Sutureless venous microanastomosis using thermosensitive poloxamer and cyanoacrylate: experimental study on a rat model.

INTRODUCTION: Sutureless microvascular anastomoses could simplify the microvascular field, shortening operative time and improving the final outcome. The use of thermosensitive poloxamers (TP407) together with the application of cyanoacrylate as an alternative method for conventional sutures was well-documented for arteries, but not for veins. The purpose of our study was to prove the feasibility of this technique for venous anastomoses and compare it with the traditional hand-sewn technique on a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats that weighed between 265 and 310 g were used. In the sutureless group (SG), 20 left external jugular veins (LEJV) end-to-end anastomoses were performed using a T704 and cyanoacrylate glue. They were compared to 20 right external jugular veins (REJV) anastomoses sutured with conventional 10-0 stitches (control group - CG). Diameters of veins, anastomosis time, and patency rate at 15 days were reported. Foreign body reaction was assessed histologically. RESULTS: The mean diameter of the LEJV was 0.94 ± 0.1 mm and 0.95 ± 0.09 mm for the REJV. The mean anastomosis time was 11.9 ± 1.37 min for the SG and 27.75 ± 3.31 min for the CG. In the latter group, the immediate patency rate was 95% and 90% at 15 days. For the SG group, 90% of the anastomoses were patent immediately and 85% at 15 days. CONCLUSION: TP407 and cyanoacrylate could offer a fast and reliable technique for sutureless venous anastomoses. Before human application, effectiveness of this method remains to be confirmed in larger animals in a long-term follow-up.

[Patient counseling in case of postoperative complication leading to emergency reintervention in plastic surgery. What is the current situation? How to improve? Retrospective study of counseling modalities and traceability in a series of 16 patients who needed emergency reintervention within a cohort of 402 patients]. / Information du patient dans le cadre d'une complication postopératoire nécessitant une reprise chirurgicale en urgence en chirurgie plastique. Quel est l'état des lieux? Comment améliorer notre pratique? Étude rétrospective des modalités et de la traçabilité de l'information sur une série de 16 patients réopérés en urgence issus d'une cohorte de 402 patients.

AIM: Preoperative counseling is structured and well defined. Nevertheless, in the event of a complication leading to a new emergency surgical procedure, counseling is not well defined. We conducted a retrospective study of information delivered in this situation at our institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included all the patients who underwent emergency reintervention because of hematoma or operative site infection between November 2013 and October 2014. Sixteen patients were included over the 402 patients operated during this period. RESULTS: Information before initial surgery: all patients had at least two preoperative consultations, and all preoperative informed consents were obtained. Complications leading to reintervention were mentioned in the consultation record in 31% of cases, and in a letter to another practitioner in 19% of cases. SofCPRE information card was delivered in 63% of cases. Information before reintervention: reintervention indication was mentioned in the hospitalization report in 81% of cases, and in the operative report in 88% of cases. Blood count results were mentioned in 55% of cases when it had been done. Patients were orally informed of reintervention in 100% of cases, and this new information was mentioned in 50% of cases. A new informed consent was signed in 31% of cases and postoperative letter was written in 25% of cases. CONCLUSION: Information delivery traceability is mandatory. In case of complication leading to emergency reintervention, traceability should be done in the same way as prior to initial surgery.

Supermicrosurgery and hyaluronic acid: experimental feasability study of a new method.

INTRODUCTION: As a technique of anastomosis for vessels of less than 0.8mm in diameter, supermicrosurgery has aroused renewed interest on account of its potential clinical applications. The technical difficulty of surgery at such a small scale necessitates exploration of new methods likely to render the anastomoses accessible and reliable. The aim of this article is to present the results of an experimental study on the feasibility of anastomoses (arterial diameter ≤0.5mm), assisted by the injection of hyaluronic acid (HA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten end-to-end arterial anastomoses of the inferior epigastric artery (diameter ≤0.5mm) were performed in 5 rats. An injection of HA had previously been carried out in the vessel lumen and the sutures were made with 12-0 nylon. Immediate and 3-day permeability were controlled and anastomosis times were measured. RESULTS: Average diameter of the arteries was 0.42 mm (range 0.29-0.48 mm). Mean anastomosis duration was 19.5 min (range 15-23 min). The average number of stitches was 6. Immediate patency was 100% with a success rate of 80% at 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: The properties of HA seem to effectively facilitate anastomoses of arteries with a diameter ≤0.5mm. HA provides comfort and promotes safety in performance of exceedingly small-scale surgery. While the results appear promising, but further studies are needed in order to determine the potential toxicity of this method on tissues.

Super-microdissected local flaps for the coverage of temporal defects.

INTRODUCTION: Skin graft is still a method of choice for the coverage of temporal defects. But there are some disadvantages like a "patch" appearance, the need of dressing or longer healing time. Numbers of local flaps have been described for closing skin defects on temporal region. Yet, they may cause distortion of the surrounding tissues, especially in the temporal hairline and eyebrow. We present a series of seven local flaps based on small branches (SB) of the superficial temporal artery (STA) for the coverage of temporal defects, and discuss their advantages. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Supermicrodissection of SB of the STA was performed to obtain local flaps for reconstruction of temporal defects after skin cancer excisions in seven patients. Patient's age ranged from 70 to 88 years old and the diameter of defects ranged from 4 to 6 cm. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia except one. In all cases, defects were obtained after skin cancer excisions. RESULTS: The operative time ranged from 55 to 75 min. All flaps survived with an average follow-up of 8 months, reconstructions have maintained a cosmetically pleasing result. CONCLUSION: We believe that SB flaps may be a new option for reconstruction of temporal defects with the advantages of local flaps, without the inconvenience of a skin pedicle. Moreover, these flaps raise the question of the use of SB based flaps for the coverage of moderate-sized skin defects anywhere in the body, and open new fields in reconstructive surgery.

Management of the perineal wound after abdominoperineal resection.

Although many options are available for the management of perineal wounds after abdominoperineal resection, ranging from direct closure to flap reconstruction, treatment remains challenging. A better understanding of the aims, drawbacks and progress in perineal wound management after abdominoperineal rectal resection can help the surgeon make better choices for each patient, but it is very difficult to propose a single, optimal, evidence-based procedure for the management of pelvic exenteration. Recent progress provided by the extralevator abdominoperineal resection technique and perforator flap concepts have changed our conception of reconstruction leading to the different technical options highlighted in this review.

[Breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma: What do we know?]. / Prothèse mammaire et lymphome T anaplasique à grandes cellules: que savons-nous ?

There is a new concern about a possible association between anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and breast implants. The purpose of this review was to identify and analyze all reported cases of ALCL occurring in patients with breast implants. Therefore, we reviewed all articles published concerning this subject between 1991 and 2011. We found 41 cases of ALCL. The mean age of the patients was 51 years old with an average of 108 months between the implantation and the diagnosis. Over 60 % of the reported cases were aesthetic augmentations. However, none of the published study managed to highlight a correlation between the prosthesis and this lymphoma. Therefore, we believe that for the moment, we can reassure our patients, but we must be aware of this association if a late seroma or a tumefaction occur on prosthesis. The surgical management seems to be essential for the diagnosis and the treatment, especially by the negative ALK and CD 30 expression of this lymphoma.

Reconstruction of a full-thickness abdominal wall defect using an anterolateral thigh free flap.

We present an original case of reconstruction of the abdominal wall after full-thickness parietal resection using an anterolateral thigh flap harvested with its aponeurosis; we describe the advantages of this technique which has seldom been used for this indication. A 49-year-old male presented with a recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans involving the full thickness of the upper anterior abdominal wall; after excision, a 20 x 17 cm full-thickness defect was reconstructed with an omentoplasty, a bi-layered parietal prosthesis, and a fasciocutaneous free flap with its muscular aponeurosis from the anterolateral thigh. The postoperative course was uncomplicated. Functional and aesthetic results were satisfactory. There was no tumor recurrence or postoperative incisional hernia. Many reconstructive options have been proposed, but the anterolateral thigh free flap offers the advantage of an integral reconstruction of the abdominal wall without resultant donor site morbidity and with a satisfactory cosmetic result. In our hands, this flap is the ideal choice for reconstruction of the abdominal wall after loss of substance.