Objective To evaluate outcomes of vacuum sealing drainage（VSD）for the treatment of wound infection after cardiac surgery.?Methods?We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 70 patients（with valvular heart disease，congenital heart disease or coronary heart disease）who underwent cardiac surgery via mid-sternotomy and had postoperative wound infection from Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2012 in General Military Hospital of Guangzhou Command. According to different treatment strategy for wound infection, all the patients with wound infection （incision longer than 5 cm） were randomly divided into VSD group （n=35） and control group（n=35） by random number table，while VSD treatment was used for patients in VSD group and routine treatment was used for patients in control group. Treatment outcome，duration of wound infection, duration of antibiotic treatment and treatment cost were compared between the two groups.?Results?There was no in-hospital death in both groups. Wound exudate significantly decreased and fresh granulation tissue grew well in the wound in most VSD group patients after VSD treatment. The cure rate of VSD group was significantly higher than that of control group （94.3% vs. 60.0%，P＜0.05）. Duration of wound infection （12.9±3.4 d vs. 14.8±4.1 d；t=-2.094，P=0.040）and duration of antibiotic treatment （7.0±1.5 d vs. 8.3±1.9 d；t=-2.920，P=0.005） of VSD group were significantly shorter than those of control group. There was no statistical difference in treatment cost between the two groups. Fifteen patients in VSD group were followed up （42.9%） for 3 months with good wound healing, and 20 patients in VSD group were lost in follow-up.?Conclusion?VSD is effective for the treatment of wound infection after cardiac surgery with shortened treatment duration and similar treatment cost compared with routine treatment.
Objective To observe the operative technique and cl inical effects of hidden tension suture after tibiofibular fracture fixation with absorbable thread. Methods From October 2003 to October 2008, 203 patients (220 sides) with tibiofibular fracture underwent hidden tension suture (test group, 102 cases of 112 sides) and the common interrupted suture (control group, 101 cases of 108 sides), including 179 males and 24 females with an median age of 36 years (3-75 years). Fracture was caused by traffic accident in 170 cases, by heavy bruise in 21 cases, and by fall ing from height in 12 cases. Therewere 186 cases of single-side fracture, and 17 cases of double-side fracture. Of them, 127 sides were closed fracture, and 93 sides were open fracture (including 38 sides of type I, 45 sides of type II, and 10 sides of type IIIA according to Gustilo classification for the open fracture). The locations were upper tibia in 55 sides, middle tibia in 126 sides, and lower tibia in 39 sides. The X-ray films showed that there were transverse fractures in 65 sides, obl ique fractures in 53 sides, spiral fractures in 45 sides, and comminuted fractures in 57 sides. No blood vessel injury, osteofascial compartment syndrome and pressure syndrome were observed. The time from injury to operation was 2 hours to 7 days with an average of 2 days. Of 220 sides, 45 sides were fixed by interlocking nails, others by internal steel plate. Results In control group, heal ing by first intention was achieved in 70 cases (69.3%) and heal ing by secondary intention in 31 cases (30.7%); in test group, heal ing by first intention was achieved in 93 cases (91.2%) and heal ing by secondary intention in 9 cases (8.8%); and showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). All patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years (average 9 months). No compl ication occurred in test group, and scar was obvious in the control group. Conclusion The hidden tension suture with absorbable thread can be a good alternative for the incision heal ing after tibiofibular fracture fixation. It deals with the problems of the incision tension and difficult-to-suture, and is good for the incision heal ing after operation.
ObjectiveTo discuss the effect of three different ways of annulus fibrosus incision on the biomechanical strength of intervertebral disc.
MethodsA total of 30 goats underwent intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus extraction at L3, 4 and L4, 5 by the working channel in group A (n=10), by circular incision in group B (n=10), and by square incision in group C (n=10). The body weight, male and female ratio, age, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing time were recorded and compared among 3 groups. The survival rate and wound healing situation were observed after operation. At 24 weeks after operation, the goats were sacrificed, MRI images were taken to observe the signal intensity of nucleus pulposus. The disc height of L3, 4 and L4, 5 was measured to calculate the loss of disc height; biomechanical test was used to assess the strength of the disc and anulus. Histological staining was also conducted to observe the repair effect at L4, 5.
ResultsThere was no significant difference in body weight, male to female ratio, age, intraoperative blood loss, and wound healing time among groups (P>0.05). All goats survived to the end of the experiment. MRI examination showed decreased signal intensity in 3 groups, indicating intervertebral disc degeneration. According to modified Thompson classification method, the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration of group A was significantly higher than that of groups B and C (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups B and C (P>0.05). Difference was not significant in intervertebral space height before operation among 3 groups (P>0.05). But after 24 weeks, the intervertebral space height in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), and the intervertebral space height loss in group A was significantly lower than that in groups B and C (P<0.05). The biomechanical strength in group A was also significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between group B and group C (P>0.05). HE and Masson staining showed good continuity of annulus fibrosus and clear layers in group A; poor continuity of annulus fibrosus and obvious scar tissues were observed in groups B and C.
ConclusionApplication of working channel may have less destruction of annulus fibrosus, it plays a positive role in the maintenance of biomechanical strength and repair of annulus fibrosus.
Objective
To investigate the function of a self-designed bilayered negative pressure wound therapy (b-NPWT) in reducing the occurrence of these complications through a clinical randomized controlled trial.
Methods
We included 72 coronary heart disease patients in our hospital from December 2013 through March 2014. There were 48 males and 24 females aged 38.4±18.6 years undergoing coronary artery bypass graft(CABG) surgery, and great saphenous veins were chosen as grafts. Patients were equally randomized into a trial group and a control group. The patients in the trial group underwent 5 d of b-NPWT for thigh incision and interrupted suture for shank incision after the harvesting of great saphenous veins. Patients in the control group received an interrupted suture for both thigh incision and shank incision after the harvesting of great saphenous veins. We evaluated the function of b-NPWT by reducing the complications arising from the harvesting of great saphenous veins in CABG patients.
Results
The incidences of early complications, such as lymphedema, incision infection, non-union, and skin flap necrosis of the vascular zone in the trial group were significantly lower than those of the control group. There was no death or new problem in heart or deep venous thrombosis in both groups. No complication occurred in long term. The incidence of lower limb edema was lower in the trial group than that in the control group at the end of 3 months follow-up.
Conclusion
B-NPWT can effectively prevent lymphorrhagia in CABG patients who underwent the harvesting of great saphenous veins. It can also reduce the incidence of complications and discomfort of the patients.
