Pressure ulcer surgery SSI risk factors

Aims : The most common postoperative complication when treating a pressure ulcer with a flap or primary closure is early wound dehiscence. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cause of early wound dehiscence and its associated risk factors. Early wound dehiscence was defined as the wound dehiscence within the post operation period where no weight or tension is applied to the wound. Methods : We conducted a retrospective study of 40 patients with pressure ulcers (69 sites). We calculated the significant difference in the incidence of wound dehiscence between the groups for the following 15 factors : age, obesity, emaciation, diabetes mellitus, smoking, ulcer site, musculocutaneous flap, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, presence of two or more types of bacteria, albumin level, C-reactive protein level, white blood cell count, hemoglobin level, operative time, and ulcer size. Results : Bacteria were detected in all wounds with early dehiscence, which was found in 28 (40.6%) of the 69 cases. C-reactive protein level, albumin level, musculocutaneous flap, and operative time were found to be risk factors for early wound dehiscence using the χ2-test and t-test. (P = 0.011, 0.045, 0.018, and 0.003, respectively). Conclusion : The cause of dehiscence was considered to be surgical site infection. C-reactive protein level, albumin level, musculocutaneous flap, and operative time may be risk factors of the occurrence of early wound dehiscence

Perforator Vessels in Ischiorectal Fossa

Background: Perforator flaps based on the ischiorectal fossa (IRF) (ie, internal pudendal artery perforator flaps) are useful for perineal reconstruction. The three-dimensional characterization of perforator arteries in the IRF remains unclear, as the IRF contains thick adipose tissue as well as organs, such as the rectum, vagina, and urethra. This study aimed to evaluate perforators in the IRF to guide the safe elevation of skin flaps designed based on the IRF. Methods: IRF vessels were examined in 200 bilateral computed tomography angiography scans performed in 100 patients. We examined branching patterns arising from the internal iliac artery and the origins of the skin perforators in the IRF. Results: The branching patterns of the internal iliac artery were divided into three groups: perforators derived exclusively from the internal pudendal artery (78%), perforators derived from the internal pudendal artery and the inferior gluteal artery (18%), and perforators derived exclusively from the inferior gluteal artery (4%). The average number of perforators in the IRF was 1.5 ± 0.7. The number of perforators was significantly higher in women than in men. The perforator arteries were found exclusively around the medial and dorsal sides of the ischial tuberosity. Conclusions: We found that perforators in the IRF were stable. All cases had more than one skin perforator, which was mainly derived from the internal pudendal artery. Although perforators cannot be identified during flap elevation because the fatty tissue in the IRF is very thick, physicians must focus on preserving the perforator-containing fatty tissue around the ischial tuberosity

SPP and wound healing in hemodialysis patient

Background : Patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia are often on hemodialysis. It is unclear which skin perfusion pressure (SPP) values, i.e., those measured immediately after hemodialysis on a hemodialysis day or those measured on a non-hemodialysis day, reflect the actual wound healing course in chronic limb-threatening ischemia. Methods : Eighteen patients undergoing hemodialysis (49 measurements) who were treated for leg ulcers due to critical limb ischemia were included in the study. The SPP values were divided into two groups : those measured immediately after hemodialysis (HD day group) and those measured on non-hemodialysis days (non-HD day group). The wound healing outcomes were investigated. The cutoff SPP value for predicting wound healing was set to ≥ 35 mmHg. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of SPP in each group were measured. The relationship between SPP and blood pressure was analyzed by regression analysis. Results : Significant differences were observed in the positive predictive value (HD day : 100%, non-HD day : 50% ; P = 0.002), The correlation coefficient was 0.698 in the HD day group and 0.292 in the non-HD day group. Diastolic blood pressure had a significant effect on SPP (P = 0.039). Conclusions : The measurements are best taken immediately after hemodialysis for more accuracy

The perifascial areolar tissue and negative pressure wound therapy for one-stage skin grafting on exposed bone and tendon

Background : Factors such as exposed bones or tendons can inhibit wound healing and make it a lengthy process unless aggressive debridement or vascularized flap surgery are performed. We have developed a new procedure involving simultaneous application of a skin graft and perifascial areolar tissue (PAT) and negative pressure wound therapy. Methods : Of 8 patients with wounds, bones, tendons, and thick fascia were exposed in 4, 2, and 2 cases, respectively. These wounds were adequately covered with PAT, and split-thickness skin grafts were applied simultaneously on the PAT with a VAC® device. Results : In 6 of 8 cases, the skin graft and PAT were successful, and epithelialization was achieved within 4 weeks. PAT adapted but skin graft was unsuccessful in one case, and both the skin graft and PAT failed to adapt of a pressure ulcer. Using the PAT to overlap more than 400% of the exposed areas resulted in better adaptation. Conclusions : This procedure contributed to reducing the burden on the patients because we were able to use a skin graft on the exposed areas, without the need for removal of bone or tendons. This potentially means patients avoid loss of function in the affected areas and achieve better outcomes

Effect of biopsy on survival of melanoma patients

Background Cutaneous malignant melanoma has a poor prognosis. The detrimental effect of incisional biopsies on the outcome of malignant melanoma has been debated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the presence and type of biopsy on the prognosis of malignant melanoma. Methods The medical records of 109 malignant melanoma patients treated at Tokushima University Hospital from 1983 to 2007 were reviewed. After excluding 28 cases with stage 0 disease or incomplete data, 81 cases were analyzed in detail with respect to patient sex, age, tumor site, clinical stage at diagnosis, presence of ulceration or lymph node metastasis, and prognosis. The five-year survival and five-year disease-free survival rates of patients who underwent incisional or excisional biopsies were compared with those who did not undergo a biopsy. Results The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.19. The mean age was 61.3 years (range, 19–93 years). The most common site was a lower extremity, and the most common clinical stage was stage II. No significant differences in clinicopathological features, five-year survival rates, and five-year disease-free survival rates were observed among the three groups. Conclusions The presence and type of biopsy neither affected the metastatic rate nor the prognosis of malignant melanoma. The use of incisional biopsies is not encouraged because tumor thickness cannot be measured accurately. However, they may be helpful for confirming the diagnosis if an excisional biopsy cannot be performed

Risk factors for sternal wound infection

Background Although the utility of flaps for the treatment of sternal wound infections following median sternotomy has been reported for 30 years, there have been few reports on the risk factors for complications after reconstruction. The objective of this investigation was to identify factors related to complications after the reconstruction of sternal wound infections. Methods A retrospective analysis of 74 patients with reconstructive surgery after sternal wound infection over a 5-year period was performed. Clinical data including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, bacterial culture, previous cardiac surgery, wound depth, mortality rate, type of reconstructive procedure, and complication rate were collected. Results The patients' BMI ranged from 15.2 to 33.6 kg/m2 (mean, 23.1±3.74 kg/m2). Wound closure complications after reconstructive surgery were observed in 36.5% of the cases. The mortality rate was 2.7%. Diabetes mellitus significantly affected the rate of wound closure complications (P=0.041). A significant difference in the number of complications was seen between Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (P=0.011). There was a correlation between harvesting of the internal thoracic artery and postoperative complications (P=0.048). The complication rates of the pectoralis major flap, rectus abdominis flap, omentum flap, a combination of pectoralis major flap and rectus abdominis flap, and direct closure were 23.3%, 33.3%, 100%, 37.5%, and 35.7%, respectively. Conclusions Diabetes mellitus, S. aureus, harvesting of the internal thoracic artery, and omentum flap were significant factors for complications after reconstruction. The omentum flap volume may be related to the complications associated with the omentum flap transfer in the present study