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Biomedical subjects

L J Gottlieb

Publications and source records attributed to L J Gottlieb.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Full-thickness skin wound explants in tissue culture: a mechanical evaluation of healing.

This study was designed to evaluate biomechanically defined wound healing in full-thickness skin explants in tissue culture. The requirement for preculture incubation of wounds in situ was characterized. Full-thickness skin incisions were made in 44 rats and closed immediately. Wounds were incubated in situ for 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, or 96 hours before harvesting and placement into tissue culture media for 6 weeks. Healing was evaluated by biomechanical criteria: tensiometric distraction to wound rupture generated true stress and energy absorption data. Burst-strength (maximum true stress) and toughness (energy absorption) were five times higher in the 48-hour group than in any other group; other groups were not different from each other. This study demonstrates long-term survival of full-thickness skin in culture and shows that full-thickness skin explants heal in tissue culture. Possible explanations for the narrow window of opportunity for harvest (48 hours, no more and no less) are discussed.

Animals

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in plastic surgery: a review article.

The most important effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), for the surgeon, are the stimulation of leukocyte microbial killing, the enhancement of fibroblast replication, and increased collagen formation and neovascularization of ischemic tissue. Preoperative hyperbaric oxygen induces neovascularization in tissue with radionecrosis. Refractory osteomyelitis and necrotizing fasciitis appear to respond to adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen. Crush injury and compartment syndrome appear to benefit through preservation of ATP in cell membranes, which limits edema. Hyperbaric oxygen in burn injury permits shorter hospital stays, a reduced number of surgeries, and less fluid replacement. Skin grafts and flaps are reported to take more completely and more rapidly. The same mechanisms may apply in ischemic problem wounds such as infected diabetic extremities. Contraindications and side effects are described. Hyperbaric oxygen will not heal normal wounds more rapidly but may, under certain circumstances, induce problem wounds to heal more like normal ones.

Burns

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves intermittent inhalation of 100% oxygen under a pressure greater than 1 atm. Despite over a century of use in medical settings, hyperbaric oxygen remains a controversial therapy. The last 20 years have seen a clarification of the mechanism of action of hyperbaric therapy and a greater understanding of its potential benefit. However, despite the substantial evidence that hyperbaric oxygen may have a therapeutic effect in certain carefully defined disease states, many practitioners remain unaware of these findings or are concerned about using hyperbaric therapy because of the controversy it has engendered. This review examines the indications currently considered appropriate for hyperbaric oxygen and briefly evaluates animal and clinical data substantiating these indications. Areas in which the mechanism of action of hyperbaric oxygen is still not well understood, as well as possible new areas of applications, are discussed.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The radial forearm skin graft-fascial flap.

The radial forearm flap has become a versatile flap for upper extremity reconstruction. The use of the forearm flap for hand reconstruction in the patient with previously burned forearms has not been widely appreciated. In those patients whose forearms have been previously split-thickness skin-grafted on fascia, we have employed the reverse radial forearm flap as a skin graft-fascial flap for hand reconstruction and have obtained excellent functional results. Three patients at various intervals postburn are presented to demonstrate use of this flap for wrist contracture release, coverage of arthroplasties, first web space contracture release, and acute salvage of phalanges and tendons. Assessment of the hand's vascular anatomy and careful treatment of the donor area have contributed to no added morbidity and an excellent aesthetic result at the donor site.

Adolescent

Evolving clinical and scientific concepts of upper extremity electrical trauma.

In conclusion, the pathogenesis of electrical injury is more complex than previously thought. Cellular damage occurs both by heating and electroporation. The relative contributions of heat and electroporation depend on the duration of electric current passage, the orientation of the cells, their location, and other factors. If the contact is brief, nonthermal mechanisms of cell damage may be most important. If the contact is much longer, heat damage will be most destructive. The characteristic time before heat damage predominates is probably a function of the electrical field strength in the tissue. If heat damage predominates, the injury may not be limited just to the plasma membrane but to other cell membranes as well. This is unlikely to be reversible. These parameters should also determine the pattern of injury. Damage by Joule heating is not known to be dependent on cell size, whereas larger cells are more vulnerable to membrane breakdown by electroporation. Cells do survive transient plasma membrane rupture under appropriate circumstances. Thus, if electroporation is the mechanism of damage, injured tissue may be salvageable; the challenge is to identify a technique that promptly reseals the damaged membranes. Current therapy requires a fully staffed and equipped intensive care unit, available operating suites, and the full range of available medical specialists. Major teaching hospitals are usually the prime candidates for operating an electric trauma unit. After initial resuscitation, efforts should be directed primarily toward preventing additional tissue loss mediated through a compartment syndrome. Renal and cardiac failure resulting from the release of intracellular muscle contents into the circulation must be prevented. Attention can then be directed toward maximizing tissue salvage and preventing late skeletal and neuromuscular complications. Finally, complex reconstructive procedures are needed to optimize the functional value of the remaining tissue. The eventual reconstructive goals should be kept in mind throughout the acute care of the patient.

Arm Injuries

Skin graft survival--the bacterial answer.

An in vitro wound model was created to determine the mechanism by which bacteria cause skin graft failure. A wound surface was simulated by a human fibrin clot. Staphylococcus aureus or group A streptococcus was incubated over the clot. Either saline, human plasminogen, aprotinin, or epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), or a combination of these, was added to the tubes. After 30 hours, the tubes were examined for the presence of the clot. The supernatant was then examined for the presence of fibrin degradation products (FDP). S. aureus was incapable of destroying the fibrin clot without the presence of plasminogen in the culture media. Group A streptococcus was capable of some clot degradation, but this was markedly improved in the presence of plasminogen. High FDP levels correlated with the destruction of the clot. Both aprotinin and EACA were capable of preserving the fibrin clots. In this study we carefully controlled the chemical and bacterial milieu on a simulated wound.

Antifibrinolytic Agents

Survival after a second episode of toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis resulting from severe hypersensitivity to medication has a reported mortality of up to 66%. A patient surviving two episodes with more than a 50% skin loss is unprecedented in the medical literature. Mortality has been associated with many factors, including delayed reepithelialization, persistent skin slough, coagulopathy, severe hypoproteinemia, and sepsis. It may be possible to decrease morbidity and mortality by preventing the shearing of epidermis, thereby limiting the denuded areas. This case report describes the successful management of our patient's second episode of toxic epidermal necrolysis. The treatment of this patient in our specialized burn center consisted of careful fluid and electrolyte management, nutritional support, standard topical antimicrobials, and new modalities of local wound management.

Adult

Fingerstick felons.

Blood drawing through the fingerstick technique is growing in popularity. Generally considered harmless, it is widely used both in hospitals and at home for monitoring blood glucose concentrations. We report 2 cases of hand infections requiring surgery that resulted from fingerstick blood glucose concentration determinations in immunosuppressed patients. This potentially serious side effect of using the fingerstick technique may be minimized by drawing the blood from the volar forearm or from other areas of the body.

Aged

Carotid-cavernous sinus fistula complicating a complex shotgun facial injury.

Carotid-cavernous sinus fistula is a rare but major complication of severe head injuries. This pathological communication between the internal carotid artery and the surrounding cavernous sinus at the base of the skull may result in marked retinopathy, optic atrophy with permanent loss of vision, and, rarely, fatal epistaxis. Physical signs of this entity are pathognomonic and include marked chemosis, pulsating exophthalmos, and a pulse-synchronous supraorbital bruit. Diagnosis is confirmed by carotid angiography or computed tomography scan. Treatment modalities range from internal carotid ligation to catheter embolectomy and, at times, observation. A patient with carotid-cavernous sinus fistula following complex facial trauma is described. The differential diagnosis and management of this rare pathological entity is discussed. In their position as primary consultants of head and neck trauma, plastic and reconstructive surgeons should be aware of both the diagnosis and management of this unusual condition.

Adult

The use of prophylactic antibacterials in plastic surgery: a 1980s update.

A questionnaire designed to determine the pattern of usage of prophylactic antibacterials, similar to one used a decade ago, was distributed to plastic surgeons, of whom 1718 responded. The pattern of antibacterial use in 8 major categories and 55 separate operations and circumstances was reviewed. The timing and the influence of various modifying factors was evaluated. The data present the pattern of antibacterial use by plastic surgeons at this point and time, that is, what is "usual and customary".

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Mafenide-induced pseudochondritis.

Wound infections following burns of the ear can result in the devastating complication of chondritis, requiring resection of cartilage. To prevent this, it has become common practice to dress the burned ear with mafenide acetate. We have observed six hypersensitivity reactions to the mafenide that occurred following several weeks of continuous use of the drug. The reaction mimics chondritis, causing edematous, erythematous, pruritic ears with a profuse serous exudate. There is no associated fever, systemic signs, or pain on motion of the cartilage. Treatment consists of stopping the mafenide. Recovery occurs within 72 hours. Differentiating between chondritis, with its required surgical and antibiotic treatment, and a hypersensitivity reaction is necessary to avoid further iatrogenic injury.

Adult

Double-rooted maxillary primary canines.

This paper includes morphological descriptions of bifurcated maxillary primary canines. Three major primary canine root types are recognized: A single root without trace of a groove, a root with a faint to distinct labial groove, a root with a broad and deep labial groove in the apical portion of the root.

Child