Development and evaluation of a holistic surgical head and neck cancer post-treatment follow-up clinic using touchscreen technology-Feasibility study.

The efficacy of traditional follow-up care is being challenged, as cancer survivors' supportive and psychological needs are often neither identified, nor addressed. This study's aim was to develop a holistic surgical follow-up clinic for oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients were participants completed a disease-specific health-related quality of life tool (UWQOLv4) and item prompt list (Patient Concern Inventory) on a touchscreen computer. Information generated was used to focus the consultation on patient's identified needs and concerns.

Versatility of the proximally pedicled anterolateral thigh flap and its use in complex abdominal and pelvic reconstruction.

Background: The anterolateral thigh flap was described by Song et al. in 1984. Although more usually used as a free flap, it also has remarkable versatility as a pedicled flap.

Versatility of the pedicled anterolateral thigh flap.

The pedicled anterolateral thigh flap is a useful addition to our armamentarium. It provides excellent cover for defects in the lower abdomen, pelvis, and perineum. It also has the added advantage of not sacrificing any muscle, thereby minimizing the risk for donor morbidity.

Resurfacing of colour-mismatched free flaps on the face with split-thickness skin grafts from the scalp.

Free-tissue transfer is commonly used in micro-vascular head and neck reconstruction. In a significant proportion of cases, the reconstruction involves the placement of a conspicuous, colour-mismatched skin paddle on the face. This article presents our experience in resurfacing of free flaps on the face in seven patients, using split-thickness skin grafts harvested from the scalp.

Which venous system to choose for anastomosis in head and neck reconstructions?

It has been postulated that venous thrombosis in free flap surgery necessitates the use of 2 venous anastomoses into different venous systems. We retrospectively analyzed a single surgeon's 10-year experience (August 1993 to August 2003) in primary free flap reconstruction for malignant tumors of the head and neck. Of 492 primary reconstructions that did not need a vein graft, vein loop, or cephalic turnover procedure, 251 used the internal jugular venous system as venous outflow, 140 used the subclavian system as outflow, and 101 used both.

Ten-year experience of free flaps in head and neck surgery. How necessary is a second venous anastomosis?

Background: Successful free flap surgery in the head and neck is dependent on the successful anastomosis of both artery and vein. The success of all free flaps was analyzed to determine the necessity for performing 2 venous anastomoses.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a single surgeon's 10-year experience (August 1993-August 2003) in free flap reconstruction for malignant tumors of the head and neck.

Compartment syndrome after closure of the anterolateral thigh flap donor site: a report of two cases.

Two male sarcoma patients developed a compartment syndrome in the thigh after the harvest and direct closure of the anterolateral thigh flap donor site. In each case, the absence of signs or symptoms led to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Although use of the anterolateral thigh flap is increasingly popular for soft tissue reconstruction, this complication has not yet been reported.

Arteriovenous fistula complicating an inferior gluteal artery perforator flap donor site.

We report the case of a 59-year-old woman who developed an arteriovenous fistula in her right buttock following a right inferior gluteal artery perforator flap for breast reconstruction.

A ten-year experience of multiple flaps in head and neck surgery: how successful are they?

Ablative surgery in the head and neck often results in defects that require free flap reconstruction. With improved ablation/reconstructive and adjuvant techniques, improved survival has led to an increase in the number of patients undergoing multiple free flap reconstruction. We retrospectively analyzed a single institution's 10-year experience (August 1993 to August 2003) in free flap reconstruction for malignant tumors of the head and neck.

Training in microsurgical skills: Does course-based learning deliver?

Practical skill training courses are an increasingly popular method of teaching surgical skills. Few data are available from instructional courses indicating how successful they are at imparting practical skills to those individuals who attend them. We aimed to identify the skill benefits gained by trainee surgeons attending a 5-day microsurgical skills course.

Non-vital, prosthetic, and virtual reality models of microsurgical training.

Many microsurgical training models exist. These can be broadly classified into living and non-living. The latter type can be further sub-classified into non-vital, prosthetic, and virtual reality models.

Cherubism and its charlatans.

Cherubism is a rare hereditary condition characterised by progressive cystic proliferation of the mandible and maxilla in childhood, followed by post-pubertal involution of the process and jaw remodelling in adulthood. Its name is derived from the cherubic appearance that results from the jaw hypertrophy. Here, we present the case of a young boy with cherubism, in the context of his pedigree, to illustrate the clinical characteristics and their variable expression.

'Acute abdomen' with a rash.

A previously fit and healthy 17-year-old male presented with the clinical symptoms and signs of an acute abdomen and with the secondary complaint of a rash. In view of the primary presenting complaint he was admitted to the surgical ward. The patient was initially booked for an emergency exploratory laparotomy, but after reassessment on the ward a clinical diagnosis of meningococcal septicaemia was made.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for spontaneous pneumothorax.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) involves using a thoracoscope with a camera chip attached to a video monitor which allows certain thoracic procedures to be performed with limited incisions. Using VATS, 170 procedures have been performed on 158 patients including 42 procedures on 39 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. There were 24 males and 15 females with age ranging from 17 to 84 yr (mean 36.

Evaluation of murine placental degradation and transfer of [125I]iodo-epidermal growth factor.

Since epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been postulated to play a role in embryonic and fetal growth, a study was undertaken to assess the placental degradation and transfer of maternally administered EGF. Before iodination, mouse EGF was purified to homogeneity by reversed-phase HPLC. Approximately 5 ng [125I]iodo-EGF (approximately 10(6) cpm) were injected iv into day 10, day 13, or day 17 pregnant CD-1 mice; radioactivity in plasma, placentas, and conceptuses was measured up to 2 h after injection.