Quantitative monitoring of capsular contraction around smooth and textured implants.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of textured silicone implants in reducing the incidence of capsular contracture. Each of 10 female New Zealand, albino rabbits received 2 saline-filled implants, 1 on either side of the lateral chest wall. The surface of 1 implant was smooth silicone, whereas the other implant's surface was textured silicone.

Development of independent vessel security after ligation with absorbable sutures or clips.

The external jugular vein and the contralateral carotid artery in each of 59 rabbits were ligated with either sutures or absorbable clips and then divided. After 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, or 14 days following ligation, the suture or clip was removed, and the vessel's resistance to leakage was quantitated. When the absorbable clips were removed from arteries after 1 day, their mean resistance pressure prior to leakage was 171 +/- 46 mm Hg; in contrast, arteries ligated with a suture did not achieve independent security until after 4 days.

Early tissue reaction to textured breast implant surfaces.

Capsular contracture around breast implants with smooth surfaces continues to be an unpredictable complication. Some surgeons believe that silicone implants covered with porous polyurethane foam have a lowered potential to contract. These textured implants are not as biocompatible as silicone.

Factors relating to the volume of surgical knots.

The suture's knot site represents the highest amount and density of foreign body material of a knotted suture loop. The volume of a knot is directly related to the total amount of inflammatory reaction surrounding the knot. We measured the volume of seven surgical knots frequently used in surgical practice.