550721
research-article2014
SRIXXX10.1177/1553350614550721Surgical InnovationGorgülü et al
Letter to the Editor
The Fan Device Versus Maceration
Surgical Innovation 2015, Vol. 22(4) 443 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1553350614550721 sri.sagepub.com
Tahsin Görgülü, MD1, Arzu Akçal, MD2, and Nebil Yes¸ilog˘ lu, MD3
Dear Editor, Maceration is a common problem for people who have been treated with interpolation flap procedures especially during summer. Maceration can lead to suture detachment and infection especially in groin and hypothenar flaps.1,2 The reasons for maceration are high temperature and low air flow. Here, we address this issue by a customdesigned apparatus providing enhanced air flow that has been successfully used in more than hundreds of cases since 2004. We have used computer fans of different sizes that require a 9-V battery each (Figure 1A). We formed an air tunnel behind to flap the pedicle, and other skin contacts were prevented with dressing gauze (Figure 1B). Fans were located as a part of dressing after interpolation flap operation (Figure 1C). The device has an on/off switch and the patient switches on for 20 minutes or an hour. The use of this device on a patient yielded no infection or suture detachments. Furthermore, air flow provided the drying of leakage due to open pedicle surface. Eventually, this fan system is a good alternative to prevent maceration caused by insufficient airflow. We prevented maceration in many cases with this simple device. We believe that this device has a potential to be further developed and used routinely on the patients who have maceration risk.
Figure 1. (A) Fan devices, (B) air tunnel, and (C) fan-mounted dressing.
References 1. Cutting KF. The causes and prevention of maceration of the skin. J Wound Care. 1999;8:200-201. 2. Cutting KF. The causes and prevention of maceration of the skin. Prof Nurse. 2001;17:177-178. 1
Bulent Ecevit University Medical Faculty, Zonguldak, Turkey Akdeniz University Medical Faculty, Antalya, Turkey 3 Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey 2
Corresponding Author: Tahsin Görgülü, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Bulent Ecevit University Medical Faculty, A blok Kat:3 KozluZonguldak 67300, Turkey. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from sri.sagepub.com at Stockholm University Library on November 12, 2015
research-article2014
SRIXXX10.1177/1553350614550721Surgical InnovationGorgülü et al
Letter to the Editor
The Fan Device Versus Maceration
Surgical Innovation 2015, Vol. 22(4) 443 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1553350614550721 sri.sagepub.com
Tahsin Görgülü, MD1, Arzu Akçal, MD2, and Nebil Yes¸ilog˘ lu, MD3
Dear Editor, Maceration is a common problem for people who have been treated with interpolation flap procedures especially during summer. Maceration can lead to suture detachment and infection especially in groin and hypothenar flaps.1,2 The reasons for maceration are high temperature and low air flow. Here, we address this issue by a customdesigned apparatus providing enhanced air flow that has been successfully used in more than hundreds of cases since 2004. We have used computer fans of different sizes that require a 9-V battery each (Figure 1A). We formed an air tunnel behind to flap the pedicle, and other skin contacts were prevented with dressing gauze (Figure 1B). Fans were located as a part of dressing after interpolation flap operation (Figure 1C). The device has an on/off switch and the patient switches on for 20 minutes or an hour. The use of this device on a patient yielded no infection or suture detachments. Furthermore, air flow provided the drying of leakage due to open pedicle surface. Eventually, this fan system is a good alternative to prevent maceration caused by insufficient airflow. We prevented maceration in many cases with this simple device. We believe that this device has a potential to be further developed and used routinely on the patients who have maceration risk.
Figure 1. (A) Fan devices, (B) air tunnel, and (C) fan-mounted dressing.
References 1. Cutting KF. The causes and prevention of maceration of the skin. J Wound Care. 1999;8:200-201. 2. Cutting KF. The causes and prevention of maceration of the skin. Prof Nurse. 2001;17:177-178. 1
Bulent Ecevit University Medical Faculty, Zonguldak, Turkey Akdeniz University Medical Faculty, Antalya, Turkey 3 Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey 2
Corresponding Author: Tahsin Görgülü, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Bulent Ecevit University Medical Faculty, A blok Kat:3 KozluZonguldak 67300, Turkey. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from sri.sagepub.com at Stockholm University Library on November 12, 2015
