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Biomedical subjects

Marzia Salgarello

Publications and source records attributed to Marzia Salgarello.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Advanced vulvar carcinoma: is it worth operating? A perioperative management protocol for radical and reconstructive surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the means whereby the results could be improved and the morbidity and side-effects minimized, of radical and extensive surgery performed together with plastic reconstruction, in the treatment of locally advanced and relapsed vulvar carcinoma. METHODS: Between May 2000 and November 2004, twenty-three patients with locally advanced or relapsed vulvar carcinoma underwent major radical or extended vulvectomy, requiring reconstructive surgery. A consistent protocol for the perioperative management of these patients, including precautionary measures to reduce the rate of early complications, was introduced in the second study period (from November 2003) to verify the benefit on surgical outcome. RESULTS: An analysis of the medical reports showed an improvement in the median time of the postoperative course and related morbidity as a consequence of a strict application of the management protocol, with consequent decrease of early complications. CONCLUSIONS: Reconstructive surgery, which broadens the spectrum of available operative therapy in primary and locally recurrent vulvar cancer, is characterized by a high complication rate. The application of a strict perioperative protocol could reduce the number and the clinical impact of such complications.

Aged↗

Immediate breast reconstruction with definitive anatomical implants after skin-sparing mastectomy.

One-stage breast reconstruction with definitive implants was the original method of breast reconstruction. It gave a round breast with a fixed shape. Lack of skin after mastectomy was the main concern who led to the development of techniques to provide 'new' breast skin such as autogenous reconstruction and tissue expanders. This made the use of definitive implants almost obsolete. Since skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) basically removes the mammary gland and the nipple-areolar complex preserving almost all mammary skin, it makes the use of definitive implants in immediate breast reconstruction possible again. Moreover, the advent of anatomically shaped implants overcomes the drawback of round shape: the anatomical implant with hyperprojected lower pole and short upper pole matches very well the profile of a real breast. The authors report their experience in 36 immediate breast reconstruction after SSM with short upper pole-hyperprojected silicone gel prostheses carried out between October 2001 and October 2003. In most cases SSM is performed through a circumareolar incision. Axillary dissection is preferably performed through the same incision. The anatomical implant is placed in a submuscular position superiorly and in a subfascial pocket inferiorly. Because of skin redundancy and easy distension of subfascial tissue in the inferior pole of the breast, the implant fills the skin of the inferior mammary pole without needing any skin expansion. Whenever possible, the skin incision is closed with a purse-string suture. The skin will look very wrinkled at the end of the surgery, but it will flatten out in a few weeks. The contralateral breast is simultaneously corrected, if needed. Outcome was assessed by evaluation of photographs performed by the authors, by the patients themselves and by a blinded group of surgeons who evaluated breast volume and shape, breast symmetry, and overall outcome. More than 90% of each of these parameters was scored as good or excellent. Complication rates was low with a 8.3% rate. The use of definitive implants in immediate breast reconstruction after SSM is a one-stage breast reconstruction with low morbidity and very good results, and it is associated with high level of patient and surgeon satisfaction.

Adult↗

Flap algorithm in vulvar reconstruction after radical, extensive vulvectomy.

The objective of this study was to assess the reconstructive options after radical, extensive vulvectomy; relate them to tumor characteristics; and select a choice of flaps able to correct every remaining defect. This study is a retrospective review of a 4-year experience with 31 flaps in 20 consecutive vulvar reconstructions. Three of the 31 flaps presented nonsignificant delayed healing at their tips and 3 other flaps developed a major breakdown related to an infection or an error in flap planning. According to the authors, the size of the defect is the main issue that must be taken into consideration during the establishment of reconstructive needs. Closure of vulvar defects is preferably performed using fasciocutaneous flaps, which are very reliable flaps and can be raised with different techniques to meet different needs. A flap is then chosen with the fewest potential complications. An algorithm has been thus established: Small to medium-size defects are closed with island V-Y flaps, island gluteal fold flaps, or pedicled pudendal thigh flaps. Among them, the island V-Y flap is the workhorse flap for vulvar reconstruction because of its versatility, reliability, and technical simplicity compared with its very low complication rate. If the vulvar defect is large and/or reaches the vulva-crural fold, V-Y flaps are also preferred to close these large and posteriorly extended excisions. If the vulvar defect is very large, extending both anteriorly and posteriorly, the use of a distally based, vertically oriented rectus abdominis muscle flap is recommended. Using this algorithm, immediate vulvar reconstruction with pedicled local or regional flaps can be performed easily and reliably.

Aged↗

The effect of liposuction on inferior epigastric perforator vessels: a prospective study with color Doppler sonography.

The authors investigated the effect of abdominal liposuction performed by superficial subdermal liposuction technique on inferior epigastric perforators. We aimed to determine whether previous liposuction is a contraindication to the use of an abdominal flap. The perforators in the abdominal region in 6 patients were marked preoperatively by color and pulsed-wave Doppler sonography (CDS), which gave a morphologic and flowmetric representation. The parameters studied with CDS were the location of the perforators, the diameters of the arteries and veins, and the flow velocity. These parameters were evaluated by the same method preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. The Student t test was employed to assess differences between pre- and postoperative values of variables. The results of our study led us to conclude that prior abdominal liposuction does no significant injury to most perforating vessels. However, CDS aimed to study the existence and the quality of perforators should be done before planning an abdominal flap.

Abdomen↗

Immediate breast reconstruction with anatomical permanent expandable implants after skin-sparing mastectomy: aesthetic and technical refinements.

Use of anatomic permanent expandable implant after skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) permits a 1-stage immediate breast reconstruction with an optimum breast shape. Preservation of most of the mammary skin after SSM on 1 side and anatomic prosthesis shape on the other makes breast reconstruction easier and enhances the quality of the esthetic results. The authors describe their experience with 40 immediate breast reconstructions after SSM performed over a period of 2 years explaining some technical details. The implant is placed in a submuscular pocket, or preferably, depending upon the condition of the muscles and skin flaps after mastectomy, in a submuscular-subfascial pocket. In this case, the undermining of the pocket is submuscular in its upper part under the major pectoralis muscle and subfascial in the lower part of the breast undermining the adipo-fascial tissues above the anterior serratus muscle. The submuscular dissection is done in continuity with the subfascial dissection to allow the complete closure of the soft tissues over the implant. In this case, the minor consistency of subfascial tissues compared with muscle in the inferior pole of the breast allows the easier and quicker distention of the soft tissue overlying the prosthesis during the inflation phase and ensures a good shape of the breast soon after surgery. Whenever possible, the mastectomy is performed through a periareolar skin incision that is closed with a purse-string suture. Finally, the authors discuss the indications of 2 different-shaped anatomic permanent expandable implants: full-height and short-height prostheses with different shape and fullness of the upper pole of the implant.

Adult↗

Neurocutaneous island flap:: an experimental model using the rabbit ear.

The rabbit ear has often been used as an experimental model; however, a neurocutaneous flap has never been described before. The authors examined the reliability of a skin cartilage flap with a pedicle composed only of a sensory nerve with its vascular network in a rabbit model: A 2 x 2-cm cutaneous cartilage flap was harvested on the dorsal side of the ear bilaterally. Vessels were tied and cut on the 4 sides of the flap, including the central auricular artery and vein. The nerve was cut at the distal side of the flap and was "skeletonized" to the extent of 1 cm on the proximal side, meticulously preserving its vascular network. Subsequently, the flap was elevated with the cartilage as a composite flap and was sutured back to its natural site. The authors elevated 28 skin cartilage flaps on the dorsal side of both the ears of 14 New Zealand White rabbits, centered on the central neurovascular axis. All 28 flaps survived. In the control group of 7 rabbits, the artery, vein, and nerve (pedicle) were severed, and the skin cartilage island was sutured back as a composite graft. None of these 14 grafts survived. In 4 additional rabbits, the authors performed a histologic examination 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 3 weeks postoperatively of the neurovascular axis after the same skin cartilage flap was harvested. They compared these results with the histologic examination of the nerve of the contralateral nonoperated ear, and noted a marked dilatation and multiplication of blood vessels in the operated ear beginning on day 1 postoperatively. The presence of this neurocutaneous vascularization should be considered when other kinds of flaps (venous flaps or others) are used as experimental models using the rabbit ear.

Animals↗

Combined treatment of advanced stages of recurrent skin cancer of the head.

OBJECT: The authors investigated whether skull base resection and primary free-flap reconstruction in a single-stage surgery is oncologically effective for treating advanced stages of recurrent skin cancer (RSC) of the head. METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients were surgically treated. Twelve of them underwent an anterolateral skull base resection, which was performed using a pterional craniotomy combined with an orbitozygomatic osteotomy. Six patients underwent a posterolateral skull base resection, which was performed using an asterional craniotomy combined with a retrolabyrinthine petrosectomy. The wide postoperative defects were covered with muscular or myocutaneous free flaps. The main factor influencing survival was the extent of the resection: patients with no or minimal residual disease showed a statistically significant longer survival time than those with consistent residual disease. Basal cell carcinoma had a better prognosis than squamous cell carcinoma. A trend toward improved survival was observed in patients classified as T4M0 with negative lymph nodes (N0), but this trend was not statistically significant. Adjuvant radiotherapy significantly influenced both survival time and the rate of local recurrence. The surgical morbidity rate was 27.8%; there were two transient cerebrospinal fluid leaks and three seventh cranial nerve injuries. Late complications included radionecrosis in one patient and skin erosion requiring a second surgery in another patient. No deaths occurred during a 30-day postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Advances in skull base surgery and free-flap reconstruction allowed the authors to treat patients with advanced-stage RSC of the head in a rather satisfactory manner. Only when it is impossible to achieve no or minimal residual disease should aggressive treatment be considered.

Aged↗

A personal technique: mammaplasty with J scar.

Mastopexy and reduction mammaplasty techniques have evolved with time, pursuing the aim of an effective and reliable technique that produces a well-shaped breast and reduces the amount of scarring. The authors believe that the L mammaplasty achieves the best results in terms of a short scar and a good, stable shape. They present their technique of a modified L mammaplasty with a resulting scar in the shape of a J, which implies a central breast resection with the nipple-areola complex transposed on a superior pedicle. The correct execution of the preoperative markings and the shaping of the gland tissue are mandatory to obtaining the desired result. The technique has been used during the past 7 years on 326 patients, providing satisfactory results with short scars and virtually no complications.

Adolescent↗

Neovaginal reconstruction with the modified McIndoe technique: a review of 32 cases.

The authors reviewed 32 patients who underwent vaginal reconstruction using a modified McIndoe procedure during the past 15 years. This technique consists of the application of split-thickness skin grafts into a new cavity created between the rectum, bladder, and urethra. The grafts are placed previously on a mold of Optosil, which is a silicon-based condensation curing impression material used by dentists. The mold is kept for 3 months 24 hours each day. During the next 3 to 4 weeks it is applied 12 hours per day. Later, according to sexual activity, the mold can be removed completely. In case of no sexual activity it should be used 1 hour per week. Parameters assessed during the follow-up were mold management, grade of pseudomucinous metaplasia of the skin grafts, sensation of the neovagina, neovagina size changes, sexual satisfaction, and complications. Postoperative complications included partial take of skin grafts (N = 3), postoperative anxiety (N = 2), donor site cheloids (N = 1), and neovaginal stricture in 3 patients who used the mold for 1 month only without having any further sexual activity. Patients who managed the mold correctly or who had constant sexual activity obtained satisfactory dimensions of the neovagina in terms of length, diameter, and elasticity.

Adolescent↗

A giant papillary carcinoma of the breast treated with mastectomy and bipedicled TRAM flap.

Although the surgical treatment of breast cancer has become more conservative in the last decades, some patients still arrive at the first physical examination with advanced diseases and with large skin infiltration. We report an unusual case of giant invasive papillary carcinoma of the breast underwent mastectomy and reconstruction with a bipedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap.

Aged↗