Unilateral cleft lip in a boy with Angelman syndrome.

We report on a mentally retarded boy with epileptic seizures, microcephaly, ataxia, and developmental delay. His clinical features were consistent with Angelman syndrome. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and DNA analysis showed a deletion of chromosome 15 q11-13 and thus confirmed the diagnosis.

[Free vascular grafts in reconstructions in the head and neck region].

Since 1989, 40 free-tissue grafts were used in 39 patients to repair defects following major head and neck ablative surgery (n = 32) and for reconstruction of the mandible because of osteoradionecrosis or trauma (n = 7). The radial forearm flap was used in 17 patients (five including a segment of radius), the lateral arm flap in seven, fibula in five and a segment of ileum for restoration of the hypopharynx in 11 cases. Three radial forearm flaps and the bone in one lateral arm flap failed.

Suction-assisted lipectomy does not increase the risk of random flap necrosis in a randomized study in pigs.

Thirty-two dorsally based random flaps were raised in eight Yorkshire pigs (26-31 kg) after infiltration with 200 mL of dilute lidocaine (0.1%) with epinephrine (1:1,000,000) into each flap. Prior to elevation 16 of the flaps were treated with syringe-assisted liposuction, while the remaining flaps served as controls.

A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a single dose of azithromycin on postoperative wound infections in plastic surgery.

Over a 9-month period from September of 1991 to May of 1992, 339 patients were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using azithromycin as the prophylactic agent to determine whether it effects a clinically meaningful reduction in postoperative surgical infections in plastic surgery. Azithromycin was given as prophylaxis in 171 patients and placebo in 168 patients. The study medication was a single oral dose taken at 8 P.

[Excision of tumors in the face].

Excision of tumours in the face is a surgical challenge. Most general practitioners and surgeons are reluctant to undertake such procedures. In our opinion there are no reason why small tumours and lesions in the face, which can be excised by a fusiform excision, should not be handled by most doctors.