Biomedical subjects

David Mendes

Publications and source records attributed to David Mendes.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Stensen duct rupture (sialocele) and other complications of the Aptos thread technique.

BACKGROUND: The Aptos thread technique is a mode of uplifting the flabby soft tissue of the aging face. Permanent suture material made of polypropylene monofilament with dents is used in this technique. This procedure is gaining popularity throughout the world. According to the literature, several hundred Aptos procedures have been performed, and no major complications have been reported yet. METHODS: Two adult women presented shortly after the Aptos thread insertion. They sustained devastating results. A close study was performed to understand and learn the potential complications. RESULTS: The authors present two major complications, a rare case of Stensen's duct laceration and a case of chronic inflammation mandating surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Describing complications may teach plastic surgeons more about this method and how to avoid similar devastating side effects in the future.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed2006

Terror-inflicted thermal injury: A retrospective analysis of burns in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict between the years 1997 and 2003.

BACKGROUND: Terror attacks have changed in the past decade, with a growing tendency toward explosives and suicide bombings, which led to a rise in the incidence of thermal injuries among victims. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict of October 2000 marked a turning point when an organized terror campaign commenced. This article presents data of terror-associated burns from the Israeli National Trauma Registry (ITR) during the years 1997 to September 2000 and October 2000 to 2003. METHODS: We analyzed demographic and clinical characteristics of 219 terror-related burn patients and 6,546 other burn patients admitted to hospitals in Israel between 1997 and 2003. Data were obtained from the ITR. RESULTS: Burns contributed about 9% of all terror related trauma and about 5% of all other trauma (p < 0.0001). These percentages have not changed significantly before and after October 2000. Terror-related burns afflict Jewish males more than predicted by their percentage in the population, whereas other burns afflict non-Jewish males more than predicted. Adults and young adults (15-59 years) are the predominant group in terror-related burns (80%), whereas children younger than 15 years are the predominant group in other burns (50%). Large burns (20% to 89% total body surface area) are more common in terror casualties, with greater mortality (6.4% in terror-related versus 3.4% in others; p = 0.0258). CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of burns has risen because of an organized campaign, this change was noticeable in other trauma forms as well in similar proportions. Terror-related burns afflict a targeted population, and generally take on a more severe course with greater mortality rates, thus requiring appropriate medical treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Skin substitutes.

The role of skin substitutes in burn surgery and in the treatment of chronic wounds is constantly evolving. New products are regularly being developed and approved for clinical use. Studies on existing products demonstrate their effectiveness in different clinical scenarios. However, cost-related concerns, inadequate physician education, and the drawbacks that still accompany every skin substitute have resulted in limited application of these modalities. Today, burn surgeons still rely mostly on old-fashioned skin grafts. Only a few burn centers in the world actually use some of these products in their routine treatment of wounds. This review provides an up-to-date overview of the latest developments in the field of skin substitutes. We examine the major commercially available skin substitute products and their performance, and briefly review the technologies and products that are under development but have not yet become widely available.

Burns↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of video capture virtual reality in burn rehabilitation: the possibilities.

We independently explored the use of the Sony PlayStation II EyeToy (Sony Corporation, Foster City, CA) as a tool for use in the rehabilitation of patients with severe burns. Intensive occupational and physical therapy is crucial in minimizing and preventing long-term disability for the burn patient; however, the therapist faces a difficult challenge combating the agonizing pain experienced by the patient during therapy. The Sony PlayStation II EyeToy is a projected, video-capture system that, although initially developed as a gaming environment for children, may be a useful application in a rehabilitative context. As compared with other virtual reality systems the EyeToy is an efficient rehabilitation tool that is sold commercially at a relatively low cost. This report presents the potential advantages for use of the EyeToy as an innovative rehabilitative tool with mitigating effects on pain in burn rehabilitation. This new technology represents a challenging and motivating way for the patient to immerse himself or herself in an alternate reality while undergoing treatment, thereby reducing the pain and discomfort he or she experiences. This simple, affordable technique may prove to heighten the level of patient cooperation and therefore speed the process of rehabilitation and return of functional ability.

Burns↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Ten commandments for minimal pain during administration of local anesthetics.

Local anesthetic agents are administered before many ambulatory cutaneous operations. The injection of the local anesthetic agent is often the only painful aspect of the procedure. There are various factors that determine how painful the anesthetic administration may be. These include the preparation used, the size of the needle and syringe used, injection technique, depth of injection, attitude of the physician, and more. In this article, we present the different techniques we apply to achieve minimal pain during the injection of local anesthetics.

Administration, Cutaneous↗