Top of TOCs December 2011

Selected articles from JPRAS, PRS, J Hand Surgery and others that caught my eye. . . .

Zhong, T et al. Intravenous fluid infusion rate in microsurgical breast reconstruction: important lessons learned from 354 free flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg 2011; 128(6):1153–1160. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e318221da56 A topic I have become interested in. Increasing evidence across surgical specialties and ICU for judicious use of IV fluid.

Findlay, M et al. Tissue-engineered breast reconstruction: bridging the gap toward large-volume tissue engineering in humans. Plast Reconstr Surg2011; 128(6):1206–1215. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e318230c5b2

Siemionow, M and Ozturk, C. An update on facial transplantation cases performed between 2005 and 2010. Plast Reconstr Surg 2011; 128(6):707e–720e. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e318230c77b. Detailed account of the face transplants to date. It includes illustrations of the various anastomoses performed and postoperative outcomes.

Warren, R. Face lift. Plast and Reconstr Surg 2011; 128(6): 747e–764e. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e318230c939. This months PRS CME article. . . .

Jalali, M et al. The UK plastic surgery trainee. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2011; 64(12):1716-1717. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2011.06.006. Like the authors, I was surprised that only 50% of trainees had undertaken an intercalated degree and 39% a higher research degree. This may reflect the run-through years and a sampling error - seven units were missed out. For more on academic plastic surgery check out the BAPRAS website.