality of the environment' (ρ = ­0.218; p = 0.039). The higher the patient's level of education, the higher the score attributed to 'relationship' (ρ = 0.261; p = 0.013) and the lower the score of 'aesthetics and functionality' (ρ = ­0.237; p = 0.024). Conclusion: The quality of the breast reconstruction service was considered satisfactory, but there is a demand for structural improvements, better interpersonal relationships, and a stronger support network for patients.

Acellular dermal matrix in skin wound healing in rabbits - histological and histomorphometric analyses

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the histology and histomorphometry of healing associated with acellular dermal matrix in skin wounds in rabbits. METHODS: Twelve male rabbits were divided into two groups: the control group (CG) and the matrix group (MG). Three skin wounds with a total area of 20 × 20 mm were created on the dorsal region of each animal. Photographic records of the lesions taken over a 21-day period and use of the ImageJ program allowed calculation of the wound contraction rate. The lesions were biopsied on days 3, 14 and 21 for histomorphometric analysis to define the thicknesses of the dermis and epidermis (hematoxylin-eosin) and calculate the densities of type I and type III collagen (picrosirius). RESULTS: No significant difference in the healing rate was found between the groups (p>0.05). The MG presented greater epidermal thickness on day 3 (p<0.05) and on days 14 and 21 (p<0.001). The MG presented greater dermal thickness throughout the study period (p<0.05). The type I collagen density was higher in the MG throughout the study period (p<0.05), and the type III collagen density was higher in the MG on days 3 and 14 (p<0.05) and on day 21 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The use of acellular dermal matrix increased the thickness of the dermal and epidermal layers and the amount of type I and III collagen during skin wound healing and did not alter the rate of wound contraction.

UNIFESP Info Plastica - An informative application covering the most frequently performed plastic surgeries worldwide

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to develop a free smartphone application with reliable and useful information for the lay public on the most frequently performed plastic surgeries worldwide. METHODS: The five most frequently performed surgeries worldwide according to ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) were selected. Information from the websites of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (SBCP) and from the Outpatient and Hospital Medicine Guide of the Plastic Surgery Division at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) was used for content assembly. YouTube videos with patients' postoperative testimonials were used for an improved understanding of their real concerns. Printed text was distributed to patients in Brazil's Unified Health Service to improve comprehensibility. Content on each of the five surgeries was presented in the application with the following layout: What is the surgery?; Who are the candidates?; Preparations for surgery; Stages of surgery; Recovery after surgery; Complications; Choice of surgeon; Consultation; What is the cost? and Glossary. All material was delivered to an outsourced company to produce the application software. RESULTS: The result was the creation of an application with extensive content on the most frequently performed plastic surgeries. CONCLUSION: The UNIFESP Info Plastica application is an academically based, free and reliable source of information for the lay public interested in all aspects of the most frequently performed plastic surgeries worldwide.

Reconstrução total de orelha no Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás / Total ear reconstruction on Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Goiás

Introdução: Reparar ou reconstruir parcial ou totalmente uma orelha constitui-se um desáfio na Medicina e requer engenhosidade técnica e habilidade cirúrgica. A utilização de material autógeno(cartilagem costal) ainda é considerada a melhor opção cirúrgica. O sucesso da reconstruçãoda orelha depende sobremaneira da elaboração do arcabouço cartilaginoso. Método: O estudo é do tipo transversal, retrospectivo. Foram avaliados prontuários de 39 pacientes admitidos no ambulatório de Cirurgia Plástica do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás, durante o período compreendido entre 1997 a 2007. Todos foram submetidos à reconstrução total de orelha pelo mesmo cirurgião, sendo utilizada a cartilagem costal autóloga e realizada a reconstrução em dois tempos cirúrgicos. Observou-se predomínio de crianças e adolescentes(6 a 14 anos), sexo masculino e procedência da capital (Goiânia). Não houve predominância entre microtia direita e esquerda. O tempo médio do primeiro tempo cirúrgico foi de 140 minutos e, do segundo, 120 minutos. Resultados: A dor no local da retirada da cartilagem costal foi a principal complicação. Não houve nenhum caso de extrusão do arcabouço cartilaginoso, infecção e perfuração da pleura. Os resultados desse trabalho são válidos para um melhor conhecimento e caracterização dos pacientes. Conclusão: A padronização da técnica, nesse caso utilizando cartilagem costal para a construção do arcabouço auricular, aliada à experiência do cirurgião, pode trazer grandes benefícios aos pacientes, especialmente no que diz respeito à minimização das complicações advindas das cirurgias realizadas.

Introduction: Repair or rebuild partially or completely an ear is a challenge in medicine and requires technical ingenuity and surgical skill. The use of autogenous material (costal cartilage) is still considered the best surgical option. The success of the reconstruction of the ear depends crucially on the development of the cartilaginous framework. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. We analyzed the records of 39 patients admitted to the clinic of the Plastic Surgery of the Hospital of the Federal University of Goiás, during the period from 1997 to 2007. All patients underwent total ear reconstruction by the same surgeon, using autologous costal cartilage. There construction was performed in two surgical times. About the patients, was observed the predominance of children and adolescents (6 to 14 years), male and from capital cities (Goiânia). There was no predominance of right or left microtia. The average time of the first surgical time was 140 minutes and the second 120 minutes. Resuts: The pain at the site of costal cartilage removal was the main complication. There were no cases of extrusion of the cartilaginous framework, infection and perforation of the pleura. The findings are for a better understanding and characterization of patients. Conclusion: The standardization of the technique, in this case using costal cartilage to build the framework headset, along with experience of the surgeon can bring great benefits to patients, especially regarding to minimize the complications of surgeries performed.