ABSTRACT
The free fibula flap (FFF), based on the peroneal artery (PA) system, is the gold standard for mandibular reconstruction. Various anatomical variations in the infra-popliteal lower limb vascular system exist. These variations present as an intraoperative surprise to surgeons even after an unremarkable clinical vascular examination of the leg. Here, we report one such case, where we performed successful mandibular reconstruction after encountering a Type IIIA variation of infra-popliteal arterial vasculature.
ABSTRACT
Lymphedema, a chronic condition characterized by abnormal swelling resulting from impaired lymphatic drainage, poses significant challenges in clinical management, especially when conventional therapies prove ineffective. This case report elucidates the successful resolution of long-standing lower limb lymphedema in a 35-year-old male through innovative surgical interventions. Despite enduring symptoms for 15 years and undergoing various treatments without improvement, the patient achieved remarkable relief following vascularized lymph node transfer surgery combined with Charles excision. This multidisciplinary approach aimed to restore lymphatic function and alleviate tissue bulk, addressing the condition's functional and cosmetic aspects. Preoperative evaluations, including imaging studies confirming grade IV lymphedema, guided surgical planning and contributed to the successful outcome. Postoperatively, despite wound dehiscence, prompt management facilitated satisfactory wound healing, underscoring the importance of meticulous postoperative care. This case underscores the significance of surgical intervention in managing refractory lymphedema and emphasizes the need for tailored treatment strategies to optimize patient outcomes. Further research and clinical experience are warranted to refine surgical techniques and identify optimal patient selection criteria, advancing the management of this challenging condition.
ABSTRACT
Background The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is a workhorse flap for breast reconstruction. Its use for head and neck (HN) reconstruction is rare. Abdomen provides a donor site abundant in skin and subcutaneous tissue, amenable to primary closure; sizeable, robust, and consistent perforators and a long, sizeable pedicle for comfortable microvascular anastomosis. Its offers all the donor variables needed for HN reconstruction in abundance. Methods It is a quasiexperimental design study. DIEP flap use for HN reconstruction in our series was opportunistic, that is, when donor site matched the defect. Cases that had very thick thighs and lesser bulk in abdomen and cases that had very thin thighs but much more bulk in abdomen were considered for reconstruction using DIEP flap. Results The DIEP flap was done in 11 cases for HN reconstruction. There were two re-explorations during postoperative period: one flap loss and another had partial necrosis. Conclusion Abdomen is an excellent donor site option for HN reconstruction in selected cases, especially when harvested as a perforator flap.
ABSTRACT
Delayed venous congestion of a free flap poses a dilemma for clinicians, as the optimal management strategy is often uncertain. This case report presents a successful outcome achieved through a strategy of watchful waiting for a delayed presentation of a partially congested free flap. This approach enabled the avoidance of unnecessary surgical interventions and minimized potential complications associated with flap exploration. By adopting a watchful waiting strategy, clinicians can navigate the challenging decision-making process in cases of partial venous congestion of free flaps, optimizing patient outcomes.
ABSTRACT
A 77-year-old female presented with an ulceroproliferative lesion of the left buccal mucosa extending to the commissure, diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on biopsy. She also had a large thyroid swelling, with expanded skin, diagnosed with a multinodular goiter. The patient underwent buccal mucosa wide local excision with left-sided selective neck dissection and total thyroidectomy. The naturally expanded skin over the anterior neck overlying the goiter was used for the reconstruction of the buccal mucosa defect based on the perforator unexpectedly arising directly from the external carotid artery instead of superior thyroid artery. The venous drainage was to an internal jugular vein tributary, multiple dilated veins on the flap were draining into this vein. We describe the innovative use of locally expanded skin for buccal mucosa reconstruction and thereby avoiding the morbidity of a free flap transfer and associated donor site morbidity.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Abdominal surgeries have high rate of surgical site infection (SSI), which leads to significant morbidity and financial burden. There is paucity of studies on SSI in rural Indian setup, where there is scarcity of adequate resources. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and determinants of SSI after abdominal surgeries in a rural setup. AIM: To determine the incidence of and associated risk factors for superficial SSIs in abdominal surgery cases at a central Indian rural teaching hospital. METHODS: This cohort study included 100 patients undergoing abdominal surgery between April 2016 and May 2017 at a central Indian rural teaching hospital. The outcome of interest was superficial SSI and the factors associated with it. Association between risk factors and SSI was calculated using either Chi-square test or odds ratio with 95% CI. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence rate of superficial SSI was 39% with 95% CI (29.4%-49.2%). The analysis defined 12 variables significantly associated with superficial SSI: middle or elderly age, male gender, diabetes mellitus, preoperative anemia, preoperative hypoalbuminemia, tobacco smoking, higher ASA score, perioperative blood transfusion, drain placement, surgery duration >2 h, contaminated/dirty wound class and emergency surgery. However, economic status and BMI grade of the study subjects were not associated with development of superficial SSI.
ABSTRACT
Persistent efforts are being made to reduce operative trauma and morbidity and to improve cosmesis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The trend is to reduce the number of incisions, and thus single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and natural orifice endoscopic surgery (NOTES) are becoming popular. There is a paucity of studies pertaining to cosmetic outcome after SILC and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy in rural Indian population. In the present study, the cosmetic outcome of SILC versus conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) in rural Indian population was evaluated. Sixty patients with gallstone disease were randomly assigned to two groups. In group A (n = 30), CLC was performed, while group B (n = 30) was subjected to SILC. The cosmetic outcome was evaluated using a body image questionnaire on the 7th and 30th postoperative days. On the 7th postoperative day, the body image score for SILC was 6.23 ± 0.89 and for CLC, 8.26 ± 1.08 (p < 0.0001), while the cosmetic score for SILC was 19.56 ± 1.07 and for CLC, 15 ± 1.20 (p < 0.0001). On the 30th postoperative day, the body image score for SILC was 5.50 ± 0.68 and for CLC, 8 ± 1.31 (p < 0.0001), while the cosmetic score for SILC was 21.13 ± 0.57 and for CLC, 15.63 ± 1.06 (p < 0.0001), which favored SILC over CLC. The patient perception and acceptance of SILC was better than that of CLC in terms of cosmetic outcome.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is considered to be less invasive and have less morbidity than conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC). However, there is a relative paucity of data regarding postoperative pain scores in rural Indian populations following SILC. Also, data pertaining to the applicability of SILC in rural Indian population are scant. METHODS: In the present randomized control trial, pain scores after SILC and CLC were evaluated. Sixty patients with gallstone disease were randomly assigned to one of two groups with 30 patients each: the CLC group and the SILC group. Postoperative pain scores were recorded on the visual analog scale at 8 hours, 24 hours and 7 days after surgery. RESULTS: The patients were comparable with respect to age, sex and BMI. Operative time was longer for the SILC group (47.73 ± 5.57 min vs 69.53 ± 8.96 min; P < 0.0001).The pain scores were similar in both groups at 8 hours (3.61 ± 0.41 vs 3.50 ± 0.51; P = 0.36) and 24 hours (3.30 ± 0.59 vs 3.20 ± 0.40; P = 0.44) postoperatively. On day 7, the SILC group had lower pain scores than the CLC group (2.56 ± 0.56 vs 1.16 ± 0.37; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: There was no distinct advantage to SILC with regard to immediate postoperative pain. Pain was significantly less (P < 0.01) in the SILC group on postoperative day 7.
