Short-term versus extended chemoprophylaxis against venous thromboembolism in DIEP flap breast reconstruction: A retrospective study of 424 patients.

BACKGROUND: Autologous breast reconstruction is considered high-risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and thromboembolism (PE). It is therefore recommended to treat patients undergoing these complex and lengthy procedures with DVT chemoprophylaxis. The optimal anticoagulation protocol is still not established. The objective of our study was to evaluate the need of a prolonged anticoagulation in patients undergoing microsurgical breast reconstruction. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study compares our former anticoagulation protocol, which was given during the in-hospital stay, with our new protocol consisting of extended anticoagulation until postoperative day 25, in terms of DVT/PE risk reduction. A logistic regression was used to evaluate the risk of DVT/PE between the two groups, while adjusting for several covariates. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 205 patients in the short-term anticoagulation group and 219 in the extended protocol group. Five patients (2.4%) in the short-term anticoagulation group had a DVT/PE event versus 4 patients (1.8%) in the extended protocol group. Logistic regression revealed no difference in the incidence of DVT/PE between the two groups. Similarly, there was no differences in terms of hematoma and infection rate between the two groups. Finally, we found an increased risk of DVT/PE in patients with a Caprini score equal or greater than 8. CONCLUSION: In our experience, short-term anticoagulation during the hospital stay is equivalent to extended thromboprophylaxis in terms of DVT/PE prevention.

Triple Barrel Free Fibula Flap for Sternal Stabilization: A Case Report.

Sternal non-union is a rare complication of median sternotomies following cardiac surgery. It results in sternal instability and is associated with a high rate of morbidity. Patients with sternal non-union usually complain of pain and sternal clicking with movement of the chest wall. Diagnosis is confirmed on computed tomography showing a gap between two sternal halves. Surgical correction of sternal instability is challenging. The key objective is to reconstruct a thoracic cage that allows for biomimesis and preserves normal physiologic cardiac and pulmonary functions all whilst achieving an aesthetically pleasing result. In this article, we describe a novel technique for sternal instability reconstruction using a triple-barrel vascularized free fibula flap fixed with rib titanium plates. This approach provides rigid long-lasting stability while preserving chest wall biomechanics.

La désunion sternale est une complication rare des sternotomies pour chirurgie cardiaque. Il en résulte une instabilité sternale responsable d'une morbidité élevée comme la douleur et le cliquetis lors des mouvements thoraciques. Le scanner confirme le diagnostic en montrant la solution de continuité entre les 2 moitiés du sternum. La reconstruction chirurgicale est complexe. Son but est de reconstruire une cage thoracique solide, permettant des fonctions cardiaque et respiratoire normales tout en assurant une esthétique satisfaisante. Nous décrivons ici une nouvelle technique de reconstruction sternale par lambeau libre fibulaire tripartitionné fixé par des plaques costales en titane. Elle permet une stabilisation pérenne de la cage thoracique et la restauration de sa mécanique.

Immediate fine-tuning of DIEP flaps using the Wise pattern mastectomy: Description of the technique and a retrospective analysis of complication rates.

INTRODUCTION: Elliptical skin-sparing mastectomy in patients with large or ptotic breasts usually leaves loose mastectomy skin flaps, which need to be either resected or gathered over the DIEP flap. This results in poor control of the breast footprint and under-projected DIEP flaps in a loose mastectomy skin pocket, that tend to slip laterally towards the axilla. We believe that the use of a Wise pattern mastectomy will allow for immediate treatment of these concerns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, uncontrolled analysis of a prospectively-maintained database of patients operated by the five surgeons performing breast reconstructions at the University of Montreal Hospital Centre. Study population was patients with a BMI of over 25 and grade II/III breast ptosis who underwent a Wise pattern mastectomy with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. Analysis was performed of the complication rates of the technique in the first six months after the surgery. RESULTS: Out of a total of 53 breasts in 44 patients reconstructed with a DIEP flap immediately post Wise pattern mastectomy, we report nine cases of partial mastectomy-flap necrosis not needing revision, five cases of significant mastectomy flap necrosis needing debridement and skin grafting, and two cases of inability to adequately close the Wise pattern intraoperatively after DIEP placement, necessitating retention of DIEP skin in the inferior pole. None of the mastectomy flap complications occurred in irradiated breasts. CONCLUSION: In patients with large or ptotic breasts, the Wise pattern mastectomy before an immediate DIEP reconstruction allows for immediate shaping of the breast by controlling the breast pocket, footprint, and excess skin.

Botulinum toxin for benign essential blepharospasm: A systematic review and an algorithmic approach.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no standardised approach for benign essential blepharospasm treatment with botulinum toxin, and controversies still exist regarding this subject. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to summarise and compare all the published data regarding benign essential blepharospasm treatment with botulinum toxin. METHODS: On October 3, 2018, an online search of the Medline database was conducted. All articles with a detailed description of their botulinum toxin injection technique for benign essential blepharospasm were included in this review. RESULTS: Five studies were selected for inclusion with a total of 854 patients. Four of the included studies used onabotulinumtoxin A and one study used abobotulinumtoxin A. All studies injected the pretarsal orbicularis occuli muscle. The preseptal orbicularis occuli was injected in four studies, and the preorbital muscle in three studies. The most commonly used method of evaluation was the Jankovic Rating Scale. Adverse events were transient, and dose related. Ptosis was more frequently encountered with the preseptal orbicularis injections. CONCLUSION: Botulinum toxin injection for benign essential blepharospasm is a non-invasive and safe procedure. The pretarsal muscle should be considered as the key component when treating benign essential blepharospasm with botulinum toxin. We developed an algorithmic approach to the treatment of benign essential blepharospasm with botulinum toxin. However, further randomised controlled trials are warranted.

[Search association between cannabis abuse and bipolar disorder: A study on a sample of patients hospitalized for bipolar disorder]. / Recherche d'association entre abus de cannabis et bipolarité : étude sur un échantillon de patients hospitalisés pour un trouble bipolaire.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis use is very frequent in bipolar disorder and has been found to increase the duration and frequency of manic symptoms while decreasing those of depression. Bipolar patients who use cannabis were shown to have poorer compliance to treatment, more symptoms that are psychotic and a worse prognosis than patients who do not. In this study, we have evaluated the importance of cannabis use among bipolar patients admitted to the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Lebanon (Hôpital Psychiatrique de la Croix [HPC]) as well as the clinical differences between cannabis users and non-users. METHODS: Over a period of 13 months, we recruited the patients admitted to HPC for bipolar disorder according to the MINI DSM-IV criteria. These patients were screened for substance abuse/dependence and were accordingly divided into 2 groups: cannabis users and cannabis non-users. Both groups were interviewed by a medical student and asked to answer the following questionnaires: the MINI DSM-IV, the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) for evaluating manic episodes, the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) for evaluating depressive episodes, the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) to assess psychotic symptoms associated to the bipolar disorder, and the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) for evaluating the importance of cannabis consumption. The study's exclusion criteria were the following: diagnosis of a confusional state, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, dementia, age less than 18 years old or superior to 85 years old, and non-cooperation. RESULTS: Among the 100 bipolar patients included in the study, 27 (27 %) were cannabis users. Eight of these 27 patients were first admitted to HPC for substance abuse and then included in the study after a bipolar disorder was diagnosed according to the MINI DSM-IV criteria. Cannabis use was found to be more prevalent in young males with a mean age of 20.3 years old at the first contact with the substance. Compared to non-users, cannabis users were found to be younger (33.6 vs. 43.0 years old), more commonly male (77.8 % vs. 49.3 %), and were symptomatic at a younger age (24.6 vs. 30.8 years old). Cannabis users had more hospital admissions in total (6.0 vs. 3.7), and per year (0.73 vs. 0.44) as well as higher socio-economical state. There was a linear relationship between the monthly income per household and cannabis consumption with an OR increasing with the monthly income. Consumers presented more often in a manic state (59.3 %) than in a depressed state (11.1 %). The respective scores of consumers and non-consumers were: YMRS (30.3 vs. 32.1), MADRS (38 vs. 39.5), SAPS (22.7 vs. 23.2). Among cannabis users, 55.6 % and 33.3 % represent the respective percentages of cannabis abuse and dependence. The mean CAST score in these patients was 13.4. DISCUSSION: Compared to the results in the literature, cannabis use in bipolar disorder was found to be lower in our sample. Cannabis use was also associated with an earlier onset of the bipolar disorder as well as a higher number of hospitalizations per year. The age at the diagnosis of the bipolar disorder was 6.2 years lower among cannabis users. Cannabis users had scores of depression, mania and psychotic symptoms statistically similar to those of the non-consumers.