Revascularization After H-plasty Reconstructive Surgery in the Periorbital Region Monitored With Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging

Forehead flap perfusion monitored by laser speckle contrast imaging: Importance of flap length and thickness

Purpose

Forehead flaps are commonly used in oculoplastic surgery to cover defects after tumor excision. Blood perfusion is vital for flap survival. The aim of this study was to monitor the perfusion in forehead flaps and investigate the impact of flap length and thickness.

Methods

Nineteen forehead flaps in patients undergoing direct brow lift were studied. Perfusion was monitored using laser speckle contrast imaging, immediately after raising flaps consisting of epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue, and after removing the subcutaneous tissue resulting in a thin flap.

Results

Perfusion decreased gradually along the length, the mean value being 44% at 5 mm and 26% at 15 mm from the base, in thick flaps. Perfusion was significantly lower in thin flaps, being 13% when measured 15 mm from the flap base (p < 0.0024). Perfusion was better preserved in thick than in thin flaps. Very low perfusion was observed 16.7 mm (16.0-17.3 mm) from the base in thick flaps, and from 10.2 mm (9.8-10.6 mm) from the base in thin flaps (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Flap thickness is important in maintaining adequate blood perfusion and thus increasing the probability of flap survival. This may be particularly important in long flaps and in patients with impaired microcirculation.

Outcome Evaluation of Reconstructive Septorhinoplasty in Patients with a History of Nasal Skin Necrosis

Background: Nasal skin necrosis represents a severe rhinoplasty complication, potentially leading to nasal deformity and psychological distress. Objectives: To assess the safety, nasal function enhancement, and esthetic satisfaction in individuals with a history of nasal skin necrosis following reconstructive septorhinoplasty using patient-reported outcome measures. Methods: The case series included patients who underwent reconstructive septorhinoplasty 1 year after experiencing skin necrosis. Skeletal reconstruction was performed with an open approach using various autografts and techniques. The data collected encompassed demographics, medical history, operative reports, and postoperative events. The Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) was administered preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. Results: Most patients were female (35/38, 92%), with median age of 33.5 years (17-57) and 2 prior rhinoplasties (1-5) by 1 surgeon (1-2). The follow-up median was 23.78 months (11.83-54.23). Necrosis predominantly affected the nasal tip and soft tissue triangles. Septorhinoplasty utilized 11 V-shaped columellar base and 27 mid-columella incisions, lasting on average 274 min (175-405). Septal grafts were adequate for reconstruction in only three cases. Autografts for reconstruction encompassed auricular cartilage (31), rib cartilage (22), temporal fascia (14), and rectus fascia (6). SCHNOS scores improved significantly, with the obstruction domain decreasing from a preoperative mean of 75.92 (±22.83) to 34.08 (±27.87) and the cosmesis domain from 85.43 (±19.06) to 39.73 (±23.77). No postoperative severe vascular complication occurred. More previous surgeries linked to decreased patient satisfaction. Conclusion: Reconstructive septorhinoplasty can be successful in restoring relatively normal nasal contour following prior soft tissue necrosis, with limited risk for complications.

Using Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging to Quantify Perfusion Quality in Kidney and Pancreas Grafts on Vascular Reperfusion: A Proof-of-Principle Study

The accuracy of intraoperative graft perfusion assessment still remains subjective, with doppler examination being the only objective adjunct. Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) has been used to assess intraoperative blood flow in neurosurgery and in various surgical specialties. Despite its ability to accurately quantify perfusion at the microvascular level, it has not been clinically evaluated in kidney/kidney-pancreas transplantation for perfusion characterization. We aimed to evaluate the utility of LSCI and identify objective parameters that can be quantified at reperfusion.

Methods

This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04202237). The Moor FLPI-2 blood flow imager was used in 4 patients (1 Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney, 2 deceased, and 1 living donor kidney transplants) during reperfusion to capture reperfusion data. The following parameters were measured: flux (average speed × concentration of moving red blood cells in the sample volume), doppler centroid, total and valid pixels, valid rate, and total and valid area. Flux data were analyzed with Moor FLPI analysis software.

Results

The perfusion characteristics and flux images correlated with initial graft function.

Conclusions

LSCI is a safe, noncontact imaging modality that provides real-time, accurate, high-resolution, full field blood flow images and a wide range of flux data to objectively quantify organ reperfusion intraoperatively in kidney/kidney-pancreas transplantation. This modality could be used to develop a robust numerical quantification system for the evaluation and reporting of intraoperative organ perfusion, and aid intraoperative decision-making. Perfusion data could be combined with biomarkers and immunological parameters to more accurately predict graft outcomes.

Multimodal Optical Monitoring of Auto- and Allografts of Skin on a Burn Wound

The aim of the study was to investigate the dynamics of the state of allo- and autografts of skin on a wound using optical modalities: diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). A deep thermal burn was simulated in 24 rats covering 20% of the body surface. On day 3 after the injury, a fascial necrectomy of two 500 mm² areas on the left and right sides of the midline of the animal body were excised. Allografts and autografts were placed in the centers of these areas. Optical measurements of grafts were performed on the 0, 3rd, 6th, 10th, and 13th days after transplantation. The allografts demonstrated a pronounced decrease in oxygenation, blood content, and perfusion compared to autografts on the 6th day; in the following days of observation, these values returned to the average values of autografts. Water content gradually decreased from the beginning to the end of observation. In conclusion, optical diagnostics revealed changes in the morphological microstructure, the rate of restoration of blood circulation, and oxygen exchange in the early stages, specific for the allo- and autograft.

Perfusion Monitoring During Oculoplastic Reconstructive Surgery: A Comprehensive Review

PURPOSE

Knowledge of how blood perfusion is affected during and after reconstructive surgery is of great importance to predict the survival of grafts and flaps. When commonly used reconstructive procedures were developed a century ago, they were based on empirical observations of clinical outcome.

METHODS

This is a comprehensive literature review that summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding microvascular perfusion monitoring during oculoplastic procedures.

RESULTS

Over the years, a number of techniques for perfusion monitoring have been developed as an attempt to be more objective than clinical examination using traditional methods such as observations of skin temperature, turgor, color, smell, and capillary refill time. There are limited publications regarding microvascular perfusion monitoring during reconstructive procedures in the periocular area. Modern laser-based techniques have been attractive due to their noninvasive nature.

CONCLUSIONS

Today, modern, noninvasive techniques are available to monitor perfusion during and after surgery. This has increased our knowledge on the perfusion in common oculoplastic surgery procedures. A detailed understanding of how blood perfusion is affected will hopefully allow the improvement of surgical techniques for better clinical outcome.

Laser speckle contrast imaging enables perfusion monitoring of the anterior segment during eye muscle surgery

We demonstrate that laser speckle contrast imaging can be used to monitor blood perfusion noninvasively during the detachment of ocular muscles, which may be a valuable tool for reducing the risk of anterior segment ischemia as a complication of strabismus surgery.

Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging of the Blood Perfusion in Glabellar Flaps Used to Repair Medial Canthal Defects

BACKGROUND

The glabellar flap is a common technique for surgical repair after tumor excision in the medial canthal area. However, the outcome may be affected by partial flap necrosis. Little is known about the impact of surgery on blood perfusion and the postoperative course of reperfusion due to the absence of reliable and noninvasive perfusion monitoring techniques. The aim of this study was to use a modern imaging technique to assess blood perfusion in glabellar flaps.

METHODS

Glabellar flaps were used to repair medial canthal defects following tumor excision in 7 patients. Blood perfusion was monitored using laser speckle contrast imaging: during surgery, immediately postoperatively (0 weeks), and at follow-up, 1, 3, and 6 weeks after surgery.

RESULTS

Perfusion decreased gradually along the length of the flap, and reached a minimum 15 mm from the flap base. Perfusion in the proximal 20 mm of the flap was completely restored after 1 week, while the distal part of the flap was gradually reperfused over 6 weeks. Both the functional and esthetic surgical outcomes were excellent.

CONCLUSIONS

The rapid reperfusion of the glabellar flap may be explained by its connection to the vascular network via the flap pedicle. In flaps longer than 20 mm, the distal part can be considered a free skin transplant, and a combination of a glabellar flap and a free skin graft could then be considered.