Closure of large abdominal wounds with an adjustable suture-tension device.
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Abdominal Muscles↗
Biomedical subjects
Philip E Fidler
Publications and source records attributed to Philip E Fidler.
Incidence, outcome, and long-term consequences of herpes simplex virus type 1 reactivation presenting as a facial rash in intubated adult burn patients treated with acyclovir.
BACKGROUND: Increased mortality, extensive visceral involvement, and necrotizing tracheobronchitis associated with herpes viruses have been reported after burns. It is unclear whether herpes presenting as a facial rash results in outcome changes after burns. METHODS: A retrospective study characterizing the incidence, presentation, and outcome of 14 patients with facial herpes rashes out of 95 severely burned intubated adults was performed. RESULTS: Facial rashes attributed to herpetic infections were found in at least 15% of patients. The problem was recognized during the second week after burn. There was no difference in mortality or length of stay noted between patients with or without the infection. CONCLUSION: The course of this infection was relatively benign in this group of acyclovir-treated patients. Even so, the lesions clearly contributed to patient discomfort and often produced fevers requiring costly investigations. Early recognition could help prevent diffuse spread of the lesions, decreasing patient discomfort and improving patient care.
Acyclovir↗
Coronary stenting during burn shock: diagnostic and treatment considerations.
Myocardial injury is known to occur in victims of both thermal and electrical burns. A variety of mechanisms have been ascribed to the pathogenesis of cardiac damage during burn shock. However, limited evidence exists that coronary artery thrombosis plays a frequent role. Distinguishing between acute coronary syndrome (impending myocardial infarction from coronary artery occlusion) vs global cardiac injury is essential; the care diverges drastically. The following case describes a patient who was angiographically proven to have acute coronary thrombosis amidst burn shock ftera 50% TBSA electrical flash burn. Managing the patient's burn shock, myocardial injury, and multiple surgical procedures while considering antiplatelet medications for a newly placed coronary artery stent presented a number of challenges not previously reported.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
Seven years' experience with Integra as a reconstructive tool.
The bilayered dermal substitute Integra (Integra Life Sciences Corp., Plainsboro, NJ) was developed and has been widely used as primary coverage for excised acute burns. Our take has been slightly different, finding it most useful in the management of complex soft-tissue loss and threatened extremities as the result of tendon, joint, or bone exposure. Often tasked to fill significant volume loss, we have become adept at stacked multiple-layer applications. Creative use of this material has resulted in unexpected successes with distal limb salvage; the technique takes its place beside adjacent tissue transfer, composite flaps, and vascular pedicle flaps in our burn reconstructive practice. A prospective registry (44 patients) has been kept during the past 7 years that catalogs wounds with complex soft-tissue loss treated with Integra grafts. Many of these patients were at risk of extremity loss because of exposed tendons, joints, or bone. Integra was applied after 1:1 meshing. With profound soft-tissue defects, multiple layers of Integra were serially applied 1 to 2 weeks apart for reconstitution of soft-tissue contours. Local Integra graft infections were managed by silicone unroofing followed by topical sulfamylon liquid dressings. Wounds addressed included fourth-degree burns, necrotizing fasciitis, pit-viper envenomations, and total abdominal wall avulsion in one patient after being run over by a bus. Patients generally were free of pain from their wounds during the maturation phase of the Integra neodermis. Restoration of tissue contour was significantly better when using multiple layers for deep defects. Second and third layers of Integra were successfully applied after an abbreviated first graft maturation period of 7 days. Epithelial autografts on multilayer Integra applications frequently "ghosted"; they would auto-digest to dispersed cells followed subsequently by the reappearance of a confluent epithelial layer. Final grafted skin morphology over palmar and plantar surfaces assumed the type and fingerprint pattern of the original tissues. Infections were readily visible. Early recognition kept them to easily treated circumscribed areas, which did not jeopardize the entire wound. Lengths of stay were long (range, 2-246 days) but not significantly greater than with traditional techniques. The specific reconstructive use of Integra permitted unexpected salvage of several threatened extremities by protecting exposed tendons, bones and joints. Long-term histologic examination revealed unexpected persistence of Integra collagen. Large volume loss wounds benefited from the ability to fill voids with multilayered applications.
Abdominal Injuries↗