• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.391-395
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• 2010

Purpose: Given that the critical nature of the microvascular anastomosis to what is often a long and difficult reconstructive operation, trainees need to have a high level of microsurgical competence before being allowed to perform microsurgery on patients. Some artificial substitutes and dead or live animal models have been used to improve manual dexterity under the operating microscope. Yet, most surgeons are not equipped with such models, so search for easy available and appropriate microsurgical practice model have been an issue. Umbilical artery, placental vessels and gastroepiploic arteries have been previously suggested as a microsurgical training model, which involves other surgical departments. The purpose of this article is to introduce that saphenous vein specimen obtained from varicose vein surgery is useful and has many advantages as training model for the practice of microvascular anastomosis. Methods: The conventional technique using perforation/inversion method with a metallic stripper is widely performed for varicose vein patients. The stripper is inserted through disconnected safeno-femoral junction and retrieved at the knee or the medial side of ankle. The length of saphenous vein specimens removed is about that of one's leg and inversed from inside out. Obtained saphenous vein specimens are re-inversed and cleansed with normal saline, to be readily available for microsurgical practice. Preserved in a squeezed wet saline gauze and refrigerated, frozen or glycerated specimens were investigated into their comparative quality for microsurgical practice. Results: Varicose vein surgery remains one of the common operations performed in the field of plastic surgery. Convenient informed consent regarding the vessel donation can be easily signed. The diameter of the obtained saphenous vein is as variable as 1.5 to 6 mm, which is already stripped, and is in sufficient length corresponding to that of patient's leg. Vessels specimens were available for microsurgical practice within 1 week period when preserved with squeezed wet saline gauze, and the preservation period could be extended monthly by freezing it. Conclusion: Saphenous vein obtained from varicose vein patients provide with variable size of vessel lumen with sufficient length. The practice can be cost effective and does not require microsurgical laboratory. Additionally there is no need of involving other surgical departments in acquiring vessel specimens. Furthermore, simple preservation method of refrigerating for a week or freezing with squeezed wet saline gauze for a month period, allow the saphenous vein obtained after varicose vein surgery as an excellent model for the microsurgical practice.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.305-309
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• 2021

Microsurgical procedures are time-consuming and sometimes fatigue-inducing. However, a skilled assistant and scrub nurse can help surgery be performed more smoothly and rapidly. Three microsurgical simulation courses were held for perioperative nurses at our institution. Each course consisted of two lectures and two practice microsurgical sessions, and was evaluated with a post-course survey. The respondents all felt that their knowledge of microsurgical instruments, sutures, microscope set-up, and microsurgical skills had improved following the course. Many felt that their ability to predict what the surgeon would request during a microsurgical case improved, and that they were able to handle instruments and sutures better. The nurses also reported improved confidence in assisting with microsurgical procedures and tolerance of the long operative time in some microsurgical cases. Based on our experience, a basic microsurgery course for nurses can play a significant role in training effective and competent microsurgical scrub nurses.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.75-78
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• 2009

Purpose: Microsurgery is an essential technique in plastic and reconstructive surgery. However, microsurgical suturing and handling of the instrument are difficult for beginners, and who requires a steep learning curve. Therefore, methods for improving the technical skill are needed. The authors describe the value of a small stereoscopic microscope as a training tool. Materials and Methods: A small stereoscopic microscope was used to help improve the microsurgical skill. Monofilament 10-0 Nylon and a surgical rubber globe were used as a suture material and education material, respectively Result: Stereoscopic view of the operation field was obtained and basic microsurgical suture was possible. Conclusion: The stereoscopic microscope is an effective training tool for beginners of microsurgery with benefits in cost and usefulness in small place.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.312-319
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• 2013

Over the past decade, driven by advances in educational theory and pressures for efficiency in the clinical environment, there has been a shift in surgical education and training towards enhanced simulation training. Microsurgery is a technical skill with a steep competency learning curve on which the clinical outcome greatly depends. This paper investigates the evidence for educational and training interventions of traditional microsurgical skills courses in order to establish the best evidence practice in education and training and curriculum design. A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed databases was performed to identify randomized control trials looking at educational and training interventions that objectively improved microsurgical skill acquisition, and these were critically appraised using the BestBETs group methodology. The databases search yielded 1,148, 1,460, and 2,277 citations respectively. These were then further limited to randomized controlled trials from which abstract reviews reduced the number to 5 relevant randomised controlled clinical trials. The best evidence supported a laboratory based low fidelity model microsurgical skills curriculum. There was strong evidence that technical skills acquired on low fidelity models transfers to improved performance on higher fidelity human cadaver models and that self directed practice leads to improved technical performance. Although there is significant paucity in the literature to support current microsurgical education and training practices, simulated training on low fidelity models in microsurgery is an effective intervention that leads to acquisition of transferable skills and improved technical performance. Further research to identify educational interventions associated with accelerated skill acquisition is required.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.302-303
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• 2013

Current educational interventions and training courses in microsurgery are often predicated on theories of skill acquisition and development that follow a 'practice makes perfect' model. Given the changing landscape of surgical training and advances in educational theories related to skill development, research is needed to assess current training tools in microsurgery education and devise alternative methods that would enhance training. Simulation is an increasingly important tool for educators because, whilst facilitating improved technical proficiency, it provides a way to reduce risks to both trainees and patients. The International Microsurgery Simulation Society has been founded in 2012 in order to consolidate the global effort in promoting excellence in microsurgical training. The society's aim to achieve standarisation of microsurgical training worldwide could be realised through the development of evidence based educational interventions and sharing best practices.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.102-107
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• 2019

Mobile computing devices (MCDs), such as smartphones and tablets, are revolutionizing medical practice. These devices are almost universally available and offer a multitude of capabilities, including online features, streaming capabilities, high-quality cameras, and numerous applications. Within the surgical field, MCDs are increasingly being used for simulations. Microsurgery is an expanding field of surgery that presents unique challenges to both trainees and trainers. Simulation-based training and assessment in microsurgery currently play an integral role in the preparation of trainee surgeons in a safe and informative environment. MCDs address these challenges in a novel way by providing valuable adjuncts to microsurgical training, assessment, and clinical practice through low-cost, effective, and widely accessible solutions. Herein, we present a review of the capabilities, accessibility, and relevance of MCDs for technical skills acquisition, training, and clinical microsurgery practice, and consider the possibility of their wider use in the future of microsurgical training and education.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.53-56
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• 2007

Purpose: Microsurgical exercise has been performed with rat femoral vessels. But, it needs animal laboratory, anesthesia and its keeping facilities. Materials and Methods: Ten human placentas were studied for suitability in a microvascular exercise. The size and useful length of vessels were measured, and various microvascular anastomoses were performed. Result: The human placenta has many vessels traversing its fetal surface. A variety of sizes are available down to vessels of diameter 1 mm and up to vessels of diameter 6.5 mm (1.0

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.121-126
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• 2022

Background Although they may not replace standard training methods that use surgical microscopes, smartphones equipped with high-resolution screens and high-definition cameras are an attractive alternative for practicing microsurgical skills. They are ubiquitous, simple to operate, and inexpensive. This study compared anastomoses of chicken femoral vessels using a smartphone camera versus a standard operative microscope. Methods Forty anastomoses of non-living chicken femoral vessels were divided into four groups. A resident and an experienced microsurgeon performed anastomoses of femoral chicken vessels with 8-0 and 10-0 sutures, using a smartphone camera and a surgical microscope. The time to complete the anastomosis and the number of anastomosis errors were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results The time taken to perform an anastomosis by the experienced microsurgeon was significantly longer when using the smartphone (median: 32.5 minutes vs. 20 minutes, P<0.001). The resident completed the anastomoses with both types of equipment without a significant difference in the operative times. When using a smartphone, the operation times were not significantly different between the resident and the experienced microsurgeon (P=0.238). The resident showed non-significant differences in operation time and the number of errors when using a smartphone or an operative microscope (P=1.000 and P=0.065, respectively). Conclusions Microsurgical practice with non-living chicken femoral vessels can be performed with a smartphone, though it can take longer than with an operative microscope for experienced microsurgeons. The resident may also experience frustration and tend to make more anastomosis errors when using a smartphone versus an operative microscope.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제35권5호
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• pp.626-629
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• 2008

Purpose: We investigate the possibility of vessel preservation with glycerol and evaluate the potential of preserved gastroepiploic artery as a tool for the microsurgical practice. Methods: In 5 early gastric cancer patients, IRB(No. C-0603-040-170), we gained gastroepiploic artery specimens(5 segments, about 10 cm) after gastrectomy. Each segment was rinsed in a normal saline and subsequently placed in a bottle, containing 50 mL anhydrous glycerol (87%). The bottles were refrigerated at $4^{\circ}C$, the longest preservation time being 5 months. Results: At first glance, no fragmentation was detected and the surface of vessel seemed mild sclerotic. In histological examination, vascular structures remained intact though preservation with glycerol led to a mild atrophy of the smooth muscle in the tunica media. Especially, we found out the elastic fibers and endothelial lining of the intima were preserved until 5 months. Adequate status for using microsurgical practice was also maintained and leakage test was performed successfully with gentian violet ink. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained in this study, the gastroepiploic artery preservation with glycerol as a training model for microvascular anastomosis is a technically very simple procedure and useful for the novice microsurgeon.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제59권4호
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• pp.410-413
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• 2016

Lumbar radiculopathy is generally caused by such well-recognized entity as lumbar disc herniation in neurosurgical practice; however rare pathologies such as thrombosed epidural varix may mimic them by causing radicular symptoms. In this case report, we present a 26-year-old man with the complaint of back and right leg pain who was operated for right L4-5 disc herniation. The lesion interpreted as an extruded disc herniation preoperatively was found to be a thrombosed epidural varix compressing the nerve root preoperatively. The nerve root was decompressed by shrinking the lesion with bipolar thermocoagulation and excision. The patient's complaints disappeared in the postoperative period. Thrombosed lumbar epidural varices may mimic lumbar disc herniations both radiologically and clinically. Therefore, must be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of lumbar disc herniations. Microsurgical techniques are mandatory for the treatment of these pathologies and decompression with thermocoagulation and excision is an efficient method.