Effectiveness of incisional negative pressure wound therapy after major lower extremity amputation: a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: The aim was to study the effect of incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) in wound healing compared with standard sterile gauze dressings after major lower extremity amputation in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS: This prospective, randomised controlled trial included 50 patients undergoing major lower extremity amputations for PAD. Patients were randomised into iNPWT and standard dressing groups. The patency of blood vessels at the level of the stump was ensured with or without revascularisation. The primary outcome was wound-related complications such as surgical site infection (SSI), wound dehiscence, seroma/haematoma formation or the need for revision amputation. The secondary outcome was the time taken for the eligibility of prosthesis placement. RESULTS: It was found that only 12% of the patients in the iNPWT group had SSI compared with 36% in the standard dressing group (p = 0.047). Rates of wound dehiscence, seroma/haematoma formation and revision amputation were decreased in the iNPWT group but this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There was a significant reduction in the time taken for eligibility of prosthesis placement in the iNPWT group (5.12 ± 1.53 vs 6.8 ± 1.95 weeks, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: iNPWT is effective in reducing the incidence of SSI and the time taken for rehabilitation in patients undergoing major lower limb amputation due to PAD.

Isolated brachial artery aneurysm: a rare presentation of paediatric Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease is a rare disease characterised by recurrent oral ulcers, with systemic manifestations including genital ulcers, ocular disease, skin lesions, gastrointestinal disease, neurologic disease, vascular disease and arthritis. Most clinical manifestations of Behçet's disease are believed to be due to vasculitis. The heterogeneous clinical spectrum is influenced by sex, ethnicity and country of residence. Vascular manifestation in the form of isolated large brachial artery aneurysm is rare in children. Treatment involves aneurysmorrhaphy to avoid rupture or ischaemic sequelae in addition to lifelong medical management to control vasculitis.

Deep venous thrombosis manifestation of common femoral vein leiomyoma.

Deep vein thrombosis is a common clinical condition, with well-known risk factors. An unusual case of venous leiomyoma manifesting as a deep vein thrombosis in the left femoral vein of a 55-year-old man was managed successfully at our institution with anticoagulation, en-bloc excision and reconstruction of the femoral vein with spiral vein graft.