Progressive Wound Necrosis Associated With Postoperative Thrombocytosis in Mastectomy and Immediate Breast Reconstruction Surgery: Report of a Case

A 37-year-old who underwent splenectomy for motor vehicle accident-related injuries was diagnosed with stage IIA carcinoma of left breast 12 years later. She underwent bilateral mastectomy and bilateral immediate unipedicle TRAM flap reconstruction. Her preoperative platelet counts ranged from 332 to 424 K/cmm. Intraoperative fluorescein confirmed mastectomy flap viability. On postoperative day 1, platelet count was 374 K/cmm and all suture lines appeared benign. The patient was discharged 3 days later with healthy appearing tram flaps and slight epidermolysis in the abdominal region. Over the next 2 weeks, both the mastectomy flaps and the abdominal region underwent progressive necrosis as the platelet count increased to 1390 K/cmm. Aspirin therapy was instituted at this time. The TRAM flaps remained completely viable. Eighteen days later, the patient required wound debridement with secondary closure of the breast wounds. Platelet count peaked at 1689 K/cmm 2 days later (postoperative day 38). The wounds deteriorated again and were managed conservatively. Two months after mastectomy, the first area of spontaneous healing was documented (platelet count 758 K/cmm). Ultimately, wounds healed as platelet count reached its preoperative baseline. We hypothesize that an abnormal secondary thrombocytosis at subdermal plexus level caused problematic healing in this patient's mastectomy and abdominal flaps

Progressive wound necrosis associated with postoperative thrombocytosis in mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction surgery: report of a case.

A 37-year-old who underwent splenectomy for motor vehicle accident-related injuries was diagnosed with stage IIA carcinoma of left breast 12 years later. She underwent bilateral mastectomy and bilateral immediate unipedicle TRAM flap reconstruction. Her preoperative platelet counts ranged from 332 to 424 K/cmm. Intraoperative fluorescein confirmed mastectomy flap viability. On postoperative day 1, platelet count was 374 K/cmm and all suture lines appeared benign. The patient was discharged 3 days later with healthy appearing tram flaps and slight epidermolysis in the abdominal region. Over the next 2 weeks, both the mastectomy flaps and the abdominal region underwent progressive necrosis as the platelet count increased to 1390 K/cmm. Aspirin therapy was instituted at this time. The TRAM flaps remained completely viable. Eighteen days later, the patient required wound debridement with secondary closure of the breast wounds. Platelet count peaked at 1689 K/cmm 2 days later (postoperative day 38). The wounds deteriorated again and were managed conservatively. Two months after mastectomy, the first area of spontaneous healing was documented (platelet count 758 K/cmm). Ultimately, wounds healed as platelet count reached its preoperative baseline. We hypothesize that an abnormal secondary thrombocytosis at subdermal plexus level caused problematic healing in this patient\u27s mastectomy and abdominal flaps

Correlates of weapon carrying among high school students in the United States

Abstract Background Deaths and injuries arising from interpersonal violence among adolescents are major public health concerns in the United States. The bearing of weapons among adolescents is a critical factor in many of these deaths and injuries. Methods A secondary analysis of the 2005 United States Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Survey data was carried out to examine the variables associated with self-reported history of weapon carrying on school property among high school students. We used logistic regression analysis to assess the associations. Results Of the 13,707 respondents who participated in the survey, 10.2% of males and 2.6% of females reported carrying a weapon on school property. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, males were more likely to report having carried a weapon than females (odds ratio (OR) = 5.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) [4.23, 7.62]). Self-reported race/ethnicity was also associated with weapon carrying. Other variables positively associated with weapon carrying at school were substance use (OR = 1.77; 95% CI [1.16, 2.68]), depression (OR = 1.44; 95% CI [1.10, 1.89]), suicidal ideation (OR = 1.64; 95% CI [1.23, 2.19]), having had property stolen or deliberately damaged at school (OR = 1.55; 95% CI [1.21, 1.98]), having been raped (OR = 1.70; 95% CI [1.22, 2.37]), having been threatened or injured with a weapon on school property (OR = 2.19; 95% CI [1.63, 2.95]), and having engaged in physical fighting (OR = 2.02; 95% CI [1.56, 2.63]). Conclusion This research identifies factors that are associated with weapon bearing among adolescents in the United States. These factors may be important in the design of interventions aimed at improving school safety and adolescent health