8 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Tissue Expander/Implant Reconstruction: The purpose of this study is to determine how and when nerve sensation to the breast skin returns after mastectomy. Autologous Tissue Reconstruction: The purpose of this study is to determine whether the tissue being used to reconstruct your breast can provide sensation by using your own nerves. Typically all sensation is lost immediately after this type of surgery and returns to varying degrees. We are hoping to demonstrate that by connecting the two nerves (one from abdomen and one from the chest wall) together, we can attain meaningful sensation in the transferred tissues thereby improving your quality of life following surgery.
This study will test the accuracy of computerized custom mandibular reconstruction to traditional methods of mandibular reconstruction using a vascularized osteocutaneous fibula flap.
This is a prospective single-arm non-inferiority trial evaluating surgical outcomes in subjects who are fed in the first days after oral cavity reconstructive surgery. The purpose of the study is to specifically compare the rates of orocutaneous fistula in subjects who are allowed to eat immediately after surgery to those rates published in the literature (individuals for whom oral feeding is delayed for several days after surgery). Eighty nine subjects who will undergo oral cavity reconstructive surgery will be enrolled between Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai West. Study participation will last for 30 days after surgery during which time patients will be examined for any signs or symptoms of surgical site infection or wound breakdown, have several clinical evaluations of swallow function, and be asked to report on several patient reported outcome measures.
Head and neck oncologic surgery often requires the use of free tissue transfer, or microvascular reconstruction, to reconstruct defects created by tumor resections. Although there are several techniques for the reconstruction of defects, resection of large tumors leave defects that require the transfer of vascularized tissue from one part of the body to repair the defect. For example, the removal of a segment of diseased mandible requires free tissue transfer containing the component parts - skin, muscle, and bone - to reconstruct the deficit created by the resection of the tumor. Over the years, microvascular surgeons have focused their attention on maximizing the success of these technically difficult surgeries. However, now, with free flap reconstruction rates in excess of 95%, surgeons are afforded the opportunity to turn their focus toward the morbidities associated with these surgeries. While much has been published about donor site wound healing, pain control in the post-operative period has largely been neglected in the head and neck reconstruction literature. Systemic analgesia with opioids is standard of care, which has been shown to lead to increased confusion, significantly increased length of stay and increased risk of pulmonary complications. In addition, it has been shown that early mobilization and optimal wound care can decrease donor site morbidity. In this study the clinical team aims to better control donor site pain utilizing local, targeted analgesia to relieve pain at the donor site for osseocutaneous free-flaps. To reduce confounding and bias, the study will be a double-blind prospective randomized placebo controlled trial wherein patients undergoing osseocutaneous free flap surgery will be randomized to receive continuous infusion of ropivacaine or normal saline (placebo) via local continuous infusion catheter, which will be placed intraoperatively at the time of donor site closure. Patients' pain will be monitored for the first 48hrs after surgery. Donor site and global pain at rest will be evaluated every 8 hours for the first two postoperative days using a visual analogue pain scale (VAS). Essentially, there is a 100 millimeter line drawn on a piece of paper, with "no pain" marking the left end of the line and "worst pain" marking the right end of the line. Subjects mark with a pen along the line where pain is felt fits along that continuum. A researcher then measures how far along the line that mark is placed and then it is recorded. Median daily opiate use via PCA will also be tracked. Donor site-specific range of motion and strength will be assessed with a formal physical therapy evaluation on post-operative day 2 or soonest non-holiday weekday. Information on patient satisfaction, time to ambulation, and length of stay will also be collected. Subgroup analysis will be performed.
This study evaluates donor site outcomes in patients receiving radial forearm free flap reconstruction versus ulnar forearm free flap reconstruction. Patients who meet criteria for forearm free flap reconstruction are randomized to receiving either radial forearm free flap or ulnar forearm free flap reconstruction.
Since antiquity, honey has been recognized for its healing properties. Literature about the use of medicinal honey for wound care dates back centuries with recent data suggesting its use in patients suffering from burns or pressure ulcers. Research has shown Manuka honey (Leptospermum scoparium) to have significant immune benefits and the ability to influence all phases of wound healing: inflammation, proliferation and remodeling. In addition, numerous clinical studies have identified positive benefits for wound healing. However, there is a lack of prospective, randomized controlled data on the use of honey as a medicinal agent in local wound care and scar healing. In order to better understand Manuka Honey's ability to aid in healing, the investigators are conducting a randomized, controlled, single-blinded study of patients undergoing reconstructive surgery. This project uses split thickness skin graft and free tissue transfer donor sites as standard wound models to compare the effects of Manuka Honey versus standard wound care therapies. Through the use of standard wound model and objective measurement tools, the investigators hope to better elucidate any benefits of this novel wound care 'technology.'
Tissue transfer flaps are a method of moving tissue from a donor location to a recipient location. In the case of a free tissue transfer flaps, the blood vessels to the transferred tissues are detached and then re-attached to different arteries \& veins at the recipient site. The process of reconstructive surgery using tissue transfer flaps allows for improved results in terms of functionality, aesthetic appearance, and psychological well-being in patients requiring reconstructive surgery after cancer resection or trauma. The process of reconstructive surgery using tissue transfer flaps is not without complications. These complications may include acute arterial or venous occlusion, as well as the development of late complications such as fat necrosis and flap atrophy. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine if a novel, unique, portable, non-contact optical imaging device developed at the Beckman Laser Institute called Modulated Imaging (MI) can detect changes in a flap's optical properties, which can correlate with arterial or venous occlusion or with the development of fat necrosis or flap atrophy. The study would also evaluate if changes in the tissue transfer flap's optical properties, as detected by the device could be employed as a monitoring device in the post-operative period after reconstructive surgery. The MI device's detection of specific optical properties of a tissue flap could also potentially be used as a diagnostic tool to predict the likelihood of the development of fat necrosis or flap atrophy in a delayed fashion several months after reconstructive surgery. Prior animal and clinical studies using similar devices have demonstrated that changes in the total hemoglobin concentration and percentage of oxygenated hemoglobin in the tissue transfer flap can be used to differentiate between arterial and venous occlusion. These other similar devices have been shown to be able to detect venous occlusion prior to clinical manifestations of venous occlusion using standard monitoring methods. This early detection of venous occlusion has important implications. It is well established that early detection and surgical re-exploration and correction of venous occlusion is associated with improved survival and salvage rates of tissue transfer flaps. It has been suggested in the reconstructive literature that the development of fat necrosis and flap atrophy are caused by a relative arterial or venous insufficiency, which could be detected using the MI device prior to the clinical manifestations of these complications.Patients undergoing reconstructive surgery at UCI Medical Center will be recruited for enrollment into the study. The study design requires following the patients and review their medical records in order to determine the clinical outcomes of their reconstructive surgery. The process of review of the medical record will require the review of both the in-patient medical record during the hospitalization in which the reconstructive surgery takes place and the outpatient medical record after surgery in order to observe for the possible development of the acute and delayed complications of reconstructive surgery.
Patients presenting for normal spontaneous vaginal delivery who have a neuraxial anesthestic will be randomized to receive preservative free morphine or saline placebo after delivery.