Lymphedema occurs when the lymphatic system is malformed, leaking or is damaged by infection or cancer treatment. Enlarged extremities due to extensive fluid retention and adipose tissue deposition, recurrent cellulitis, and the requirement for hard-to-wear compression garments lead to impaired limb function and decreased quality of life. This narrative review aims to elucidate classification, diagnostic tools, and conservative management strategies leading the path to patient selection for microsurgical reconstructive procedures or volume reduction procedures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrosurgery remains an integral component of the surgical skillset and is essential for a diversity of reconstructive procedures. The apprenticeship also requires overcoming a steep learning curve, among many challenges. The method of microsurgical training differs depending on the countries' regions and resources of their health care system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Abdominoplasty and breast augmentation are two of the most commonly performed aesthetic procedures in the UK. When performed as a combined procedure, separate inframammary and abdominoplasty incisions are most frequently used. Transabdominoplasty breast augmentation, performed via a single abdominoplasty incision is also described.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Microsurgery is a surgical technique that uses optical magnification as well as specific instruments to address necessary reconstructive procedures in different medical specialties. The apprenticeship of this technique requires overcoming a steep learning curve. There is a need for standardization of the training criteria in microsurgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWith significant improvements in success rates for free flap reconstruction of the head and neck, attention has turned to donor site morbidity associated with osteocutaneous free flaps. In this review, we address the morbidity associated with harvest of the four most commonly used osteocutaneous flaps; the free fibula flap, the scapula flap, the iliac crest flap and the radial forearm flap. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify articles relevant to donor site morbidity for these flaps.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite significant improvements in survival rates, free flap failures still occur even in experienced hands and are most commonly due to arterial or venous thrombosis. In the absence of an evidence-based guideline on the prevention of thrombosis, we reviewed the literature to assess the evidence base for commonly used interventions aimed at its prevention.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the following keywords "free flap" and microsurgery with "pre-operative screening," "prevention of thrombosis," "ketorolac," "heparin," "low molecular weight heparin," "aspirin," "dextran," and "statins.
Patellar tendon rupture is an uncommon clinical presentation, which generally affects the under 40s who are active in sport. Bilateral rupture of both tendons is much rarer. It occurs most frequently in patients with predisposing factors such as corticosteroid use or systemic diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic progressive liver disease that is strongly associated with obesity. Currently, there is no approved therapy for NASH. Weight reduction is typically recommended, but efficacy data are lacking.
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