Thoracic Wall Reconstruction: Surgical Planning in Extended Malignant Resections.

INTRODUCTION: The reconstruction of defects in thoracic wall remains a challenge for plastic surgeons. Advances in surgical treatment of illnesses of thoracic wall have been fostering the treatment of lesions within more advanced levels. Consequently, larger and more complex defects are generated, demanding soft tissue covering and framework repair. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report the experience in chest wall reconstruction and demographics of a tertiary cancer center. METHODS: All patients submitted to thoracic wall reconstruction by the plastic surgery department from January 2012 to May 2018 in a tertiary cancer center were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients have undergone thoracic wall reconstruction. The majority of patients in our series were submitted to surgical treatment of locally advanced breast cancer (84.3%). The most common defect location was the right anterolateral region (65.6%). The latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was the most used in thoracic wall reconstructions. Three cases of thoracectomy with rib resection were reconstructed with methylmethacrylate and polypropylene surgical mesh associated with musculocutaneous flap. Four patients presented major complications, and 12 patients (37.5%) presented minor complications. There were no deaths related to procedures or instability of thoracic wall. Twenty-two patients presented progression of the disease, and 16 died due to the primary pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Extended resection of the chest wall is associated in most cases with advanced disease, especially advanced breast cancer. Despite poor prognosis associated to locally advanced disease, it is imperative to perform chest wall reconstruction and allow the patient to continue adjuvant therapy (radiotherapy or chemotherapy) and improve quality of life.

Inframammary fold subcutaneous cushion assessment using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

BACKGROUND: The inframammary fold (IMF) is one of the most important elements in the determination of the aesthetic of the female breast. During mastectomies, it is important to preserve the subcutaneous portion nearby the IMF, attempting that, this preservation will greatly facilitate reconstruction allowing more satisfying aesthetic results. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the thickness of the subcutaneous IMF cushion using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition images. METHODS: We have gauged the right breast IMF subcutaneous cushion from patients (all the cases without previous surgery in this topography) who were submitted to MRI in a diagnosis radiology center, between January and February of 2017. MRI images were analyzed in T1 fat saturated sequences. The assessment of the fold cushion was realized in the projection of axial measurements in sagittal plane. RESULTS: Among the 50 evaluated patients, the median measure of breast base was 9.91 cm. The median measure of the subcutaneous IMF cushion assessment in the sagittal projection of the breast base meridian was 2.40 cm (varying from 1.34 to 4.05 cm, with percentile 5% of 1.51 cm and percentile 95% of 3.55 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Other studies indicate the negligible amount of breast tissue and the low incidence of neoplasia in this topography, the preservation of the IMF seems feasible. The measurements of the IMF thickness, evaluated by MRI in this study, provide reference values for maintaining a desirable inframammary crease.

Evaluation of complications and flap losses in mandibular reconstruction with microvascularized fibula flap.

The mandibular defects caused by mandibulectomies can involve esthetic and functional sequelae in patients. The fibula presents positive aspects and can be used as an option for mandibular reconstruction after tumor resections or extensive traumas. Furthermore, this retrospective study of the patients who have passed through a mandibular reconstruction with a microvascular fibular flap over the last 17 years describes the experience of the Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeryService at the ErastoGaertner Hospital, Curitiba/PR. The use of this flap type has a complication rate of 32.3%, which includes the fixation material exposure, flap resorptions, fistulas, pathological fractures, tumor recurrence, infections, seromas, and thrombocytopenia. Most of them are associated with patients who have received radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. These data suggest a high frequency of complications when a reconstruction plate fixation is used. Minor complications are usual and they should not be overlooked because they can lead to devastating consequences.

An alternative experimental model for training in microsurgery.

OBJECTIVE: to describe a new model of training in microsurgery with pig spleen after splenectomy performed by undergraduate students of the Discipline of Operative Technique of the UFPR Medical School. METHODS: after the completion of splenectomy we performed dissection of the vascular pedicle, distal and proximal to the ligation performed for removal of the spleen. After complete dissection of the splenic artery and vein with microscope, clamps were placed and the vessels were cut. We then made the anastomosis of the vessels with 9.0 nylon. RESULT: the microsurgical training with a well-defined routine, qualified supervision and using low cost experimental materials proved to be effective in the practice of initial microvascular surgery. CONCLUSION: the use of pig spleen, which would be discarded after splenectomy, is an excellent model for microsurgical training, since besides having the consistency and sensitivity of a real model, it saves the sacrifice of a new animal model in the initial learning phase of this technique.