Flap Venous Congestion and Salvage Techniques: A Systematic Literature Review.

Venous congestion is a frequent problem in flap surgery. Other than surgical revision, there are a multitude of procedures in the literature to tackle this problem, but their effectiveness is not clear. Through a systematic review, we aimed to identify and evaluate the different interventions available for managing flap venous congestion. METHODS: The MEDLINE, PubMed central, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched. The study selection process was adapted from the PRISMA statement. All English and French original articles describing or comparing a method for managing flap venous congestion were included. For each article, a level of evidence was assigned, as defined by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. Lastly, we specifically analyzed the effectiveness of postoperative non-surgical methods. No formal analysis was performed. RESULTS: Through literature searches carried out in various databases, we identified 224 articles. Finally, 72 articles were included. The majority of these studies had a low-level evidence. A total of 17 different methods (7 pre- and intraoperative, and 10 postoperative) were found. Concerning non-surgical methods, the most represented were leeches, local subcutaneous injection of heparin with scarification, venocutaneous catheterization, negative pressure therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Risks of venous congestion of flaps must always be present in a surgeon's mind, at every stage of flap surgery. Apart from studies on the use of leeches, which have a significant follow-up and large enough patient numbers to support their efficacy, the low-level evidence associated with studies of other methods of venous congestion management does not allow us to draw a scientifically valid conclusion about their effectiveness.

Acute carpal tunnel syndrome of the hand following a cat bite.

Cat bites at the hand are common situation in emergency departments. Neglected or poorly supported, these lesions sometimes lead to serious injuries that may compromise the function of the hand. Pasteurellamultocida is the most offending germ in these lesions, despite their sensitivity to antibiotics; it can sometimes lead to deep infections involving the skin, bones and joints. Acute carpal tunnel syndrome is exceptional after cat bite. We report a case of a 56 Year old female presenting with an acute carpal tunnel syndrome associated with compartment syndrome of the right hand 6 days after a cat bite of her right thumb. The patient was treated by surgery to relieve the median nerve. Microbiology identified PasteurellaMultocida.