Bilateral Fascia Lata Flap: An Alternative for Massive Abdominal Wall Defect Repair.

The abdominal wall represents a unique structure of dermo-myotendinous conformation that is considered a surgical challenge. The musculocutaneous pedicled flap, using tensor fasciae latae muscle (TFL), is a technique of abdominal wall repair, and it is becoming a more frequent reconstructive procedure. It is a well-suited procedure because it provides both a semirigid fascia layer and adequate skin coverage.

Satellitosis and CD117 immunohistochemical expression correlates with poor outcome in thick vulvar melanoma.

Background: Melanoma of the vulva is the second most common vulvar cancer after epidermoid carcinoma. Patients suffering from this disease usually present with a late-stage disease with a poor prognosis. The prognostic factors reported in previous studies are not homogeneous and the clinical/pathogenic role of c-KIT expression is not clear.

Hospitalization costs of open vs. laparoscopic appendectomy: 5-year experience.

Background: There is an ongoing debate over certain aspects of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) over open appendectomy (OA) in regard to hospitalization costs and associated complications.

Methods: A database was used to obtain the charts for either LA or OA performed during a 5-year period. Variables analyzed were age, gender, hospitalization cost, length of stay and complications.