Robinsons Flashcards
What are the most common causes of infections and from where
- Most frequent cause of infections: Staph aureus, E coli, Group A Strep, Pseudomonas
- Most common source: staph aureus from the patient’s anterior nares (85% of isolates are genetically identical)
What % are nasal carriers
21.6% of US population are nasal carriers - have a 3-9.6 fold increased risk of SSIs
What is a surgical site infection
- Definition: any surgical wound that produces pus within 30 days of the procedure, even in absence of a positive culture
- The exception: suture abscess, which suppurates but resolves when removed
Does a positive swab equate an SSI
A positive culture may just indicate colonisation. If bacteria per gram of tissue >10^5 then this is more likely infection
Define clean, clean contaminated, and dirty wound
- Clean: elective incisions on non-inflamed tissues under aseptic technique, with no entry into GIT, resp or genitourinary
- Clean contaminated: minor break in aseptic technique, or entry into a tract, or inflammation but no frank purulence
- Dirty wound: frank purulent fluid, perforation of a viscus or faecal contamination
Patient factors that increase risk of infection
- Age
- Malnutrition
- Obesity
- Hypothermia
- Immunosuppressants - including alcohol
- Length of procedure
What antiseptic agents are there
Alcohols
Chlorhexidine gluconae
Povidone iodine
PCMX (not used)
60-95% Alcohol as an antiseptic
- Wide spectrum of action - positive and negative, M tb, fungi, enveloped viruses
- Fastest onset
- Drawbacks: flammable, poor cleansing agent
- Must use liberal amount and allow to dry
Chlorhexidine gluconate - onset, spectrum, activity, drawbacks
- Most common formulation is 4% scrub solution
- Binds to the stratum corneum, fast onset
- Spectrum: relatively wide as well, covers M tb, fungi, enveloped viruses, gram pos and negative
- Sustained activity, additive effect with repeated use. Residual activity in excess of 6 hours, even when wiped off
- Caution:
- Ocular toxicity with conjunctivitis and severe corneal ulceration
- Ototoxicity if it reaches the middle ear through a perforated tympanic membrane. Application to pinna and EAM does not pose risk to patients with in tact TM, but you never know the status really so avoid it
- Prolonged exposure to middle ear –> deafness.
Povidone-iodine onset, spectrum, activity, drawbacks
- Better spectrum than Clorhex as covers M TB more
- Fast onset
- Sustained activity is poor if wiped from skin –> need to leave on
- Approved for mucosal surfaces - PI 10% aqueous solution commonly used off label around eyes –> there is a lot of data from bacterial enophthalmitis prophylaxis in cataract surgery
- Caution:
- Potential systemic toxicity with neonates or large body surface area
- Rapidly neutralized by blood, serum proteins or sputum
- Chronic maternal use has been associated with hypothyroidism in newborns
- Scrub form: has a detergent in it, so shouldn’t make contact with the eyes
- Prolonged skin contact: irritant and rarely ACD. Once dried generally not irritating
PCMX
Parachlorometaxylenol - PCMX
- Not as good coverage as the others
- Intermediate onset
- Sustained activity for several hours
- Has very poor pseudomonas coverage –> to address this they add EDTA (chelator)
- We don’t use this
Can you combine anti-septic solutions
- DuraPrep - IP and 74% isopropyl alcohol
- Chloraprep - 2% chlorhex in 70% isopropyl alcohol
Which anti-septic is better
- The jury is still out
- CHG-alcohol reduces bacterial colonies at the end of surgery and reduced SSIs, but not to stat significance
- CHG-alcohol was compared to PI and was found better, but they should have put alcohol in the PI for an appropriate comparison
- CHG and iodophor-alcoholic formulations are likely superior to their aqueous counterparts, and might be preferable for derm surgery in areas with higher rates of infection - like the groin
- Alcohol based - good to clean skin and fingernails but not that good on its own. Also highly flammable, so need to be careful before electrocautery or laser, make sure its dried.
What is the typical protocol for hand washing for derm procedures
- Remove any visible debris with a single 1 minute handwash with soap at the beginning of the day
- Follow this with 2 applications of alcohol solution ~4mL to forearms and hands for every procedure or when changing gloves
- Air dry for 1 minute prior to donning glove
Is there anything that can be done the day before a procedure to reduce infection?
- Night before surgery: preoperative shower with chlorhex or PI has been shown to decrease bacterial colonization and wound infection rates, but meta-analysis does not support this as routine practice –> consider for large surgical fields and those at increased risk of infection (lower legs)
- Obviously if the eyes use PI solution and half strength (5%)
What is the aim of surgical site preparation?
aim is to lower the resident bacterial count as much as possible and limit rebound growth with minimal skin irritation
Tell me about antiseptics and their use around the eye
- Betadine ophthalmic solution: 5% PI, for eye use, cost significantly higher, comes in 30mL single use
Tell me about environmental cleaning of the procedural room and good practices
- Desquamated skin cells disperse and settle on horizontal surfaces, then can be re-aerosolized with movement/breeze
- To reduce this, keep doors shut, and minimize people walking through as much as possible
- Disinfection should be done regularly with a quaternary ammonium sanitiser
- no evidence to thoroughly clean between each patient, but review between patients and make sure is cleaned
- Terminal clean at the end of each day of use: wet vacuum or 2-mop system: first mop applies disinfectant, and the second mops it up
What is the definition of sterilisation
chemical or physical process that completely destroys or removes all forms of viable microorganisms, including spores, from an object
What are the different ways to sterilise?
Autoclave (steam under pressure) Heated chemical vapour Dry heat Gas sterilization Chemical immersion
Tell me about steam under pressure (autoclave) sterilization
most efficient, economical and easy to monitor. Generates pressures of 2 pascals and temp of 121 degs, and maintains that for 15-30 minutes. Good for liquids, glass, metal instruments, paper, cotton. Not good for plastics or oil. Limitation: repeated exposure to high humidity may dull sharp cutting surfaces (particularly high grade carbon steel edges of reusable hair transplant punches)
Tell me about heated chemical vapour sterilization
low-humidity method so better for sharp instruments. Doesn’t require drying, and shorter heat-up time. This method uses alcohol and formaldehyde, so you need protective gear, adequate ventilation and safety monitoring
Tell me about dry heat sterilisation
prolonged exposure to 121-204 degs, and is humidity free. Good for glass, oils and sharp instruments. Risk of burns, so need protective equipment
Tell me about gas sterilisation
With ethylene oxide or formaldehyde, good for heat sensitive and moisture sensitive. These are toxic and known carcinogens. Need really strict monitoring as they’re highly toxic. Rarely done outside of hospital settings.
Tell me about chemical immersion
- immersion in glutaraldehyde or aqueous formaldehyde for heat-sensitive items.
- For all immersion methods of sterilization, instruments must be used immediately and cannot be wrapped for storage
How can you tell if a steriliser isn’t working?
only means of assuring the efficiency of a sterilizer is to perform quality assurance tests with heat-resistant Bacillus spores at regular intervals which confirms the spores’ lack of viability after passing through the process
When should the wound dressing be placed?
- bandage should be placed over the wound while the sterile field is still in place, and left for at least 48 hours to allow for epithelialization
- there is no direct evidence supporting this, but might be considered in higher risk locations
Stages of skin grafting
- Imbibition: ischaemic period for 24-48 hours. Graft increases weight by 40% due to oedema. Fibrin attaches graft to bed. Sustained by plasma exudate and nutrients from passive diffusion. The fibrin glue is then replaced by granulation tissue
- Inosculation - revascularisation- begins at 48-72 hours and lasts 7-10 days
- Neovascularisation - capillary in growth to the graft, often occurs with stage 2
Full circulation should be 4-7 days
When does lymphatic flow establish in grafting
With blood supply, completed by end of first week. Once returned, graft loses weight
When does reinervation occur in grafts
Within 2 months, may not be complete for months - years
Which graft has a higher metabolic demand and increased risk of failure
FTSG
What really should be the maximum size of a FTSG re metabolic demand
4-5 cm
Sites for FTSG
Nasal tip and ala Helical convexities Concavities Medial canthus Digits Extremities
What % should you oversize a harvested graft
10-20 ( this is contentious some people think it should be smaller. Reason for oversizing is due to contracture)
How can you get out a graft
Excise
Shave
What do you defat a graft with?
Iris scissors
Do you undermine the recipient site with FTSG
You can - several mm To prevent pin cushioning
Which cautery system is better for grafts
Bipolar: precise pinpoint haemostasis, less char and tissue damage
How to suture a FTSG into place
Needle enters the graft first (ship to shore) 2-3 mm from edge and then exits adjacent recipient site skin. Graft first as results in less lifting tendency of graft
Distance between sutures 3-4 mm
When to do basting sutures (center of FTSG)
Large grafts
Grafts placed over concave or highly mobile surfaces
Recommend doing them before peripheralnsutures
Pros and cons for bolster dressing
When to use
Pro: promotes adherence to bed, minimizes patients touching the graft,
Cons: bulky, time, cost, no evidence it helps
Use it when: unreliable Patient, extremities
Non adherent dressing
Adaptic
Define a thin, medium and thick split thickness skin graft
Thin: 0.125-.275 mm
Medium: 0.275-0.4 mm
Thick: 0.4-0.75 mm
What to use to cut a split thickness skin graft
Weck knife
Zimmer electric dermatome for larger
Blade - no 10, 15 or 20
Meshing with STSG allows to increase coverage by what %
25-35%
STSG how does it heal
Re epithelializes over 2-3 weeks
Remains pink for several months
Later becomes hypopigmented
Where do composite grafts get their blood supply from
Subdermal plexus of wound and graft edges
Maximum size of composite graft
1-2 cm to minimize necrosis
Composite graft: when placing graft in alone what % should you oversize by
10-15
Can a cartilaginous strut be placed on the ala rim
Place 2-3 mm superior to the free rim of the ala to avoid a ridged appearance
Composite graft - give abx?
Yes - high risk due to bacteria in nasal mucosa
Indication for delayed graft
Significant amount of bone or cartilage exposed, where greater than 25% of the periosteum or perichondrium is lacking
Or- deep primary defect is allowed to granulate and fill the base of the wound with new tissue prior to placement of an FTSG
How long can you leave porcine xenografts on for
7-14 days
What are porcine xenografts made out of
Domestic swine. Sterilized, packaged and frozen for up to 2 years
So don’t use in pork allergy
Most common complication from a dermal graft
Epidermal cyst - 10%
What should a FTSG look like post op
Week 1: violaceous
Week 2: pink
4: treat as normal skin
What to do is necrosis at 1 week post FTSG
Don’t debride, it acts as biological dressing and deeper components may be fine
Reassure patient
Check for spongy feeling - indicates true necrosis
Review in 5-7 days
FTSG after care
Dressing stays on for a week then take off
Then dressing for another 2-3 days with BD cleansing and vaseline
How long does it take for re epithelializstion of fenestrations in STSG
6-8 w
Are abx indicated in FTSG
No
Which sites are susceptible to graft contracture
Near free margins: eyelid, vermilion border, nasal ala
Graft contracture increases as
The thickness of the graft decreases
So which grafts require abx regardless
Composite
Delayed
Delayed graft: can allow defect to granulate for how long
1-3 weeks
TRT of Melania one
250-1000 nanoseconds
Tattoo particle size
40-300 nm
Picosecond is what
A trillionth of a second
100 times shorter than a nano second
Melanin absorption spectrum
Within UV, visible and near infrared
Melanin light absorption decreases with increasing wavelengths
For pigment in epidermis (lentigines) what laser to use
PDL - 510
KTP - 532
QS ruby - 694
QS alexandrite 755 for both
For pigment in dermis - which laser to use ie naevux of ota
NdYag 1064
QS alexandrite 755- can technically be used for superf too
IPL range
515-1200 nm
Ablative lasers
CO2 10600 nm
ErYag 2940 nm
YSGG 2740
What is pseudomelanoma re lasers
Benign appearing naevi that recur following laser may have clinical and histo atypia, but its never been reported as true malignant transformation
Melasma laser options
QS lasers: but increase dermal melanophages
QS 1064 Nd Yag, with microdermabrasian and daily topical hydroquinone’
Non ablative fractioanl resurfacing laser
IPL
Tattoo pigment that is red - what causes it and what laser to treat
Cinnabar
Cadmium
Laser: QS 510 nm-PDL, QS KTP
Tattoo pigment that is red-brown - what causes it and what laser to treat
Iron oxide
QS KTP
Tattoo pigment that is yellow - what causes it and what laser to treat
Cadmium sulfide, QS KTP
Tattoo pigment that is green - what causes it and what laser to treat
Chromium salts
QS ruby/QS alexandrite/Picosecond alexandrite
Tattoo pigment that is dark blue - what causes it and what laser to treat
Cobalt salts
QS ruby, QS alexandrite, Pico alexandrite
1064 NdYag
Tattoo pigment that is black - what causes it and what laser to treat
Carbon
QS ruby, QS alexandrite, Pico alexandrite
1064 NdYag
Tattoo pigment that is white - what causes it and what laser to treat
Titanium dioxide
Any QS laser
Which part of tattoo pigment is most responsive to laser
Carbon (all tattoos contain it, adds the dark hue)
Reduced clinical response to tattoo pigments to laser is associated with what
Smoking Tattoo larger than 30 cm^2 Older than 36 months Location on feet or legs Colours other than black or red - green and yellow had the lowest response High colour density Interval of treatment sessions less than 8 weeks Darkening of the tattoo during treatment
When using QS laser what colour does it make the skin
Ash-white - heat induced response causes a scattering of visible light. If the ash white colour isnt there, then you haven’t dosed well enough
QS laser for pigment with excess fluence looks liek what
Thermal burn Prolonged wound healing Hypopigmentation Hyperpigmentation Textural changes Scarring
Dermal pigment requires lower fluences true or false
False - higher
Fluences that are too low can cause what targeting pigment
Paradoxical hyperpigmentation
Why do you put an occlusive dressing on when removing tattoo pigment
Acts as a heat sink and may help protect the epidermis, and prevents tissue splatter
Dermal pigment removal - what is the desired response
Bright tissue whitening - it is representative of gas bubble formation from rapid heating of particles
Summary of what lasers are best for what tattoo pigments
QS ruby and QS or PS alexandrite are best for black, blue, green pigments
QS 1064 NdYag bet for blue and black, but not green
510 PDL, QS532 nm KTP or 532 nm frequency doubled NdYag best for red and yellow pigment
Whats the problem with treating iron oxide or titanium dioxide with laser
Immediate irreversible darkening with QS laser - conversion of ferric oxide to ferrous oxide
Beware of the colours white, red, orange, tan, brown - lip liner tattoos etc
Risk factors for scarring or permanent hypopigmentation in pigment removal
Excessive fluence Tattoos containing double ink Pulse stacking Treating too frequently Tattoos in areas more prone to scar: ankle, deltoid, chest areas
Where are suspension sutures
Placed
Between deep fascia or periosteum and overlying dermis
Classification of chemical peels
Superficial: epidermis to pap dermis
Medium: pap dermis to upper reticular 0.45-0.6 mm
Deep: mid reticular dermis 0.6-0.8 mm
Contraindications for peels
- Isot last 6-12 m - atrophies pilosebaceous unit, can re epithelialize properly
- Previous radiation - increase risk of scarring
- Blood supply compromise
- Active HSV, bacterial or other viral infection
- Dermal - recent facial surgery
- Smoking - relative
- Non compliant with priming
Time of year to do a chemical peel
Winter or when indoors
How to classify photoaging
Glogau class: Mild - 28-35 y Mod - 36-50 early AKs and wrinkling Advanced - 51-65 wears make up always Severe 66-75 wrinkling cutis laxa gravity ++ make up
Pre op prep for chemical peeling
Avoid sun - for 3 m before
Tretinoin/ taza rótenes and or alpha hydroxy acids - at least 6 weeks before
Hydroquinone
Anti viral
What are the alpha hydroxy acids most commonly used
glycolic acid: smaller, penetrates better
Lactic acid
Hydroquinone MOA
Hydroxyphenolic chemical - inhibits tyrosinase enzyme, DNA and RNA synthesis in melanocytes - degradation of Melanosomes and destruction of melanocytes but NOT keratinocytes
Available 2-4%
Hydroquinone A/E
ACD Nail discolouration PIh Despigmentación Exogenous ochronosis
When to give antivirals for chemical peel
Medium or deep peel - day prior and for 10-14 days after
expected a/e of chemical peels
Stinging, burning, visible peeling, scaling
Unwanted a/e of chemical peel
Milia Pigment Persistent erythema Infectious Scarring
Purpose of priming in chemical
Peels
Melanocytes suppression and uniform penetration
Indication for superficial peel
Non inflam acne PIH Melisma Ephelides Solar lentigines Photoaging Fine rhytides
Superficial peeling agents
TCA 10-25% Jessners: resorcinol/sal acid/ lactic Modified Unna’s resorcinol Solid CO2 slush Sal acid AHA Tretinoin
Degreasing before a peel - what do you use
Acetone (flammable though)
Alcohol
Septisol
Chlorhexidine
Order to apply chemical peel
Forehead Lateral aspects Nose Cheeks Peri oral Infra orbital last
What to use to apply chemical peel
Thanks referred us rung out gauze for TCA or Jessners
Saturated cotton balls for glycolic
Indra orbital: saturated cotton ripped applicators
TCA in chemical peels
No systemic toxicity
Dissolved in distilled water 10-25% - ie25 g in 100 mL
Stable for 23 weeks in amber bottles at room temp, not light or heat sensitive
Stronger than AHA
Causes epidermal protein coagulation and cell necrosis
End point of a TCA peel
Skin turns whitish gray - frost
Resolves within 1-2 hours
Type of pain in chemical peel
Crescendo
What is sal acid
Ortho hydroxybenzoic acid
Beta hydroxy acid
Causes immediate white precipitation
Self limiting - no need to neutralize
Anaesthetic property: minimal pain
Strong comedolytic
What is salicylism
Tinnitus headache dizziness
Unusual in peels
Drink water to improve sx
Glycolic acid as a chemical peel
Not a true peel
Removes epidermal corneocytes to produce exfoliation
Short lived smoother skin
Most use 70% un buffered and un neutralized
AHA peel - how do you carry it out
Clean and de grease
Leave on for 15 second - 3 minutes for first peel, can be longer for subsequent
You must stay and watch
If hot spot erythema - then neutralise
Neutraliza with 5% sodium bicarb and wash face
Neutralize at end of time, if red, if uncomfortable
Give topical hydrocort to minimise PIH
Factors that affect penetration of AHA
PH Bioavailability Degree of buffering Volume of agent applied Duration of time on skin Condition of epidermal barrier Extent of degreasing
Jessners formula
Resorcinol 14 g
Sal acid 14 g
Lactic acid 14 g
Ethanol 95% 100 mL
End point of Jessners
Erythema and white speckling
Jessners séquenlas
Light desquamation for 2-3 days
Pros and cons of pyruvic acid
Alpha keto acid
Pro: small, deep penetration
Con: scarring risk, neutralize with 10% sodium bicarb
What is the Klingon formula
Melasma treatment
Hydroquinone 4%
Tretinoin 0.5%
Steroid
Ideal peel for melasma
Combination peel
Indications for medium depth peels
Epidermal growth: AK, seb k, lentigines
Medium depth chemical peeling agents
TCA 50% Solid CO2 + 35% TCA 70% glycolic acid + 35% TCA 88% phenol Pyruvic acid
Care for eyes when doing medium peel
Assistant hold 2 dry cotton tipped applicators at medial and lateral canthus of eye to catch tears
What is CROSS
Chemical reconstruction of skin scars
Focal application of high concentration TCA 65-100% - press into scar
Post op care for medium peel
Within 30 mins: sunburn like,
First 24 hours oedema
After 24 hours light brown appearance
Desquamation begins around mouth and central face - last area to peel is the hairline, starts on day 3 done by day 7
Erythema fades 2-4 weeks
Keep greasy with petrolatum ointment or LanRoche Posay cold cream multiple times a day within 5-7 days
Can use acetic acid 0.25% and cool water soaks 3-5 times a day for first few days
Don’t scrub at skin
Make up within 7-10 days
Re start AHA on week 3 and Tretinoin 4-6
Adjuvant treatment for peels
Botox
Laser resurfacing to rhytides
Possible deep peel ingredients
Phenol Croton - deepens penetration Swptisol Water Vegetable oils
Bakers Gordon the most common: Please don’t stop cooking Phenol USP 88% 3 mL Distilled water 2 mL Septisol liquid soap 8 drops Croton oil 3 drops
Deep peel end point
Ivory white to gray white colour
Deep peel healing
Re epithelialize day 8
Erythema gradually subsided
Chemical peel complications
- cardiac arrhythmia - phenol directly toxic to myocardium so need CPR monitoring if use phenol, hydrate and diurese if occurs
- Dyspigmentation - need to prime before, hyperpigmentation more common, hypo with deeper peels
- Infection - HSV most common. Toxic shock reported
- Milia - up to 20% post peel, 8-16 weeks post procedure. Can treat with electrosurgery
- Acneiform dermatitis immediately after re epithelialization - rx abx
- Scarring - commonly lower face
Contraindications for sclerotherapy
Absolute: Known allergy
DVT or PE
Local infection or severe generalised infection
Permanent immobility of patient with confinement to bed
Foam sclero: known right to left shunt - patent foramen ovale
Relative:
Pregnancy
Breastfeeding - interrupt for 2-3 days
Severe PAD
Poor health
Strong allergies
High thromboembolic risk
Acute superficial venous thrombosis
Foam: visual disturbances or neuro disturbances following previous foam sclerotherapy
So what are the two particular contraindications for foam sclerotherapy
Known symptomatic right to left shunt - patent FO - absolute
Visual disturbances or neuro sx from previous foam - relative
Sclerotherapy is performed in what order
Larger veins to smaller varicose veins
Maximum dose of polidocanol
2 mg/kg body weight
Excessive doses of sodium terradecyl sulfate can lead to what
RBC haemolysis-
Maximum dose of STS for sclerotherapy
No more than 4 mL of 3% solution, and not more than 10’mL of all other concentrations per session
For telangiectasias, sclerotherapy volume and concentration
Up to 0.2 mL, POL 0.25-0.5% and STS 0.1-0.2%
Reticular varicose veins sclerothetapy measurements
Volume up to 0.5 mL
0.5-1 % POL or up to 0.5% STS
Varicose veins volume injected of sclerotherapy
Up to 2 mL
If large go up to 3% of POL or STS otherwise 1% for small and 2-3 for medium
Post liquid sclerotherapy care
Local compression - removal depends on diameter and location of varicose vein
Walk around immediately after - physical thromboprophylaxis
Avoid sport, hot baths, saunas and strong UV radiation in the initial days after sclerotherapy
What is the mixing ratio for sclerosant plus gas
1+ 4 to 1 + 5 - liquid to gas
What gas is used for sclerosing foam
Room air
You can also use CO2 or oxygen
Maximum foam volume per leg in a given foam slcerotherapy session
10 mL
What are the duplex grades of successfulness in sclerotherapy
2: successful - complete disappearance of vein
1: partial successful, reflux <1 second - diameter reduction
0: unsuccessful, reflux >1 second or unchanged
Safety measures for foam sclerotherapy for GSV AND SSV
Avoid immediate compression
Use USS to monitor foam distribution
Inject a highly viscous foam
Ensure there is no patient or leg movement for ~ 5 minutes, no Valsalva maneuver or other mm movement
Adverse effects from sclerotherapy
Allergy: anaphylaxis, allergic dermatitis, contact urticaria, erythema
Clots: stroke and Tia (v rare) DVT, PE (v rare)
Necrosis: large tissue (rare) and skin necrosis
Neuro: visual disturbances headaches and migraines <1%, nerve injury, motor nerve injury v rare
Skin: matting <10%, residual pigment <10%, embolia cutis medicamentosa , superficial phlebitis
Resp: dry cough and chest tightness <0.01%
What % of the population has a patent foramen ovale
25%
Foam sclerotherapy has higher risk of what side effects
Pigmentation and inflammation
Transient neuro
Visual disturbances transient
Triggering migraine
Caput medusae indicates what
Superficial epigastric vein insufficiency
How deep can a Doppler penetrate
Up to 8 cm
Three types of sclerosants
- Hyperosmotic agents - causes endothelial cell damage via dehydration
- Chemical irritants - act as corrosives
- Detergent sclerosants - these are STS and polidocanol
Which sclerosant won’t cause pain
Polidocanol- lowest risk
Which sclerosanrs have a low incidence of allergic reactions
STS and polidocanol
What does making a foaming sclerosant achieve
Increases potency two fold, decreases adverse effects four fold
How is using CO2 different to room air in foaming sclerosant
CO2 allows the Gas sclerosant bubble to break down more quickly - minimizing possibility of gas embolisation
How can you treat telangiectasias procedurally
Microsclerotherapy
IPL
Laser - PDL and NdYag 1064