Split Skin Grafting the Heart: A Simple Solution for a Complex Reconstructive Challenge.

We present the interesting case of an 87-year-old woman who underwent debridement of chest wall osteoradionecrosis (ORN) that arose following radiotherapy for breast cancer. Debridement left a complex defect with exposed myocardium and parietal pleura. An extensive surgical history, compromised physiological reserve, and the patient's desire not to undergo major reconstructive surgery limited the reconstructive options.

Full thickness burns caused by cyanoacrylate nail glue: A case series.

Artificial (acrylic) nails are popular cosmetic enhancements that provide the user with the appearance of manicured nails, do not chip or crack, and are generally considered very safe to apply. We report three cases where full thickness thermal burns were sustained from nail glue adhesive (cyanoacrylate) during the application of artificial nails. All three cases underwent surgical debridement and split skin graft reconstruction.

Pedicled distal phalanx fillet flap for finger length preservation in trauma.

Lawnmower injuries to the digits are becoming increasingly common and are often complex in nature with multiple levels of injury. The management of these injuries as with that of other hand injuries is often tailored to the individual patient considering factors such as occupation and hobbies with the ultimate goal of restoration of function and a sensate fingertip. The concept of using amputated, mangled or non-salvageable parts in a form of fillet flap has become more common in the recent years.

Improving outcomes in microsurgical breast reconstruction: lessons learnt from 406 consecutive DIEP/TRAM flaps performed by a single surgeon.

Background: Multiple preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative decisions can influence the outcome of microsurgical breast reconstruction. We have simplified the decision-making process by incorporating a number of algorithms into our microsurgical breast reconstruction practice and critically review our results in this study.

Methods: Prospectively maintained databases for all microsurgical breast reconstructions performed by a single surgeon over a nine-year period were examined to determine: patient demographics; operative details including flap choice, donor and recipient vessel selection; and, details of intraoperative and early postoperative ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bilateral supraclavicular swelling: an unusual presentation of ruptured Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) breast implants.

Breast implants manufactured by the French company Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) have gained notoriety in the International media since the realisation that industrial grade silicone was used in their manufacture with consequent increased risk of implant rupture. At present, it is estimated that there are estimated to be over 40,000 women in the UK with PIP implants. We report an unusual presentation of PIP breast implant rupture as swelling in the supraclavicular fossae.

WHO Surgical Checklist and Its Practical Application in Plastic Surgery.

The WHO surgical checklist was introduced to most UK surgical units following the WHO "Safe Surgery Saves Lives" initiative. The aim of this audit was to review patient's safety in the delivery of surgical care and to evaluate the practical application of the new WHO surgical checklist. We conducted a retrospective audit of patients who received operative treatment under general anaesthesia at our Plastic Surgery Department, involving a total number of 90 patients.

Coal ash poultice: an unusual cause of a chemical burn.

Burns from seemingly innocuous substances are rare, probably underrecognized and typically present late. We describe a case of a child who sustained a full-thickness burn after an application of a coal ash poultice for ankle pain. This case report highlights a rare cause of a chemical burn that may become more common with increasing use of traditional remedies worldwide.

Acute transection of the left internal mammary artery remote from the anastomosis following coronary artery bypass surgery.

We report a case of spontaneous transection of the left internal mammary artery 4h after a patient underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. This complication has been reported in two patients following minimal access coronary artery bypass grafting, but to our knowledge, this is the first case of transection of the left internal mammary artery, following conventional myocardial revascularization via median sternotomy. Possible mechanisms leading to this rare, but potentially life-threatening complication are also discussed.

Cardiac tissue engineering in an in vivo vascularized chamber.

Background: Cardiac tissue engineering offers the prospect of a novel treatment for acquired or congenital heart defects. We have created vascularized pieces of beating cardiac muscle in the rat that are as thick as the adult rat right ventricle wall.

Method And Results: Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in Matrigel were implanted with an arteriovenous blood vessel loop into a 0.