Retardation of wound healing by silver sulfadiazine is reversed by Aloe vera and nystatin.

Inhibition of wound contraction by topical anti microbial agents has been described. The purpose of this study was to further investigate that phenomenon and to explore the effect that other agents such as Aloe vera might have on this process. Full-thickness excised wounds were created on the dorsum of Sprague-Dawley rats under anaesthesia.

Deep venous thrombosis in postoperative vascular surgical patients: a frequent finding without prophylaxis.

Purpose: The place of routine perioperative thromboprophylaxis for vascular surgical patients remains controversial, because the incidence of postoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is said to be quite low. This study was designed to measure the incidence of lower limb DVT after vascular surgical procedures.

Methods: All consenting, consecutive patients who came to a metropolitan veterans hospital for abdominal or lower-limb arterial surgery were studied.

Carotid endarterectomy and local anaesthesia: reducing the disasters.

Purpose: The study was designed to assess one surgeon's operative mortality and morbidity for carotid endarterectomy using local anaesthetic (LA) compared to general anaesthetic (GA) techniques.

Method: Data were collected prospectively from 200 patients undergoing LA carotid surgery compared with 243 patients undergoing carotid surgery using GA technique. Indication for surgical, pathology, postoperative morbidity and mortality was assessed.

Laparoscopic stoma formation for faecal diversion.

Background: Laparoscopic creation of an intestinal stoma may be preferable to open operation when intervention is required solely for faecal diversion.

Methods: Experience with laparoscopic intestinal stoma formation for faecal diversion from a single institution is presented.

Results: A total of 55 stomas were studied, 40 laparoscopic and 15 open.

Critical appraisal of surgical venous access in children.

Central venous catheters (CVC) have become an important adjunct to the overall management of paediatric patients, but their use is associated with frequent complications resulting in premature removal. This report evaluates the insertion techniques and complications of 295 consecutive surgically inserted CVC from 1987 to 1991 in a paediatric hospital. Fully implanted catheters had significantly less incidence of catheter-related problems necessitating removal (infection, dislodgment, leaking, blockage, or migration - 31%) compared to exteriorised catheters (58%).

Critical appraisal of surgical venous access in children.

Central venous catheters (CVC) have become an important adjunct to the overall management of paediatric patients, but their use is associated with frequent complications resulting in premature removal. This report evaluates the insertion techniques and complications of 295 consecutive surgically inserted CVC from 1987 to 1991 in a paediatric hospital. Fully implanted catheters had significantly less incidence of catheter-related problems necessitating removal (infection, dislodgment, leaking, blockage, or migration - 31%) compared to exteriorised catheters (58%).

Transplanted acellular allograft dermal matrix. Potential as a template for the reconstruction of viable dermis.

The use of allograft donor skin as a permanent skin transplant in full-thickness burns is limited by its immunogenic properties and by the inappropriateness of immunosuppression of a burn patient. Allograft skin will initially take on a full-thickness wound, but it is ultimately rejected. This immunogenic response to allograft skin is directed primarily against the cells of the epidermis and the endothelial cells in the dermis.

Beneficial wound healing and metabolic effects of clenbuterol in burned and nonburned rats.

Clenbuterol is known to increase muscle mass in nonburned and burn-injured subjects. The effects of clenbuterol on wound healing and the postburn response were examined in both nutritionally matched and free-feeding groups of rats. Rats received either a sham or 30% total body surface area scald burn and then a dorsal incision.

Superoxide dismutase and leupeptin prevent delayed reperfusion injury in the rat small intestine during burn shock.

Delayed fluid resuscitation during burn shock is thought to compromise the integrity of gut mucosa and allow enteric bacteria to cross the luminal wall and infect other sterile organ systems. Superoxide dismutase, a free-oxygen radical scavenger; leupeptin, a protease inhibitor; and verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, were studied to evaluate their efficacy in maintaining cellular integrity in the gut of thermally burned rats whose fluid resuscitation had been delayed. Fifty male rats weighting 280 to 320 gm were given a full-thickness scald burn covering 50% total body surface area.

Gut failure and translocation following burn and sepsis.

Sepsis with multisystem organ failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in burns. We studied the anatomic, physiologic, and metabolic changes of gut mucosa as a normal barrier against sepsis and systemic inflammatory response after burn and sepsis in the chronic porcine model. Flow probes were placed on the mesenteric and hepatic arteries and portal vein.

Electric iron contact burns in an Australian paediatric population.

Accidental burn injury is common among children. Contact burns are the second most frequent cause of burns in children and electric iron contact burns constitute a substantial proportion of this group. A prospective analysis of electric iron burns presenting from 1988 to 1991 was conducted.