Reconstruction of a knee defect in a morbidly obese patient with a pedicled reverse anterolateral thigh flap.

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is widely used in the reconstruction of a variety of soft tissue defects. Descriptions of patients with severe obesity in the literature are scarce. We report a case where a reverse pedicled fasciocutaneous ALT flap was successfully used for resurfacing of a knee defect measuring 12×6 cm in a patient with a body mass index (BMI) of 47.3. The flap was supercharged to the greater saphenous vein to optimise flap survival. Reconstruction of the soft tissue of the knee was achieved as planned. There were no flap or donor site complications.

The vertical gracilis myocutaneous flap for breast reconstruction in a massive weight loss patient.

The number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery is increasing worldwide. Different types of free flaps are often used for breast reconstruction following mastectomy. We present a not previously described case using a vertical myocutaneous gracilis flap for breast reconstruction in a massive weight loss patient. The patient was a 61 year-old woman who previously had a lumpectomy for an in situ ductile carcinoma of her left breast. Subsequently the patient underwent a full mastectomy in 2020 due to a recurrence. The massive weight loss population poses a challenge in reconstructive surgery, due to their higher risk of complications. However, we still believe free flaps should be considered as a valid option for breast reconstruction in these patients. Due to the often increased size of perforator vessels in these patients, other flaps may prove more suitable than the usually preferred ones.

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens in a patient treated with carboplatin.

Phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) is a rare, fulminant, potentially lethal and often debilitating presentation of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Mortality and amputations rates are high. We present a rare case of bilateral PCD in the lower extremities. A 67-year-old woman presented with newly diagnosed squamous cell cancer of unknown primary origin with lymph node metastases to the neck. The patient started curatively intended treatment, consisting of removal of one lymph node on the neck, radiotherapy with concomitant carboplatin and nimorazol. The patient developed bilateral DVT in the legs. Despite treatment with low-molecular-weight heparins, the patient developed thrombosis in the inferior vena cava and lungs. Due to developing painful discolouration and necrosis on the legs, the patient underwent acute and extensive surgery. PCD is a severe and potentially lethal form of DVT. There are several known risk factors for developing DVT, including active cancer and the use of chemotherapy.

Utilizing the lateral excess for autologous augmentation in massive weight loss patients.

The number of patients in need of a mastopexy with autologous augmentation after massive weight loss (MWL) increases along with the increasing number of bariatric surgeries. The primary aim of this paper was to visualize how we utilize the lateral excess of the breast for auto augmentation. The secondary aim was to assess the outcome using the LOPOSAM technique in a larger study population. This retrospective study included 72 MWL patients aged 40±9 years undergoing a bilateral LOPOSAM procedure, between March 2015 and April 2018. All patients had undergone a weight loss of more than 15 BMI units, had a BMI of less than 30 kg/m2 at the time of surgery and functional problems due to excess or lax skin. Patient demographics, comorbidities, cause of MWL, operative time and complications were recorded. The mean weight loss was 58±18 kg or 21±6 BMI units. The mean operative time was 97±39 minutes. The surgical goal was achieved in all patients. Three patients (4%) experienced hematomas requiring surgical intervention. The utilization of the lateral excess of the breast for auto augmentation in MWL patients is visualized. The long term results using the LOPOSAM mastopexy technique shows that the technique is quick, safe and with a low rate of complications.

The transposed femoral vein arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION:: The prevalence and incidence of patients in need of hemodialysis worldwide are increasing. The population in need of hemodialysis is becoming older and vascular comorbidities are more frequent than decades ago. Consequently, the prevalence of patients with exhausted possibilities of upper limb vascular accesses increases. In contrast to other lower limb vascular accesses, a fistula by transposing the femoral vein to the superficial femoral artery promises better patency rates in preliminary series. METHODS:: The first seven cases performed between October 2015 and March 2017 at the only center in Denmark performing this procedure were reviewed regarding demographics, comorbidities, complications, and patency. RESULTS:: The study population consisted of five males and two females, with a mean age of 61.6 ± 9.9 years, mean body mass index 24.9 ± 2.6, with various causes of uremia. Five patients (71.4%) experienced at least one complication, such as wound dehiscence, lymphocele, infection, hematoma, or steal. First cannulation of the transposing the femoral vein to the superficial femoral artery was conducted after 12.2 ± 4.3 weeks. Postoperatively, the patients have been followed 16.4 ± 9.6 months in the dialysis center. All but one is still using their transposing the femoral vein to the superficial femoral artery for dialysis, but three of these needed revision to maintain patency giving a primary and primary-assisted patency of 42.9 (95% confidence interval: 15.8-75.0) and 85.7 (95% confidence interval: 48.7-97.4), respectively. CONCLUSION:: Although postoperative complications and need for revision to maintain patency persists, our experience suggests that this is a feasible method when it is no longer possible to create an upper extremity vascular access. A learning curve for the entire vascular access team must be expected.

Complications following inguinal and ilioinguinal lymphadenectomies: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Inguinal lymphadenectomy is essential for regional staging of malignant melanoma in the lower part of the body. The procedure is associated with a wide range of complication rates. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature for papers describing complication rates following inguinal (ID) and ilioinguinal (I-ID) lymphadenectomies, and estimate the actual complication rates in patients with malignant melanoma. METHODS: The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies reporting complications following ID and I-ID for malignant melanomas. RESULTS: A total of 416 records were identified, of which 20 were deemed eligible for this study. The complication rates (with 95% confidence intervals) were found to be as follows: overall complications = 52% (44-60%); lymphorrea = 29% (0-71%); seroma = 23% (18-29%); infection = 21% (15-27%); wound breakdown =14% (8-21%); skin edge necrosis = 10% (6-15%); haematoma = 3% (1-5%); and lymphoedema = 33% (25-42%). CONCLUSION: Complication rates following ID and I-ID remain high, despite the many efforts to reduce these, with lymphorrea, seromas, and infections being the most prevalent complications.

Myelin-specific T cells induce interleukin-1beta expression in lesion-reactive microglial-like cells in zones of axonal degeneration.

Infiltration of myelin-specific T cells into the central nervous system induces the expression of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We have previously shown that myelin-specific T cells are recruited into zones of axonal degeneration, where they stimulate lesion-reactive microglia. To gain mechanistic insight, we used RNA microarray analysis to compare the transcript profile in hippocampi from perforant pathway axonal-lesioned mice with and without adoptively transferred myelin-specific T cells 2 days postlesion, when microglia are clearly lesion reactive. Pathway analysis revealed that, among the 1,447 differently expressed transcripts, the interleukin (IL)-1 pathway including all IL-1 receptor ligands was upregulated in the presence of myelin-specific T cells. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed increased mRNA levels of IL-1ß, IL-1α, and IL-1 receptor antagonist in the T-cell-infiltrated hippocampi from axonal-lesioned mice. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed a T-cell-enhanced lesion-specific expression of IL-1ß mRNA and protein, respectively, and induction of the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, ASC, in CD11b(+) cells. Double in situ hybridization showed colocalization of IL-1ß mRNA in a subset of CD11b mRNA(+) cells, of which many were part of cellular doublets or clusters, characteristic of proliferating, lesion-reactive microglia. Double-immunofluorescence showed a T-cell-enhanced colocalization of IL-1ß to CD11b(+) cells, including lesion-reactive CD11b(+) ramified microglia. These results suggest that myelin-specific T cells stimulate lesion-reactive microglial-like cells to produce IL-1ß. These findings are relevant to understand the consequences of T-cell infiltration in white and gray matter lesions in patients with MS.