The free fasciocutaneous infragluteal (FCI) flap: Outcome and patient satisfaction after 142 breast reconstructions.

Background: The free fasciocutaneous infragluteal flap (FCI) is relatively rarely used for autologous breast reconstruction; however, it is a good option for thin patients. The outcome of 142 FCI flaps for breast reconstruction is presented here.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2013, 142 patients underwent unilateral breast reconstruction with the FCI flap.

Pathophysiology and modern treatment of ulcer disease.

This is an overview of the pathophysiological abnormalities of gastroduodenal (GD) ulcers [duodenal ulcer (DU), gastric ulcer (GU) and Dragstedt ulcers (combined DU and GD)], as well as the effects of the different treatments (surgical, medicinal and physiological) described since the introduction of stomach resections. The intention is to demonstrate whether the peptic ulcer diseases are a homogeneous entity with a characteristic pathophysiology or whether they represent the final expression of many heterogeneous causes including impairment of upper gastrointestinal motility. The review also asks whether DU and GU have a common or different pathogenesis and whether ulcers in the stomach might be predominantly due to impaired mucosal resistance and the DU to gastric hypersecretion.

[Vacuum-assisted closure therapy. Current status and basic research].

The gap between the broad clinical use of vacuum-assisted closure therapy (VT) and knowledge of the physiological mechanisms leading to its effectiveness is great. The value of the technique and its future development are dependent on research into these mechanisms. A meta-analysis evaluating the results of basic research on the effectiveness of VT was carried out based on peer reviewed publications.

[Vacuum-assisted closure therapy and wound coverage in soft tissue injury. Clinical use].

This study presents the results of a meta-analysis based on the literature dealing with the clinical applications of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in the areas of chronic wounds, acute posttraumatic wounds, compartment syndromes, or injuries of the upper extremities. The studies were analysed for validity, significance of conclusion with respect to success rate, publications, and economic efficacy. The data show that with VAC a very valuable technique has been added to an integrated therapeutic concept of soft tissue reconstruction.