Surgical Treatment of Trigonocephaly, Simplified Technique for Moderate Cases.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of trigonocephaly has increased worldwide over the past 2 decades. Early identification and appropriate treatment are critical. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes and the effect of metopic suture excision, perisutural frontal bone shave, and bilateral pericranial flap method on the shape of the forehead after surgical correction in infants with moderate trigonocephaly. METHODS: The present study was performed as a cross-sectional study on 40 infants of 3 to 12 months old with trigonocephalus who underwent metopic suture excision and pericardial flap surgery in Mofid Pediatric Hospital from 2016 to 2022. The definitive diagnosis of patients' trigonocephaly was made based on clinical signs and computed tomography scan findings by a plastic surgeon. RESULTS: Overall in 40 patients operated by this technique, 23 (57.5%) of cases were males, and 17 (42.5%) were females. The mean age of patients was 7.86 ± 2.22 months. Hospital stay was 2 to 4 days (mean: 3 d), intensive care unit admission was in 33 cases for 24 hours, and no intensive care unit admission for 7 cases. Blood was transfused during surgery for 25 patients, and 15 patients did not require blood transfusion use. Results were evaluated in 6 to 12 months after surgery by 3 independent plastic surgeons, with pre and postoperative photos. Satisfaction with the results of forehead shape was excellent for 60% of patients, good for 37.5%, and moderate for 2.5%. Only one female patient had a recurrence after the surgery. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the pericranial flap method after full metopic suture excision and frontal shave was very effective in the treatment of infants with moderate trigonocephaly.

An experimental rat model of hilar splenic vessel ligation versus splenectomy for spleen trauma.

BACKGROUND: The most prevalent method of treating splenic injury is by splenectomy. This method is followed by postoperative complications. Therefore, less invasive procedures such as splenic angioembolization are introduced. This technique needs appropriate training, a high-tech setting and could be followed by complications. Thus, not all surgeons agree to do this procedure. Splenic hilar ligation of main vessels is a non-invasive procedure which has similarities to a splenectomy with unknown results. OBJECTIVES: We aim to evaluate and compare splenectomy and hilar ligation. METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into splenectomy and splenic hilar ligation groups. An identical grade 3-spleen injury was performed on all rats. After 6 weeks blood samples were obtained and hematologic and immunologic aspects were measured in their serum. Giemsa stained peripheral blood smears were obtained from the ligation group. RESULTS: Comparing the above-mentioned variables before and after the surgery in each groups showed statistical significance in all aspects except IgM, C4 and platelets levels in ligation group (P value: 0.213, 0.059 and 0.649 respectively). Analysis revealed significant deference in postoperative WBC, IgM and C4 levels between splenectomy and ligation group (P value: < 0.001, < 0.001 and 0.026 respectively). CONCLUSION: Splenic hilar ligation of main vessels is an easy way of treating splenic injury in hemodynamically stable patients with less postoperative complications. Therefore, it can be performed by all surgeons in all kind of medical centers. Spleen remains viable and continues its role although some aspects of its function become interrupted.

The Impacts of Gastroileostomy Rat Model on Glucagon-like Peptide-1: a Promising Model to Control Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: One of the new current treatment options for Diabetes Mellitus is about increasing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) activity. GLP-1 with its incretin effect showed major role in glucose homeostasis. Gastroileostomy can increase GLP-1 secretion by rapid delivery of undigested food to the terminal ileum. We studied the early effects of a gastroileostomy on serum levels of GLP-1, glucose, and insulin in rats. METHODS: Gastroileostomies with side-to-side anastomosis were performed on 15 male New Zealand rats. Blood samples were obtained before and 1 week after the gastroileostomy. RESULTS: Our results showed that the rats lost a lot of weight from start (330 ± 15 g) to the end (240 ± 25 g) of the experiment (p = 0.048). The data analysis showed that the gastroileostomy surgery elevates the level of GLP-1in plasma significantly (89.1852 vs. 177.440 respectively; p < 0.001) and caused a significant decrease in plasma glucose as well (92.00 and 66.29 mg/dL respectively; p < 0.001). However, the insulin state elevated after the surgery significantly (8.03 vs. 9.89; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed the effectiveness of gastroileostomy treatment to decrease body weight and plasma glucose with increased GLP-1 in rats. This small rat model suggests the potential of this surgery to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Is Decline Rate of Intact Parathyroid Hormone Level a Reliable Criterion for Early Discharge of Patients after Total Thyroidectomy?

INTRODUCTION: Parathyroid dysfunction leading to symptomatic hypocalcemia is not uncommon following a total thyroidectomy and is often associated with significant patient morbidity and a prolonged hospital stay. The current study aimed at evaluating the comparative predictive role of serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) for post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was performed in 83 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. Laboratory data such as serum calcium, vitamin D level, serum iPTH and serum phosphorus levels before surgery, postoperative calcium, and PTH levels measured after 1 and 6 hours and on the first postoperative day (1POD) were recorded. RESULTS: Among the 83 patients, the mean (SD) age was 45.87 (12.57) years (range, 21-72 years); 70 (84.3%) patients were female. Final pathology was benign for 47 (56.6%) patients and malignant for 36 (43.4%) patients. In total, lymph node dissections were performed in 19 subjects (22.9%). On histological examination of the specimens, the parathyroid gland was found to have been removed inadvertently in 13 (15.7%) cases. In total, 35 (40.9%) patients developed hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that a cut-off value of 15.39 pg/ml for iPTH, with a decline rate of 73% 1 hour after thyroidectomy is a significant predictor of hypocalcemia (area under the curve [AUC], 0.878; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.96, P<0.0001) compared with calcium <8 mg/dl (2 mmol/L) with AUC=0.639; 95% CI, 0.51-0.76); P=0.067). CONCLUSION: The current study showed that the decline rate in iPTH is a more reliable factor for hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy than serum calcium. Patients with a decline rate <73% in iPTH could be discharged at 1POD without supplementation.

Determinants of Mortality and the Lethal Area 50 Index (LA50) in Burn Patients Admitted to a Large Burn Center; A Single Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the determinants of mortality and the lethal area 50 (LA50) in large series of Iranian burn patients admitted to a single burn center. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shahid Motahari burn center of Tehran, Iran during a 1-year period from 2011 to 2012. We included all the burn patients who were admitted to our center during the study period. Those with incomplete medical records and those referred to other centers were excluded from the study. The medical records of the included patients were reviewed and the demographic, clinical, laboratory and outcome measures were recorded. The mortality rate was recorded and the determinants of LA50 were analyzed in a univariate and stepwise multivariate model. RESULT: Overall we included a total number of 1200 subjects with mean age of 30.8 ±18 years. There were 907 (75.6%) men and 293 (24.4%) women among the patients. The total LA50 was 55.5% (95% CI: 52.98%-58.3 %). There was a significant difference between age group >61 years and two 11-20 and 21-30 groups regarding LA50. The advanced age (p<0.001), female gender (p=0.002), inhalational injury (p<0.001) and burn extension determined by TBSA% (p<0.001) were significantly associated with mortality. In addition, male gender (p=0.087), flame (p=0.156), scald (p=0.088) and chemical injuries (p=0.071) were not associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: The LA50 determine din our study is still much lower than that reported in developed countries, as a result, the quality of medical care is lower. Female gender, age, inhalational injury and extension of burn determined by TBSA% were found to be the independent risk factors of mortality in burn patients in our series.

Surgical correction of upper lip deficit in patients with cleft lip using dermis fat graft.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess dermis fat graft (DFG) as a choice to correct the tissue deficit in the free border of the upper lip in cleft lip repair surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five individuals who referred to Alzahra Hospital at 2013-2014, with lip deformity following the primary repair surgery of cleft lip underwent surgery by DFG technique. Outcomes were assessed 4 months after the surgery based on comparison of preoperative and postoperative photographs. RESULTS: The results in 18 (51.42%) patients were excellent, 10 (28.57%) good, and 7 (20%) intermediate according to the satisfaction of patients and investigators in terms of filling of lip deficit and motion of the upper lip. Moreover, complications and pain were minimal after 4-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: This method introduces an admissible method with 80% good to excellent results based on satisfactory of patients and surgeon.