1. |
- Bergkvist, Max, 1976-
(författare)
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Studies on Polarised Light Spectroscopy
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis project focuses on measurements of dermal microcirculation during vascular provocations with polarised light spectroscopy. This is done with a non-invasive method commercially available as Tissue viability imaging (TiVi) which measures concentration and oxygenation of red blood cells in the papillary dermis. Three studies were done with human subjects and one with an animal model, to validate and compare the TiVi technique with laser Doppler flowmetry, which is an established method of measuring dermal microcirculation.The TiVi consists of a digital camera with polarisation filters in front of the flash and lens, with software for analysis of the picture. When taking a picture with the TiVi, the polarised light that is reflected on the skin surface is absorbed by the second filter over the lens (which is perpendicular to the first filter) but a portion of light penetrates the surface of the skin and is scattered when it is reflected on tissue components. This makes the light depolarised, passes the second filter, and produces a picture for analysis. The red blood cell (RBC) has a distinct absorption pattern that differs between red and green colour compared to melanin and other components of tissue. This difference is used by the software that calculates differences in each picture element and produces a measure of output which is proportional to the concentration of red blood cells. The oxygenation of RBC can also be calculated, as there is a difference in absorption depending on oxygen state.The first paper takes up possible sources of error such as ambient light, and the angle and distance of the camera. The main experiment was to investigate how the local heating reaction is detected with TiVi compared to LDF.In the second paper arterial and venous stasis are examined in healthy subjects with TiVi.The Third paper is an animal study where skin flaps were raised on pigs, and the vascular pedicle is isolated to enable control of inflow and outflow of blood.The measurements were made during partial venous, total venous, and total arterial occlusion. The TiVi recorded changes in the concentration of RBC, oxygenation and heterogeneity and the results were compared with those of laser Doppler flowmetry.In the fourth paper oxygenation and deoxygenation of RBC: s was studied. Studies were made on the forearms of healthy subjects who were exposed to arterial and venous occlusion. Simultaneous measurements were made with TiVi and Enhanced perfusion and oxygen saturation or EPOS, which is a new device that combines laser Doppler flowmetry and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in one probe.With TiVi, one can measure RBC concentration and oxygenation in the area of an entire picture or in one or multiple user defined regions of interest (ROI). Methods such as laser Doppler flowmetry makes single point measurements, which is a potential source of error both because of the heterogeneity of the microcirculation, and that the circulation be insufficient in the margins of the investigated area. TiVi has been able to measure venous stasis more accurately than laser Doppler flowmetry, and venous stasis is the more common reason for flaps to fail.The TiVi is an accurate way to measure the concentration of RBC and trends in oxygenation of the dermal microcirculation. It has interesting possible applications for microvascular and dermatological research, monitoring of flaps, and diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease. Future clinical studies are needed as well as development of the user interface.
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2. |
- Elmasry, Moustafa, et al.
(författare)
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Scald management protocols - outcome differences in two different time periods using different treatment strategies.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Annals of burns and fire disasters. - : Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters. - 1592-9558. ; 29:2, s. 139-143
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over the years the treatment of scalds in our centre has changed, moving more towards the use of biological dressings (xenografts). Management of scalds with mid dermal or deep dermal injuries differs among centers using different types of dressings, and recently biological membrane dressings were recommended for this type of injury. Here we describe differences in treatment outcome in different periods of time. All patients with scalds who presented to the Linkoping Burn Centre during two periods, early (1997-98) and later (2010-12) were included. Data were collected in the unit database and analyzed retrospectively. A lower proportion of autograft operations was found in the later period, falling from 32% to 19%. Hospital stay was shorter in the later period (3.5 days shorter, p=0.01) and adjusted duration of hospital stay/TBSA% was shorter (1.2 to 0.7, p=0.07). The two study groups were similar in most of the studied variables: we could not report any significant differences regarding outcome except for unadjusted duration of hospital stay. Further studies are required to investigate functional and aesthetic outcome differences between the treatment modalities.
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3. |
- Elmasry, Moustafa, et al.
(författare)
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Staged excisions of moderate-sized burns compared with total excision with immediate autograft : an evaluation of two strategies.
- 2017
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Ingår i: International journal of burns and trauma. - : E-Century Publishing Corporation. - 2160-2026. ; 7:1, s. 6-11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Different surgical techniques have evolved since excision and autografting became the treatment of choice for deep burns in the 1970s. The treatment plan at the Burn Center, Linköping University Hospital, Sweden, has shifted from single-stage excision and immediate autografting to staged excisions and temporary cover with xenografts before autografting. The aim of this study was to find out if the change in policy resulted in extended duration of hospital stay/total body surface area burned (LOS/TBSA%).METHODS: Retrospective clinical cohort including surgically-managed patients with burns of 15%-60% TBSA% within each treatment group. The first had early full excisions of deep dermal and full thickness burns and immediate autografts (1997-98), excision and immediate autograft group) and the second had staged excisions before final autografts using xenografts for temporary cover (2010-11, staged excision group).RESULTS: The study included 57 patients with deep dermal and full-thickness burns, 28 of whom had excision and immediate autografting, and 29 of whom had staged excisions with xenografting before final autografting. Adjusted (LOS/TBSA%) was close to 1, and did not differ between groups. Mean operating time for the staged excision group was shorter and the excised area/operation was smaller. The total operating time/TBSA% did not differ between groups.CONCLUSION: Staged excisions with temporary cover did not affect adjusted LOS/TBSA% or total operating time. Staged excisions may be thought to be more expensive because of the cost of covering the wound between stages, but this needs to be further investigated as do the factors that predict long term outcome.
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4. |
- Elmasry, Moustafa, et al.
(författare)
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Temporary coverage of burns with a xenograft and sequential excision, compared with total early excision and autograft
- 2016
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Ingår i: Annals of burns and fire disasters. - : Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters. - 1592-9558. ; 29:3, s. 196-201
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the 80s and 90s, early and total excision of full thickness burns followed by immediate autograft was the most common treatment, with repeated excision and grafting, mostly for failed grafts. It was hypothesized, therefore, that delayed coverage with an autograft preceded by a temporary xenograft after early and sequential smaller excisions would lead to a better wound bed with fewer failed grafts, a smaller donor site, and possibly also a shorter duration of stay in hospital. We carried out a case control study with retrospective analysis from our National Burn Centre registry for the period 1997-2011. Patients who had been managed with early total excision and autograft were compared with those who had had sequential smaller excisions covered with temporary xenografts until the burn was ready for the final autograft. The sequential excision and xenograft group (n=42) required one-third fewer autografts than patients in the total excision and autograft group (n=45), who needed more than one operation (p<0.001). We could not detect any differences in duration of stay in hospital / total body surface area burned% (duration of stay/TBSA%) (2.0 and 1.8) (p=0.83). The two groups showed no major differences in terms of adjusted duration of stay, but our findings suggest that doing early, smaller, sequential excisions using a xenograft for temporary cover can result in shorter operating times, saving us the trouble of making big excisions. However, costs tended to be higher when the burns were > 25% TBSA.
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5. |
- Frew, Quentin, et al.
(författare)
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Betulin wound gel accelerated healing of superficial partial thickness burns : Results of a randomized, intra-individually controlled, phase III trial with 12-months follow-up
- 2019
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Ingår i: Burns. - : Elsevier. - 0305-4179 .- 1879-1409. ; 45:4, s. 876-890
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Acceleration of wound healing promises advantages for patients and caregivers in reducing the burden of disease, avoiding complications such as wound infections, and improving the long-term outcome. However, medicines that can accelerate wound healing are lacking. The objective of this open, blindly evaluated, randomized, multicenter phase III study was to compare intra-individually the efficacy and tolerability of Oleogel-S10 with fatty gauze dressing versus Octenilin (R) wound gel with fatty gauze dressing in accelerating the healing of superficial partial thickness burn wounds. Methods: Acute superficial partial thickness burn wounds in adults caused by fire, heat burn or scalding were divided into 2 halves and randomly assigned to treatment with Oleogel-S10 or Octenilin (R) wound gel. Photos for observer-blinded analysis of wound healing were taken at each wound dressing change. Percentages of reepithelialization were assessed at defined intervals. Efficacy and tolerability were evaluated based on a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Of 61 patients that were enrolled, 57 received the allocated intervention and 48 completed treatment. The percentage of patients with earlier wound healing was significantly higher for Oleogel-S10 (85.7%, n=30) compared to Octenilin (R) wound gel (14.3%, n= 5, p <0.0001). The mean intra-individual difference in time to wound closure was -1.0 day in favour of Oleogel-S10 (-1.4, -0.6; 95% CI, p <0.0001). Most investigators (87.0%) and patients (84.8%) evaluated the efficacy of Oleogel-S10 to be 'better' or 'much better' than that of Octenilin (R) wound gel. Long-term outcome 3 months and 12 months post injury was improved in some patients. Conclusions: Oleogel-S10 (Episalvan) significantly accelerated the healing of superficial partial thickness burn wounds. It was safe and well tolerated. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.
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6. |
- Karlsson, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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Scarring At Donor Sites After Split-Thickness Skin Graft : A Prospective, Longitudinal, Randomized Trial
- 2018
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Ingår i: Advances in Skin & Wound Care. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 1527-7941 .- 1538-8654. ; 3:4, s. 183-188
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate scarring at split-thickness skin graft donor sites 8 years after surgery.METHODS: At surgery, 67 patients were randomized to hydrofiber, polyurethane foam, or porcine xenograft treatment. Scars were evaluated with the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale.RESULTS: Results showed significant differences in observed scar outcomes at donor sites, leaving the polyurethane foam–treated and the porcine xenograft–treated patients with the least satisfying scars. Multivariable regression analysis showed that the group treated with the xenografts had worse scores for overall opinion of the scar than did the other groups (P = .03), the most important factor being pigmentation. There was no correlation between duration of healing time and quality of the scar.CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences among the groups, with the hydrofiber group being the most satisfied with the appearance of their scar.
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7. |
- Karlsson, Matilda, et al.
(författare)
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Scarring at Donor Sites after Split-Thickness Skin Graft: A Prospective, Longitudinal, Randomized Trial
- 2020
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Ingår i: Advances in Skin & Wound Care. - : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. - 1527-7941 .- 1538-8654. ; 33:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate if previous findings on the association between dressing treatments and subjective opinion on final donor site scar outcome using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) can be confirmed objectively. The previous study showed that patients dressed with hydrofiber covered with film were more satisfied with their donor site scars than patients receiving porcine xenograft or polyurethane foam dressings. METHODS: Scar outcome measurements were assessed by a blinded observer using POSAS and the Cutometer dual MPA 580 device to measure the viscoelasticity of skin. RESULTS: A total of 17 participants were included in this study, five of whom were treated with hydrofiber, six with polyurethane foam, and another six with porcine xenograft. There were no significant differences among groups in any of the POSAS items or in the viscoelasticity measurements made with the Cutometer. CONCLUSIONS: The investigators could not confirm previous associations between dressing treatment and long-term donor site scars. No associations between donor sites healing times and final scarring were found. Hypopigmentation was reported in 15 of 17 donor sites evaluated.
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8. |
- Karlsson, Matilda, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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Sprayed cultured autologous keratinocytes in the treatment of severe burns : a retrospective matched cohort study.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Annals of burns and fire disasters. - Palermo, Italy : Mediterranean Council for Burns and Fire Disasters. - 1592-9558. ; 33:2, s. 134-142
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The standard treatment of burns is early excision followed by autologous skin grafting. The closure of extensive deep burns poses a considerable challenge. Cultured autologous keratinocytes have been used since 1981 in an effort to improve healing. However, the time required to culture the cells and the lack of a dermal component limit the expectations of outcome. Our aim was to compare the duration of hospital stay between patients who were treated with autologous skin grafts and cultured autologous keratinocytes and those who were treated with autologous skin grafting without cultured autologous keratinocytes. In this retrospective study all patients treated with cultured autologous keratinocytes between 2012 and 2015 were matched by size and depth of burn with patients not treated with cultured autologous keratinocytes. Multivariable regression was used to analyse associations between duration of hospital stay and treatment adjusted for age, mortality, size and depth of the burn. Then, we investigated the possibility of differentiation of human bone marrow stem cell line to keratinocyte- like cells as a future direction. The regression analysis showed a coefficient of 17.36 (95% CI -17.69 to 52.40), p= 0.32, for hospital stay in the treatment group, compared with the matched group. Our results showed no difference in the duration of hospital stay between the two treatments. Autologous stem cells should be considered as a future modality of burn management, although further studies are needed.
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9. |
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10. |
- Pompermaier, Laura, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Burned patients who die from causes other than the burn affect the model used to predict mortality : a national exploratory study
- 2018
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Ingår i: Burns. - : Elsevier. - 0305-4179 .- 1879-1409. ; 44:2, s. 280-287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: The Baux score - the sum of age and total body surface area burned (TBSA %) - is a good predictor of mortality has a high specificity but low sensitivity. Our aim was to examine the causes of death in patients who die with Baux scores of <100, which may explain the lower sensitivity and possibly affect the prediction of mortality.METHODS: All patients admitted to our centre for burn care from 1993 to 2015 (n=1946) were included in this retrospective, descriptive, exploratory study. The study group comprised those patients who died with Baux scores of <100 (n=23), and their medical charts were examined for the cause of death and for coexisting diseases.RESULTS: Crude mortality was 5% (93/1946) for the overall cohort, and a quarter of the patients who died (23/93) had Baux scores of less than 100 (range 64-99). In this latter group, flame burns were the most common (18/23), the median (10th-90th centile) age was 70 (46-86) years and for TBSA 21 (5.0-40.5) %, of which 7 (0-27.0) % of the area was full thickness. The main causes of death in 17 of the 23 were classified as "other than burn", being cerebral disease (n=9), cardiovascular disease (n=6), and respiratory failure (n=2). Among the remaining six (burn-related) deaths, multiple organ failure (predominantly renal failure) was responsible. When we excluded the cases in which the cause of death was not related to the burn, the Baux mortality prediction value improved (receiver operating characteristics area under the curve, AUC) from 0.9733 (95% CI 0.9633-0.9834) to 0.9888 (95% CI 0.9839-0.9936) and the sensitivity estimate increased from 45.2% to 53.9%.CONCLUSION: Patients with burns who died with a Baux score <100 were a quarter of all the patients who died. An important finding is that most of these deaths were caused by reasons other than the burn, usually cerebrovascular disease. This may be the explanation why the sensitivity of the Baux score is low, as factors other than age and TBSA % explain the fatal outcome.
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11. |
- Pompermaier, Laura, 1975-
(författare)
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Outcome of burn care : the mortality perspective
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Despite the improvements in burn care during the last decades, burns remain catastrophic for the patients and a challenge for the care-givers. The early outcome of burn care is to assess its quality and to improve it, but the crucial outcome is mortality, which is the main focus of this thesis. In particular, I address questions about mortality that have arisen from working with burned patients and that can have clinical consequences: the impact of pre- existing medical conditions; long-term survival; the causes of unexpected deaths; and the possible differences between sexes in the provision of resources.Patients with burns share the fact that the time of their injury is known, its severity can be quantified from the size of the burn, and the care is relatively standardised. The analysis of outcome among burned patients treated at a single burn centre may therefore be of general value to others who treat burns.Methods: We retrospectively analysed data that had been collected prospectively (the burn unit database) from patients with burns admitted consecutively to a national burn centre in Sweden during the last 25 years.Results: Age and percentage of total body surface area burned (TBSA %) affected the in- hospital mortality, whereas pre-existing medical conditions did not influence the prediction of outcome (Paper I). After discharge, both age and the presence of full thickness burns reduced the long-term survival, whereas the extent of the burn (TBSA %) did not (Paper II). Most patients with moderate burns who die in hospital despite a good prognosis, die for reasons other than the burn (Paper III). Previously, it has been shown that sex is not an independent factor for mortality during burn care; in this thesis we show that the sex of the patients did not affect the number of medical interventions given either (Paper IV).Conclusion: The addition of “coexisting condition” to a mortality model based on age and size of burn does not improve its predictive value; rather, the factor “age” is sufficient to adjust for comorbidity in the assessment of a burn and its outcome (Paper I).If patients with burns survive, the long-term prognosis is good. The effect of age is the one that governs survival, whereas the effect of the extent of the burn ends when the patient is discharged (Paper II).The in-hospital mortality during burn care is low, but some patients die for reasons other than the actual burn (Paper III).In a centre where the mortality is independent of the sex of the patient, the provision of medical interventions is also equal between men and women (Paper IV).
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12. |
- Thorfinn, Johan, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Perfusion of the skin of the buttocks in paraplegic and tetraplegic patients, and in healthy subjects after a short and long load
- 2006
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0284-4311 .- 1651-2073. ; 40:3, s. 153-160
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In patients with spinal cord injuries (n=8) and healthy controls (n=8) the hyperaemic response in the buttock skin after sitting on a hard surface was studied using a laser Doppler perfusion imager. They sat for three minutes (short load), or 15 minutes (long load). An exponential mathematical function was used to compare the mean perfusion during the observed interval. The results showed that preloading perfusion is significantly higher among patients than healthy subjects. In both groups, the microcirculation of the skin increased significantly after loading, and peak perfusion was significantly lower after the short load. The mean perfusion was higher among the patients after both loadings, which suggests that there was stronger ischaemic provocation. The main outcome was that there was a dose-response relation between duration of loading and intensity of reactive hyperaemia, and that patients with spinal cord injuries have greater perfusion before and after loading than healthy controls.
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13. |
- Thorfinn, Johan, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
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Sitting pressure and perfusion of buttock skin in paraplegic and tetraplegic patients, and in healthy subjects : a comparative study
- 2002
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0284-4311 .- 1651-2073. ; 36:5, s. 279-283
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The distribution of sitting pressure and ability to respond with reactive hyperaemia were studied in a group of paraplegic and tetraplegic patients (n = 8) with spinal cord lesions and healthy controls (n = 10) using a pressure sensitive plate and laser Doppler perfusion imager. The results show that the mean sitting pressure of the patients was 9.9 N/cm2 (left) and 11.7 N/cm2 (right) compared with 3.5 N/cm2 (left) and 3.6 N/cm2 (right) in controls. The differences were significant on both the left (p < 0.01) and right (p < 0.05) sides. The maximum pressure in patients was 42.9 N/cm2 (left) and 48.7 N/cm2 (right), and in controls 12.0 N/cm2 (left) and 12.9 (right) (p < 0.01). Both groups showed a reduction in skin perfusion in the seat area during sitting compared with unloaded resting, and in the controls it was significantly increased (p < 0.001 on both sides) during the reactive hyperaemic phase immediately after sitting. Compared with the preload values, the patients showed a similar but slightly weaker picture significant on the right side (p < 0.05), but not on the left. The hyperaemia was not uniformly distributed, but occurred where the pressure was greater than 2 N/cm2. There was no correlation between the amount of reactive hyperaemia and absolute values of sitting pressures. We conclude that tetraplegic and paraplegic patients have significantly higher sitting pressures than normal controls, and that the hyperaemic response in the buttock region in the upright position after pressure load is slightly weaker in the patients, which could be of importance for the development of decubitus ulcers.
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14. |
- Thorfinn, Johan, 1970-
(författare)
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Studies on sitting pressure and buttock microcirculation : aiming at developing an alarm in the prevention of pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injuries
- 2006
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injuries are a major problem, the prevalence in this group being reported as high as 20 – 30 percent. Most pressure ulcers develop around the pelvic girdle, and the key-contributing factor in the development of pressure ulcers is ischaemia due to longstanding pressure. Loss of mobility and lack of sensation below the level of injury are prominent risk factors for the development of pressure ulcers. Although many factors are known to contribute to pressure ulcer development, the exact aetiology is not completely clear. Prevention is suggested as the best way to deal with the problem. The studies in this thesis investigate some aspects of the physiology of sitting in patients with spinal cord injuries and healthy controls, aiming at developing a pressure ulcer alarm device to aid in the prevention of pressure ulcers. Methods used are laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) for measurement of superficial skin blood flow, as well microdialysis and a microelectrode (Licox®) to measure direct and indirect signs of ischaemia. In addition sitting pressures are mapped. The main findings are that patients with spinal cord injuries have almost four-fold mean maximum sitting pressures 43 and 49 N/cm2, left and right buttock) compared with healthy controls 12 and 13 N/cm2, left and right buttock). In the subcutaneous fat in healthy individuals, the tissue oxygen pressure decreases significantly during 30 minutes of sitting on a wheel chair cushion 13,7 mmHg) compared with 30 minutes of sitting on a hard surface 19,8 mmHg) implying that the tissues deep in the skin are exposed to a reduction in blood supply. This is also confirmed by a decrease in extracellular glucose during sitting for 30 minutes on a hard surface 1,8 mmol/L) and on a wheel chair cushion 1,7 mmol/L). The post-sitting reactive hyperaemia is dependent on duration of sitting in both patients and healthy subjects. It seems to be attenuated in patients in the sitting position but intensified while lying prone. Furthermore, four repeated loadings on a hard surface 15 minutes of sitting followed by five minutes of rest) without allowing the tissues to return to resting perfusion results in a significantly increasing reactive hyperaemia for each loading in healthy subjects, suggesting that it is important to unload the buttock skin completely before the next sitting period starts. This thesis also describes the construction of an alarm device that measures surface interface pressures during sitting continuously in eight predefined points, to alert the user by an audible signal after a given period of time when the pressure has reached a dangerously high level. It is concluded that the reactive hyperaemia that is observed in the buttock skin after sitting, as well as the reduction in glucose and oxygen in adipose tissue during sitting, are due to a reduction in blood supply relative or absolute ischaemia) caused by a compression of the vasculature by the ischial tuberosities. These findings imply a multilayer aetiology in pressure ulcer development. The altered hyperaemic reaction in patients with spinal cord injuries after sitting is possibly related to alterations in sympathetic activity due to the cord lesion. Lastly, the alarm device is supposed to be an aid to pressure ulcer prevention in patients with spinal cord injuries who lack normal sensory feedback.
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15. |
- Zdolsek, Johann, 1960-, et al.
(författare)
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Laser Doppler perfusion imaging of the radial forearm flap : A clinical study
- 2006
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0284-4311 .- 1651-2073. ; 40:2, s. 101-105
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) allows non-invasive assessment of blood flow in a predefined area of skin rather than at one single point. We have used LDPI to study the pattern of skin blood flow in the radial forearm flap before and after the flap has been raised. The data were collected from a consecutive series of 11 patients with cancer of the oral cavity or oropharynx in whom the radial forearm flap had been used during the reconstructive procedure. Reperfusion leads to an immediate hyperaemic response both in the flap and the surrounding skin. This hyperaemia remains for at least the first 30 minutes after reperfusion. The perfusion of the radial side of the forearm skin distal to the flap is significantly lower than that on the ulnar side after the skin island has been raised and the distal artery divided. We suggest that LDPI is useful for monitoring the perfusion of free skin flaps. © 2006 Taylor & Francis.
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