No abstract available.
Intubation ; Lacerations ; Polypropylenes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a simplified single suture inferior retractor tightening technique in senile entropion. METHODS: Twenty patients (26 eyes) showing no severe horizontal lid laxity underwent an operation for senile entropion between April 2001 and July 2003. After a subciliary incision, the inferior retractor was identified, and repaired by reattaching the superior edge of the inferior retractor to the inferior edge of the lower tarsus using a single 5-0 Prolene suture. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for an average of 2.8 months after surgery. Five patients showed complications: two overcorrections and three recurrences of entropion. The others all showed good cosmetic and functional results. The recurred cases underwent further operation with good results. CONCLUSIONS: The simplified single suture inferior retractor tightening gave good results in patients with senile entropion without severe horizontal lid laxity. Moreover, this procedure has short operation and recovery times. In unilateral cases, more symmetric appearances were obtained compared with combined surgeries.
Ankle ; Entropion* ; Humans ; Polypropylenes ; Recurrence ; Sutures*

Post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse is rare complication. There are many surgical procedures to correct this problem. But abdominal colposacropexy, using Marlex mesh or Gore-Tex graft is standard procedure. We experienced one case who had repair of post-hysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse by transabdominal sacral colpopexy using Gore-Tex graft and report with brief review of literatures.
Hysterectomy* ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse* ; Polypropylenes ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Transplants*

PURPOSE: The feasibility of a rat choledochojejunostomy (CJ) training model was investigated, as an introductory model to microsurgery for general surgeons. METHODS: Roux-en-Y CJ was performed on 20 rats. Interrupted 10-0 prolene sutures were used to perform CJ. The animals were observed for 7 days and sacrificed and examined. RESULTS: The rats were divided into 2 groups of 10 based on surgical order. The CJ time showed a significant decrease from 36.2 ± 5.6 minutes in group 1 to 29.4 ± 5.7 minutes in group 2 (P = 0.015). The bile leakage rate was 40% in group 1 and 10% in group 2. The survival time was 5.4 ± 2.2 days in group 1 and 7 days in group 2 (P = 0.049). CONCLUSION: The rat CJ training model is a feasible introductory model for general surgeons with no previous experience in microsurgery.
Animals ; Bile ; Choledochostomy* ; Microsurgery ; Polypropylenes ; Rats* ; Sutures

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a knitted polypropylene mesh used for mammapexy in correcting the breast ptosis.

METHODSTwenty-one patients with the mild or moderate breast ptosis were undergoing the mammapexy with a knitted polypropylene mesh. The operation was performed through the periareolar incision and a monofilament knitted polypropylene mesh was subcutaneously implanted on the surface of the gland and fixed upward.

RESULTSAll of the patients were satisfactory of the appearance with the follow-ups from 2 to 16 months. No secondary ptosis, hypertrophic scars and foreign body reactions were found.

CONCLUSIONThe above-mentioned technique could be a good, safe and reliable method for correcting breast ptosis.

Between January 1979 and August 1996, resection of a primary chest wall tumor was done in 51 patients. The mean age of the patients was 36.1 years (2 to 69 years). A palpable mass was the most common symptom (32 patients, 62.7%). The tumor was malignant in 11 patients (21.6%) and benign in 40 patients (78.4%). The tumors in 32 patients (62.7%) had developed from the bony or the cartilaginous wall and in 19 patients (37.3%) from soft tissue. Thirty seven of the patients with benign tumors were treated by excision (three of the patients: wide resection and reconstruction) without recurrence or death, and they are currently free from disease. Most malignancies (8 patients) were treated by wide resection and chest wall reconstruction. Five of them are currently alive. The chest wall reconstruction with Marlex mesh, Prolene mesh, or Teflon felt was done in five of the patients with malignant tumors.
Humans ; Polypropylenes ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Recurrence ; Thoracic Wall* ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: Various methods of scleral fixation for the cases of posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCL) dislocation or subluxation into the vitreous cavity had been developed, and in the recent year a modification of internal scleral fixation using a hollow-bore needle has been introduced. The authors endeavored to evaluate clinical usefulness of the method. METHODS: The study was conducted for four cases of PCL dislocation or subluxation. A 10-0 polypropylene suture was threaded up the internal shaft of a 30 G straight needle and retrieved. The needle containing this suture was then inserted through the bed of the partial-thickness scleral flap 1.5 mm posterior to the limbus. The loop of suture was hooked with haphic of PCL. After the needle was retracted, the haptic was captured and the suture was tied to the sclera. The same maneuver was performed for the haptic in the opposite side. RESULTS: Except for pars plana vitrectomy, time taken for the above procedure was 10~15 minutes. Postoperatively induced astigmatism of all 4 cases were less than 3 diopters on the second postoperative day. No specific complication associated with this procedure was noted. IOL remained stable without tilting or rotation 18 months after procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This modified internal scleral fixation technique must be a convenient and effective procedure for repositioning posteriorly dislocated PCL.
Astigmatism ; Dislocations* ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Needles* ; Polypropylenes ; Sclera ; Sutures ; Vitrectomy

The study aims to investigate the effect of the ratio of long axis to short axis (RLS) of upright polypropylene infusion bag on discharging process and to search the best RLS. Aiming at five different RLS (1. 5 : 1, 2 : 1, 3 : 1, 4 : 1 and 5 : 1, respectively) with the volume of 100 mL, 250 mL and 500 mL, respectively, based on finite element method, analyzing the variation of stress distribution, emptying rate, drugging space and steadiness coefficient, etc. For the bags of the same volume, emptying rate increased with increasing of RLS, but the steadiness coefficient decreased with increasing of RLS. The specific increasing amplitude of emptying rate and decreasing range of steadiness coefficient were as follows: 20% and 49% for 100 mL infusion bag, 9% and 51% for 250 mL infusion bag, and 11% and 46% for 500 mL infusion bag, respectibvely, when RLS increased from 1. 5 : 1 to 5 : 1. Comparatively speaking, the increasing amplitude of the emptying rate is remarkably less than the decreasing range of the steadiness coefficient. By comprehensive consideration of both emptying rate and steadiness coefficient, lower RLS is recommended for upright polypropylene infusion bag.
Drug Delivery Systems ; instrumentation ; Finite Element Analysis ; Polypropylenes

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the causative agents for the dermatological problems associated with the polypropylene manufacturing process. METHODS: The study subjects consisted of 44 male workers involved in the polypropylene manufacturing process. Twenty-seven of them had been exposed to additives, and the remaining 17 had not. Among the 27 exposed, 10 had been exposed previously, and 17 are currently being exposed through their duties. Patch test were performed with three different concentrations, 0.1%, 1% and 10% of 10 different additives that was diluted with Vaseline. RESULTS: 18 subjects (41%) had positive reactions to the patch tests. Exposed group had a higher reaction rate (51.9%) than the control group (23.5%). When the positive reactions were further classified, 7, 6 and 5 were compatible with probably irritant, probably allergic, and multiple hypersensitivity reactions respectively. The most frequent reactions were from Ultranox-626 followed by Millad 3988, Armoslip-E and Songstab Sc-100. CONCLUSIONS: When considering the significantly higher probability of an allergic reaction rate among the currently exposed group compared to non- or previously-exposed groups, the nature of dermatological problems in a polypropylene plant is probably allergic. Ultranox-626, Millad3988, Armoslip-E and Songstab Sc-100 were the main causatives agents found in the process.
Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Irritants ; Male ; Patch Tests ; Petrolatum ; Plants ; Polypropylenes*

We reported here on 2 cases of aortic regurgitation (AR) that were due to avulsion of the aortic valve commissure. Aortic valvuloplasty was attempted in both cases. In the 1st case, valvuloplasty was performed with reattaching the commissure using the 5-0 polypropylene continuous suture technique. However, aortic regurgitation recurred and this lead to reoperation on the postoperative 14th day. The intraoperative finding revealed a completely re-detached commissure that required mechanical valve replacement. In the second case, we attempted to reattach the commissure using pledgetted multiple transverse mattress sutures with 5-0 polypropylene. Because the leaflet coaptation was incomplete, the aortic valve was replaced with a tissue valve.
Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Polypropylenes ; Reoperation ; Suture Techniques ; Sutures