The use of surgical site drains in breast reconstruction: A systematic review.

Background: Use of drains has been advocated in order to prevent seroma and hematoma; however, specific recommendations vary widely. The goal is to perform a systematic analysis of published literature on the use of drains for breast reconstruction.

Methods: The literature search was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Biomechanical Comparison of Fibrin Sealants for Mesh Fixation.

Adhesive use for fixation in hernia repair allows for complete and immediate mesh surface area adherence. Little is known about the fixation strengths of the products and application methods available. The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate and early strength of fixation of Tisseel™ and Evicel™ using hand and spray application techniques.

The Problem of Seroma After Ventral Hernia Repair.

Seroma is a common postoperative finding after ventral hernia repair with an incidence of 20%. Often, it can be managed conservatively, but in the case of persistent or chronic seroma, reinterventions may be required. Closed drain suction has been the mainstay of seroma management for the last 40 years.

Chondron curvature mapping in growth plate cartilage under compressive loading.

The physis, or growth plate, is a layer of cartilage responsible for long bone growth. It is organized into reserve, proliferative and hypertrophic zones. Unlike the reserve zone where chondrocytes are randomly arranged, either singly or in pairs, the proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes are arranged within tubular structures called chondrons.

Biomechanical and Histologic Evaluation of LifeMesh™: A Novel Self-Fixating Mesh Adhesive.

Mesh fixation with the use of adhesives results in an immediate and total surface area adhesion of the mesh, removing the need for penetrating fixation points. The purpose of this study was to evaluate LifeMesh™, a prototype mesh adhesive technology which coats polypropylene mesh. The strength of the interface between mesh and tissue, inflammatory responses, and histology were measured at varying time points in a swine model, and these results were compared with sutures.