Epidermal curettage technique (ECT) for tissue harvest from the donor area for melanocyte autologous grafting in cases of vitiligo

Vitiligo is a dermatosis requiring complex treatment. In clinically stable cases, melanocyte autologous grafting has shown good results, using different methodologies for obtaining the donor area: dermatomes, punches, blisters. However, these techniques are complex and require specific instruments. This study presents a simple technique for melanocyte harvest that has been performed in our service for more than ten years and includes epidermal curettage of the donor area, grafting of the obtained material, which was homogenized with saline or hyaluronic acid, on the achromic area, and the application of a semipermeable dressing that is removed 1 week later.

Correção de defeitos cirúrgicos grandes: técnica da dupla cerclagem / Correction of large surgical defects: double cerclage technique

Feridas cirúrgicas de grandes dimensões requerem fechamento através de retalhos ou enxertos, muitas vezes de difícil execução. A técnica da dupla cerclagem constitui alternativa eficaz para o fechamento direto, mesmo que parcial, desse tipo de defeito. Demonstraremos caso ilustrativo da técnica.

Large surgical wounds can be closed using flaps or grafts, which are often difficult to carry out. The double cerclage technique is an effective option for direct ? though partial ? closure of this type of incision. The technique will be demonstrated using an illustrative case.

Suporte básico de vida e suporte avançado de vida em cardiologia: proposta de uma nova estratégia para abordagem e prevenção das intercorrências clínicas em cirurgia dermatológica / Basic life support and advanced cardiac life support: proposal of a new strategy to approach and prevent clinical events in dermatologic surgery

Com o aumento da complexidade cirúrgica e comorbidades da população, o risco de intercorrências clínicas em cirurgia dermatológica aumentou nas últimas décadas. Para sua abordagem foi criado um fluxograma baseado na tríade decisória formada pelo estado físico do paciente, grau de sedação e porte do procedimento, indicando o tipo de suporte cardiovascular em cada procedimento. Pacientes submetidos a cirurgias de "porte pequeno" e ASA < 2 devem receber suporte básico de vida; os submetidos a cirurgias de "porte pequeno" e ASA > 2, a cirurgias de "porte médio" ou a sedação profunda devem receber suporte avançado de vida em cardiologia.

Since complexity of surgical procedures has increased, and patients' co-morbidities have become more frequent, the risk of clinical complications in dermatologic surgery has also increased in the past decades. In order to better assess these risks, a flowchart based on a ruling triad consisting of the patient's health status, sedation level, and procedure complexity was developed to establish the type of cardiovascular support adequate to each procedure. Patients undergoing small surgeries with ASA < 2 should be assigned to basic life support; patients undergoing small surgeries with ASA > 2, and those undergoing medium-sized surgeries or deep sedation should be assigned to advanced cardiac life support (ACLS).

Profilaxia em cirurgia dermatológica / Prophylaxis in dermatologic surgery

Profilaxia cirúrgica é assunto amplamente discutido pelos dermatologistas, inexistindo, entretanto, consenso, tanto nas opiniões quanto nos estudos publicados. Com o objetivo de organizar os dados existentes na literatura e embasar o dermatologista para melhor escolha, foi realizada revisão de trabalhos nas bases de dados do Medline e da Biblioteca Cochrane, levantando artigos sobre profilaxia com antibióticos e antivirais. Com base nesses estudos foram elaboradas recomendações de profilaxia em diversas situações cotidianas do dermatologista, bem como sugestões de medicações profiláticas. O uso crítico da medicina embasada em evidência auxilia o dermatologista a tomar decisões, mas não se deve desconsiderar a experiência do médico nem tampouco subestimar a capacidade individual de análise clínica do paciente.

The theme of surgical prophylaxis is widely discussed by dermatologists; however, there is a lack of consensus regarding both opinions and published studies.A review of papers relating to the use of antibiotics and antivirals in prophylaxis was conducted in order to organize the existing data and provide dermatologists with a better foundation for making decisions.The literature review was performed using Medline and Cochrane Library databases. Recommendations of prophylaxis in several common situations in the dermatologist's daily experience, in addition to suggestions of prophylactic medications, were made based on these studies.The critical and evidence based approach in medicine provides support to the decision making process. Nevertheless, dermatologists should neither dismiss their own clinical experience nor underestimate the physician's individual ability to conduct the clinical analysis of patients.