Biomedical subjects

D A Palaia

Publications and source records attributed to D A Palaia.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Temporal facelift and corrugator resection.

On a path analogous to other surgical disciplines, the progression of facial cosmetic surgery has trended toward shorter scars and less invasive techniques. This article outlines an approach to facelifting that limits the scar to the temporal scalp, preauricular area, and retroauricular sulcus. It will enable the reader to identify those patients who are candidates for a less invasive procedure compared with the conventional facelift approach. Specifically, the temporal facelift addresses the lateral brow, the middle one third of the face, and the upper neck. In addition, this article examines the various and current methods for treatment of the glabellar area of the forehead. Medical and surgical options are outlined for the correction of those rhytids induced by corrugator and procerus muscle activity.

Blepharoplasty↗

PubMed2001

The use of DDAVP desmopressin reduces the incidence of microhematomas after facioplasty.

The authors began to use 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) Desmopressin Acetate routinely in their facelift patients who had a relatively high risk of bleeding, either from Von Willebrand factor deficiency, platelet dysfunction, aspirin intake, or ease of ecchymosis. Based on their observations that these patients had enhanced clotting and recovery times, they decided to undertake a prospective evaluation of the effects of Desmopressin Acetate when administered as a preoperative intravenous supplement during cosmetic facioplasty. A series of 200 consecutive patients undergoing surgery was divided into control and treatment groups. A total of 100 patients did not receive medication perioperatively, and 100 subsequent patients received preoperative DDAVP. All patients were observed for ecchymosis and swelling postoperatively and were graded by our postsurgical management team. Postsurgical ecchymosis was graded as mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), or severe (grade 3). Grade 4 indicated an expanding hematoma that required immediate surgical intervention. Grades 1 and 2 ecchymosis resolved within 3 weeks. Grade 3 ecchymosis or microhematomas required intervention such as needle aspiration or massage therapy. These small collections of blood generally required substantially longer to resolve and generated notable anxiety in the patients involved. Patients were excluded from the trial if there was a previous history of hypercoagulability or because treatment with DDAVP was medically contraindicated. A total of 23% of untreated patients required intervention for grade 3 ecchymosis compared with 3% of DDAVP-treated patients. No patients experienced any complications associated with DDAVP--namely, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, electrolyte imbalance, or renal insufficiency. The authors undertook this study to determine whether DDAVP would help to decrease the incidence of microhematomas after facelift. Based on the results of their grading system and study, they think that the use of DDAVP is safe and efficacious in the prevention of troublesome microhematomas after facelift. Interestingly, although their male facelift patients challenged their efforts to obtain satisfactory hemostasis during and after surgery, the DDAVP-treated male patients responded with marked improvement in postoperative grading after treatment. Obtaining hemostasis intraoperatively was facilitated as well in these patients. This gender phenomenon was even more dramatic when compared with our female patient population.

Deamino Arginine Vasopressin↗

PubMed2001

Abdominoplasty with procedural sedation and analgesia.

The ability to perform abdominal cosmetic surgery in the ambulatory setting provides a more comfortable environment for the patient, ease of scheduling for the physician, and decreased costs. Avoiding the use of general anesthesia allows for quicker recovery, shorter length of hospital stay, and decreased rate of postoperative complications. The authors report 106 consecutive abdominoplasties, including fascial plication when indicated, using local anesthesia, with procedural sedation and analgesia. All procedures were performed with an anesthesiologist providing intraoperative monitoring of the patients. Their protocol uses procedural sedation and analgesia, which results in a depressed level of consciousness, but allows the patient to maintain airway control independently and continuously. The results of this approach were measured in terms of procedure time, length of hospital stay, rate of complications, total recovery time, and the level of patient satisfaction. Between January 1996 and January 1999, 106 patients underwent abdominoplasty (performed by one of the authors) under local anesthesia with procedural sedation and analgesia. All patients had an American Society of Anesthesiologists status of 1 to 3, and underwent a full abdominoplasty, including fascial plication. In 26% of the patients, allied procedures were also performed, most commonly liposuction or augmentation mammaplasty. The mean age in this series was 45 years, and all patients were available for follow-up at least 1 year after surgery. The mean operative time was 135 minutes, recovery room time was 68 minutes, and all patients were ambulatory. There were no surgical complications, including flap loss or wound dehiscence, and no complications related to anesthesia (cardiac, deep vein thrombosis, fat emboli, pulmonary embolism, etc.). Because paralytic agents were not used, none of the patients required catheterization postoperatively. Patients were generally pleased with the results of surgery. Although the extent of the surgery remains the same, this approach provided patients with an easier postoperative experience. In summary, abdominoplasty, including full fascial plication of the rectus and external oblique aponeurosis, can be performed safely and comfortably under local anesthesia with procedural sedation and analgesia. Patients are comfortable, recover quickly, and are very satisfied with their surgical result and overall experience.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed1996

Tattoo formation from absorbable synthetic suture and successful removal with Q-switched ruby laser.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic tattoos result from accidental or unintentional deposition of exogenous pigment within injured skin. Pigments may consist of heavy metals, vegetable matter, or commercial dyes. OBJECTIVE: The clinical and histologic description of a traumatic tattoo resulting from a surgical procedure using undyed, braided, synthetic, absorbable suture material and its removal with the Q-switched ruby laser (694 nm, 28 nsec). METHODS: The pigmented linear lesion was biopsied and processed using standard histological methods. Subsequently, the area was treated on two occasions with the Q-switched ruby laser. RESULTS: The pigmented lesion was completely removed with the Q-switched laser treatments. CONCLUSION: We report on the occurrence of a traumatic tattoo resulting from synthetic suture material and complete removal with the Q-switched ruby laser.

Basal Cell Carcinoma↗