The spring-back phenomenon: does the final position of the nipple areola complex correspond to the pre-operative markings in reduction mammoplasty?

This study investigates whether tissue recoil or patient intrinsic factors influence the final position of the nipple areola complex (NAC) after reduction mammoplasty. The age, pre-operative ptosis, BMI and weight of the tissue resected were recorded as patient intrinsic factors in 37 patients undergoing reduction mammoplasty. The “spring-back” value was defined as the distance from the sternal notch to a nipple landmark on the breast meridian with the patient sitting up, minus the same measurement repeated with the patient recumbent to eliminate the pull of gravity on the breast. Spring back was measured pre-operatively for the nipple and nipple mark then post-operative for the nipple. The difference in centimeters between the final post-operative distance from the sternal notch to the nipple and the level intended by the pre-operative nipple mark was termed the “judgment error.” The final position of the post-operative nipple and the judgment error was compared to the spring-back values and patient intrinsic factors. Pre-operative ptosis was statistically related to increasing patient BMI and mass of tissue resected per breast. Pre-operative spring-back values for the nipple increased with increasing ptosis, BMI and decreasing age. Spring-back values were greater in the lower pole of the breast than in the upper pole. The final position of the nipple was higher than the pre-operative mark in 65% of cases, lower in 8% and as marked in 27% of cases. The post-operative NAC was, on average, 0.6 cm higher than planned pre-operatively. The post-operative distance from the sternal notch to the nipple increased with increasing pre-operative ptosis, mass of breast tissue resected per breast and all three spring-back values. The difference between the level of the pre-operative mark and the final nipple position showed a weak correlation with post-operative spring-back values. The parameters of ptosis, BMI, weight of tissue resected per breast and pre-operative nipple spring back reflect body habitus and breast size. Spring-back values vary between the upper and lower pole of the breast. The final NAC position was higher than that intended at pre-operative marking in the majority of cases. The surgeon instinctively marks the nipple lower in patients with greater pre-operative ptosis and in whom a larger resection is anticipated. Judgment error did not relate to intrinsic factors nor to pre-operative spring-back values; hence, these parameters cannot be applied as predictive tools for more accurate pre-operative marking of the nipple position. This study suggests that the pre-operative nipple mark should be placed, with the patient sitting up, at least 23 cm from the sternal notch and 0.6 cm lower than the final position estimated using the inframammary crease as a landmark. An invited commentary on this paper is available at .     

小儿肠套叠空气灌肠复位影响因素探讨

目的 分析空气灌肠治疗小儿肠套叠的各种影响因素。方法 对117例确诊肠套叠的患儿，采用双腔气囊外接压力计或不接压力计，在X线透视下行空气灌肠。结果 117例中，完全复位92例(78％)，复位失败17例(14．5％)，不完全复位8例(6％)。结论 空气灌肠是治疗小儿肠套叠的重要方法，其影响复位成功与否的因素，主要有套入时间、类型、复位方法等。     

经椎弓根椎间融合与AF治疗胸腰椎骨折

目的：总结32例经椎弓根椎间融合与AF治疗胸腰椎骨折的经验。方法：应用经伤椎椎弓根椎体间融合并AF系统复位内固定，以提高复位效果与脊柱的稳定性。结果：全部病例获随访，时间3～23个月，伤椎均与上位椎体间融合，无矫正角度与高度丢失，无断钉及螺钉松动，神经功能平均1．5级以上的恢复。结论：经椎弓根椎间融合与AF治疗胸腰椎骨折，操作简单，复位可靠，可重建脊柱的稳定性，椎体间融合更符合生物力学内环境的持久稳定。     

What has trust got to do with it? Cardiac risk reduction and family physicians' discussions of evidence-based recommendations

The management of patients through the use of evidence-based medicine has become the 'mantra' of medicine within many Western countries. Evidence-based medicine is aimed at providing the best objective, scientific care to all patients, and reducing as far as possible patients' risks of disease and complications from disease. Based on family physicians' discussions of the use of evidence-based recommendations for two cardiac diseases, this paper explores how subjectively-based trust enters into family physicians' decision to use evidence-based medicine. In addition, we show how trust influences physicians' work of recommending evidence-based medicine to patients, and physicians' perceptions of why patients follow recommendations aimed at risk reduction. We conclude that although much of the current discussion about evidence-based medicine assumes a 'rational' model of physician behaviour based on the application of the 'best objective scientific' results, subjectively-based perceptions of trust influence physician practices, and point to the need to understand the power of relational issues in influencing physician practices even when utilizing evidence-based knowledge.     

假体隆乳术后并发症的防治

目的探讨乳房假体隆乳术后并发症产生的相关因素及预防方法。方法对198例患者乳房假体隆乳术后1~17年出现的并发症进行分析,阐述防治措施,针对不同情况进行相应的处理。结果本组198例患者,其中92例患者随访半年至1年,除Ⅲ°包膜挛缩患者术后仍出现Ⅱ~Ⅲ°包膜挛缩外(包膜松解术后3例,包膜切除术后4例),余患者对治疗效果满意。结论乳房假体隆乳术后出现的并发症,多数是可以预防和治疗的,只要术中操作规范,对并发症及早准确的处理,是提高手术效果,减少并发症发生的有效方法。     

Electrochemistry of Anticonvulsants: Electron Transfer as a Possible Mode of Action

Reduction potentials were determined for various anticonvulsants, including progabide, SL 75.102, CGS 9896, pyridazines, zonisamide, 1,2,3-triazoles, and copper complexes. The values generally were in the range of about -0.1 to -0.6 V for the protonated drugs and the metal complexes. Reduction potentials provide information on the feasibility of electron transfer (ET) in vivo. If the value is relatively positive (greater than about -0.6 V), the agent can act catalytically as an electron acceptor from an appropriate cellular donor. A concomitant favorable influence on abnormal neuronal processes associated with epilepsy could occur. We describe ET as a possible mode of action of anticonvulsants as well as some antiepileptic agents with no electrochemical data based on this hypothetical ET approach.     

静脉镇静镇痛技术在隆乳术中的临床应用

目的介绍静脉镇静镇痛技术在局部麻醉隆乳术中的应用效果和体会。方法将606例ASAⅠ、Ⅱ级隆乳术患者分为四组,分别采用负荷剂量后持续输注异丙酚-芬太尼(P-F组,n=56)、咪唑安定-芬太尼(M-F组,n=130)、异丙酚-芬太尼-氯胺酮(P-F-K组,n=68)或咪唑安定-芬太尼-氯胺酮(M-F-K组,n=352)复合液的给药方法,调整注速维持镇静深度在改良的警觉/镇静评分2或3分。结果四组患者术中的镇静镇痛效果均满意,呼吸循环功能基本稳定,均在停药3~10min后清醒,但P-F-K组和M-F-K组患者的术中疼痛发生率及程度显著低于P-F组和M-F组。术后随访所有患者均对麻醉效果满意,仅P-F组和P-F-K组分别有11例和5例患者有模糊术中记忆。结论镇静镇痛技术是适用于隆乳局部麻醉手术简单、安全有效的理想麻醉方法,复合使用小剂量氯胺酮能明显减少术中疼痛的发生率,其中以咪-芬-氯复合镇静镇痛的术中疼痛和记忆发生率最低,程度最轻,是适于该手术的最佳镇静镇痛方法。     

Passive Pneumatic Stabilization Device for Assisting in Reduction of Femoral Shaft Fractures

Abstract During treatment of femoral shaft fractures, not only the actual fracture reduction but also the retention of the achieved reduction is essential. Substantial forces may apply to the bone fragments, due to multidirectional muscular contraction. Furthermore, forces from manipulation of one bone fragment may be transferred over the soft tissues onto the other fragments, thus hindering accurate fracture reduction. Once a sufficient reduction has been achieved, this position must be retained whilst definitive internal fixation is performed. Conventional methods comprise mounting patients on a traction table and applying manual distraction or employing special distraction devices, such as the AO distractor device. These approaches, however, only insufficiently stabilize both main fragments. For example, on the traction table the proximal femoral fragment can pivot around the hip joint thus complicating precise reduction. A novel pneumatic stabilization device to assist surgeons during operative procedures is described. This passive holding device “Passhold” connects to one main fragment through a minimally invasive bone interface and statically locks the fragment’s position. Thereafter, only the other main fragment is manipulated to achieve reduction. Mutual interference of the reciprocal fragment positions, due to soft-tissue force transfer during manipulation, is avoided. The authors examined the stability of the novel retention device on a test rig and proved its functionality under sterile settings using cadaver tests. It is concluded that this device largely facilitates the operative procedure in femoral shaft fractures, is sufficiently stable and ergonomically suitable for intraoperative deployment.     

Phosphate end dialysis value : a misleading parameter of hemodialysis efficiency

Despite low end dialysis serum phosphate levels (P_e) the control of phosphate retention remains often unsatisfactory in dialyzed patients. In order to assess the value of P_e in dialyzed children as an indicator of dialytic phosphate removal, we studied serum phosphate kinetics over the period of dialysis and post dialysis and compared these with urea kinetics. A multicenter study was conducted in the 21 French pediatric hemodialysis units and included 144 children under 15 years of age. Blood urea and phosphate concentrations were measured at the beginning, at 45 min later, at the end of dialysis, and 30 min post dialysis. At 60 min and at 360 min post dialysis measurements were made only for a subgroup of 12 children. From the serum levels, reduction ratios for urea (URR) and phosphate (PRR) and post dialysis rebound for urea (PDUR) and phosphate (PDPR) were calculated. URR (over the dialysis session, 72%±9%) was higher than PRR (47%±12%). Moreover, urea removal continued throughout the dialysis period, while most of the reduction in phosphate occurred in the initial dialysis period. Post dialysis urea rebound was limited to the 60th min post dialysis, whereas post dialysis phosphate rebound occurred until the 360th min post dialysis; by this time the serum phosphate levels had almost reached the predialysis levels. In summary, serum phosphate kinetics over dialysis and post dialysis periods in children appear to be misleading for the quantification of phosphate removal, i. e., phosphate clearance is a poor indicator of dialytic phosphate removal. Received September 21, 1995; received in revised form and accepted June 11, 1996