Medical tourism in plastic surgery: ethical guidelines and practice standards for perioperative care.

Background: The goal of this review was to identify the safety and medical care issues that surround the management of patients who had previously undergone medical care through tourism medicine. Medical tourism in plastic surgery occurs via three main referral patterns: macrotourism, in which a patient receives treatments abroad; microtourism, in which a patient undergoes a procedure by a distant plastic surgeon but requires postoperative and/or long-term management by a local plastic surgeon; and specialty tourism, in which a patient receives plastic surgery from a non-plastic surgeon.

Methods: The ethical practice guidelines of the American Medical Association, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and American Board of Plastic Surgeons were reviewed with respect to patient care and the practice of medical tourism.

Cigarette smoke activates NFκB-mediated Tnf-α release from mouse middle ear cells.

Objectives/hypothesis: : Cigarette smoke exposure is a significant risk factor in the development of otitis media. NF-κB is a transcription factor known to mediate cigarette smoke effects in multiple cell types. We hypothesized that stimulation of murine middle ear epithelial cells (MEEC) with cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) activates NF-κB resulting in upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines.

Primary care perceptions of otolaryngology.

Objective: To identify diseases of the head and neck for which primary care physicians may underappreciate the role of the otolaryngologist.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: With increasing subspecialization in the world of medicine, there is the potential for confusion about the scope of practice for different specialties by primary care physicians.

Avoiding early revision rhytidectomy: a biomechanical comparison of tissue plication suture techniques.

Background: Manipulation and suspension of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) is performed by 74% of rhytidectomy surgeons. Multiple variations in suture techniques are employed in this task, but they have never been evaluated for differences in their ability to withstand stress.

Objective: To compare the biomechanical properties of two different suture techniques that are used in SMAS plications during rhytidectomy: a double-layered running locking (DRL) stitch and multiple horizontal mattress stitches.

Safety and outcomes of outpatient pediatric otolaryngology procedures at an ambulatory surgery center.

Objectives: To determine the safety and outcomes of outpatient pediatric otolaryngology procedures performed at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC).

Methods: Retrospective review of all pediatric otolaryngology cases performed at a freestanding, outpatient ASC of a tertiary care, academic children's medical center from 2000 to 2007.

Results: Of all cases, 4979 (55%) were otolaryngology procedures.