The "hot nose" sign on brain death nuclear scintigraphy: where does the flow really go?

Nuclear scintigraphy has been used in patients with brain death since the 1970s. Many studies report a "hot nose" sign as predictive of brain death and lack of cerebral flow. Current nuclear medicine textbooks state that increased flow to the nose occurs secondary to occlusion of the internal carotid artery with flow rerouted to the nose via the external carotid artery. This explanation has been provided for decades assuming that the blood flow is actually increased to the nose. We performed a study to determine whether flow is really seen in the nose when a hot nose sign is present.

Platelet gel sealant use in rhytidectomy.

BACKGROUND: A prospective study was used to evaluate the efficacy of a commercially available platelet gel product as a sealant to decrease postsurgical drain fluid rates and volumes in patients who have undergone rhytidectomy procedures. Quantitative assessments of postoperative drain fluid outputs were compared in subjects who did and did not receive platelet gel treatment. METHODS: Autologous platelet concentrate was prepared from each subject (n = 19), combined with bovine thrombin to form a platelet gel, and applied during the rhytidectomy procedure. Surgical drains were placed and effluent was collected postoperatively at 8-hour intervals for 24 hours and the volumes were recorded. A retrospective examination of surgical drain output over time in subjects (n = 14) who did not receive platelet gel treatment was performed; this group served as the control group. RESULTS: Subjects who received the platelet gel sealant treatment had significantly decreased surgical drain fluid levels over 24 hours [109 +/- 8.5 ml (mean +/- SEM)] compared with subjects who did not receive the platelet gel sealant (78 +/- 7.5 ml) (p < 0.02). From 0 to 8 hours postoperatively, platelet gel-treated subjects had a mean 35 percent decrease in fluid levels compared with the controls (p < 0.03). No difference in surgical drain outputs was observed from 8 to 16 hours between the two experimental groups. From 16 to 24 hours, the control group had increased mean fluid levels (20 percent) and the platelet gel sealant group output levels decreased (50 percent). CONCLUSIONS: Platelet gel sealant treatment was associated with decreased surgical fluid drain output in the first 24 hours postoperatively.

An algorithmic approach to upper arm contouring.

There has been a renewed interest in upper arm contouring given the recent advances and subsequent patient interest in weight loss. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery are often left with a significant amount of redundant skin and laxity of their upper extremity. Some patients within this group have excess fat in their upper arms with relatively good skin tone, while others have a paucity of excess fat with a significant amount of redundant skin. The optimal treatment for each patient can vary. A clinical algorithm is presented that is designed to select the best method for upper arm contouring based on the aesthetic analysis of the upper arm. Case examples are provided demonstrating results that were obtained by following this algorithm.