The effect of body mass index and wound irrigation on outcome after bilateral breast reduction.

Thirty patients undergoing bilateral breast reduction by inferior pedicle technique were entered into a prospective, randomized study to determine the effect of unilateral saline wound irrigation and body mass index (BMI) on outcome. Each patient was assessed at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery for wound dehiscence, infection, fat necrosis, and breast comfort by means of a visual analog pain score. The mean patient age was 33 years; mean weight, 67.

Lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma.

The role of the sentinel node in the management of malignant melanoma is currently being investigated in specialist centres the world over. The methods employed in identifying the sentinel node(s) depend on the locally available human and technical resources. We describe a three-part technique commonly used by most established centres i.