Surgical resection, intraoperative radiotherapy and immediate plastic reconstruction: A good option for the treatment of distal extremity soft tissue sarcomas

AimTo show three patients with soft tissue sarcomas of distal extremities conservatively treated after tumor-board discussion, involving margin-free surgery, exclusive intraoperative radiotherapy, and immediate reconstruction.BackgroundCurrent guidelines show clear and robust recommendations regarding the composition of the treatment of sarcomas of extremities. However, little evidence exists regarding the application of these treatments depending on the location of the primary neoplasia. Tumors that affect the distal extremities present different challenges and make multidisciplinary discussions desirable.Methods/ResultsWe reported 3 patients who were approached with a conservative intention, after tumor board recomendation. The goals from the treatment performed were aesthetic and functional preservation, while enruring locoregional control. We had wound healing complications in 2 of the cases, requiring additional reconstruction measures. Patients are followed up for 24, 20 and 10 months; local control is 100%, and functional preservation is 100%.ConclusionsDespite being a small series, it was sufficient to illustrate successful multidisciplinary planning, generating a therapeutic result with improved quality of life for patients who had an initial indication for extremity amputation

Prognostic factors affecting outcomes in multivisceral en bloc resection for colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the clinical and pathological factors associated with perioperative morbidity, mortality and oncological outcomes after multivisceral en bloc resection in patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: Between January 2009 and February 2014, 105 patients with primary colorectal cancer selected for multivisceral resection were identified from a prospective database. Clinical and pathological factors, perioperative morbidity and mortality and outcomes were obtained from medical records. Estimated local recurrence and overall survival were compared using the log-rank method, and Cox regression analysis was used to determine the independence of the studied parameters. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02859155. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 60 (range 23-86) years, 66.7% were female, 80% of tumors were located in the rectum, 11.4% had stage-IV disease, and 54.3% received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The organs most frequently resected were ovaries and annexes (37%). Additionally, 30.5% of patients received abdominoperineal resection. Invasion of other organs was confirmed histologically in 53.5% of patients, and R0 resection was obtained in 72% of patients. The overall morbidity rate of patients in this study was 37.1%. Ureter resection and intraoperative blood transfusion were independently associated with an increased number of complications. The 30-day postoperative mortality rate was 1.9%. After 27 (range 5-57) months of follow-up, the mortality and local recurrence rates were 23% and 15%, respectively. Positive margins were associated with a higher recurrence rate. Positive margins, lymph node involvement, stage III/IV disease, and stage IV disease alone were associated with lower overall survival rates. On multivariate analysis, the only factor associated with reduced survival was lymph node involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Multivisceral en bloc resection for primary colorectal cancer can be performed with acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality and may lead to favorable oncological outcomes

Closure of hemicorporectomy using a subtotal unilateral tight flap: a case report

Hemicorporectomy or translumbar amputation was first described in 1950 by Kredel to treat locally advanced pelvic neoplasia. This extensive surgical procedure can achieve oncological cure and improve clinical status and quality of life. The authors present a case report of a 34-year-old patient with squamous cell carcinoma in a chronic pressure ulcer affecting the right perineum, gluteus, and posterior thigh. The patient underwent hemicorporectomy with reconstructive surgery using a partial-thickness flap of the left thigh. The postoperative course was good, and the use of a partial-thickness flap of the thigh to close the hemicorporectomy proved to be safe, efficient, and reproducible

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Anatomical comparison of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap and the parascapular and lateral arm skin flaps

A descrição de retalhos cutâneos pediculados em ramos perfurantes musculares é recente. O retalho ântero-lateral da coxa é vascularizado por vasos perfurantes musculares do ramo descendente da artéria circunflexa femoral lateral. Trata-se de retalho de pouca espessura, pedículo vascular longo e calibroso e baixa morbidade de área doadora. Entretanto, a dissecção do trajeto intramuscular de seu pedículo é tecnicamente difícil. Sua indicação é por vezes questionada por tratar-se de retalho de características semelhantes a outros vascularizados por artérias cutâneas diretas ou septocutâneas. Estes têm menor variação anatômica e dissecção mais simples. O presente estudo avaliou as características anatômicas do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa, através de dissecção em cadáveres frescos, comparando-as com as do retalho paraescapular e lateral do braço. Foram dissecados 60 retalhos (20 retalhos ântero-laterais da coxa, 20 paraescapulares e 20 retalhos laterais do braço) em 20 cadáveres frescos, não formolizados, com menos de 24 horas após o óbito. Todos os retalhos tiveram os seguintes parâmetros avaliados: comprimento do pedículo vascular, espessura do retalho, diâmetro do pedículo vascular arterial e venoso. Além disso, foi avaliada a presença de trajeto intramuscular do pedículo vascular (apenas nas dissecções do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa). A análise comparativa evidenciou que o pedículo vascular do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa é mais longo quando comparado aos dos retalhos paraescapular e lateral do braço (p<0,001). O retalho cutâneo lateral do braço apresenta a menor espessura (p<0,001) e o menor diâmetro arterial e venoso do pedículo vascular (p<0,001). Constatou-se a presença de trajeto intramuscular do pedículo do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa em 17 (85%) casos. O comprimento médio do segmento intramuscular do principal ramo perfurante foi de 4,13+2,02 cm. Os dados foram comparados e avaliados através de técnica de análise de variância com medidas repetidas. O nível de significância utilizado para os testes foi de 5%. As informações obtidas permitem concluir que o retalho ântero-lateral da coxa apresenta como vantagem o pedículo vascular de maior comprimento. Entretanto, apresentou em 85% dos casos a necessidade de dissecção intramuscular de um segmento deste pedículo. O retalho lateral do braço apresenta como principais características a pouca espessura e o menor diâmetro de seus pedículos vasculares. O retalho paraescapular tem características anatômicas semelhantes às do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa, não sendo evidenciada diferença significativa entre suas espessuras e diâmetros de seus pedículos vasculares. Apresenta pedículo vascular mais curto quando comparado ao do retalho ântero-lateral da coxa. Entretanto, trata-se de vaso septocutâneo, sem a necessidade de dissecção de trajeto intramuscular.The description of the skin flaps based on perforator vessels is recent. The vascularization of the anterolateral thigh flap is based on perforator vessels coming from the lateral circumflex femoral artery. It has a thin skin paddle, a long and large vascular pedicle and low donor site morbidity. However, the dissection of the intramuscular path of its pedicle is technically difficult. Its indication is sometimes questionable since it is a flap with characteristics similar to others based on direct cutaneous or septocutaneous vessels, which have less anatomical variations and are easier to dissect. This study evaluated the anatomical characteristics of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap through the dissection of fresh cadavers, comparing them with those of the parascapular and lateral arm skin flap. Sixty flaps were dissected (20 anterolateral thigh, 20 parascapular and 20 lateral arm flaps) in 20 fresh cadavers, not perfused with formaldehyde, less than 24 hours after death. The following aspects were evaluated in all the flaps: length of the vascular pedicle, thickness of the flap and diameter of the arterial and venous vascular pedicle. Additionally, the presence of the intramuscular path of the vascular pedicle was evaluated (only in the dissections of the anterolateral thigh flap). The comparative analysis showed that the vascular pedicle of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap is longer when compared to those of the parascapular and lateral arm flaps (p<0,001). The lateral arm flap presented a pedicle with smaller arterial and venous diameter (p<0,001), in addition to being the thinner flap (p<0,001). It was verified that the vascular pedicle of the anterolateral thigh flap presented an intramuscular path in 17 (85%) cases. The average length of the intramuscular segment of the main perforator vessel was 4,13+2,02 cm. The data was compared and evaluated with variance analysis. The information obtained allows one to conclude that the advantage the anterolateral thigh perforator flap has over the other skin flaps is a longer vascular pedicle. However, the need for intramuscular dissection of a segment of this pedicle presented itself in 85% of the cases. The lateral arm flap is the thinnest flap, and the one with the smaller arterial and venous diameter of its vascular pedicle. The parascapular flap has anatomical characteristics similar to those of the anterolateral thigh flap, with no evidence of a significant difference between their thicknesses and diameters of vascular pedicles. Its vascular pedicle is shorter when compared to that of the anterolateral thigh flap. On the other hand, it is a fasciocutaneous vessel, without the need for intramuscular dissection

WHY DO WE CONTINUE USING MICROTEXTURED BREAST IMPLANTS? A CHOICE BASED ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

Breast implant surgery, for aesthetic or restorative purposes, continues to be one of the most popular procedures within plastic surgery. Breast implants (BI) can be defined as implantable medical devices used for breast augmentation or breast reconstruction. In 2016, the WHO recognized a rare type of anaplastic large cell lymphoma associated with MI (BIA-ALCL). Like all neoplasms that affect humans, its genesis has a multifactorial origin. One of the factors correlated with a greater probability of developing BIA-ALCL was the macrotexture of the coating of the implants. This macrotexture coating was removed from the market by the manufacturer and was related to 84 to 86% of all reported cases of BIA-ALCL. The incidence of this type of neoplasm in implants with microtextured or smooth coating is extremely low. Microtextured breast implants are the products with the greatest scientific basis for safety and long-term predictability available on the current market. They present strong evidence of lower rates of capsular contracture and reoperations when compared to smooth implants in a subglandular position. The microtexture of the BI surface allows the placement of anatomical devices that can provide more individualized results for specific types of patients. They have minimal correlation with cases of BIA-ALCL

Forehead reconstruction using supraclavicular flap with microsurgical technique: Free flap and a pedicle supercharged flap

Large and deep defects in foreheads are best repaired with flaps. In these types of cases, reconstructions are made through the transfer of distant flaps, due to the small amount of available local tissue. The supraclavicular island flap (SCIF) has been extensive used for head and neck reconstructions during the last two decades. However, the flap extension is limited to the reconstruction of the superior third of the face, which may increase the risk of distal flap necrosis. The authors describe two cases of forehead reconstruction with the SCIF using a microsurgical technique

Sensibility of the Ear After Otoplasty

Changes in skin sensibility occur in various postoperative plastic surgeries, especially when they involve major skin and subcutaneous dissection. There were no studies so far that objectively compared changes of ear sensibility. This prospective study was conducted to compare ear sensibility before and after otoplasty. Patients with prominent ears (n = 15) underwent bilateral otoplasty. Ear tactile sensibility was tested preoperatively and 6 and 12 months after surgery by Pressure Specified Sensory Device, an apparatus that quantifies cutaneous pressure sensation (g/mm(2)). Comparison between preoperative and 6-months postoperative results indicated an increment on mean skin pressure thresholds; however, mean thresholds between pre- and 12 months postoperative period were similar. Vibratory and hot/cold sensibility did not present any difference during this period. This is the first comparative assessment of ear tactile sensibility using quantitative methods. After otoplasty, initially there was reduction in an ear tactile sensibility, followed by a return to levels similar to preoperative sensibility