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Background: Pure laparoscopic liver donor right hepatectomy (LLDRH) remains challenging, and its value is still unclear compared with open liver donor right hepatectomy (OLDRH). Objective: To provide comprehensive evidence about the safety and efficacy of LLDRH. Methods: The MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched from the date of inception to July 2021. A fixed-effects or random-effects model was used to analyze the pooled data by using Review Manager Version 5.3. Results: A total of 1940 patients from 6 studies were enrolled in this meta-analysis. For perioperative outcomes of donors, LLDRH had a longer operative time than OLDRH (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 29.75 [4.23-55.26] minutes, P = .02), but it had lower overall morbidity (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67 [0.45-0.99], P = .04), fewer pulmonary complications (OR = 0.47 [0.29-0.76], P = .002), and shorter hospital stays (WMD = -1, P < .001) than OLDRH. However, major complications, biliary complications, portal vein problems, and intra-abdominal bleeding were comparable between the 2 groups. With regard to the postoperative data of recipients, the risks of biliary problems, hepatic artery problems, portal vein problems, hepatic vein problems, and postoperative liver failure were similar between the 2 groups. Conclusions: LLDRH for living donors is safe and effective, and it offers superior perioperative outcomes to OLDRH.

Objective: Endoscopic vessel harvest (EVH) is evolving as the standard of care for coronary artery bypass grafting. However, the increase in upfront equipment-related costs has resulted in reluctance of uptake globally. We investigated the costs involving a non-sealed technique for EVH versus open vessel harvesting techniques (OVH) for both the greater saphenous vein and radial artery with a 6-month follow-up. Methods: From September 2016 to December 2018, 226 patients underwent OVH while 251 patients underwent EVH using a reusable non-sealed system and a single-use radiofrequency sealing system. Cumulative costs for OVH versus EVH were calculated as a summation of total operative and in-hospital stay costs. Costs related to harvest site complication management were also analyzed for up to 6 months. Results: Total operative costs were greater in the EVH group (Can$2,283.70 [Can$1,377.60 to $4,183.50] vs Can$1,742.40 [Can$998.50 to $3,628.10], P < 0.001). Total length of stay was significantly shorter for the EVH group (5.9 [4 to 43] days vs 6.8 [4 to 55] days, P = 0.018). Cumulative costs were comparable at the end of the hospitalization period (EVH, Can$6,534.70 [Can$2,076.50 to $33,087.70] vs OVH, Can$6,112.50 [Can$3,322.30 to $45,503.50], P = 0.06). After discharge, harvest site–related complications occurred more frequently in the OVH group (27% vs 4.4%, P < 0.001), resulting in increased use of antibiotics (2.2% vs 0.8%, P = 0.02) as well as more frequent requirement for home nursing assistance in the OVH group (5.7% vs 0.8%, P = 0.002) at 6 months of follow-up. Conclusions: Cumulative costs did not show a statistical difference between OVH and EVH, with higher intraoperative costs for EVH being offset by higher harvest site management costs in the OVH group.

Textbook outcome (TO) is a composite measure of outcome and provides superior assessment of quality of care after surgery. TO after major living donor hepatectomy (MLDH) has not been assessed. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of TO and its associated factors, after MLDH.This was a single center retrospective review of living liver donors who underwent MLDH between 2012 and 2021 (n = 1022). The rate of TO and its associated factors was determined.Among 1022 living donors (of whom 693 [67.8%] were males, median age 26 [range, 18-54] years), TO was achieved in 714 (69.9%) with no donor mortality. Majority of donors met the cutoffs for individual outcome measures: 908 (88.8%) for no major complications, 904 (88.5%) for ICU stay ≤ 2 days, 900 (88.1%) for hospital stay ≤ 10 days, 990 (96.9%) for no perioperative blood transfusion, 1004 (98.2%) for no 30-day re-admission, and 1014 (99.2%) for no post-hepatectomy liver failure. Early donation era (before streamlining of donor operative pathways) was associated with failure to achieve TO [OR 1.4, CI 1.1-1.9, P = 0.006]. TO was achieved in 506/755 (67%) donors in the early donation era versus 208/267 (77.9%) in the later period (P = 0.001).Despite zero mortality and low complication rate, TO was achieved in approximately 70% donors. TO was modifiable and improved with changes in donor operative pathway.

This study was designed to review laparoscopic living donor liver transplantations (LDLTs) at a single center that achieved complete transition from open surgery to laparoscopy. LDLTs performed from January 2013 to July 2021 were reviewed. Comparisons between open and laparoscopic surgeries were performed according to periods divided into initial, transition, and complete transition periods. A total of 775 LDLTs, 506 laparoscopic and 269 open cases, were performed. Complete transition was achieved in 2020. Bile duct variations were significantly abundant in the open group both in the initial period (30.2% vs. 8.1%; p 0.001) and transition period (48.1% vs. 24.3%; p 0.001). Portal vein variation was more abundant in the open group only in the initial period (13.0% vs. 4.1%; p = 0.03). Although the donor reoperation rate (0.0% vs. 4.1%; p = 0.02) and Grade III or higher complication rate (5.6% vs. 13.5%; p = 0.03) were significantly higher in the laparoscopy group in the initial period, there were no differences during the transition period as well as in overall cases. Median number of opioids required by the donor (three times [interquartile range, IQR, 1-6] vs. 1 time [IQR, 0-3]; p 0.001) was lower, and the median hospital stay (10 days [IQR, 8-12] vs. 8 days [IQR, 7-9]; p 0.001) was shorter in the laparoscopy group. Overall recipient bile leakage rate (23.8% vs. 12.8%; p 0.001) and overall Grade III or higher complication rate (44.6% vs. 37.2%; p = 0.009) were significantly lower in the laparoscopy group. Complete transition to laparoscopic living donor hepatectomy was possible after accumulating a significant amount of experience. Because donor morbidity can be higher in the initial period, donor selection for favorable anatomy is required for both the donor and recipient.

Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (LLDN) is the most adopted technique for kidney transplantation. Several obstacles preclude brain-dead organ transplantation in the Middle East, going from social and cultural barriers to economical and structural difficulties. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report Lebanese experience with pure LLDN, and kidney transplantation.We included 120 cases of pure LLDN performed at our center. Demographic, perioperative, and immediate postoperative data were analyzed. Surgical particularities of the technique are described.The reported laparoscopic technique allowed for minimal perioperative morbidity, with an overall complication rate of 3%. Operative time averaged 146 minutes and warm ischemia time averaged 4 minutes. Mean hospital stay was 3 ± 1 days. Postoperative hemoglobin and creatinine showed a mean absolute variation of 0.09 ± 0.06 g/dL for hemoglobin and 0.51 ± 015 μmoles/L increase for creatinine. No Clavien-Dindo III-V complications were recorded.Strict adherence to the reproducible pure LLDN technique allowed for the performance of almost 45 cases per year with minimal morbidity and results comparable to similar series.

We evaluated different techniques of donor nephrectomy.Outcomes of 4 surgical approaches (open surgery [OS], standard laparoscopy [SL], hand-assisted laparoscopy [HAL], and robot-assisted la`paroscopy [RAL]) were compared.A total of 264 nephrectomies were performed: 65 in the OS group, 65 in the SL group, 65 in the HAL group, and 69 in RAL group. Operative time was longer for the RAL group (P.001) with a mean time of 202 minutes (RAL), 182 minutes (OS), 173 minutes (SL), and 157 minutes (HAL). Complications (P = .002) and consumption of morphine derivates (P = .31) were lower for the RAL group (P = .0002). The visual analog scale pain scores (P = .002), hospital stay (P = .023), and time to return to full activities (P = .79) were higher for OS.The 4 different nephrectomy surgical approaches had similar favorable results. The robot-assisted technique presented as an alternative option, with low incidence of complications, less pain, and results comparable to the other techniques.

Potential live liver donors with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are rejected upfront for donation in live donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Herein, we share our experience of the feasibility of live liver donation in donors with NASH after successful donor optimization.Prospectively collected data of 410 consecutive donor hepatectomies from June 2011 to January 2018 were analyzed.During the study period, NASH was diagnosed histopathologically in 17 donors. Four donors were rejected in view of grade 2 fibrosis on histology. Out of remaining 13 donors, six became eligible for donation following lifestyle changes, dietary modifications, and target weight reduction of ≥5%. Reversal of NASH was confirmed on repeat liver biopsy in all the 6 donors. Five out of 6 underwent right lobe (without MHV) donor hepatectomies, while one had left lobe donation. These donors had significantly higher peak bilirubin levels in the immediate post-operative period as compared to other non-NASH donors (4.00 ± 0.32 vs. 2.57 ± 1.77 mg/dL, p = 0.043). In addition, post-hepatectomy normalization of hyperbilirubinemia, if any, was slower in donors with NASH (7 ± 1.3 vs. 5 ± 1.7 days, p = 0.016). However, none of these donors had post-hepatectomy liver failure. All these donors were discharged after an average hospital stay of 8 ± 1.7 days. Their respective recipients had uneventful post-operative courses without complications. Both the recipients and donors are having satisfactory liver functions after 46.7 ± 10.2 months of follow-up.Scrupulous selection of live liver donors with NASH can open a door for expanding the organ pool in LDLT after a successful donor optimization program.

Laparoscopic approaches have not been performed in living right donor hepatectomy (LDRH) because these are more technically demanding and are associated with increased donor morbidity. Instead, several studies have described LDRH using an upper midline incision (UMI) to reduce donor morbidity. Herein, we describe our experience with small UMI as a standard procedure for LDRH.We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 444 LDRH at our institution from January 2010 to June 2019; 124 donors received LDRH using UMI (UMI group) and 320 donors underwent LDRH using a J-shaped incision (J-shaped group). This incision has been performed regardless of graft type, body mass index, graft weight, or vascular variations. Patient demographic characteristics, intraoperative parameters, laboratory data, and postoperative complications were compared between the 2 groups.The mean size of the UMIs was 12.4 cm (range, 11-16 cm) and the overall complication rates did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Most postoperative outcomes were not different between the 2 groups, but the length of hospital stay and operation time in the UMI group were significantly lower than those in the J-shaped group. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, only large grafts (900 g) and significant hepatic steatosis (≥15%) were significant risk factors for difficult operation but not related to type of incision.LDRH could be safely performed with a small UMI and could be considered as standard practice during LDRH.

Collection of bone graft with the Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator (RIA) system has become common practice across the field of orthopaedic surgery. While RIA bone graft is typically obtained from native long bones, grafting material can likewise be harvested from long bones that have previously undergone the placement and removal of an intramedullary nail, a process termed re-reamed RIA (RRR). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the total protein and growth factor concentrations present in native-RIA (NR) compared with RRR samples.NR and RRR bone grafts were collected intraoperatively with the RIA system and processed to evaluate both the aqueous and the hard tissue components. Total protein concentration and specific growth factors were analyzed using standard bicinchoninic acid and multiplex assays, respectively. Analyte levels were then normalized to the total amount of protein detected.Total protein levels were comparable between NR and RRR samples for both the aqueous filtrate and the hard tissue samples. When normalized, while levels of bone morphogenic protein-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor were comparable in the hard tissue component, the aqueous filtrate from the RRR sample was found to have elevated levels of growth factors, with bone morphogenic protein-2 reaching statistical significance.This study demonstrates that ample protein is found within both NR and RRR samples, with comparable or elevated levels of osteogenic growth factors found within RRR samples. Future, larger, prospective studies will be required to evaluate the osteogenic potential and clinical efficacy of NR and RRR cancellous bone grafts to validate their equivalency.

Objective Organ donation after circulatory death (DCD) is a potential solution for the shortage of suitable organs for transplant. Heart transplantation using DCD donors is not frequently performed due to the potential myocardial damage following warm ischemia. Heat shock protein (HSP) 90 has recently been investigated as a novel target to reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury. The objective of this study is to evaluate an innovative HSP90 inhibitor (HSP90i) as a cardioprotective agent in a model of DCD heart. Methods A DCD protocol was initiated in anesthetized Lewis rats by discontinuation of ventilation and confirmation of circulatory death by invasive monitoring. Following 15 minutes of warm ischemia, cardioplegia was perfused for 5 minutes at physiological pressure. DCD hearts were mounted on a Langendorff ex vivo heart perfusion system for reconditioning and functional assessment (60 minutes). HSP90i (0.01 μmol/L) or vehicle was perfused in the cardioplegia and during the first 10 minutes of ex vivo heart perfusion reperfusion. Following assessment, pro-survival pathway signaling was evaluated by western blot or polymerase chain reaction. Results Treatment with HSP90i preserved left ventricular contractility (maximum + dP/dt, 2385 ± 249 vs 1745 ± 150 mm Hg/s), relaxation (minimum –dP/dt, –1437 ± 97 vs 1125 ± 85 mm Hg/s), and developed pressure (60.7 ± 5.6 vs 43.9 ± 4.0 mm Hg), when compared with control DCD hearts (All P = .001). Treatment abrogates ischemic injury as demonstrated by a significant reduction of infarct size (2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride staining) of 7 ± 3% versus 19 ± 4% (P = .03), troponin T release, and mRNA expression of Bax/Bcl-2 (P Conclusions The cardioprotective effects of HSP90i when used following circulatory death might improve transplant organ availability by expanding the use of DCD hearts.

Internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) are the gold standard conduits for coronary revascularization because of their long-term patency and anti-atherosclerotic properties. Harvesting and preparation of ITAs for revascularization is a technically demanding procedure with multiple challenges. Over the last few decades, various methods and techniques for ITAs harvesting have been introduced by different surgeons and applied in clinical practice with different results. Harvesting of ITAs in pedicled or skeletonized fashion, with electrocautery or harmonic scalpel, with open or intact pleura, with clipping the end or keeping it perfused; papaverine delivery with intraluminal injection, perivascular injection, injecting into endothoracic fascia, and papaverine topical spray are the different techniques introduced by the number of researchers. At the same time, access to the ITAs for harvesting has also been studied. Access and harvesting through median sternotomy, mini anterolateral thoracotomy, thoracoscopic, and robotic-assisted harvesting of ITAs are the different techniques used in clinical practice. However, the single standard method for harvesting and preparation of ITAs has yet to be determined. In this review article, we aimed to discuss and analyze all these techniques of harvesting and preparing ITAs with the help of literature to find the best way for ITAs harvesting and preparation for myocardial revascularization.

Pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy is a complex procedure, and the safety and feasibility of this operation remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and learning curve of this operation performed by a single surgeon.We retrospectively reviewed the initial 100 donors who underwent pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy or open donor right hepatectomy by a single surgeon from December 2012 to May 2019. Endpoints analyzed included intraoperative results, postoperative complications, and learning curve, which was evaluated using the cumulative sum method based on the operation time. We divided the pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy group into initial and recent groups based on the time point of overcoming the learning curve.The operative time was significantly shorter in the recent pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy group (n = 57; 181.0 ± 35.7 min) than in the open donor right hepatectomy (n = 50; 203.0 ± 37.3 min) and initial pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy (n = 43; 282.2 ± 59.2 min) groups (P.001). Moreover, the length of hospital stay in the recent pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy group was significantly reduced compared to that in the open donor right hepatectomy group (7.7 ± 1.2 vs 5.8 ± 1.4; P.001). The complication rate was reduced from 10% in the open donor right hepatectomy group and 8% in the initial pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy group to 2% in the recent pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy group.As technology advances, the surgical outcomes of pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy are comparable and the operation time of pure laparoscopic donor right hepatectomy is superior to those of open donor hepatectomy.

Summary Background Understanding the morbidity of sural nerve harvest is important when counselling patients regarding nerve grafts. Existing data consist of small studies with varying degrees of follow-up and a wide range of reported donor site outcomes. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature and pool the current data for postoperative outcomes after sural nerve graft harvest. Methods A systematic review of literature was conducted to identify studies that examined donor site outcomes of sural nerve graft harvests. Results Five-hundred and fourteen studies were identified through a literature search, and nine studies met inclusion criteria. There were 240 patients who underwent sural nerve grafts. The most common methods for sensory evaluation were patient survey (44.4%) and Semmes–Weinstein evaluation (33.3%). Five studies reported surface areas of sensory loss, and this generally decreased over time after sural nerve grafting. Overall, 87.2% of patients (n = 190) reported sensory loss, 25.6% (n = 42) of patients reported pain, 22.2% (n = 28) of patients reported cold sensitivity, and 10% (n = 20) of patients reported functional impairment at follow-up. When the proximal sural nerve was spared during harvest, the extent of sensory loss and pain were less than harvest at the popliteal fossa (87.4% vs 95.7%, p = 0.0407 and 9.1% vs 35.5%, p = 0.0004, respectively). Conclusions In this study, we present the extent of sensory loss and rates of pain, cold sensitivity, and functional impairment after sural nerve harvest. These data should be discussed prior to surgery in order for patients and surgeons to make an informed decision.

BACKGROUND Large-volume fat grafting results in high absorption and complication rates. Low-density fat includes small numbers of viable cells and considerable oil, resulting in nodules and oil cysts. This study evaluated a strategy for large-volume fat grafting using a mechanical process to condense low-density fat and transplanting it with high-density fat. METHODS Low-density fat, defined as the upper half of centrifuged lipoaspirates, was emulsified by intersyringe shifting and centrifuged to obtain condensed low-density fat. Fresh condensed low-density fat was analyzed by counting cells in the stromal vascular fraction, and by electron scanning and Western blotting. The retention rate and histologic changes of the product were analyzed using a fat grafting model in nude mice. Transplantation with a combination of condensed low-density fat and high-density fat was tested in patients undergoing breast reconstruction and breast augmentation. RESULTS The condensed low-density fat derived from low-density fat contained a large number of stromal vascular fraction cells and collagens, comparable to that of high-density fat and much higher than in low-density fat and Coleman fat. Retention rates 12 weeks after transplantation were higher for condensed low-density fat (55.0 ± 7.5 percent) than for low-density fat (31.1 ± 5.7 percent) and Coleman fat (41.1 ± 6.8 percent), with condensed low-density fat having fewer oil cysts and lower macrophage infiltration. Patients grafted with combined condensed low-density fat and high-density fat showed good long-term volume retention. CONCLUSIONS Using mechanical methods to condense low-density fat to a level comparable to that of high-density fat is a practical method of improving fat graft retention and avoiding severe complications. This new strategy may improve the quality of lipoaspirates for patients requiring large-volume augmentation.

Objective The optimal harvesting technique of saphenous vein (SVG) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is still to be elucidated. The present study aimed to compare the methods of SVG harvesting technique, which were open vein harvesting (OVH), endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH), and no-touch vein harvesting (NT), using a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and propensity-score matched (PSM) studies. Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through April 2021 to identify RCTs and PSM studies that investigated the outcomes in patients who underwent CABG with the SVG using one of three methods; OVH, EVH, and NT. The outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality, the rates of revascularization, and graft failure. Risk ratios (RRs) were extracted for the rates of graft failure, and hazard ratios (HRs) were extracted for all-cause mortality and the rates of revascularization. Results Eligible seven RCT and five PSM studies were identified which enrolled a total of 8111 patients. All-cause mortality was significantly lower in patients with EVH compared with OVH (HR [95% confidence interval (CI)] =0.77 [0.65-0.92], p = .0032). The rates of revascularization were similar among the groups. The rate of graft failures was significantly lower in patients with NT compared with OVH (HR [95% CI] =0.54 [0.32-0.90], p = .019) and with EVH (HR [95% CI] =0.39 [0.17-0.86], p = .023). Conclusion NT vein harvesting is favorable for graft patency, and OVH showed higher all-cause mortality than EVH. Further well-powered RCTs are needed to confirm our findings.

Background Living kidney donation is widely practiced, and short- and long-term outcomes are acceptable. Within the living kidney donor population there are unique ethnic groups who practice customs that affect kidney function. In Judaism, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is a 25- to 26-hour fast practiced yearly. There are no studies describing the effect of this fast on LKDs. Methods Living kidney donors were approached via e-mail. Exclusion criteria were conditions considered prohibitive of fasting. Control participants were potential living kidney donors approved by the standard medical evaluation but that had not yet donated. Blood and urine samples were obtained at 3 time points: baseline: 3 months before fast; fasting: 1 hour after fast; and follow-up: 14 days after fast. Results In total, 85 living kidney donors and 27 control participants were included. Donors were older (42.8 vs 38.8 years) and had a higher baseline creatinine (103 vs 72 umol/L). All other parameters were the same. The percent change between fasting and nonfasting creatinine was smaller in living kidney donors than in control participants (0.12% vs 0.21% change, P = .04). Values of sodium, albumin, and osmolarity were not different between groups. Time from donation did not influence results. Conclusions Living kidney donors practicing a day fast showed a different pattern regarding the change in creatinine levels. This pattern cannot be considered hazardous for living kidney donors. The emotional wellbeing of living kidney donors is of utmost importance, and this first report of the safety of a 24-hour fast is reassuring. These findings may be of interest to other religious groups, for example, the Muslim community which observes Ramadan.

Background Concentration and physical strength are essential for the long duration of hair transplant surgery. Because both the patient and the doctor must maintain certain postures for long periods, the importance of ergonomics cannot be understated. Aims To review the devices, instruments, and techniques developed for ergonomic follicular unit excision surgery, to present our experience with various ergonomic modifications, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the related devices, novel concepts, and methods. Methods We evaluated the scientific evidence supporting the ideas, methods, devices, and systems to help create a better ergonomic environment, and we investigated how these elements can be fine-tuned to improve efficiency when performing follicular unit excision graft harvesting. Results Through innovative methods, ideas, devices, and instruments, the authors achieved a high-quality ergonomic environment for performing follicular unit excision. Conclusion Follicular unit excision is a widely used technique in hair restoration surgery. However, follicular unit excision is a very laborious and time-consuming procedure and mandates the best ergonomic conditions for both the surgeon and the patient. Therefore, it is crucial that the physician understands and appropriately adopts the various means and techniques to provide an ergonomic environment.

The volume effect of fat grafting is highly dependent on the presence of viable adipocytes and other nucleated cells within the lipoaspirate. We suspected that one of the crucial factors influencing cell viability is the negative pressure applied during the fat graft harvesting and the suitability of various harvest sites when compared to others. Despite much discussion, there is no consensus on the optimal negative pressure or the best site for harvesting so we designed an experiment to test this. Fat graft taken under low negative pressure (− 200 mmHg) or high negative pressure (− 700 mmHg) from the thigh or abdominal regions from 21 healthy human donors was evaluated. The principal variables studied were: a) total number and viability of nucleated cells, b) liposuction duration and c) blood admixture. Other variables studied were body mass index, the impact of age and enzymatic digestion. The absolute number and viability of nucleated cells and the blood admixture did not differ significantly between lipoaspirates obtained under different vacuum conditions or from different regions. The time taken to acquire the same volume of lipoaspirate was significantly increased using low negative pressure. The time taken to collect cells in the thigh region significantly increased with increasing BMI but this correlation was not found when harvesting in the abdominal region. The BMI and age did not impact the results in any of the measured variables. The enzymatic digestion rate was independent of the negative pressure used to harvest. Our results indicate that neither the negative pressure used nor the area chosen has any significant influence on the viability and yield of harvested cells. The time taken to obtain lipoaspirate using low pressure is significantly longer than when using high pressure. No significant difference was found in the value of blood admixture using different vacuum pressures, and no correlation exists between the body mass index and the cell viability or age of the patients and the time of liposuction. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine Ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Since its initial description in 1996 by Yii and Niranjan, the internal pudendal perforator flap (also known as the Singapore flap, the gluteal fold flap, and the lotus petal flap) has become a workhorse in perineal soft tissue reconstruction. In 2001, Hashimoto described the presence of three to five perforators in the perineal anogenital triangle. The ischial tuberosity has thus become a useful anatomic landmark for the safe boundary of medial dissection during flap elevation, in order to avoid damaging the perforator vessels. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the perforators’ positions within the anogenital triangle by using color Doppler ultrasound. In a study of 15 subjects in the lithotomy position, we identified a total of 24 perforator vessels with a diameter greater than 5 mm. We noted the vessels’ positions using orthonormal measurements, according to the distance from the midline and the distance on a straight line between the two ischial tuberosities (i.e. consistent bony anatomic landmarks that are independent of the patient's height and body mass index). The mean distance between the ischial tuberosity and the internal pudendal perforator was 27.3 mm. Based on our present results, we consider that routine ultrasound identification and dissection of the perforators is not always required before pudendal flap harvesting. This decreases the operating time and simplifies the flap harvesting procedure.

Bone grafting has over 100 years of successful clinical use. Despite the successes of autograft bone transplantation, complications of bone grafting are significant, mostly at the donor site. This article reviews the biology of fracture healing, the properties of bone grafts, and reviews the specific advantages and problems associated with autograft bone. Recent techniques such as the Reamer Irrigator Aspirator are described, which has dramatically reduced complications of bone autograft harvesting.

We present a comparative series to utilize minimally invasive endoscopic, total extraperitoneal laparoscopic (TEP-lap), and transabdominal preperitoneal robotic perforator (TAP-RAP) harvest of the deep inferior epigastric (DIE) vessels for autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) to mitigate donor site morbidity. We hypothesized that TEP-lap and TAP-RAP harvests of abdominal-based free flaps are safe techniques associated with decreased fascial incision when compared with the endoscopic harvest.We designed a retrospective cohort series of subjects with newly diagnosed breast cancer who presented for ABR using endoscopic (control), laparoscopic, or robotic assistance between September 2017 and April 2019. The primary outcome variables were flap success (i.e., absence of perioperative flap loss), fascial incision length, and intraoperative complications. Secondary variables included operating time, costs, and postoperative complications within 90 days (arterial thrombosis, venous congestion, bulge/hernia, and operative revision). Exclusion criteria included90 days follow-up.In total 94, 38, and 3 subjects underwent endoscopic, TEP-lap, and TAP-RAP flap harvests. Mean lengths of fascial incisions for the endoscopic and laparoscopic cohorts were 4.5 ± 0.5 cm and 2.0 ± 0.6 cm (p 0.0001), while incision length depended on the concurrent procedure in the robotic cohort. No subjects required conversion to an open harvest. There were no bleeding complications, intra-abdominal injuries, flap losses, or abdominal bulges/hernias noted in the TEP-lap and TAP-RAP cohorts.Minimally invasive DIEP flap harvest may decrease fascial injury when compared with conventional open harvest. There are significant trade-offs among harvest methods. TEP-lap harvest may better balance the trade-off related to abdominal wall morbidity.

In this Perspective article, we comment upon the recent statement from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) regarding transplant ethics. This statement distinguishes ISHLT from other professional transplantation societies in relation to clinical and academic interactions with fellow transplant professionals from the People's Republic of China. While international exchange of knowledge, skills and expertise has been a valued hallmark of organ donation and transplantation, collaboration with a transplant program stained with credible evidence of unethical transplant practice that amount to crimes against humanity in relation to organ donor sources. Engagement therefore poses grave risks for transplantation institutions, groups and societies of complicity in atrocity crimes and subsequent legal prosecution. While all transplantation societies agree that historically the People's Republic of China has relied on executed prisoner organs for the vast majority of their organ donor supply, how each interacts professionally with their Chinese counterpart vary. In this Perspective article, we summarize the overwhelming body of evidence to support the allegations, signpost independent investigations that have critically appraised the evidence and highlight ongoing concerns regarding regulatory and scientific veracity which have led to the statement from the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. We believe this is a bold step that underlines the ethical integrity of the society and call upon other transplantation groups to follow this lead.

Summary A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was, ‘in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting is semi-skeletonized harvesting superior to pedicled harvesting of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) in terms of conduit length, flow, rate of sternal wound infections and post-operative bleeding?’. Altogether, 235 papers were found using the reported search, of which 5 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. Three studies were cohort studies and 2 were randomized controlled trials. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. One randomized controlled trial showed superiority with semi-skeletonized harvesting in terms of conduit length (P

Autologous fat grafting is an important tool in plastic surgery and is widely used for a variety of applications, both aesthetic and reconstructive. Despite an ever-increasing list of indications and extensive research over many years into improving outcomes, fat grafting remains plagued by incomplete and often unpredictable graft survival. Decisions made at each stage of surgery can potentially contribute to ultimate success, including donor site selection and preparation, fat harvest, processing, and purification of lipoaspirate, recipient site preparation, and delivery of harvested fat to the recipient site. In this review, we examine the evidence for and against proposed techniques at each stage of fat grafting. Areas of consensus identified include use of larger harvesting and grafting cannulas and slow injection speeds to limit cell damage due to shearing forces, grafting techniques emphasizing dispersion of fat throughout the tissue with avoidance of graft pooling, and minimizing exposure of the lipoaspirate to the environment during processing. Safety considerations include use of blunt-tipped needles or cannulas to avoid inadvertent intravascular injection as well as awareness of cannula position and avoidance of danger zones such as the subgluteal venous plexus. We believe that using the evidence to guide surgical decision-making is the key to maximizing fat grafting success. Level of Evidence: 4

Objectives This study aimed to determine the effect of the use of a bipolar coagulator on postoperative pain and complications when used during connective tissue harvesting from the palate. Material and methods A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with 57 sequential patients requiring a connective tissue graft for periodontal or implant surgery. All samples were harvested superficially and de‐epithelized outside the mouth. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups: in one group, the bipolar coagulator was used before suturing to control bleeding, and in the other group, the coagulator was not used. The surgeon was unaware of the randomization until the end of the harvesting phase. Self‐reported maximum pain, number of painkillers used, bleeding events, emergency visits at the clinic were recorded 7 days after surgery. Results Fifty patients were randomized and treated (seven were excluded for different reasons). The mean harvested area was 75.24 mm2 (SD, 33.96), and the mean thickness of the samples was 2.47 mm (SD, 0.75). The mean self‐reported pain value on the visual analog scale was 3.37 (SD, 2.30), and the mean number of pain medications used was 7.1 (SD, 6.60). Seven patients made an emergency visit each, and 17 delayed bleeding events were reported by 15 patients. No statistically significant differences were reported in postoperative pain, postoperative bleeding, and emergency visit to the clinic between the groups that did and did not use the bipolar coagulator. When smoking habits were taken into consideration, the number of pain medications was higher among male smokers and older smokers than among male non‐smokers and younger smokers. This study was not able to find a relationship between harvested sample dimension or thickness and postoperative discomfort. Conclusions The bipolar coagulator can be used during connective tissue harvesting from the palate to control bleeding without influencing postoperative pain.

Background Long hair follicular unit excision (FUE) is the most state‐of‐the‐art surgical technique in the field of hair transplantation surgery. Long hair FUE reduces the signs of surgery by camouflaging the recipient area with long hair, and allows hair curl identification when placing grafts. In addition, donor area shaving can be omitted. Methods This article presents the surgical approach and methods of long hair FUE. Patients were categorized by sex, age, recipient site, purpose of the surgery, and history of previous hair transplantation. Medical charts and photographs were reviewed to obtain the transection rate and calculated density for each patient. Results Long hair FUE was applied to 134 patients (112 women and 22 men). Thirty‐four patients received eyebrow hair transplantation, 73 underwent female hairline correction surgery, nine patients underwent sideburn reconstruction, two were treated for female pattern hair loss, and 19 were treated for male pattern baldness (MPB). Four of the patients with MPB also underwent eyebrow transplant surgery. Of the patients with MPB, 17 (89%) had Norwood type III baldness, and two (11%) had type IV hair loss. The mean number of grafts required was 292 for eyebrow transplantation, 1,214 for female hairline correction, 251 for sideburn reconstruction, 1,344 for female pattern hair loss, and 1,567 for MPB. The mean follicle transection rate was 9.2%, and the mean calculated number of follicles per graft achieved was 2.23. Conclusion This long hair FUE method introduced by the authors is an excellent surgical method when performed by surgeons with sufficient skill and expertise.

Background A reamer irrigator aspirator (RIA) can be used to harvest substantial amounts of autologous bone and debride the intramedullary canal. Clinical experience using reamer irrigator aspirators in Japan is very limited. The applicability of the reamer irrigator aspirator head with a minimum diameter of 12 mm for Japanese people is often questioned as the Japanese are smaller than Americans and Europeans. There are no reports of complications in Japanese patients. This study aimed to retrospectively review clinical cases and describe reamer irrigator aspirator use in Japanese patients. Methods All patients for whom a reamer irrigator aspirator was used during surgery at our hospital between January 2014 and September 2018 were included. The patients’ clinical and radiographic data were retrospectively reviewed. Results Data of 40 patients (42 cases) were collected. The reamer irrigator aspirator was used for bone graft harvesting in 32 cases, intramedullary debridement and irrigation in 9 cases, and reaming for exchange nailing in 1 case. The diameter of the reamer irrigator aspirator reamer head was 12 mm in 22 cases (53.7%), 12.5 mm in 4 cases (9.8%), 13 mm in 9 cases (22.0%), 13.5 mm in 1 case (2.4%), 14.0 mm in 1 case (2.4%), 14.5 mm in 1 case (2.4%), and 15 mm in 4 cases (9.8%). Mean intraoperative bleeding volume was 1158.6 mL (range, 100–3800 mL). We experienced no difficulty inserting the reamer irrigator aspirator into the intramedullary canals and no cases of insertion-related intraoperative fracture. Five cortical perforations (11.9%) were observed on postoperative computed tomography scans, although no patient was symptomatic. One case (2.4%) of postoperative femur fracture occurred. Conclusions Reamer irrigator aspirators can be used in Japanese patients. Smaller reamer head sizes were mainly used in our experience. We should manage complications as in previous reports from Western countries.

Objectives Presence of nephrolithiasis in a living donor has been at least a relative contraindication to living donor nephrectomy. The concern for stone recurrence and outcomes has been one of the reasons for reluctance to consider these medically complex donors. We evaluate long-term outcomes in recipients of kidney grafts from donors with nephrolithiasis, or history of nephrolithiasis, and provide results from our experience at Indiana University. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 57 donor-recipient pairs, where the allograft was received from a living donor with symptomatic calculi, or with imaging evidence of kidney stones, between 2003 and 2018. This research study was done in compliance with the ethical standards set forth in the Helsinki Congress. Results The mean age of recipients was 46±19 years and 58% were male. Kidney recipients were followed for a median of 3.5 years and 59.6% of patients had follow-up imaging studies. None of the recipients had obstructing renal calculi or related infections. None of the recipients required any interventions for recurrent calculi and no stone episode lead to adverse event to the graft. Hyperoxaluria and hypercalciuria were the most common risk factors in 24-hour urine collections obtained from donors. Conclusions Our findings from a single large center looking at kidney recipient outcomes over a long follow-up period found that gifted lithiasis is a safe procedure. Careful selection of “medically complex donors” with kidney stones based on appropriate guidelines is a key step. Further studies are needed to help develop consensus guidelines.

BACKGROUND Health-related quality of life (HRQL), fatigue, anxiety, and depression are crucial for the living kidney donor (LKD). Follow-up data for HRQL of LKDs comparing surgical techniques, especially regarding hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy (HARP), are sparse. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of abdominal wall trauma minimized by HARP in comparison to open anterior approach donor nephrectomy (AA) on HRQL and additional psychosocial aspects of LKDs during the long-term follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional study comparing psychosocial aspects of LKD between HARP and AA. RESULTS This study included 100 LKDs (68 HARP, 28 AA, and 4 were excluded secondary to incomplete data). The time to follow-up was 22.6 ± 11.7 (HARP) vs 58.7 ± 13.9 (AA) months (P < .005). Complications ≥3a° due to Clavien-Dindo classification was 0% in both groups. There were higher scores in all physical aspects for HARP donors vs AA donors at that time (physical function: 89.8 ± 14.6 vs 80.0 ± 19.9, P = .008, and the physical component score: 53.9 ± 7.6 vs 48.6 ± 8.5, P = .006). One year later (follow-up time + 12 months), HRQL for HARP donors was still higher. Mental items showed no significant differences. HARP donors showed better physical scores compared to the age-matched nondonor population (AA donors had lower scores). Neither the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20) or the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) showed any differences between the 2 groups. Fatigue scores were higher for HARP and for AA compared to the age-matched population. CONCLUSIONS LKDs undergoing HARP showed better physical performance as part of HRQL in the long-term follow-up.

Background Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) is a popular hair transplant technique, but requires shaving the donor area. This is a deterrent for some patients wishing to keep their hair transplant discreet. The new Long Hair FUE technique avoids shaving the donor area, which appeals to a wider patient population; however, it has a reputation of being technically challenging and slow. Aims We review the tools and techniques developed for Long Hair FUE and present our experience using the Trivellini Long Hair System and Long Hair Punch. Discussion With the new advances in tools and techniques for Long Hair FUE, this method is gaining momentum and has the potential to be the next trend in the hair transplant industry. There are a few different punch designs marketed specifically for Long Hair FUE (window/slotted, Trivellini Long Hair, and bi-pronged). Although this technique is slower to perform than shaven FUE, graft survival and final outcome are comparable. Conclusions Innovations in technology have made the Long Hair FUE technique more accessible to hair transplant surgeons. It is important for hair restoration surgeons to keep knowledgeable about this technique in order to maintain a competitive business.

In the Japan Marrow Donor Program (JMDP), autologous blood is collected from most unrelated bone marrow (BM) donors. We retrospectively evaluated 5772 donors who underwent BM harvest between 2010 and 2015 through the JMDP. Autologous blood was collected in 96.8% of the donors; the wastage rate was 0.6%. Allogeneic blood transfusion was not required. The mean hemoglobin (Hb) levels were 12.1 g/dL after the BM harvest (mean 891 mL) together with autologous blood transfusion (mean 596 mL). Propensity-score matching was used to adjust the backgrounds. Among donors with harvested BM of 100–400 mL, autologous blood transfusion had no impact on Hb levels or complications after BM harvest. Among donors with harvested BM of > 400 mL, more autologous blood transfusion followed by a bleeding volume of ≤ 100 mL did not confer clinical benefit to donors compared with less autologous blood transfusion followed by a bleeding volume of > 300 mL. The findings of the present study suggest that autologous blood transfusion to BM donors is excessive in terms of Hb changes and post-harvest outcomes.

INTRODUCTION We previously reported that the outcomes of pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy are superior to those of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy. Consequently, we introduced pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy in our hospital. Here, we compared perioperative outcomes between hand-assisted intra-abdominal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy and pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed data from 315 living-donor kidney transplantation procedures performed between October 2015 and December 2020 (213 involving hand-assisted intra-abdominal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, October 2015 to June 2019; 102 involving pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy, May 2019 to December 2020). After propensity score matching, 90 transplantations were included in each group (n = 180 overall). RESULTS Donors in the pure retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy group had longer warm ischemia times (P

Background Few studies have investigated the learning curves of minimally invasive donor nephrectomy (MIDN) using the cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. In addition, no study has compared the learning curves of the different surgical MIDN techniques in one cohort study using the CUSUM analysis. This study aims to evaluate and compare learning curves for several MIDN using the CUSUM analysis. Methods A retrospective review of consecutive donors, who underwent MIDN between 1997 and 2019, was conducted. Three laparoscopic-assisted techniques were applied in our institution and included for analysis: laparoscopic (LDN), hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic (HARP), and robot-assisted laparoscopic (RADN) donor nephrectomy. The outcomes were compared based on surgeon volume to develop learning curves for the operative time per surgeon. Results Out of 1895 MIDN, 1365 (72.0%) were LDN, 427 (22.5%) were HARP, and 103 (5.4%) were RADN. The median operative time and median blood loss were 179 (IQR, 139–230) minutes and 100 (IQR, 40–200) mL, respectively. The incidence of major complication was 1.2% with no mortality, and the median hospital stay was three (IQR, 3–4) days. The CUSUM analysis resulted in learning curves, defined by decreased operative time, of 23 cases in LDN, 45 cases in HARP, and 26 cases in RADN. Conclusions Our study shows different learning curves in three MIDN techniques with equal post-operative complications. The LDN and RADN learning curves are shorter than that of the hand-assisted donor nephrectomy. Our observations can be helpful for informing the development of teaching requirements for fellows to be trained in MIDN.