• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2005

Microvascular anastomosis with suture technique is a basic skill but there are several problems such as stenosis, thrombosis and long operating time. Recently plastic surgeons have developed non-suturing mechanical coupling devices for microvascular anastomosis. The authors applied non-penetrating vascular clips (VCS clips) in the field of free flap surgery of head and neck area. Between August of 2004 and January of 2005, we performed 9 free flaps (16 vessels) using small-sized VCS clips. Four stay sutures were applied first and then VCS clips were placed between sutures about 1 mm apart. Vascular pedicle of free flap included the descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral vessel, thoracodorsal vessel, deep inferior epigastric vessel and cephalic vein. The recipient vessels were the superior thyroid artery, superficial temporal artery, internal jugular vein, external jugular vein, and superficial temporal vein. We performed 13 end-to-end (4 arteries and 9 veins) and 3 venous end-to-side anastomoses. No flap related complication occurred but we applied additional clips or sutures in two cases due to blood leakage after completion of anastomosis. Primary patency rates seemed to be good and more rapid anastomosis could be done than conventional suture technique. Advantages of VCS technique are high patency rate, low thrombogenecity and rapidity. Although the high cost of VCS instrument may be a problem, this clip could be applied safely in microvascular free tissue transfer.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.326-328
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• 2011

Purpose: The anatomical anomaly of the rectus abdominis muscle and it's fascia is very rare. No case of the absence of the linea alba below the umbilicus has yet been reported. During breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flap, we experienced one case of absence of linea alba. Methods: The patient was a 38-years old female who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flap after Right modified radical mastectomy in June 2010. While the TRAM flap was being elevated, bilateral twitching of the rectus abdominis muscle occurred when electrocautery was applied, and we found the absence of the linea alba below the umbilicus. Results: When the rectus abdominis muscle was exposed, the linea alba below the umbilicus was not observed, and the bilateral rectus abdominis muscle was indistinguishably fused in a gross observation. In addition, bilateral twitching of rectus abdominis muscle was simultaneously observed as one muscle unit when electrocautery was applied. As with both rectus abdominis muscles was bluntly dissected with scissors, the scanty fatty tissues were observed between the both rectus muscles, and the bilateral rectus abdominis muscle was easily separated. The flap was transposed into the corresponding defect to make breast mound. Midline fascia was fixed to the posterior rectus sheath to reconstruct smilar anatomic linea alba. Abdominal defect was reinforced by suturing between remaining anterior rectus sheath. Conclusion: As the unexpected anatomical anomaly may affect the operation outcome, surgeons should be careful when they unexpectedly encounter the anatomical anomaly during an operation. Here, we report a rare case of absence of the linea alba seen at the time of pedicled TRAM flap elevation for breast reconstruction.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2022

Background: Most acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injuries are caused by direct trauma to the shoulders, and various methods and techniques are used to treat them; however, none of the options can be considered the gold standard. This study examines the horizontal stability of the ACJ after a complete dislocation was repaired using one of two Ethibond suture techniques, the loop technique and the two holes in the clavicle technique. Methods: In this single-blind, randomized clinical trial, 104 patients diagnosed with complete ACJ dislocation type V were treated using Ethibond sutures with either the loop technique or the two holes in the clavicle technique. Horizontal changes in the ACJ were radiographically assessed in the lateral axial view, and shoulder function was evaluated by the Constant (CS) and Taft (TS) scores at intervals of 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: The horizontal stability of the ACJ was better with the two-hole technique than the loop technique at all measurement times. CS and TS changes showed a significant upward trend over time with both techniques. The mean CS and TS at the final visit were 95.2 and 11.6 with the loop technique and 94.0 and 11.9 with the two-hole technique, respectively. The incidence of superficial infections caused by the subcutaneous pins was the same in the two groups. Conclusions: Due to the improved ACJ stability with the two-hole technique, it appears to be a more suitable option than the loop technique for AC joint reduction.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 1995

Post-operative wound infections have been the serious problems in nursing care in the operating room and appear to be strongly related to the infection occurring during the operation. The purpose of this study is to identify the level of contamination in saline used in the operation and also examine the correlation between the contaminated saline and the length of the operation, and unclean atmospheric factor. Subjects for this study include 13 cases of operation performed at the operative theatre of a hospital in Seoul area. Test samples and related data were collected from this medical facility between Oct. 6 through Dec. 10, 1994 by the author and anurse who worked in the operating room. For the study, multiple batches of saline sample were collected at the various time intervals duringthe operation and filtered through the membrane filters. Viable microorganisms retained on the filters were cultured on the appropriate culture media and the levels of existing cells in saline were enumerated according to Koch's method. In the analyses of the data, Pearson's correlation coefficient was obtained for the examination of relationship between the length of operation and numbers of microorganisms existing in saline and for the comparison of the differences in numbers if microrganisms in saline sample collected at the various operative stages, e. g. pre-incision, excision and skin suturing stages, ANOVA and Scheff Tests were performed. The results of this study are summarized as follows. 1) The lenth of the operation and numbers of microorganisms in the saline used in the operation appeared to be significantly correlated (r=0.5467, P<0,001). 2) In case of saline exposed to air, but not used in the operation, the length of exposure to the air and the numbers of microorganisms present in saline also showed an apparent correlation(r=0.5087, P<0. 001). 3) The frequencies of occurrence of microorganisms in saline used in the operation and in saline exposed only to the air in the given time showed significant differences(t=3.73, p=.0000). 4) In case of saline used in the operation, there is significant differences in its numbers of contained microorganisms between the operative stages ; pre-incision, excision, and skin suture (F=17.7500, p=.0000). 5) In case of saline exposed only to the air in the given time, there is significant differences in its numbers of contained microorganisms between the operative stages . pre-incision, excision, and skin suture(F=6.3807, p=.00031).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2014

Background and Objectives : Arytenoid adduction procedure is one of the main surgical options addressed for the correction of glottal incompetence in patients with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. Traditionally, a midline approach is used for identifying and suturing around the muscular process, which often needs over-traction of the thyroid cartilage and results in patient's discomfort as well as surgeon's distress. The authors investigated the advantage of a modified procedure, lateral approach, in which the arytenoid cartilage is exposed through the space between strap muscles and sternocleidomastoid muscle. Materials and Methods : Retrospective chart review was performed for 66 patients who received arytenoid adduction surgery at Samsung Medical Center, between the year 1997 and 2014. Operation time, types of anesthesia, voice outcomes and complications were compared between the midline (n=22) and the lateral (n=44) approach group. Results : Operation time was shorter in the lateral approach group ($125{\pm}24min$) than in the midline group ($144{\pm}24min$). Arytenoid adduction was proceeded under local anesthesia in 66% (n=29/44) and 14% (n=3/22) of patients with lateral and midline approach group, respectively. Voice outcomes and complication rates were comparable between the two groups. Injection laryngoplasty in conjunction with arytenoid adduction resulted in more favorable voice outcomes. Conclusion : A lateral approach for the arytenoid adduction procedure showed comparable voice outcomes and similar complication rates with those of a midline approach. However, lateral approach provided less discomfort to the patients and less distress to a surgeon, and therefore, shorter operation time was needed and local anesthesia could be more frequently applied for this modified procedure.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2006

Purpose: There is ongoing demand to deliver better procedural training to medical students in the emergency department. Thus, we studied the efficacy of a cadaver-based training model for teaching simple suture techniques to medical students. Methods: We investigated ten fourth-year medical students, who were rounding and being trained in the Emergency Department of Chungnam National University Hospital. They were educated with slides about a simple suture technique for 30 minutes to evaluate the efficacy of the cadaver-based training model. We prospectively measured their skill by administering a test on the cadaver-based simple suture technique in 3cm sized linar wound separately to each of them. Results: A total of ten fourth-year medical students completed the investigation. The tension, the direction of suture, the degree of cleanness, the number of sutures, the adequacy of the cutting thread length, and the suturing time in the first attempt were compared with those in the second one. The second results were compared with those in the third one, and the third results were compared with those in the fourth one. All the results had statistical significance. Conclusion: These findings support the value of the cadaver-based simple suture technique training model as a medical student teaching model. The cadaver-based simple suture technique teaching model is a good way of teaching several medical skills to medical students.