Surgical correction of carpal valgus deformity in three alpacas.

Two alpaca crias and one 14-month-old alpaca were referred for treatment of bilateral carpal valgus. In one cria, hemi-circumferential periosteal transection and elevation combined with an ulna osteotomy was performed initially without success, however transphyseal bridging with screws and wires was used successfully in both crias to straighten the limbs. As the distal radial and ulna growth plates had closed in the 14-month-old alpaca, bilateral wedge ostectomies of the distal radius and transfixation casts were used to straighten and stabilise the limbs. The ostectomy sites healed and the alpaca is ambulatory, although carpal flexion is significantly reduced. Until the relationship between the growth rate of crias and the success of hemicircumferential periosteal transection and elevation and ulna osteotomy is established, transphyseal bridging may provide a more reliable result in crias with carpal valgus deformity and open physes. Wedge ostectomy and application of a transfixation cast can be used to correct severe carpal valgus deformities in alpacas with closed physes.

Endoscopic approach for the resection of forehead masses.

Over the past several years, surgery aided by the endoscope has come into favor for a number of reasons. Because it is minimally invasive surgery, it has less morbidity, thus, reduced postoperative pain and complications. It results in earlier mobilization and shorter hospitalization, and most importantly, it contributes to an improved cosmetic appearance as a result of a shortened incision line concealed within the hairline in most cases. We have proposed an alternative approach to the surgical resection of forehead masses by means of the endoscope, which has proven to be useful not only for diagnosis but also as a therapeutic tool for the removal of forehead lesions. This report described the clinical experience with the removal of forehead masses in four patients. The cases illustrated the feasibility and ease of resecting a variety of forehead masses with excellent cosmetic results. We hope that more plastic surgeons will use the proposed technique and will continue to explore the safe limits of endoscopic plastic surgery.

Upper arm arteriovenous fistulas as a reliable access alternative for patients requiring chronic hemodialysis.

The wrist fistula is the access procedure of choice in the hemodialysis patient. However, unavailable or unusable anatomy in this aging population has made them difficult to establish. This study retrospectively compares patency, occlusion, and complication rates of upper arm arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) as a reliable alternative. Fifty-eight upper arm AVFs were created in 52 patients between February 1995 and August 1997 at Hermann Hospital, affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. Fistulas were constructed using the brachial artery (BA) side-to-end (n = 56) or side-to-side (n = 1) with either the cephalic vein (CV; n = 39), transposed basilic vein (TBV; n = 16), or other vein [basilic vein (BV; n = 1), transposed cephalic vein (TCV; n = 1), median cubital vein (MCV; n = 1)]. One-year primary patency rates for upper arm AVFs were 66 per cent, and secondary patency rates were 22 per cent. Flow rates averaged 354.6 mL/minute. Primary and secondary patency rates for fistulas created are: BA-CV (67% and 20%), BA-TBV (63% and 25%), and other upper arm AVFs 66 per cent without revisions. Primary patencies for both BA-CV and BA-TBV fistulas were similar to previously reported studies. Secondary patencies proved to be less effective. Upper arm AVFs should be considered before graft placement when wrist and forearm anatomy does not lend itself to fistula creation.

Surgical implications of hypercoagulable syndromes.

The advent of improved diagnostic tests for primary hypercoagulability has led to increased recognition of this entity as a problem in surgical patients. We treated 20 patients with documented evidence of increased coagulability from 1975 to 1995. Clinical presentations included venous (16) and arterial (4) thrombosis. Symptoms usually occurred early in life (mean age, 38 years) and developed spontaneously without a secondary inciting event or factor. Deficiencies in naturally occurring anticoagulant proteins including antithrombin III (n = 7), protein C (n = 3), and protein S (n = 1) were seen, as were problems with lupus anticoagulant (n = 2) and anticardiolipin antibody (n = 4) deficiencies. Treatment of these patients is difficult, and results are often suboptimal. A total of 12 vascular reconstructions were required in 5 of the 20 patients; 11 eventually failed. Patients with primary venous thrombosis were often successfully treated with anticoagulant therapy in the short term but fared less well in the long term. There were three deaths directly related to thrombotic complications. Surgeons may encounter patients with primary hypercoagulable syndromes. The diagnosis should be expected in patients with unusual patterns of vascular disease or arterial or venous thrombosis without cause or at an early age, or in patients with recurrent or migratory clotting. Evaluation of this population, although expensive, is indicated. Treatment with chronic anticoagulation is also generally indicated. Arterial reconstruction in this subset of patients usually leads to a poor outcome.