“Ride-on” technique and other simple and logical solutions to counter most common complications of silicone implants in augmentation rhinoplasty

Augmentation rhinoplasty can be carried out using a wide range of materials including autologous bone and/or cartilage as well as alloplasts. Use of biologic bone and cartilage grafts results in lower infection rates, but they are associated with long-term resorption and donor-site morbidity. Alloplastic materials, in particular silicone, have been associated in literature with extrusion, necrosis of the tip, mobility and deviation or displacement of the implant, immobile nasal tip and infection. However, they have the advantages of being readily available and easy to reshape with no requirement for harvesting autografts.

Aim:

To overcome these problems associated with silicone implants for which the authors have devised a novel technique, the “rideon technique”.

Materials and Methods:

The present study was carried out on 11 patients over a period of 4 years. The authors have devised a simple technique to fix the silicone implant and retain it in place. Restricting the implant to only dorsum avoided common complications related to the silicone implant.

Results:

The authors have used this technique in 11 patients with encouraging results. Follow-up ranged from 12 months to 36 months during which patients were assessed for implant mobility, implant extrusion and tip necrosis. There was no incidence of above mentioned complications in these patients.

Conclusion:

The “rideon technique” provides excellent stability to silicone implants and restricting the implant only to dorsum not only eliminates chances of tip necrosis and thus implant extrusion but also maintains natural shape, feel and mobility of the tip.KEY WORDS: Alloplasts, autografts, rhinoplasty, silicone implants     

UREKA: umbilical ring easy kannula access

Background and Objectives:

Standard techniques of laparoscopic access involve creating an abdominal wall defect and can result in complications. We describe the umbilical ring easy kannula access (UREKA) technique, evaluating safety and a decrease in complications related to port placement.

Methods:

UREKA is performed via a supra- or infraumbilical incision followed by circumferential dissection of the umbilical stalk. The umbilical skin is dissected free from the fascia, exposing the umbilical ring. Pneumoperitoneum is established either before or after placement of a dilating port through the open ring. We reviewed all laparoscopic procedures performed by one pediatric surgeon over 14 months using UREKA.

Results:

Ninety-four patients underwent laparoscopic surgery with initial port placement via UREKA. Appendectomy (n=57) was the most common procedure, followed by fundoplication (15) and cholecystectomy (10). No intestinal, solid organ, vascular, or bladder injuries related to port placement occurred. The only postoperative complication was a superficial wound infection in a 135-kg patient following cholecystectomy, treated successfully with oral antibiotics alone.

Conclusion:

The umbilical ring persists to some degree in all pediatric patients and provides a safe portal of entry for laparoscopic surgery. UREKA has few complications and is a straightforward, reproducible technique for gaining initial laparoscopic access.     

Port-Site Closure Using a Modified Aptos Needle

Background and Objectives:

Trocar-site incisional hernias are the most common complications in laparoscopic surgery. Fascial closure of port sites represents a challenging issue in laparoscopic surgery.

Methods:

We describe a simple easy technique for fascial closure of port sites using a double-tip needle (Lasheen needle). This study included 100 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery from January 2009 through August 2011 in the General Surgery Department, Zagazig University Hospital, Zagazig, Egypt. The mean follow-up period was 2 years for any wound complications at these trocar sites.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 39.5 years, and the mean time for placement of one suture was 2 minutes. No trocar-site herniation occurred with our technique during the period of follow-up. Infection developed at the trocar site in 3 patients.

Conclusion:

This technique is easy, simple, safe, fast, inexpensive, and effective for fascial closure of trocar sites.     

The indications and reliability of vein graft use in free flap transfer

BACKGROUND:

Adequate recipient vessels are critical for free flap success. There are, however, situations in which the local recipient vessels are inadequate. In these situations, vein grafts are required to allow pedicle extension to recipient vessels.

OBJECTIVES:

To determine the indications, technique, reliability and outcome of vein graft use in free flap transfer.

METHODS:

A retrospective review of 198 consecutive free flaps by a single surgeon.

RESULTS:

Vein grafts were required in 9.6% of free flaps. The most common indication was vein graft use in a planned preoperative fashion. The vein graft was most commony placed as an arteriovenous fistula loop. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between flaps with or without vein grafts.

CONCLUSION:

Vein graft use in free flap transfer is reliable, effective and often necessary for free flap survival.     

Augmentation rhinoplasty with custom-made S-shape silicone implant in Asians: A 15-year experience

Background:

Asians have low nasal dorsum, thick skin envelope, low defined alar cartilage, low projection of nasal tip and broad alar base. Augmentation rhinoplasty with silicone prosthesis has been performed with predictable results, but unfavourable results and complications still present. This series show techniques and results from single surgeon experience.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 548 patients chart during January 1995 to December 2009. All patients underwent custom-made S-shape implant silicone augmentation rhinoplasty operated by a single surgeon. There were three major operative steps: (1) Intra-operative S-shape implant carving; (2) pocket dissection through bilateral rim incision and (3) tension adjustment before closure. All the patients were recorded for early surgical complications and satisfaction.

Results:

There were 519 women and 29 men. The mean age is 25.5 years (18-56 years). Mean follow-up period was 6 months (1-60 months). The majority of patient were appointed for esthetic augmentation (86.8%). 515 cases (94.9%) showed well satisfaction following the operation. The total complication rate was 6.5% (4.9% deviation, 0.7% extrusion, 0.5% hematoma and 0.3% infection). All the complications were corrected with uneventful sequelae.

Conclusion:

Augmentation rhinoplasty with custom-made S-shape silicone implant by closed approach provides high satisfaction with acceptable early complication rate.KEY WORDS: Aesthetic surgery, Asians, augmentation rhinoplasty, silicone implant, surgical complication     

A Simple Technique of Laparoscopic Port Closure

Background:

Laparoscopic and robotic surgery is widely practiced in modern medicine. The operative procedure is not complete until the port sites are closed with a fascial suture. We report a simple new technique that is easy, cost-effective, and quick to apply using 2 S-retractors for suture placement under direct visualization to secure the abdominal wall fascia and peritoneum.

Materials and Methods:

As a prospective consecutive case series, this technique was used for fascial closure after laparoscopy ports > 8 mm using 2 S-retractors. One S-retractor is used as a barrier protecting the contents of the abdominal cavity, reducing the risk of visceral injuries. The second S-retractor allows us to directly visualize the different layers, exposing the needle tip during its course through the fascia.

Results:

This method was used in 100 patients with no intraoperative incidents, additional operative time, or need to access costly instruments. Currently, this technique is also used by many surgeons in our institution without any difficulty. No bowel injuries or port-site hernias were reported during a mean follow-up of 6 wk postoperation and 12-mo annual follow-up.

Conclusion:

The procedure is simple, easy, cost-effective, and quick to apply.     

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery for removal of the greater saphenous vein

Objective

To determine if saphenous vein required for coronary bypass could be quickly, easily and safely removed with a minimally invasive technique.

Design

A consecutive series.

Setting

A university centre.

Material and Methods

In cadavers, a standard mediastinoscope was used to remove segments of the greater saphenous vein. Thigh segments, superior leg segments and ankle segments were removed. Fifteen minutes were allowed for removal of a segment.

Results

Segments of vein 15 to 17 cm long could be removed. One segment could not be removed within 15 minutes. Thigh segments were easy to remove, calf segments were the most difficult. There were no avulsed side branches. All incisions were less than 5 cm long.

Conclusions

Saphenous vein can be harvested quickly and safely by a minimally invasive method. Lower extremity complications may be reduced and long-term patency improved with this in-situ technique of vein removal.     

De novo pudendal neuropathy after TOT-O surgery for stress urinary incontinence

Background and Objectives:

Five cases of pelvic nerve complications after transobturator tape (TOT) inside-out surgical procedures for stress urinary incontinence are presented.

Methods:

We conducted a chart review of patients with complications referred to our practice.

Results:

Five patients with nerve complications after TOT inside-out procedures were investigated. Pudendal neuropathy and interstitial cystitis were seen in this series of patients with several patients having myofascial pain in the lower abdominal area.

Conclusions:

Although not commonly reported, complications from needle placement and from the area of needle exit in a TOT procedure can exist, and the surgeon must be careful when placing the needle through the area of the obturator fossa.     

Simplified technique for auxiliary orthotopic liver transplantation using a whole graft

Background

Acute liver failure is associated with a high mortality rate and the main purposes of treatment are to prevent cerebral edema and infections, which often are responsible for patient death. The orthotopic liver transplantation is the gold standard treatment and improves the 1-year survival.

Aim

To describe an alternative technique to auxiliary liver transplant on acute liver failure.

Method

Was performed whole auxiliary liver transplantation as an alternative technique for a partial auxiliary liver transplantation using a whole liver graft from a child removing the native right liver performed a right hepatectomy. The patient met the O´Grady´s criteria and the rational to indicate an auxiliary orthotopic liver transplantation was the acute classification without hemodynamic instability or renal failure in a patient with deterioration in consciousness.

Results

The procedure improved liver function and decreased intracranial hypertension in the postoperative period.

Conclusion

This technique can overcome some postoperative complications that are associated with partial grafts. As far as is known, this is the first case of auxiliary orthotopic liver transplantation in Brazil.     

Reducing patient discomfort during digital blockade: The subcutaneous single injection digital block – A simple,safe and fast procedure

BACKGROUND:

Regional anesthesia of a single finger is commonly achieved by the traditional ring block, which requires at least two painful injections in the digit. Single injection digital block techniques have been described to avoid this problem. Among these, the subcutaneous technique described by Harbison appears to be safe and to allow most procedures to be carried out with good tolerance.

OBJECTIVES:

A prospective study was designed to evaluate the results of the subcutaneous technique in terms of patient tolerance, distribution of anesthesia and efficiency.

METHODS:

All blocks were performed by a single investigator. A visual analog scale was used to evaluate pain associated with the injection. Prick testing was used to evaluate the quality of anesthesia at the volar and dorsal aspects of the phalanxes. Tolerance to the surgical procedure and the need for additional injections were also recorded.

RESULTS:

This technique allowed surgery to be performed without complementary injection most of the time and was very well tolerated. The dorsum of the proximal phalanx, however, was unpredictably included in the anesthetized territory.

CONCLUSION:

The subcutaneous single injection digital block is safe, efficient and easy to perform. It allows the treatment of all conditions on the volar aspect of the finger and on the dorsal aspect of the distal and middle phalanxes. For surgery on the dorsal aspect of the proximal phalanx, a combined single injection technique or a supplementary dorsal block should be used.     

A geometric method for nipple localization

BACKGROUND:

An important part of preoperative assessment in breast reduction surgery is to locate the site of the nipple-areola complex for the newly structured breast. Inappropriate location is difficult to correct secondarily. Traditional methods of nipple localization taught and practiced suggest the nipple to be located anterior to the inframammary fold. Trying to project this point on the anterior surface of the breast requires either large calipers or feeling the posteriorly placed finger on the anterior surface of a large breast. This certainly introduces some subjectivity to the calculation.

OBJECTIVES:

To introduce an easy and accurate method of nipple localization to reduce the learning curve for trainee surgeons.

METHODS:

Aesthetic placement of the nipples is at the lower angles of an equilateral or a short isosceles triangle on the chest with its apex at the sternal angle. This triangle can be thought of as two right-angled triangles with their Y-axis on the median plane. The base and vertical limb are measured, and the hypotenuse is calculated. The location of the lower angle is marked on the anterior surface of the breast and represents the new position of the nipple.

RESULTS:

Forty patients had nipple localization performed in the above-described manner, with satisfactory placement of the nipple-areola complex.

CONCLUSIONS:

The above technique introduces some objective measurements to the localization of the nipple in breast reduction surgery. It is easy to practice, and infuses confidence in trainees marking their initial breast reductions.     

A useful flap combination in wide and complex defect reconstruction of the medial canthal region: Glabellar rotation and nasolabial V-Y advancement flaps

BACKGROUND:

Reconstruction of medial canthal defects after tumour excision is difficult owing to the thin skin of the region and the concavity of the anatomical landmarks, which enclose complex structures such as the medial canthal ligament and the lacrimal system. Local reconstruction methods for this region include secondary healing, full-thickness skin grafts, and skin flaps from the frontal, transnasal, glabellar and upper eyelid regions.

OBJECTIVE:

To demonstrate a useful combination of two local flaps in wide defects of the medial canthal region.

METHODS:

Between 1998 and 2012, a combination of glabellar rotation and nasolabial V-Y advancement flaps were used in 11 patients with wide complex defects after excision, including periosteum, of invasive basal cell carcinoma.

RESULTS:

All patients were tumour free and underwent functional and aesthetic reconstruction of the medial canthal region. There were no major complications, and no relapses were observed.

CONCLUSION:

This technique achieves good match in colour and texture, and has satisfactory results both aesthetically and functionally. In addition, donor area morbidity is minimal and surgical technique is simple.     

Namaste (counterbalancing) technique: Overcoming warping in costal cartilage

Background:

Indian noses are broader and lack projection as compared to other populations, hence very often need augmentation, that too by large volume. Costal cartilage remains the material of choice in large volume augmentations and repair of complex primary and secondary nasal deformities. One major disadvantage of costal cartilage grafts (CCG) which offsets all other advantages is the tendency to warp and become distorted over a period of time. We propose a simple technique to overcome this menace of warping.

Materials and Methods:

We present the data of 51 patients of rhinoplasty done using CCG with counterbalancing technique over a period of 4 years.

Results:

No evidence of warping was found in any patient up to a maximum follow-up period of 4 years.

Conclusion:

Counterbalancing is a useful technique to overcome the problem of warping. It gives liberty to utilize even unbalanced cartilage safely to provide desired shape and use the cartilage without any wastage.KEY WORDS: Autogenous cartilage, costal cartilage graft, counterbalancing technique, rhinoplasty, warping     

Mukosa-Dreiecksknorpellappen nach Walter erweitert die innere Nasenklappe

Background

Reconstruction of the middle vault and intranasal valve abnormalities causing deformities and breathing problems still remain a challenge in rhinoplasty. In order to treat pathologies of this area, techniques such as the insertion of spreader grafts and butterfly grafts have been described so far.

Objectives

A broadening of the nasal breathing surface in the vault of the intranasal valve is not always achieved using these procedures. Are there any alternatives to the established techniques which lead to improved nasal breathing?

Methods

This article presents an alternative rhinoplasty technique by a closed approach for the correction of narrowed intranasal valves and the bony region of the piriform aperture. The surgical technique is described and representative cases are presented.

Conclusion

The correct application of the technique, a meticulous follow-up treatment and the wearing of a nasal endoepithesis for 3 months achieve a sustainable broadening of the intranasal valve with subjectively sufficient nasal breathing.     

Pre-hospital and in-hospital thoracostomy: indications and complications

INTRODUCTION

Pleural drainage with chest tube insertion for thoracic trauma is a common and often life-saving technique. Although considered a simple procedure, complication rates have been reported to be 2–25%. We conducted a prospective cohort observational study of emergency pleural drainage procedures to validate the indications for pre-hospital thoracostomy and to identify complications from both pre- and in-hospital thoracostomies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were collected over a 7-month period on all patients receiving either pre-hospital thoracostomy or emergency department tube thoracostomy. Outcome measures were appropriate indications, errors in tube placement and subsequent complications.

RESULTS

Ninety-one chest tubes were placed into 52 patients. Sixty-five thoracostomies were performed in the field without chest tube placement. Twenty-six procedures were performed following emergency department identification of thoracic injury. Of the 65 pre-hospital thoracostomies, 40 (61%) were for appropriate indications of suspected tension pneumothorax or a low output state. The overall complication rate was 14% of which 9% were classified as major and three patients required surgical intervention. Twenty-eight (31%) chest tubes were poorly positioned and 15 (17%) of these required repositioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Pleural drainage techniques may be complicated and have the potential to cause life-threatening injury. Pre-hospital thoracostomies have the same potential risks as in-hospital procedures and attention must be paid to insertion techniques under difficult scene conditions. In-hospital chest tube placement complication rates remain uncomfortably high, and attention must be placed on training and assessment of staff in this basic procedure.     

Hand-Assist Laparoscopic Surgery for the Gynecologic Surgeon

Background:

Hand assist laparoscopy (HALS) is a minimally invasive technique which allows for the placement of the surgeon''s non-dominant hand through a hand-port device while maintaining pneumoperitoneum. There is no standardization of this procedure and it is rarely used in gynecology.

Methods:

The multidisciplinary team of authors, with experience in minimally invasive pelvic surgery, has developed a practical approach performing HALS over several years. Here we present our technique.

Conclusions:

There are several roles for HALS in the world of gynecology and pelvic surgery. Further experience will help improve upon a standard technique.     

Triple coronary artery revascularization on the stabilized beating heart: initial experience

Objective

To decrease health costs and morbidity related to extracorporeal circulation, surgeons have modified the coronary artery bypass (CAB) technique so that it can be completed without the use of extra-corporeal circulation. This study summarizes initial experience with direct coronary artery revascularization on the beating heart using a coronary stabilizer.

Design

A case series.

Setting

The Montreal Heart Institute, a university-affiliated centre, specializing in the treatment of cardiac illnesses.

Patients

Ten patients underwent CAB by this technique. They presented with double or triple coronary artery disease with no intramyocardial, heavily calcified, diffused atheromatous coronary vessels, or left main coronary disease.

Intervention

CAB grafting in the beating heart. The anterior wall was grafted in all patients, the inferior wall in 7 and the posterior wall in 7.

Main outcome measures

Patient survival and graft patency.

Results

One patient died of multiple organ failure not related to the grafting technique itself, and 1 patient suffered a non-Q myocardial infarction. Early coronary angiography performed on 8 patients showed 100% graft patency, most with excellent distal runoff (21/22 grafts).

Conclusion

In patients with adequate anatomy, performance of CAB without extracorporeal circulation can achieve excellent early results provided there is appropriate mechanical stabilization of the beating heart.