• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.555-558
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The high success rate of free flap transfers is well documented in previous literature, and is possible due to the early detection of vascular compromise and timely reoperation. We specifically analyzed the operative results of immediate and delayed reconstruction with free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous(TRAM) flap respectively in order to reveal its distinctive features on timing and causes of vascular compromise. Methods: The senior author operated on 158 patients, 161 cases of free TRAM flap for breast reconstruction. 51 patients underwent delayed reconstruction, whilst immediate reconstruction was performed in the other 107 patients. All patients were monitored every 3 hours for the first 3 days. We reviewed medical records of all patients, and tested statistical significance with the Fisher's test. Results: Reoperation was performed in 20 cases, but the cases include hematoma with bleeding focus and arterial anastomosis site rupture due to abrupt arm abduction. We performed reoperation in 15 cases of suspicious vascular compromise. Flap compromise was noticed mostly within 24 hours, but not longer than 72 hours. Venous compromise was dominant by 11 cases (73.3%). There was difference in the timing of flap compromise between immediate and delayed reconstruction. All the cases of delayed reconstruction did not show signs of vascular compromise after 12 hours postoperatively. On the other hand, cases of vascular compromise were observed until 72 hours postoperatively in cases of immediate reconstruction. Conclusion: Delayed reconstruction showed vascular compromise within 12 hours postoperatively, while immediate reconstruction showed compromised until the 3rd postoperative day. If more aggressive monitoring is maintained during this period, we believe salvage of flaps may be increased with more efficiency.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2020

Background: Free-flap reconstruction for recurrent head and neck cancer may be challenging depending on the previous treatments, those are, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, including neck dissection or free tissue transfer. Specifically, the previous treatment could compromise the neck vessels, thereby making free-flap reconstruction more difficult. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between previous treatments and vascular compromise of the free flap. Methods: In this retrospective study, 124 free-flap reconstructions in 116 patients for recurrent head and neck cancer between 1993 and 2017 were investigated. The demographic characteristics, previous treatments, flap choices, infections, recipient vessels, and vascular crises were evaluated. Results: Of the 124 reconstruction cases, 10 had vascular crises. There were six revisions, totaling six flap failures. The success rate of free-flap reconstruction for recurrent cancer was 95.2%, which significantly differed from that for primary cancer (98.8%, p= 0.006). Moreover, in the recurrent cancer group, no correlation was found between previous treatments and vascular crises (p> 0.05). Increased rates of contralateral or uncommon anastomoses were found following neck dissection (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Previous neck dissection or radiotherapy could lead to scarring and tissue damage, which could in turn make microvascular reconstruction more challenging; however, the effect was not definite in this study. Approximately 60% of patients with previous neck dissection had compromised ipsilateral recipient vessels, which resulted in contralateral or uncommon anastomoses. In this study, free-flap reconstruction seems to be quite safe and preferable in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer based on the overall survival rate.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.70-76
• /
• 2005

The Z-plasty has been known as a most common surgical treatment of congenital circumferential constriction band syndrome of the hand. There were thirteen patients of congenital circumferential constriction band syndrome of the hand. All patients underwent Z-plasty under microscope. we did microsurgical dissection to minimize vascular, neural and lymphatic injury, and then considering secondary correction and scar contracture, tried to preserve as much subcutaneous fat and skin flap as possible without any excision. There were less skin necrosis and lymphedema as a result of vascular compromise. Using microscope offers several advantages. First, preventing vascular, neural and lymphatic injury. Second, getting an accurate suture approximation. finally, preserving as much subcutaneous fat and skin flap as possible without any excision. The outcome of digit growth and contour can be excellent than we expected. As a results, we believe that correction of congenital circumferential constriction band syndrome of the hand under the microscope have better results.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.130-138
• /
• 1999

The lower extremity injuries are extremely increasing with the development of industrial & transportational technology. For the lower extremity injuries that result from high-energy forces, particularly those in which soft tissue and large segments of bone have been destroyed and there is some degree of vascular compromise, the problems in reconstruction are major and more complex. In such cases local muscle coverage is probably unsuccessful, because adjacent muscles are destroyed much more than one can initially expect. Reconstruction of the lower extremity has been planned by dividing the lower leg into three parts traditionally The flaps available in each of the three parts are gastrocnemius flap for proximal one third, soleus flap for middle one third and free flap transfer for lower one third. Microvascular surgery can provide the necessary soft tissue coverage from the remote donnor area by free flap transfer into the defect. Correct selection of the appropriate recipient vessels is difficult and remains the most important factor in successful free flap transfer. Vascular anastomosis to recipient vessels distal to the zone of injury has been advocated and retrograde flow flaps are well established in island flaps. Retrograde flow anastomosis could not interrupt the major blood vessels which were essential for survival of the distal limb, the compromise of fracture or wound healing might be prevented. During 5 years, from March 1993 to Feb. 1998, we have done 68 free flap transfers in 61 patients to reconstruct the lower extremity. From analysis of the cases, we concluded that for the reconstruction of the lower extremity, free flap transfer yields a more esthetic and functional results.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 2019

Some patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) present with cognitive dysfunctions. The pathophysiology underlying this complication is not well understood. Type 1 DM has been associated with a decrease in the speed of information processing, psychomotor efficiency, attention, mental flexibility, and visual perception. Longitudinal epidemiological studies of type 1 DM have indicated that chronic hyperglycemia and microvascular disease, rather than repeated severe hypoglycemia, are associated with the pathogenesis of DM-related cognitive dysfunction. However, severe hypoglycemic episodes may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in high-risk patients with DM. Type 2 DM has been associated with memory deficits, decreased psychomotor speed, and reduced frontal lobe/executive function. In type 2 DM, chronic hyperglycemia, long duration of DM, presence of vascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension and obesity), and microvascular and macrovascular complications are associated with the increased risk of developing cognitive dysfunction. The pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in individuals with DM include the following: (1) role of hyperglycemia, (2) role of vascular disease, (3) role of hypoglycemia, and (4) role of insulin resistance and amyloid. Recently, some investigators have proposed that type 3 DM is correlated to sporadic Alzheimer's disease. The molecular and biochemical consequences of insulin and insulin-like growth factor resistance in the brain compromise neuronal survival, energy production, gene expression, plasticity, and white matter integrity. If patients claim that their performance is worsening or if they ask about the effects of DM on functioning, screening and assessment are recommended.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.24-28
• /
• 2004

The vascularity of a skin island in fibula osteocutaneous free flap often depends on musculocutaneous perforators that find their origin in the proximal peroneal artery. But a potential drawback has been reported on the unreliability of the skin paddle. The perforating vessels to the skin paddle of the fibula osteocutaneous free flap were rarely derived from a common tibio-fibula trunk, an anterior tibial artery and a posterior tibial artery. Previous studies have emphasized total loss of the overlying skin paddle, if the expected perforating vessels are not present. We report here on our experience that the skin paddle of the fibula osteocutaneous free flap was vascularized not by a peroneal artery but a direct branch of the posterior tibial artery. There were no intraseptal nor intramuscular pedicles in the posterior crural septum which connected to the overlying skin island. Therefore, we performed microsurgical anastomoses between distal peroneal vessels of the fibula and the perforating branches of the posterior tibial vessels of the skin paddle. The anastomosed skin paddle was salvaged with a peroneal flow through vascular anastomosis and was transferred to the bone and intraoral soft tissue defects with the fibula graft. The patient had no evidence of vascular compromise in the postoperative period and showed good healing of the intraoral skin flap.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.82-84
• /
• 2007

Treatment options for anastomotic recurrence occurring after Ivor Lewis operation are limited. Reoperation for resection can be technically challenging and several reports suggest a potential survival benefit from re-resection. Specific care must be taken to avoid compromise of the previously transposed conduit to not endanger its vascular supply and the recurrent nerves in either the chest or neck. We report our surgical experience of a case of esophagogastric anastomotic site recurrence occurring after Ivor Lewis operation with review of literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.911-917
• /
• 1988

Pulmonary thromboembolism originated most commonly from the venous thrombus, especially deep vein thrombus in the leg, which migrated to and occluded the pulmonary vasculatures. The failure of clot lysis and repeated embolic episodes resulted in the hemodynamic compromise -that is- in the increasing in the pulmonary vascular resistance, which would cause the right ventricle failure[Car Pulmonale]. Under the cardiopulmonary bypass, 20 year old male patient was treated successfully by thromboembolectomy of pulmonary thromboembolism with pulmonary hypertension, which originated from the deep vein thrombus in the leg. The results of radiologic studies and clinical evaluations were excellent in that the postoperative lung perfusion scan showed the newly increased perfusion of post-embolectomy territories and in the arterial blood gas finding of 76 from 66[mmHg] in PaO2. The patient was uneventful and discharged on postop. $ 14 days with anticoagulant continued.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.115-118
• /
• 1996

Meconium peritonitis is a primarily aseptic, chemical peritonitis caused by the spill of meconium into the abdominal cavity through an intestinal perforation during the intrauterine or perinatal period. The perforation is known to be related to intrauterine vascular compromise. Recently, the authors experienced 4 cases of ileal atresia complicated by meconium peritonitis. The male to female sex ratio was 1 : 3, and age at operation was 1 day(2 cases), 3 days(2 cases). Three cases had generalized peritonitis, and one the cystic type of meconium peritonitis. The types of ileal atresia were IIIa(2 cases), IIIb(1 case), and II(1 case). The proximal blind ileal end was perforated in 3 cases, and distal end perforation was in 1 case of cystic type. Postoperative recovery was excellent in all cases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.60 no.3
• /
• pp.362-366
• /
• 2017

Vascular compromise is a well-known consequence of brain herniation syndromes. Transtentorial brain herniation most often involves posterior cerebral arteries. However, isolated involvement of contralateral superior cerebellar artery (SCA) during unilateral impending brain herniation is reported only once and we present another case of this exceedingly rare entity. A 24-year-old man was referred to us with impending herniation due to a multiloculated hydrocephalus, and during the course of illness, he developed an isolated SCA ischemia in the opposite side of the most dilated entrapped horn. In the current article we discuss the probable pathophysiologic mechanisms of this phenomenon, as well as recommending more inclusive brain studies in cases suspected of Kernohan-Woltman notch phenomenon in unilateral brain herniation. The rationale for this commentary is that contralateral SCA transient ischemia or infarct might be the underdiagnosed underlying pathomechanism of ipsilateral hemiparesis occurring in many cases of this somehow vague phenomenon.