New Approach to the Care of Suction Drain Insertion Site by Using Occlusive Transparent Film Dressing

The closed suction drain is commonly inserted after various surgical procedures. It has an important role to prevent possible hematoma or seroma that can cause postoperative wound problems. But there is still no consensus on managing the insertion site of suction drain after operation. Suture-tie fixation of drain to skin and classical Y shape gauze dressing is a usually accepted method, but it has many limitations. We introduce a new approach to the care for the insertion site of suction drain by using occlusive transparent film dressing, IV3000(R)(Smith & Nephew, London, UK). By using transparent film, insertion site of drain can be easily checked without removal of dressing. Because it can reduce the tension of suture-tie fixation, it helps to prevent skin injury. Furthermore, occlusive film dressing can block air leakage from insertion site of drain, and the water-proof character of film allows patients to take a shower without dressing change. This new method is more convenient, more efficient, and less harmful to skin than classic one.

A Case of Patent Ductus Arteriosus Associated with Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis

Isolated infective endocarditis in the native pulmonary valve is unusual in non-intravenous drug user. Intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, sepsis, catheter related infections and congenital heart diseases account for the majority of predisposing factors. We report a case of patent ductus arteriosus complicating infective endocarditis involving pulmonary valve. A 24-year-old female was admitted with fever of unknown origin Physical examination revealed continuous murmur at left 2nd intercostals space. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography was performed and patent ductus arteriosus and vegetation at the pulmonary valve were noted. Chest CT scan revealed multiple patch infiltrate suggestive of septic emboli. After 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment, she had no clinical signs of fever, and blood culture be negative. Percutaneous trans-catheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus was done after 2 months.

A Case of Patent Ductus Arteriosus Associated with Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis

Isolated infective endocarditis in the native pulmonary valve is unusual in non-intravenous drug user. Intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, sepsis, catheter related infections and congenital heart diseases account for the majority of predisposing factors. We report a case of patent ductus arteriosus complicating infective endocarditis involving pulmonary valve. A 24-year-old female was admitted with fever of unknown origin Physical examination revealed continuous murmur at left 2nd intercostals space. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography was performed and patent ductus arteriosus and vegetation at the pulmonary valve were noted. Chest CT scan revealed multiple patch infiltrate suggestive of septic emboli. After 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment, she had no clinical signs of fever, and blood culture be negative. Percutaneous trans-catheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus was done after 2 months.

The Response of diabetic Rabbit Femoral Artey on the Electrical Stimulation and vasodilators

This experiment was aimed to investigate the contractile responses of the fermoral artery to the electrical stimulation and the inhibitory effects of verapamil and papaverine on the electrical stimulation of the fermoral artery in the control (n=46) and the diabetic rabbits(n=40). Diabetic rabbits were made by and administration of alloxan (100 mg/kg) intravenously and sacrified 8 weeks later. Femoral arterial rings 3 mm in length were taken and mounted on the force-displacement transducer for the measurements of isometric tension. All experiments were done in the aerated (95% O2 with 5% CO2)biological chamber filled with Kreb's solution and the initial tension of 1.5g was applied to the rings. After 1 hour of equilibrium of the rings, the contractile responses of the electrical stimulation on the femoral arterial rings were taken without vasoactive drugs and then, under verapamil and papaverine solution. And we compared the morphologic findings of the vessels in the two groups in relation to the functional changes by transmission electron miroscopy. The results are as follows: 1. The contractile responses in the presence of verapamil or papaverine solutions to the electrical stimulation were lowed significantly in the fermoral arterial rings of the diabetic rabbits compared with that of the control rabbits (verapamil; 10M~10M: p<0.01, papaverine; 10M & 10M: p<0.01). 2. Transmission electron microphotographs showed many morphological differences of the femoral arteries between the control and the diabetic rabbits. These were irregularities of the internal elastic lamina and the hypertrophy of the cytoplasms of the smooth muscle cells. And also, there were many vacuoles in the cytoplasm of the endothelial cells, lateral to the internal elastic laminaes, and between the smooth muscle cells in the diabetic rabbit femoral artery. By this study, we found that the contractile responses of the femoral arterial rings to the electrical stimulation were decreased in the diabetic rabbits, and the vasodiatory effects of verapamil and papaverine on the electrically stimulated femoral arterial rings were also lowered in the diabetic rabbits compared with the control rabbits. These changes of the vasular responses of the diabetic vessel may be associated with morphological changes manifested by transmission electron microscopy or any other functional derangement of the vessels.