1/3. The use of controlled subatmospheric pressure to promote wound healing in preparation for split-thickness skin grafting in a fourth degree burn.Subatmospheric pressure application to acute and chronic wounds has been shown to increase local wound blood flow, increase the rate of formation of granulation tissue, and enhance bacterial clearance. The mechanical forces applied to the wound enhance the rate of granulation tissue formation by the increase intracellular messengers regulating protein production and turnover. This method of wound care is particularly useful for larger wounds that could not be readily closed by local methods, but may also be useful for chronic wounds in debilitated patients who may not be ideal surgical candidates. Further basic scientific research is needed to discern the exact mechanisms of action of subatmospheric pressure, and more clinical experience is needed to establish guidelines for its application. Further clinical studies with larger subject populations in a randomized prospective study would lend support to the utility of this wound management protocol.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Pediatric posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome and NSAID-induced acute tubular interstitial nephritis.Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is a recently described disorder with typical radiologic findings in the posterior regions of the cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum. The symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, focal neurologic deficits, and seizures. A 10-year-old male was hit on his back, resulting in backache. He was medicated with sodium diclofenate and mefenamic acid. The next day, he had edema and oliguria. By the third day, his blood pressure increased and he began to experience restlessness and worsening mental status. He then complained of headache and visual disturbances and had a seizure. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed abnormalities in the posterior regions of the cerebral hemisphere and cerebellum. The patient was treated with antiepileptics and calcium antagonists. His hypertension and seizures were well controlled. On the 22nd day, he was discharged without any neurologic or renal deficits. Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome does not occur frequently in childhood, and this is the first case report of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome related to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. One should consider reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome as a side effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use in daily medical treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. A reliable approach to the closure of large acquired midline defects of the back.A systematic regionalized approach for the reconstruction of acquired thoracic and lumbar midline defects of the back is described. Twenty-three patients with wounds resulting from pressure necrosis, radiation injury, and postoperative wound infection and dehiscence were successfully reconstructed. The latissimus dorsi, trapezius, gluteus maximus, and paraspinous muscles are utilized individually or in combination as advancement, rotation, island, unipedicle, turnover, or bipedicle flaps. All flaps are designed so that their vascular pedicles are out of the field of injury. After thorough debridement, large, deep wounds are closed with two layers of muscle, while smaller, more superficial wounds are reconstructed with one layer. The trapezius muscle is utilized in the high thoracic area for the deep wound layer, while the paraspinous muscle is used for this layer in the thoracic and lumbar regions. Superficial layer and small wounds in the high thoracic area are reconstructed with either latissimus dorsi or trapezius muscle. Corresponding wounds in the thoracic and lumbar areas are closed with latissimus dorsi muscle alone or in combination with gluteus maximus muscle. The rationale for systematic regionalized reconstruction of acquired midline back wounds is described.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = pressure (Clic here for more details about this article) |