Vacuum-assisted closure for complicated neonatal abdominal wounds

Background

Neonatal experience in vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) for complex abdominal wounds remains scant.

Methods

A neonatal VAC protocol was instituted in 2004. The medical records of patients treated with this protocol for the ensuing 3 years were retrospectively reviewed. Continuous data are reported as mean ± SD (range).

Results

Ten VAC applications occurred in 8 neonates for a 3-year period. Gestational age and age at VAC application were 30 ± 6.9 (24-40) weeks and 84.5 ± 51 (21-165) days, respectively. Birth weight and weight at VAC application were 1495 ± 1118 (615-3415) g and 3515 ± 2118 (989-7965) g, respectively. All wound complications occurred after laparotomies (7 elective, 3 emergent). Three wounds included intestinal stomas, and 3 included enterocutaneous fistulae. Average wound area at VAC initiation was 13.6 ± 6.0 (8.5-25) cm². Duration of VAC use was 19.1 ± 15.3 (7-60) days. Vacuum-assisted closure resulted in complete wound closure in all cases and did not result in any local or systemic complications. Five patients (63%) survived to discharge.

Conclusions

Vacuum-assisted closure for complicated abdominal wounds is safe and successful in neonates of any gestational age and birth weight. It provides effective wound management, even in the presence of stomas or enterocutaneous fistulae.     

生长因子FGF在颅缝细胞培养中作用的研究

目的:研究生长因子FGF在颅缝闭合中的调控作用.方法:以颅缝早闭动物模型(SD鼠)的颅缝为研究模型,采用细胞生物学技术、组织化学技术,研究颅缝闭合期间,生长因子bFGF作用下,细胞胶原及骨钙素分泌情况;观察生长因子bFGF,对分离培养的颅缝细胞增殖与代谢影响.结果:在大鼠颅缝分离培养细胞中,bFGF促进颅缝分离培养细胞分泌胶原、骨钙素,加快细胞增殖生长曲线平台期出现,并有效促进大鼠颅缝分离培养细胞S期增殖(p＜0.05).结论:在体外器官培养中,bFGF能促进大鼠分离培养颅缝细胞的活性(p＜0.05).     

The timing of enterostomy reversal after necrotizing enterocolitis

Background/Purpose

Newborns undergoing surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) often require a stoma. The study purpose is to determine if the timing of stoma closure impacts the postoperative course.

Methods

After obtaining institutional review board approval, records of patients with NEC who received a stoma between 2003 and 2007 at 2 pediatric institutions were reviewed. Data collected included time interval between stoma creation and closure, indication for closure, postoperative complications, time to feeds, and length of neonatal intensive care unit and hospital stays. For analysis purposes, patients were divided in 2 groups: 1, stoma closed within 10 weeks; and 2, stoma closed more than 10 weeks after construction.

Results

There were 37 patients: 13 in group 1 and 24 in group 2. Group 1 babies were ventilated longer postoperation (7.69 vs 1.08 days, P = .0006). They required total parenteral nutrition for more days (51.62 vs 16.30 days, P = .0486). Group 1 patients took longer to reach full po (19.08 vs 7.86 days, P = .027), and they had a longer length of stay postreversal (113.08 vs 31.32 days, P = .0373). No differences were observed in survival rates or anastomotic complications.

Conclusion

The timing of stoma reversal significantly impacts the postoperative course after NEC. Unless seriously indicated, stoma closure should be deferred until at least 10 weeks postcreation.     

End-of-Skin Grafts in Syndactyly Release: Description of a New Flap for Web Space Resurfacing and Primary Closure of Finger Defects

Treatment of syndactyly necessitates creation of neo-web space and separation of fingers. Traditionally, this has been done by use of flaps taken from the dorsum; the resultant raw areas thus created have been managed by use of skin grafts. The classical teaching has been that the separated fingers will need skin graft as primary closure is not possible. The skin grafts have a tendency to contract and lead to finger flexion contractures and “creep” of the web space. We describe a flap based upon subcutaneous tissue in the web that is moved in a V–Y fashion to resurface the neo-web. The flap donor site can easily be closed primarily. The fingers are then separated; the subcutaneous fat is carefully removed from the finger flaps under magnification to allow primary closure of the finger defects. It has been possible to primarily close the donor site and fingers in all the patients. The procedure has been used in seven patients with 14 web releases. The age varied between 10 months to 3 years. The V–Y advancement flap based upon the subcutaneous pedicle in the region of the web allows adequate creation of a new web space. The careful de-fattening of skin flaps allows the separated fingers to be closed primarily.     

VAC therapy for the treatment of complex wounds after cardio‐thoracic surgery

The aim of this study is to report our experience about the treatment of complex sternal and thoracic wounds following cardiothoracic surgery, using vacuum‐assisted closure (VAC therapy. Twelve patients presenting with sternal (five cases) and thoracic (seven cases) wounds that were difficult to heal were treated through VAC therapy after the first surgical debridement. The duration of VAC application ranged from 12 to 36 days with an average hospital stay of 24·6 ± 11·4 days. During a mean follow‐up of 12 months, we observed complete wound healing in seven cases (58·3%), in an average period of 25·5 ± 14·3 days; one patient died during follow‐up, two patients were lost to follow‐up and two patients required definitive surgical closure of the wound cavity. In conclusion, VAC therapy promotes faster wound healing, with shorter hospital stay and subsequent lesser in‐hospital cost, reducing the mortality rate in the long run. It also promotes early rehabilitation and alleviates the need for a second procedure, thus improving patient satisfaction, with minimal discomfort or inconvenience.     

单孔腹腔镜双钩疝针内环结扎并脐内侧襞遮盖术

目的介绍一种使用双钩疝针辅助单孔腹腔镜内环结扎并脐内侧襞遮盖加强修补术。 方法59例小儿腹股沟巨大疝在脐单孔腹腔镜监视下,将双钩疝针钩挂结扎线经腹横纹内环体表投影处穿刺至内环前壁腹膜外,借助水分离技术于腹膜外套扎内环;疝针带线再次进针入腹,穿过同侧脐内侧襞后预置结扎线,疝针再返回内环外侧间隙至精索血管前穿透后腹膜、进入腹腔钩挂预置线牵出体外结扎,使脐内侧襞遮盖已结扎内环区域加强修补。 结果59例患儿的65侧巨大疝成功实施内环结扎并脐内侧襞遮盖术(包括3例复发疝和1例复合疝),其中16例对侧隐性疝给予同时单纯内环结扎。单侧和双侧腹股沟疝的手术时间分别为 (11.2 ± 2.2)min和 (15.8 ± 2.7)min。其中术后1例鞘膜积液和2例线结反应,无复发疝、医源性隐睾或睾丸萎缩等并发症发生。 结论双钩疝针腹膜外注水分离技术辅助单孔腹腔镜内环结扎并脐内侧襞加强修补术是一种安全有效的简便方法。瘢痕隐蔽、美观,是治疗小儿巨大腹股沟疝的可靠技术。     

Reliable gastric closure after natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) using a novel automated flexible stapling device

Background  Reliable closure of the translumenal incision is one of the main challenges facing natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). This study aimed to evaluate the use of an automated flexible stapling device (SurgASSIST) for closure of the gastrotomy incision in a porcine model. Methods  A double-channel gastroscope was advanced into the stomach. A gastric wall incision was made, and the endoscope was advanced into the peritoneal cavity. After peritoneoscopy, the endoscope was withdrawn into the stomach. The SurgASSIST stapler was advanced orally into the stomach. The gastrotomy edges were positioned between the opened stapler arms using two endoscopic grasping forceps. Stapler loads with and without a cutting blade were used for gastric closure. After firing of the stapler to close the gastric wall incision, x-ray with contrast was performed to assess for gastric leakage. At the end of the procedure, the animals were killed for a study of closure adequacy. Results  Four acute animal experiments were performed. The delivery and positioning of the stapler were achieved, with technical difficulties mostly due to a short working length (60 cm) of the device. Firing of the staple delivered four rows of staples. Postmortem examination of pig 1 (when a cutting blade was used) demonstrated full-thickness closure of the gastric wall incision, but the cutting blade caused a transmural hole right at the end of the staple line. For this reason, we stopped using stapler loads with a cutting blade. In the three remaining animals (pigs 2–4), we were able to achieve a full-thickness closure of the gastric wall incision without any complications. Conclusions  The flexible stapling device may provide a simple and reliable technique for lumenal closure after NOTES procedures. Further survival studies are currently under way to evaluate the long-term efficacy of gastric closure with the stapler after intraperitoneal interventions. Presented in part at the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 2007.     

胆总管探查后一期缝合胆汁漏的临床分析

目的探讨胆总管探查一期缝合后胆汁漏的发生及其相关因素。方法对我院1999年1月至2003年6月期间,因肝外胆管结石施行胆总管探查后行T管引流的148例和一期缝合的154例患者的临床资料进行分析。结果术后发生胆汁漏T管引流组有11例(7.4%),一期缝合组有16例(10.4%),两组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);一期缝合组胆汁漏的发生与高血糖(P<0.05)、低血浆白蛋白(P<0.01)、胆总管多次缝合(P<0.01)及胆汁细菌培养阳性(P<0.05)有关,与高龄无关(P>0.05)。结论严格掌握适应证,认真做好术中特检,轻柔细致的操作以及有针对性的药物治疗,是减少一期缝合胆汁漏发生的关键。     

Vein and artery growth after anastomosis with vascular closure staple clips vs interrupted polypropylene suture: application in pediatric vascular surgery

Background/Purpose

Alternatives are still being sought in vascular surgery to address the problem of arrested growth after anastomosis in growing vessels, and opinions differ widely regarding the most suitable technique. This study compared vascular growth and permeability after anastomosis using the latest-generation vascular closure staple (VCS) system and the conventional suture technique to ascertain which approach yielded better results.

Methods

Thirty 55-day-old lambs underwent end-to-end anastomosis of the carotid artery and jugular vein. Serial ultrasonography and angiography were carried out over the ensuing 6-month growth period, after which lambs were euthanized.

Results

Both VCS clips and polypropylene suture allowed longitudinal and transverse vessel growth; however, longitudinal growth was significantly greater in clip-closed vessels than in either sutured or untreated vessels.

Conclusions

The results obtained for vascular growth and permeability suggest that VCS clips may provide a suitable alternative to conventional suture in pediatric vascular surgery.     

Economic comparison of methods of wound closure: wound closure strips vs. sutures and wound adhesives

Our objective was to review and assess the treatment of low-tension wounds and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of wound closure methods. We used a health economic model to estimate cost/closure of adhesive wound closure strips, tissue adhesives and sutures. The model incorporated cost-driving variables: application time, costs and the likelihood and costs of dehiscence and infection. The model was populated with variable estimates derived from the literature. Cost estimates and cosmetic results were compared. Parameter values were estimated using national healthcare and labour statistics. Sensitivity analyses were used to verify the results. Our analysis suggests that adhesive wound closure strips had the lowest average cost per laceration ($7.54), the lowest cost per infected laceration ($53.40) and the lowest cost per laceration with dehiscence ($25.40). The costs for sutures were $24.11, $69.91 and $41.91, respectively; the costs for tissue adhesives were $28.77, $74.68 and $46.68, respectively. The cosmetic outcome for all three treatments was equivalent. We conclude adhesive wound closure strips were both a cost-saving and a cost-effective alternative to sutures and tissue adhesives in the closure of low-tension lacerations.