Use of magnetic resonance imaging lymphangiography for preoperative planning in lymphedema surgery: A systematic review

BackgroundIn recent years, magnetic resonance imaging lymphangiography (MRL) has emerged as a way to predict if patients are candidates for lymphedema surgery, particularly lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA). Our goal was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the use of MRL for preoperative planning in lymphedema surgery. We hypothesized that MRL could add valuable information to the standard preoperative evaluation of lymphedema patients.MethodsOn February 17, 2020, we conducted a systematic review of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Clinical Answers, and Embase databases, without time frame or language limitations, to identify articles on the use of MRL for preoperative planning of lymphedema surgery. We excluded studies that investigated other applications of magnetic resonance imaging, such as lymphedema diagnosis and treatment evaluation. The primary outcome was the examination capacity to identify lymphatic anatomy and the secondary outcome was the presence of adverse effects.ResultsOf 372 potential articles identified with the search, nine studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. A total of 334 lymphedema patients were enrolled in these studies. Two studies compared MRL findings with those of other standard examinations (indocyanine green lymphography [ICG‐L] or lymphoscintigraphy). No adverse effects due to MRL were reported. A study shown that MRL had higher sensitivity to detect lymphatic vessel abnormalities compared with lymphoscintigraphy and a statistically higher chance of successful LVA was observed when the results of MRL agreed with those of ICG‐L (p < .001).ConclusionsMRL could be useful for preoperative planning in lymphedema surgery. The scientific evidence has been limited, so further studies with greater numbers of patients and cost analysis are necessary to justify the addition of MRL to current preoperative protocols.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167841/1/micr30731_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167841/2/micr30731.pd

Functional outcomes between headache surgery and targeted botox injections: A prospective multicenter pilot study

Introduction: Chronic migraine headaches (MH) are a principal cause of disability worldwide. This study evaluated and compared functional outcomes after peripheral trigger point deactivation surgery or botulinum neurotoxin A (BTA) treatment in patients with MH. Methods: A long-term, multicenter, and prospective study was performed. Patients with chronic migraine were recruited at the Ohio State University and Massachusetts General Hospital and included in each treatment group according to their preference (BTA or surgery). Assessment tools including the Migraine Headache Index (MHI), Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire (MIDAS) total, MIDAS A, MIDAS B, Migraine Work and Productivity Loss Questionnaire-question 7 (MWPLQ7), and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ) version 2.1 were used to evaluate functional outcomes. Patients were evaluated prior to treatment and at 1, 2, and 2.5 years after treatment. Results: A total of 44 patients were included in the study (surgery=33, BTA=11). Patients treated surgically showed statistically significant improvement in headache intensity as measured on MIDAS B (p = 0.0464) and reduced disability as measured on MWPLQ7 (p = 0.0120) compared to those treated with BTA injection. No statistical difference between groups was found for the remaining functional outcomes. Mean scores significantly improved over time independently of treatment for MHI, MIDAS total, MIDAS A, MIDAS B, and MWPLQ 7 (p<0.05). However, no difference in mean scores over time was observed for MSQ. Conclusions: Headache surgery and targeted BTA injections are both effective means of addressing peripheral trigger sites causing headache pain. However, lower pain intensity and work-related disabilities were found in the surgical group

Microvascular free-flap reconstruction in acute hard-to-heal wounds

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado.Objective: Present different flap alternatives when performing microvascular free-flap reconstruction in acute hard-to-heal wounds. Method: A retrospective review of patients whose acute hard-to-heal wounds were treated with microvascular free-flap reconstruction. Data on demographics, wound aetiology, diagnostic, previous treatment, free-flap type, free-flap size, complications and follow up were analysed. Results: A total of 20 patients received microvascular free-flap reconstruction. The median age was 39.5 years. Twenty free-flap reconstructions were performed. These included: 3 cross-leg free flap, 1 cross-leg vascular cable bridge flap, 2 fibula osteocutaneous flap, 6 anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, 3 thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap, 3 fasciomyocutaneous flap, and 2 femoral artery fasciocutaneous flap. A patient required microvascular anastomosis due to hematoma; the rest did not present complications during their postoperative. Previous treatment included negative pressure wound therapy (12 patients) and surgical debridement with silver hydrogel dressings (8 patients). Conclusion: Hard-to-heal wounds can be unresponsive to traditional wound healing practices or local flaps. They often require free-flap reconstruction, using tissues similar to those compromised. Microvascular techniques can be an effective alternative. CONFLICT OF INTEREST None

Manejo de heridas traumáticas de difícil cicatrización con colgajos microvasculares

Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue presentar diferentes opciones de manejo de heridas de difícil cicatrización utilizando colgajos libres microvasculares. Método: Se llevó a cabo una revisión retrospectiva de todos los pacientes con heridas traumáticas de difícil cicatrización, a quienes se les realizó reconstrucción con colgajo libre. Se analizaron datos demográficos, etiología de la herida, diagnóstico, tratamiento previo de la herida, tipo de colgajo utilizado, dimensiones del defecto y del colgajo, vasos receptores, complicaciones, y seguimiento. Resultados: En total, 20 pacientes fueron sometidos a reconstrucciones con colgajos libres. La edad promedio fue de 39,5 años. Se realizaron 20 colgajos libres, entre ellos: 3 de piernas cruzadas, 1 de piernas cruzadas con puente vascular, 2 osteocutáneos de peroné, 6 fasciocutáneos anterolateral del muslo, 3 perforantes de la arteria toracodorsal, 3 miocutáneos dorsal ancho, y 2 fasciocutáneos de la perforante de la arteria femoral profunda. Un paciente requirió revisión de anastomosis microvascular debido a un hematoma. El resto de los pacientes no presentó intercurrencias en el postoperatorio. Respecto al tratamiento previo, 12 pacientes recibieron terapia de presión negativa, mientras que 8 tuvieron desbridamientos quirúrgicos con subsecuente aplicación de hidrogel con plata iónica. Conclusión: Las heridas de difícil cicatrización no tienen una buena respuesta al tratamiento convencional con curaciones, injertos o colgajos locales, sino que requieren la transferencia de tejidos similares a los que se han perdido. Las técnicas microvasculares pueden ser una alternativa

Local Pro- and Anti-Coagulation Therapy in the Plastic Surgical Patient: A Literature Review of the Evidence and Clinical Applications

The risks of systemic anti-coagulation or its reversal are well known but accepted as necessary under certain circumstances. However, particularly in the plastic surgical patient, systemic alteration to hemostasis is often unnecessary when local therapy could provide the needed adjustments. The aim of this review was to provide a summarized overview of the clinical applications of topical anti- and pro-coagulant therapy in plastic and reconstructive surgery. While not a robust field as of yet, local tranexamic acid (TXA) has shown promise in achieving hemostasis under various circumstances, hemostats are widely used to halt bleeding, and local anticoagulants such as heparin can improve flap survival. The main challenge to the advancement of local therapy is drug delivery. However, with increasingly promising innovations underway, the field will hopefully expand to the betterment of patient care

Factors that Influence Chemotherapy Treatment Rate in Patients With Upper Limb Osteosarcoma

Background/Aim: Chemotherapy is the mainstay treatment of osteosarcoma. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the factors that affect the rate of chemotherapy treatment of osteosarcoma patients. Materials and Methods: We queried the National Cancer Database for bone cancer patients. We included patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the upper extremities regardless of age and sex. With bivariate and multivariate models, we analyzed the demographic, facility, and tumor-specific characteristics, comparing the group that received chemotherapy with those that did not. Results: Female patients (OR=0.567; 95% CI=0.337-0.955), non-White patients (OR=0.485; 95% CI=0.25-0.939), and patients with government insurance (OR=0.506; 95% CI=0.285-0.9) had lower odds of receiving chemotherapy treatment than male, white, and privately insured patients. Patients with stages II (OR=4.817; 95% CI=2.594-8.946) and IV disease (OR=0.457; 95% CI=1.931-10.286) had higher odds of receiving chemotherapy than those with stage I disease. Conclusion: Age, sex, race and insurance affected the rate of chemotherapy treatment in patients with upper limb osteosarcoma

Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy (PMRT) before and after 2-Stage Expander-Implant Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

Background: In those undergoing treatment for breast cancer, evidence has demonstrated a significant improvement in survival, and a reduction in the risk of local recurrence in patients who undergo postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). There is uncertainty about the optimal timing of PMRT, whether it should be before or after tissue expander or permanent implant placement. This study aimed to summarize the data reported in the literature on the effect of the timing of PMRT, both preceding and following 2-stage expander-implant breast reconstruction (IBR), and to statistically analyze the impact of timing on infection rates and the need for explantation. Methods: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed/Medline, Ovid, and Cochrane databases without timeframe limitations. Articles included in the analysis were those reporting outcomes data of PMRT in IBR published from 2009 to 2017. Chi-square statistical analysis was performed to compare infection and explantation rates between the two subgroups at p &lt; 0.05. Results: A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria for this study. These studies reported outcomes data for 1565 total 2-stage expander-IBR procedures, where PMRT was used (1145 before, and 420 after, implant placement). There was a statistically significant higher likelihood of infection following pre-implant placement PMRT (21.03%, p = 0.000079), compared to PMRT after implant placement (9.69%). There was no difference in the rate of explantation between pre-implant placement PMRT (12.93%) and postimplant placement PMRT (11.43%). Conclusion: This study suggests that patients receiving PMRT before implant placement in 2-stage expander&#8722;implant based reconstruction may have a higher risk of developing an infection