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.

A simple preparation of autologous fibrin glue for skin-graft fixation.

Numerous uses of fibrin glue as a sealant, hemostatic agent, and adhesive have been reported. We developed a simple method of preparing autologous fibrin glue for skin-graft fixation. Fifty patients have undergone the autologous fibrin glue technique for trauma, burns, and difficult wounds.

Management of catheter emboli.

Catheter emboli are a significant risk to patient well-being. With a 49% complication rate for indwelling catheter emboli, the consensus is that these foreign bodies should be removed. Preferably, the emboli are removed by percutaneous extraction; however, if the emboli are in the heart or central vasculature and percutaneous extraction fails, then thoracotomy with operative removal is necessary.

Effect of thermal injury in the rat on transfer of IgA protein into bile.

Severe thermal injury is associated with bacterial sepsis; the intestine is considered a likely source of invasive organisms. Because IgA antibody in bile accounts for much of the specific immune defense of the upper intestinal tract in the rat, the effect of thermal injury on the quantity of IgA protein in bile was examined. Sprague-Dawley rats received a 20% to 30% body surface area burn under anesthesia.