• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 2010

Purpose: It has been reported that the ear perfusion can maintain by a very small pedicle because the ear has good vascularized system. Replantation of an amputated ear with vascular anastmosis, has been reported before and offers the succeessful reconstructive results. But, in this paper we report a case of complete nonmicrosurgical salvage of a nearly amputated ear based on 7 mm-wide small skin pedicle with adjunctive therapies. Methods: A 49-year-old man was referred with a nearly complete detachment of left ear. The blood supply to the ear was maintained exclusively on 7 mm-wide small skin pedicle in the lobule. After we identified the fresh bleeding at the distal margin of the detached ear, we performed the primary repair. At the end of the procedure, the areas of the concha bowl and helical root appeared to be congested. So the immediate postoperative treatment for improving the tissue survival was done with Lipo-Prostaglandin E1 (Eglandin$^{(R)}$) injection, leech apply and antibiotics medications. Results: Assessment of the replanted ear on postoperative day 14 revealed a nearly viable auricle including the helical root. The ear appeared to be entirely healed, with excellent projection and fully restored normal elasticity. Conclusion: We found the complete salvage of a nearly amputated ear based on 7 mm-wide small skin pedicle with adjunctive therapies including Lipo-Prostaglandin E1 (Eglandin$^{(R)}$) injection, leech apply and antibiotics without microsurgery.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2017

Background: The use of leeches can effectively increase the salvage rate of flap congestion. However, the first reaction from patients and carers in using leeches in clinical fields is strong aversion. This can be due to the fact that development of our culture from agriculture to industrial society, coming across leeches became fairly rare. Also because of the biological traits that leeches carry; staying attached to a leg or other body parts of the host, sucking blood, and leaving wounds. Methods: This study was conducted through questionnaires, divided into many subgroups. We scaled the compliance of the two therapies, with or without leech. Maximum scale of 10 showing no rejective response to the therapy and minimum scale of 0 showing the greatest rejective response. Results: Overall subjects' compliance was improved after explaining the benefits of hirudotherapy. Irrelevant to the explanation, there was no significant difference in general compliance between male and female. Young-aged group and medical personnel or people studying medicine showed higher compliance over older-aged group and the general public. Conclusion: In the terms of general social cognition, recognizing leech as a therapeutic material may not be welcomed at first, but provided with proper information and explanations, overall compliance of patients and carers can be improved and consequently result in superior outcomes in flap salvage.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.112-116
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• 2005

The auricle is easy to be amputated in the face due to its protruding position. When facial parts are amputated, the mechanism of injury usually involves some form of avulsion, which damages these fragile vessels over a distance and renders them unsuitable for anastomosis. Replantation of the ear remains a challenging problem because of the tiny vessels and the paucity of adequate veins for anastomosis. Reattachment as a composite graft of the total or subtotal amputated ear is unreliable. Microsurgical replantation can be performed in a minority of cases because of technical difficulties and long operation time. In this article, the authors report two case of a successful ear replantation of completely amputated auricle. Only one artery and one vein were anastomosed in first case. In the other case one artery was anastomosed without vein. Instead of venous repair, multiple incision was done with leech application therapy. and the outcome was successful. In spite of the technical difficulties and long operation time, microsurgical replantation of amputated ear is better than other reconstructive method or reattachment without microsurgery.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.663-667
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• 2022

Finger dorsum defects are a challenging situation. Many reconstruction methods are used in these defects. Extended reverse dorsal metacarpal artery (RDMA) flap is used in dorsal finger reconstruction. Venous congestion in this flap is most important cause of flap failure. In this case, we presented a case in which we used heparin cream due to development of venous congestion in our patient who underwent an extended RDMA flap. A 24-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with a defect of dorsal of left-hand fourth finger. Defect was covered with an extended RDMA flap. On postoperative first day, venous congestion was observed, and heparin cream was applied three times a day on flap. The signs of venous congestion were regressed. Tissue healed as a result of superficial epidermolysis and skin grafting. No functional limitation was observed in sixth-month postoperative control. Venous congestion is the most important cause of flap failure of extended RDMA flaps. Generally, subcutaneous heparin administration and leech therapy are used. In our case, heparin was applied as a cream instead of subcutaneously, and flap healing was observed as a result of superficial epidermolysis. Heparin cream application can also be used as a treatment option in flaps with venous congestion.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.116-120
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• 2011

Purpose: Scalp avulsion is a life-threatening injury that may cause trauma to the forehead, eyebrows, and periauricular tissue. It is difficult to treat scalp avulsion as it may lead to severe bleeding. Therefore, emergency scalp replantation surgery is necessary, and we must consider the function, aesthetics, and psychology of the patients. A case of scalp avulsion leading to massive bleeding was encountered by these authors, which led to a failure to achieve the proper operation conditions in an adequate time period. Methods: A 49-year-old female was hospitalized due to having had her head caught in a rotatory machine, causing complete scalp avulsion which included the dorsum of the nose, both eyebrows, and ears. Emergent microsurgical replantation was performed, where a superficial temporal artery and a vein were anastomosed, but the patient's vital signs were too unstable for further operation due to excessive blood loss. Three days after the microanastomosis, venous congestion developed at the replanted scalp, and a medicinal leech was used. Leech therapy resolved the venous congestion. A demarcation then developed between the vitalized scalp tissue and the necrotized area. Debridement was performed 2 times on the necrotized scalp area. Finally, split-thickness skin graft with a dermal acellular matrix ($Matriderm^{(R)}$) was performed on the defective areas, which included the left temporal area, the occipital area, and both eyebrows. Results: The forehead, vertex, right temporal area, and half of the occipital area were successfully replanted, and the hair at the replanted scalp was preserved. As stated above, two-thirds of the scalp survived; the patient could cover the skin graft area with her hair, and could wear a wig. Conclusion: Complete scalp avulsion needs emergent replantation with microsurgical revascularization, but it often leads to serious vital conditions. We report a case with acceptable results, although the microanastomosed vessel was minimal due to the patient's unstable vital signs.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.58-61
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• 2018

Background Venous anastomosis is an important component of digital replantation, but is not always feasible, as some cases require external bleeding to treat venous congestion in the replanted tissue. In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between the number of vein anastomoses and the survival rate of Tamai zone I replantations. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent replantation of a fingertip amputation between 2014 and 2016. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic information, the mechanism of injury, the number of venous anastomoses, and the use of anticoagulation, external bleeding, and/or leeches. The cohort was divided into 3 groups depending on the number of venous anastomoses: no veins (group 1), a single vein (group 2), and 2 or more veins (group 3). Survival rates and external bleeding rates were analyzed across the groups. Results The review identified 143 fingertip replantations among 134 patients. The overall survival rate was 94% (135 of 143). Failures were due equally to venous complications (n=4, 50%) and to arterial complications (n=4, 50%). Our analysis did not identify any correlation between the number of veins anastomosed and the replant survival rate (P=0.689). However, a greater number of anastomoses was associated with a significantly lower frequency of external bleeding (P=0.017). Conclusions The number of venous anastomoses was not correlated with the survival rate. However, a greater number of venous anastomoses was associated with a decreased need for external bleeding, corresponding to a significant decrease in the need for postoperative monitoring and leech therapy.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2016

Objectives To evaluate the effects and safety of the aqueous extract of the dried, immature fruit of Poncirus trifoliate (L.) Raf. (Rutaceae) (PF) in stroke patients with constipation. Methods A total of 22 patients were recruited. Patients were interviewed about the clinical informations, constipation score and Bristol stool form scale at twice, before intake PF and after intake PF 2 weeks. The total and segmental colon transit time (CTT) were measured by using radio-opaque markers (Kolomark$^{(R)}$). The degree of stool retention was evaluated by the plain abdominal radiography and was scored by Leech score. Results Before intake PF, constipation scores ranged from 3 to 12, average $6.54{\pm}2.87$ and Bristol stool form scale ranged from 1 to 6, average $3.86{\pm}1.21$. CTTs were $9.05{\pm}6.89hours$, $14.29{\pm}10.68hours$, $12.11{\pm}7.19hours$ and $35.40{\pm}19.5hours$ in the right, left, rectosigmoid and total colon, respectively. Stool retention score was $2.45{\pm}0.61$, $2.3{\pm}0.86$, $1.9{\pm}0.85$, $6.65{\pm}1.56$ in the right, left, rectosigmoid and total colon, respectively. After 2 weeks, constipation scores ranged from 2 to 8, average $4.28{\pm}2.05$ and Bristol stool form scale ranged from 1 to 6, average $4.17{\pm}1.04$. CTTs were $7.41{\pm}8.86hours$, $11.12{\pm}9.12 hours$, $8.83{\pm}8.75hours$ and $27.3{\pm}20.2$ hours in the right, left, rectosigmoid and total colon, respectively. Stool retention score was $1.9{\pm}0.64$, $2.2{\pm}0.69$, $1.4{\pm}0.88$, $5.5{\pm}1.39$ in the right, left, rectosigmoid and total colon, respectively. There were statistically significant difference in the total and rectosigmoid colon CTT and constipation score, Stool retention score in right and rectosigmoid colon (p<0.05) after PF therapy. Conclusions These results suggest potential for PF therapy in stroke patient with constipation.