Methicillin-resistant superinfection of the wound after body-contouring abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: This report presents the case of a patient who underwent abdominal body-contouring surgery, then later experienced a severe deep infection and a methicillin-resistant (MRSA) superinfection. CASE REPORT: A 56-year-old female ex-smoker presented, after massive weight loss, with skin excesses on the abdomen and flanks. She underwent an abdominoplasty with muscle plication and flank liposuction. On postoperative day 14, the woman presented with a deep wound infection, then 1 week later with MRSA superinfection. Since then, two surgical debridements and specific intravenous antibiotics have been necessary for a cure and to avoid septicemic complications. Complete wound closure was achieved only after 3 months of therapy, but a massive retractile and painful scar remained. CONCLUSION: Concomitant risk factors for wound infections (obesity, smoking, flap undermining) determined a rare but potentially fatal wound complication after body-contouring abdominoplasty. This complication was presented to alert plastic and general surgeons to such postoperative infections and to the possibility of a nonconservative approach.

Wound infections in body contouring mastopexy with breast reduction after laparoscopic adjustable gastric bandings: the role of smoking.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively reviewed charts of 42 postbariatric patients who underwent mastopexy and breast reduction for body contouring to determine whether a significant relationship existed between cigarette smoking and postoperative wound infections and to determine the relative risk given by cigarettes and a cut-off value to predict infections. METHODS: We excluded patients with ongoing clinical infections, recent bariatric surgery (within 1 year), recent antibiotic courses, or systemic diseases such as arteriosclerosis and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: All patients underwent bariatric surgery with the laparoscopic adjustable gastric bending technique and mastopexy with breast reduction for body contouring. Postoperative infections were present in 35.7% (n = 15) of patients, and 60% of these (n = 9) were superficial. Furthermore, 66.7% of them occurred in smoker patients, and 41.7% of smokers vs. 27.8% of nonsmokers developed infections. Significant differences between infected vs. infection-free patients were present for the number of pack years (p < 0.001) and the overall estimated cigarettes smoked (p < 0.001). A cut-off value of approximately 6.85 pack years (50,000 overall estimated cigarettes) distinguished between infections vs. infections-free patients, with 25% of false positives and 8% of false negatives. Relative risk conferred by smoking was 3.8. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of infections in our series of postbariatric patients undergoing mastopexy and breast reduction is 35.7%. A cut-off of 6.85 pack years (50,000 estimated overall cigarettes) was determined and, according to this value, the relative risk conferred by smoking was 3.8.

Infections after plastic procedures: incidences, etiologies, risk factors, and antibiotic prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Through a review of the English literature, this study aimed to assess the incidence, etiology, risk factors, and preventive measures for postoperative infections occurring after plastic surgery operations. METHODS: All studies describing the occurrence of infections after plastic surgery procedures including case reports, prospective trials, and retrospective series were selected. RESULTS: The 85 articles analyzed showed that incidences differ greatly among procedures and seem to be influenced by different and specific risk factors for each operation. Etiologic agents are primarily bacteria, although mycobacteria, virus, and fungi also have been described. No agreement exists on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis, except for abdominoplasties, because few specific prospective trials are present in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: Infections remain an important problem in plastic surgery with different points that still need to be clarified. Hopefully, in the future prospective randomized trials will definitively address this issue in order to provide plastic surgeons with clear and unbiased guidelines on its prevention and management.

Postoperative wound infections after breast reductions: the role of smoking and the amount of tissue removed.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study followed patients who underwent breast reductions to determine the influence of smoking and the amount of tissue removed on postoperative wound infections. METHODS: Patients who had received breast reductions were considered eligible for the study. The study excluded postbariatric patients and those with ongoing clinical infections, a recent antibiotic course, or systemic diseases that could impair tissue oxygenation. Smokers were instructed to quit smoking at least 4 weeks before surgery. RESULTS: By March 2004, the study had enrolled 87 patients. Postoperative infections were present in 24 cases (27.9%). Infections included 16 in smokers (37.2%), 8 in nonsmokers (18.2%; p < 0.05), 14 in patients with large resections (>0.85 kg; 70%), and 10 in patients with small resections (14.9%; p < 0.001). Significant differences were found between the patients who experienced infections and those who were infection free in terms of the overall estimated cigarettes smoked (mean, 146,000; range, 29,200-228,125 vs mean, 10,950; range, 9,125-54,750; p < 0.001), the number of pack years (mean, 20; range, 4-31 vs mean, 2; range, 1-8; p < 0.001), and the amount of tissue removed (mean, 0.9 kg; range, 0.5-2 kg vs mean, 0.5 kg; range, 0.2-1.4 kg; p < 0.001). The analysis for all the patients determined an odds ratio of 2.04 for smoking and 4.7 for the amount of tissue removed. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking and the amount of tissue removed are important issues in aesthetic breast surgery that need to be addressed accurately by the plastic surgeon. If future larger studies confirm these data, surgeons could have a simple and easy method for stratifying patients according to their risk for the development of wound infections and for prescribing specific preventive measures.

Wound infections in post-bariatric patients undergoing body contouring abdominoplasty: the role of smoking.

BACKGROUND: In this prospective study, we followed patients after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for morbid obesity who underwent abdominoplasty for body contouring. Our purposes were: 1) to determine if a significant relationship between cigarette smoking and postoperative wound infections existed, 2) the relative risk conferred by cigarettes and 3) a cut-off value for the increased risk. METHODS: Patients scheduled for body contouring abdominoplasty were considered eligible. We excluded those with ongoing clinical infections, recent antibiotic administration, those within 1 year from their bariatric surgery and those with systemic diseases. Smokers were asked to stop smoking at least 4 weeks before surgery. RESULTS: Since November 2004, we recruited 60 patients. Postoperative infections were present in 25% (n=15) of patients and 86.7% of these (n=13) were superficial. All except one occurred in smokers (P = 0.0001): 47% of smokers and 3% of nonsmokers developed infections. Significant differences between infections vs infection-free patients were present for the number of cigarettes smoked per day (P<0.001), years of smoking (P< 0.001), overall estimated cigarettes smoked and the number of pack years (P = 0.001). A cut-off value of approximately 62,000 overall estimated cigarettes (8.5 pack years) distinguished between infections vs infection-free patients (6.2% false positives and 7.1% false negatives). Relative risk conferred by smoking was 14 (95% confidence intervals 13.3-16.7). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of infections in post-bariatric patients undergoing body contouring abdominoplasties is 25%. The relative risk conferred by smoking was 14 and the cut-off value was 62,000 overall cigarettes (8.5 pack years).

A randomized trial comparing ReCell system of epidermal cells delivery versus classic skin grafts for the treatment of deep partial thickness burns.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to directly compare results obtained with the ReCell system and the classic skin grafting for epidermal replacement in deep partial thickness burns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited all patients with deep partial thickness burns admitted at the Burn Centre of S. Eugenio Hospital in Rome over 2 years. Enrollment was conducted with a controlled strategy--sampling chart--that allowed homogeneous groups (ReCell and skin grafting) for age, gender, type of burns and total burn surface area (TBSA). We evaluated as primary endpoints of the study the (i) time for complete epithelization (both treated area and biopsy site) and (ii) aesthetic and functional quality of the epithelization (color, joint contractures). Secondary endpoints were the assessment of infections, inflammations or any adverse effects of the ReCell procedure, particular medications assumed, postoperative pain. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were analyzed in two homogeneous groups. All of them received adequate epidermal replacement, but skin grafting was faster than ReCell (p<0.05). On the contrary, ReCell biopsy areas and postoperative pain were smaller than classic grafting (p<0.05). The aesthetic and functional outcomes were similar between procedures. CONCLUSIONS: ReCell is a feasible, simple and safe technique. It gives similar results to skin grafting but, harvesting minor areas, can open possible future applications in the management of large-burns patients.

Devastating methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus wound infection following abdominoplasty in a prior bariatric surgery patient.

A 46-year-old female smoker presented 12 months after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, with massive weight loss and skin excess of the abdomen and flanks. She underwent abdominoplasty with muscle plication and flanks liposuction, but on the 14th postoperative day this was complicated by a methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus wound infection. Multiple surgical debridements and high doses of intravenous antibiotics were necessary for cure and to avoid further septic complications. Complete wound closure was achieved after 3 months of therapy. Concomitant risk factors for wound infection (obesity, smoking, flap construction) contributed to a rare but potentially fatal wound complication following abdominoplasty. We alert the surgeon to such postoperative infections and the necessity for a non-conservative approach.

A retrospective analysis of 3,000 primary aesthetic breast augmentations: postoperative complications and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: A large retrospective analysis was performed on a homogeneous group of patients undergoing primary aesthetic breast augmentations to define complication rates and find associated factors. METHODS: Data were collected from the personal databases of two different surgeons working at the Crown House Hospital, Oldbury, Birmingham, United Kingdom. The period considered was January 1996 to December 2001. All patients who received primary breast augmentation with or without associated mastopexy for cosmetic purposes were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 3,002 women were included in the study. Hematomas were present in 46 patients (1.5%), infections in 33 patients (1.1%), breast asymmetries in 23 patients (0.8%), rippling in 21 patients (0.7%), and capsular contractures in 14 patients (0.5%). The multivariate analysis found that implant placement and the technique used for pocket creation were variables associated with complications (p < 0.05). Capsular contractures carried a progressive cumulative risk and, in our series, appeared 5 years after surgery. No association was found between contractures and hematomas or infections. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of complications in our series was relatively high (4.6%). Surgical placement of prostheses and the technique used for pocket creation were associated with complications. However, few patients required reoperation (1.6%), and the overall satisfaction rate was acceptable (visual analog score, 7).

Infections of breast implants in aesthetic breast augmentations: a single-center review of 3,002 patients.

BACKGROUND: A large retrospective analysis examined primary aesthetic breast augmentations to find specific factors that could favor or counteract the occurrence of infections. METHODS: Data were collected from the personal databases of two different surgeons at the Crown House Hospital, Oldbury, Birmingham, United Kingdom, from January 1999 to December 2004. All the patients who received primary aesthetic breast augmentation with or without associated mastopexy were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 3,002 women were reviewed. Infections were experienced by 33 patients (1.1%). The analysis showed that Mentor prostheses and local antibiotics both were protective against the occurrence of infections (p < 0.05). On the contrary, the use of drains significantly increased the risk fivefold (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of infections in aesthetic breast augmentations is 1.1%, and Mentor prostheses, antibiotics in the pocket, and the use of drains seem associated with their occurrence.

Breast asymmetries: a brief review and our experience.

The authors describe their personal experience with the management of mammary asymmetries. A review of their database from January 1998 to January 2005 identified 177 patients with idiopathic breast asymmetries. All these cases had been classified previously into six groups. Bilateral asymmetric hypertrophy and unilateral hypertrophy were treated with reduction mammaplasty. Unilateral hypertrophy with amastia or hypoplasia of the contralateral side was managed with reduction and augmentation mammaplasty. Unilateral amastia or hypoplasia (Poland's syndrome) was treated with a single monopedicle transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap, and asymmetric bilateral hypoplasia was managed with augmentation mammaplasty. Unilateral mammary ptosis was treated with mastopexy and augmentation mammaplasty. The proposed classification, derived from the authors' experience in this field, gives an idea of how they usually treat these patients. It is useful for a first evaluation, but after that, every treatment must always be individualized on a patient-by-patient basis.

Autologous cartilage graft rhinoplasties.

BACKGROUND: The authors report their experience with autologous graft rhinoplasties. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively, with selection of only autologous grafts from 2,000 rhinoplasties performed at the Plastic and Reconstructive Department of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients from January 1995 to January 2005 were selected. Most of the patients were treated with the "open tip" technique, whereas 9.7% had a classic endonasal approach. Follow-up evaluation was performed with outpatient visits at 2 and 6 weeks, then at 3, 6, and 12 months. Good aesthetic results were obtained for 93.5% of the patients, and 83.7% had complete satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Autologuos cartilage graft rhinoplasty is an affordable technique easy to learn that widens possibilities of interventions for nasal pyramid reconstruction.

[New view in the mammary asymmetry treatments]. / Nuove prospettive nel trattamento delle asimmetrie mammarie.

AIM: Breast asymmetry is a huge chapter of breast abnormalities. Surgical therapy is the exclusive one. The breast of women can vary in shape, volume and position, thus creating esthetic, social and psychological problems. METHODS: We classified breast asymmetry into 6 categories and then we treated them with different surgical techniques: reduction mammaplasty according to Planas; augmentation mammaplasty with prosthesis; grafts or both; ultimately mamma-prosthesis (association of mastopexy and prosthesis). We obtained satisfactory esthetic results often with one surgery procedure. Rarely we performed 2 or more procedures of symmetry. We treated 77 patients suffering from breast asymmetry. We excluded in this study the giant-mammary asymmetry (anomaly determined by severe and asymmetric mammary hypertrophy). RESULTS: We found a low number of complications at short and long term. These results are likely due to the ability of the surgeon in the appropriated preoperative evaluation of the patients and of their expectancy and correct surgical techniques. CONCLUSIONS: We tried to obtain 3 results: shape and position of the sick breast as same as possible to the contralateral breast and less evident scars located in hidden regions.

Ribavirin increases mitogen- and antigen-induced expression of CD40L on CD4+ T cells in vivo.

Here, CD40L expression and cytokine production have been analysed in peripheral blood cells from orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients treated with ribavirin for recurrent chronic hepatitis C. The study included 18 OLT recipients treated with ribavirin, eight control OLT recipients and 10 healthy controls. FACS analysis showed that baseline expression of CD40L was not different between ribavirin-treated patients and controls. In contrast, after stimulation with both HCV core antigen and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) plus ionomycin (IO), the expression of CD40L on CD4 lymphocytes was significantly higher in the ribavirin group compared with controls. In the ribavirin group, the increased expression of CD40L significantly correlated with reduction of HCV RNA levels with respect to pretreatment values. Finally, ribavirin treatment was not associated with modification of PMA-IO-induced cytokine production by T lymphocytes and interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumour necrosis-alpha (TNF)-alpha production by CD40L-stimulated monocytes. In conclusion, these data indicate that ribavirin -upmodulates CD40L expression on CD4 T cells, a property which may account in part for its ability to enhance the antiviral activity of interferon-alpha in the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

The role of the reactive disulfide bond in the interaction of cholera-toxin functional regions.

The chemical reactivity of disulfide bonds towards reducing agents, in the absence of denaturing conditions, in cholera toxin has been studied. Treatment of the toxin with dithiothreitol or other mercaptans gave selective reduction of one of the six disulfide bonds of the protein. This reactive disulfide links two distinct functional regions of the toxin, fragment alpha, which activates adenylate cyclase, and fragment gammabeta5, which recognizes the cell surface receptors. Upon reduction, the two fragments remain bound together and the secondary structure of the protein is retained. The two functional regions have been separated and purified only by methods based on charge differences. When mixed together, purified alpha and purified gammabeta5 fragments spontaneously and rapidly re-form the disulfide bond. However, reduction of the disulfide bond is an absolute requirement for freeing the catalytic site of the alpha functional region. Thus, while other non-covalent binding regions are involved in maintaining cholera toxin molecular structure, the reactive disulfide bond may play a role in the mechanism of cell intoxication.