Does the advantage of transcutaneous oximetry measurements in diabetic foot ulcer apply equally to free flap reconstruction?

BACKGROUND Transcutaneous oxygen pressure(TcpO2)is a precise method for determining oxygen perfusion in wounded tissues.The device uses either electrochemical or optical sensors.AIM To evaluate the usefulness of TcpO2 measurements on free flaps(FFs)in diabetic foot ulcers(DFUs).METHODS TcpO2 was measured in 17 patients with DFUs who underwent anterolateral thigh(ALT)-FF surgery and compared with 30 patients with DFU without FF surgery.RESULTS Significant differences were observed in the ankle-brachial index;duration of diabetes;and haemoglobin,creatinine,and C-reactive protein levels between the two groups.TcpO2 values were similar between two groups except on postoperative days 30 and 60 when the values in the ALT-FF group remained<30 mmHg and did not increase>50 mmHg.CONCLUSION Even if the flap is clinically stable,sympathectomy due to adventitia stripping during anastomosis and arteriovenous shunt progression due to diabetic polyneuropathy could lead to low TcpO2 values in the ALT-FF owing to its thick fat tissues,which is supported by the slow recovery of the sympathetic tone following FF.Therefore,TcpO2 measurements in patients with DFU who underwent FF reconstruction may be less accurate than in those who did not.

Postoperative Development of Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas after Aneurysmal Clipping: A Case Report and Literature Review

Dural arteriovenous fistulas(DAVFs)are rare vascular abnormalities that comprise 10%-15%of all intracranial arteriovenous malformations.The pathogenesis of DAVFs is still uncertain,although growing angiographic evidence supports the acquired characteristics of this vascular disease.Here,we present the case of a 39-year-old man with incidental bilateral paraophthalmic aneurysms who experienced spontaneous retroocular pressure and mild headache.Magnetic resonance angiography revealed enlargement and a change in the shape of the right paraophthalmic aneurysm.The patient underwent a right pterional craniotomy for the intracranial aneurysms.Five months later,he presented with progressive pulsatile tinnitus.A diagnostic angiogram demonstrated a Cognard type I DAVF of the right sigmoid sinus.Based on this case,angiography monitoring is recommended.Herein we review and summarize postoperative DAVF cases.Common causes of acquired DAVFs and treatment selection are discussed based on relevant literature.

Mechanisms of the therapeutic effect of astragalus membranaceus on sodium and water retention in experimental heart failure

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Astragali on sodium and water retention in aortocaval fistula-caused experimental congestive heart failure and its involved mechanisms. METHODS: In aortocaval fistula-caused chronic (5 wk), heart failure rats treated with and without Astragali 1.0 g/day intraperitoneally, changes of cardiac and renal function, renal response to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were examined. Dot blot analysis was used to determine the effect of Astragali on hypothalamic arginine vasopresin (AVP) mRNA expression, and mRNA expressions of aortic and renal AVP V1a receptor, renal AVP V2 receptor and aquaporin-2 (AQP2) were simultaneously detected by RT-PCR method. RESULTS: Rats with aortocaval fistula impaired cardiac and renal functions evidenced by higher right atrial pressure (RAP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), lower + dP/dtmax of left ventricle, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), urine volume (UV), urinary sodium excretion (UNaV) and free water clearance (CH2O) compared with sham-operated control (P