Abstract: Objective To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with anomalous coronary artery. Methods From March 1993 to April 2006, 22 patients with TOF and anomalous coronary artery underwent repair. The resection of hypertrophied parietal, septal band and the ventricular septal defect (VSD) repairs were performed by trans-right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) approach in 5 cases, and by transatrial approach in 17 cases, which consisted of 7 cases required a transannular patch to enlarge a pulmonary annulus, construction of a double barrel outlet in 6 cases, by autologous pericardium conduit (3 cases), homograft (1 case) and reflected anterior wall of the main pulmonary artery in combination with bovine pericardium (2 cases). Results There was one operative death because of the anomalous coronary artery impairment. The accessory left anterior descending artery was severed because it was mistaken for the conal arteryin 1 case, which caused failure to wean from bypass, after the left internal mammary artery was anastomosed to the accessory left anterior descending artery, the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was stopped successfully. Mean early gradient(ΔP) was 23.4mmHg and ΔP＞20mmHg in 9 cases. Eighteen cases were followed up, mean time was 13.2 months. Late ΔP＞20mmHg in 7 cases, and ΔP were less than 20mmHg in 11 cases. Conclusion The repair of TOF with anomalous coronary artery is more safe by using the transatrial approach. The surgical reconstruction of RVOT depends on the anatomic characteristic of anomalous coronary artery.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effectof infected incision wounds after sternotomy by using different reconstructive methods. Methods From December 1997 to December 2006, 13 patients (8 males, 5 females; age, 28-72 years averaged 52 years) with infected incision wounds after sternotomy underwent the reconstruction surgery respectivelyusing the pectoralis major muscle flaps, the medial flaps of the pectoralis major muscle, the rectus abdominis muscle flaps or the greater omentum transpositions. Among the patients, 8 were complicated by diabetes mellitus, 4 by pneumonia and heart failure, 3 by empyema, 4 by chronic insufficiency of the pulmonary function, 1 by malignant tumor, and 6 by severe obesity. Freshlysplit wounds werefound in 11 patients and chronic wounds in the other 2 patients.The size of thewounds was 10cm×5cm-22cm×10cm. Results Among the 13 patients，10 survived after operation and the other 3 died of massive hemorrhage from the anastomostic rupture of the blood vessel, pneumonia, and cancer metastasis, respectively. Of the 10 patients, 6 had their wounds healed by first intention. The follow-up for 6 months to 5 years revealed that there was no recurrencein all the survived patients. Of the 10 patients, 2 developed partial necrosisof the skins at the sutured wounds, which was healed after the skin grafting operation; 2 had an infection at the drainage area but had a healing after the dressing changes. Conclusion The smaller wounds in the upper partof the sternotomy incision should be repaired with the medial flaps of the pectoralis major muscle; the greater wounds in the upper part of the incision shouldbe repaired and reconstructed with the rectus abdominis muscle flap; the smaller wounds in the lower part of the incision should be repaired with the pectoralis major muscle flap, and if the wounds are longer, they should be repaired and reconstructed with the pectoralis major muscle flap and the rectus abdominis muscle flap; and if the wounds are huge enough with an exposure of the important internal organs, the greater omentum transposition should be used, and the residual wounds should be treated with dressing changes and even skin grafting.
Objective To introduce the experience and comprehensionto reconstruct nasal defect after tumor excision. Methods FromApril 1996 to April 2006, based on the aesthetic subunit principle and according to the size, shape, location of nasal defect and the conditions of surrounding skin, homologous local flap was selected to cover the nasal defect in 428 cases which nasal tumors were removed. Among 428 cases, there were 273 men and 155 women, with a median age of 52 years (12-78 years); including 146 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 83 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 54 cases of epidermal cyst, and 145 cases of pigmented naevus.The clinical stage of malignant tumor was 0-Ⅰstage, the course of disease was 1 week to 3 months. The locations were nasal tip in 51 cases, nasal ala in 102 cases, dorsum of nose in 138 cases, and nasal side in 137 cases, across 2 nasal subunits in 83 cases. The area of thedefect ranged between 0.6 cm×0.6 cm and 3.0 cm×4.0 cm. The origin of flaps was frontonasal flap in 58 cases, bilobed flap in 67 cases, reforming rhomboid flap in 152 cases, nasolabial flap in 118 cses, forehead falp in 33 cases. The secondary defect of donor site was directly sutured. Results Among 428 cases, 423 cases acquired complete recovery; 3 cases which had epiderm necrosis over the far end of the flap achieved healing by the first intention and 2 cases which had suffered low-grade infection of incision achieved healing by the second intention after regional change dressings.The nasal defect was successfully repaired in all patients,and the all flaps survived. A total of 385 patients were available forfollow-up of 1 to 60 months, no tumor recurrence occurred, and the repaired tissue were good match with surrounding tissue, good nasal contour was obtained, the cosmetic results were satisfactory. Conclusion Based on the nasal aesthetic subunit principle, the local flap can reconstruct the nasal above medial defect, and a good color, contour and texture match with the surrounding skin can be obtained, the cosmetic results are satisfactory.
Objective To investigate a suitable way to reconstruct scar constractures in the axilla and chest.Methods From January 2001 to December 2005, 52 patients(57 episodes) with scar constractures in the axilla and chest were treated, including 31 males and 21 females with an age range of 1-44 years.The deformities of scar constractures in the axilla and chest were reconstructed with posterior part of axillary scar skin flaps(44 epidsodes), anterior part of axillary scar skinflaps(10 episodes) and lateral part of upper arm’s scar skin flaps(3 episodes).The flaps were sutured to the surrounding tissues in 19 episodes, the donor sites in other38cases were covered with split thickness skin grafts. Results Fifty-four scar skin flaps survived completely by the first intention except 3flaps, which margin necrosed and healed with dressing changes. All patients were followed up 1 month to 5 years. All patients gained a good functional recovery and cosmetic appearance after the operation, and the unfolding function ofshoulder restored to 150°. Conclusion Axillary local scar skin flap is a good alternative method to reconstruct scar constractures in the axilla and chest.
Objective To explore an improved method of reconstructing the scalp soft tissue defect with the expanded skin soft tissue and treating and preventing the related complication. Methods From October 2002 toJune 2005, 32 patients (20 males and 12 females, aged 5-48 years) underwent reconstruction of the scalp soft tissue defects with the expanded scalp soft tissue in thetwo-stage operation. In the first stage, a tissue expander (cylindrical form, 50-250 ml) was inplanted into the skin to achieve a skin soft tissue expansion. After a sufficient skin expansion (8 cm×5 cm to 25 cm×23 cm) was made by the routine water affusion for 6-16 weeks, a properly-designed skin flap was taken and transferred to reconstruct the scalp soft tissue defect in the second-stage of the operation. All the scalp defects were left after the resections of the scalp lesions, which ranged in size from 7 cm×5 cm to 20 cm×20 cm.Results After operation, all the 32 patients had their scalp defects repaired and reconstructed well.The expanded skin flaps of all the 32 patients survived except 1 patient who had a necrosis of the distal epidermis of the flap, which healed after the dressings of the wound. The hair grew well and the scars were hidden with a satisfactory appearance. Four patients developed complications (necrosis of the distal flapin 1 patient, hematoma in 1, expander exposure in 1, and wound rupture in 1).Conclusion Reconstruction of the scalp soft tissue defect with the skin soft tissue expansion is an ideal method.
Objective To investigate the outcome of repairing hand composite defects using pedicle osteocutaneous groin flap. Methods From February 1998 to May 2004, 33 cases of hand composite defects were repaired with pedicle osteocutaneous groin flap. There were 22 males and 11 females. The age was 19 to 54 years with an average of 243 years. The defect was caused by palmar penetrating injury in 17 cases, by dorsal hand crushing injury in 9 cases and by other injury in 7 cases. Twentythree cases complicated by metacarpal defect, 10 by phalanx defect. Thesize of skin defect was 3.5 cm×2.0 cm to 15.0 cm×10.0 cm, the size of bonedefect was 1.5 to 3.5 cm. After 3 to 7 days of primary debridement, defect was repaired by the pedicle osteocutaneous groin flap based on the superficial circumflex iliac vessels. The flap size was 4.0 cm×2.5 cm to 17.0 cm×11.0 cm. Results All the osteocutaneous flaps survived. During the 4 to 22 months follow-up postoperatively, thetexture, appearance and function of the flap were excellent and bone union was obtained in all cases after 7 to 9 weeks of operation.Conclusion The pedicle osteocutaneous groin flap is an ideal flap to repair the composite defect of the hand, with the benefit of simple procedure and reliable blood supply.
Objective To discuss different applications ofanterolateral thigh flap in repairing large skinsoft tissue defects. Methods From January 1997 to July 2004, 27 pitients with large-complex tissue defects were treated using anterolateral thigh flap. The tissue defect was located at face in 9 cases,at cervix in 4 cases, at lower limbs in 6 cases, at vulvae in 4 cases,at hip in 1 case, at groin in 1 case and at breast tissue in 2 cases. The defect area was from 9 cm×8 cm to 20 cm×15 cm and the flap was harvested from 10 cm×8 cm to 33 cm×15 cm. Results Flaps survived in 26 cases after operation, and patients were satisfied with local function and appearance; flap necrosis occurred only in1 case，and the defect was covered with free skin graft after dress exchanges. Twenty-three cases were followed up from 3 months to 2 years. The appearance and the sense of recipient site were similar to the adjacent tissue. No obvious malformation of the donor site was observed. No local recurrence was found in the 6 cases of malignancy during the follow-up from 6 months to 15 months. Conclusion Anterolateral thigh skin flap can provide enough tissue to repair large skinsoft tissue defect,and can be used in different ways. So anterolateral femoral skin flap is an ideal flap in repairing large skinsoft tissue defect.
Objective To research the mechanisms, diagnosisand repair methodof venous trunk injuries without accompanied arterial injuries in extremities. Methods From January 1993 to June 2002, 12 cases of venous trunks injuries without accompanied arterial injuries in extremities were treated. All the patientswere males, their ages ranged from18 to 35 years. The interval between injury and operation was 30 minutes to 2 hours. The cause of injury was stab wound. Along with the antishock, the injured vessels were mended in 7 cases, end-to-end anastomosis wasperformed in 5 cases, and the operations were given in the patients with red wounds of the skull, chest or abdomen. Results One case died of severe cerebral trauma, the other 11 cases obtained primary healing. Dopplersonograpy showed that the blood vessels were patent. After a follow-up of 1 -5 years(2 years and 4 months on average), 8 cases recoveredthe function and circulation of extremities; and 3 cases accompanied with red injuries of nerves recovered the circulation of extremities, but did not recover the function with sensory disability and dyskinesia. Conclusion Emergent hemostasis, antishock, repair of the injured vessels as soon as possibleand treatment of associated injuries are important measures to save patients’ life in treating venous trunk injuries without accompanied arterial injuries in extremities.
Objective To study the biological characteristic and potential of chondrocytes grafting cultured on fascia in repairing large defect of articular cartilage in rabbits. Methods Chondrocytes of young rabbits were isolated and subcultured on fascia. The large defect of articular cartilage was repaired by grafts of freeze-preserved and fresh chondrocytes cultured on fascia, and free chondrocytes respectively; the biological characteristic and metabolism were evaluated bymacroscopic, histological and immunohistochemical observations, autoradiography method and the measurement of nitric oxide content 6, 12, 24 weeks after grafting. Results The chondrocytes cultured on fascia maintained normal growth feature and metabolism, and there was no damage to chondrocytes after cryopreservation; the repaired cartilage was similar to the normal cartilage in cellular morphology and biological characteristics. Conclusion Chondrocytes could be cultured normally on fascia, which could be used as an ideal carrier of chondrocytes.
Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of repair of massive bone defect in tibia by vascularized fibula grafting of either sides. Methods Twenty-four cases of massive bone defect in tibia, among which 14 cases were repaired by vascularized fibula grafting of the other side and another 10 cases were repaired by those of the same side, from 1987 to 1997 were followed up for 3 to 13 years; the functions of the operated limbs were evaluated according to Enneking Score System, and the outcome of the fibula grafts were assessed by radiographic examination with reference to the standard established by International Symposium onLimb Salvage. Results The average recover rate of the operated limbs in those repaired by the other side grafting was 80.7%, and the average healing period ofthe fibula graft was 14 weeks with fracture of the graft in one case which madethe operated lower limb shorten for about 2.5 cm; the fibula grafts were observed thickened in 43 weeks, on average, and the patients could walk independently without a crutch. While in those repaired by the same side grafting, the averagerecover rate of the operated limbs was 68.3%, the average healing period of thefibula graft was 17 weeks with fracture of the graft in 3 cases, in 2 of which the lower limbs were shortened for 2 cm and 4 cm respectively, and in the third one infection occurred and amputation was performed finally; the fibula grafts were observed thickened in 49 weeks, on average, which made it available for the patients to walk without a crutch. All of the data showed that there was a significant difference statistically between the differently treated cases. Conclusion It’s a good choice to repair massive bone defect in tibia by vascularized fibula grafting, and the vascularized fibula graft from the other side could promote the bone healing and accelerate the recover of the function of the operated lower limb.