Faculty Bibliography

Addressing these business and financial components of research, we believe that including a section on translational vision research especially for refractive surgery will be a welcome addition to the readership of the Journal. Although the section "Translational Science" is new, the Journal has published a number of articles in past years that would have been ideal candidates for such a section. The inaugural Translational Science article in this month's issue is fron Santhiago and colleagues on short-term cell death and inflammation after intracorneal inlay implantation in rabbits. Although not all scientists are in agreement with the promotion of this term, the Journal aims to provide different outlooks and modern usage of translational research in this way to advance the field of refractive surgery.

BACKGROUND:Epidural anesthesia (EA) is known to reduce postoperative thromboembolic complications, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Review of the literature revealed no reports about the ability of epidural anesthesia (EA) to reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in abdominal contouring surgery and/or liposuction. Most medical publications in this field are based on orthopedic cases. OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The authors investigate the hypothesis that the differential nerve-blocking effect of bupivacaine, which spares motor function and permits leg movement during the operation, is the most important mechanism by which EA prevents thromboembolism. METHODS:From June 1992 to August 1995, 24 cases of abdominoplasty were performed under general anesthesia (Group 1). From September 1995 to December 2009, 371 cases of concurrent abdominoplasty and liposuction were performed under EA (Group 2). Eighteen cases (4.8%) from Group 2 were ultimately excluded from the study because of unsuccessful EA. All surgeries were performed by the senior author (FH). RESULTS:One thromboembolic event (pulmonary embolism [PE]) occurred in Group 1 (4%). No cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or PE occurred among Group 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS:Together, differential epidural nerve blocks and purposeful intraoperative movement of lower-limb muscles represent an effective prophylactic mechanism that may prevent devastating DVT and resultant PE.

BACKGROUND:In certain cases of endoscopic forehead lift without muscle resection, patients were incidentally noted to develop weakness or loss of their ability to frown during the postoperative period despite intact musculature. This finding suggested the possibility of decreasing frown strength using the disinsertion of the relevant muscles. This finding persuaded the authors to try to eliminate or decrease the sensory problems resulting from open or endoscopic frowning muscle resection by disinserting these muscles. We therefore sought to determine the efficacy of a brow/forehead lift that involved disinsertion rather than muscle resection. METHODS:From September 2004 through December 2006, 22 endoscopic forehead lifts (20 females and 2 males) were performed using the conventional corrugator muscle resection technique (group 1). From January 2007 through October 2009, 43 patients (38 females and 5 males) underwent endoscopic forehead lift with a muscle-preserving technique (group 2). In both groups, small scalp incisions were made, and an endoscope was used to elevate the brows and forehead to perform glabellar and forehead muscle resection in group 1 and disinsertion of the frowning muscles in group 2. The skin of the forehead was then reanchored to a more superior location using sutures attached to deep temporal fascia as well as outer table screws and skin staples. RESULTS:Aesthetically pleasing eyebrow and forehead with reduced power in the frowning muscles were achieved in the majority of patients in both groups. A significant decrease in the depth of vertical and horizontal glabellar creases was obtained in these patients. In group 1, 19 of 22 patients completely lost the ability to frown and 3 patients (13.6%) suffered permanent sensory loss. In group 2, 33 of 43 patients lost their ability to frown but only 2 cases (4.5%) developed minimal unilateral forehead partial sensory deficit after a 12-month follow-up period. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Disinsertion of the corrugator supercilli, procerus, or orbicularis oculi muscles can decrease contractility with less chance of damaging nearby or intermingled sensory nerves than offered by resection.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:We report a case of failure of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) for progressive keratoconus after preoperative stromal swelling with hypoosmolar riboflavin solution in an extremely thin cornea. METHODS:CXL was performed using the protocol established for the treatment of thin corneas. Preoperative minimal thickness after abrasion was 268 μm and increased to 406 μm after swelling with hypoosmolar riboflavin solution. RESULTS:Despite CXL, a distinct progression of up to 1.9 diopters was observed at 3 months after the procedure on the anterior corneal surface. At 6 months after CXL, progression had increased to 2.3 diopters. Although swelling with hypoosmolar riboflavin solution was effective and led to a preoperative thickness of more than 400 μm, the increase in biomechanical resistance was not sufficient to arrest the progression of the disease. CONCLUSIONS:Little is known about the minimal stromal thickness required for effective CXL to occur. Although swelling with hypoosmolar riboflavin solution over 400 μm and safety of the procedure can be achieved in even thinner corneas, the outcome of this case suggests that a minimal preoperative stromal thickness of 330 μm needs to be respected for a successful CXL procedure.