Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyurethane (PU) and silicone are widely known biocompatible polymers which are commonly used for vascular grafts. However, in vitro and in vivo calcifications of these polymers have been found to seriously compromise their quality as biomaterials. In consideration of this problem, the present study compared the calcification rate and extent of PTFE, PU and silicone. Using the in vitro flow-type method, PTFE, PU and silicone films were tested for 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days. After 21 days of in vitro calcification test, the calcium levels on PTFE, PU and silicone were 35.89 5.01 microgram /cm2, 23.73 0.68 microgram/cm2 and 19.86 5.28 microgram/cm2, respectively. The higher observed calcium level for PTFE may be due to the effect of the rough surface of PTFE in accumulating calcium ions on the polymer surface. From the 7th day of test, the [Ca]/[P] molar ratio started to decrease over time, and PTFE showed a faster calcification process. This decreasing [Ca]/[P] molar ratio demonstrated the typical calcification mechanism consisting of phosphorus ion accumulation following calcium ion accumulation. This study concluded that PU and silicone are less calcified than PTFE film, a finding in good agreement with previously published studies.
Biocompatible Materials/*adverse effects ; *Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Calcinosis/*etiology ; Comparative Study ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Polytetrafluoroethylene/*adverse effects ; Polyurethanes/*adverse effects ; Silicones/*adverse effects

Liquid injectable silicone has been used for soft tissue augmentation for five decades. Many complications following liquid silicone injection have been reported. To diagnose and manage silicone granuloma remains difficult. Silicone granuloma must be diagnosed with the history of liquid silicone injection and the histology of tissue biopsy. We presented a case of granulomatous reaction after the injection of liquid silicone for chin augmentation forty years ago, causing total facial swelling, which mimicking angioedema initially. We administered methylprednisolone to the patient. Initial response to methylprednisolone was favorable.
Aged ; Angioedema ; diagnosis ; Chin ; pathology ; Cosmetic Techniques ; adverse effects ; Female ; Granuloma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Silicones ; adverse effects

Cicatrix ; surgery ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; adverse effects ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Postoperative Complications ; Silicones ; Tracheal Stenosis ; surgery

Female ; Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Orbital Diseases ; etiology ; Orbital Fractures ; surgery ; Prostheses and Implants ; adverse effects ; Silicones ; adverse effects ; Staphylococcal Infections ; etiology

PURPOSE: Augmentation rhinoplasty using alloplastic materials is a relatively common procedure among Asians. Silicon, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-tex(R)), and porous high density polyethylene (Medpor(R)) are most frequently used materials. This study was conducted to analyze revisional rhinoplasty cases with alloplastic materials, and to investigate the usage of alloplastic materials and their complications. We also reviewed complications caused by various materials used in plastic surgery while operating rhinoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report 581 cases of complications rhinoplasty with alloplastic implants and review of the literature available to offer plastic surgeons an overview on alloplastic implant-related complications. RESULTS: Among a total 581 revisional rhinoplasty cases reviewed, the alloplastic materials used were silicone implants in 376, Gore-tex(R) in 183, and Medpor(R) in 22 cases. Revision cases and complications differed according to each alloplastic implant. CONCLUSION: Optimal alloplastic implants should be used in nasal structure by taking into account the properties of the materials for the goal of minimizing their complications and revision rates. A thorough understanding of the mechanism involved in alloplastic material interaction and wound healing is the top priority in successfully overcoming alloplastic-related complications.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; *Biocompatible Materials/adverse effects ; Humans ; Polyethylene ; Polyethylenes ; *Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Postoperative Complications ; Prosthesis Implantation/*methods ; Rhinoplasty/*methods ; Silicones ; Treatment Outcome

It is known that the subcutaneous injection of silicone can lead to severe pulmonary complications, followed in some patients by respiratory failure. Currently, silicone is being increasingly applied in the field of plastic surgery and, unfortunately, the illicit injection of silicone fluid by uncertified practitioners is not uncommon in Korea. We offer a critical pathologic review of 5 cases of pulmonary silicone embolism following illegal injection to the vaginal wall, four of which were fatal and came to legal autopsy. Our findings again confirm that subcutaneously injected silicone can gain access to the pulmonary vascular tree and cause pulmonary embolism. The histologic changes observed in the lung are variable and include four patterns i.e., the mere presence of silicone emboli, congestion and hemorrhage, acute pneumonitis, and diffuse alveolar damage despite the severe critical course in all cases. We were unable to find any histologic pattern that correlates well with the clinical course. Apart from producing emboli in the pulmonary vessels, subcutaneous injection of silicone can obviously cause serious pulmonary disease due to its ability to induce acute to induce acute pneumonitis and even possibly acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Adult ; Case Report ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Human ; Injections ; Middle Age ; Pulmonary Embolism/*chemically induced/*pathology ; Silicones/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Vagina

PURPOSE: To report the case of a silastic sheet that was found during an endoscopic transnasal dacryocystorhinostomy for treatment of acute dacryocystitis with necrosis of the lacrimal sac. METHODS: A thirty-two year old male presented with painful swelling on the nasal side of his left lower lid two weeks prior to visiting this clinic. Fourteen years ago, the patient was involved in a traffic accident and underwent surgery to reconstruct the ethmoidal sinus. Lacrimal sac massage showed a regurgitation of a purulent discharge from the left lower punctum. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with acute dacryocystitis and an endoscopic transnasal dacryocystostomy was performed the next day. RESULTS: The surgical finding showed severe necrosis around the lacrimal sac and a 20 x 15-mm sized silastic sheet was found crumpled within the purulent discharge. The sheet was removed, the lacrimal sac was irrigated with an antibiotic solution, and a silicone tube was intubated into the lacrimal pathway. After surgery, the painful swelling on the nasal side of left lower lid resolved gradually, and there were no symptomatic complications three months later. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case where a silastic sheet applied during a facial reconstruction had migrated adjacent to the lacrimal sac resulting in severe inflammation.
Silicones/*adverse effects ; Reoperation ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Prosthesis Failure ; Male ; Intraoperative Period ; Humans ; Foreign-Body Migration/*complications/surgery ; Facial Injuries/surgery ; Ethmoid Sinus/injuries/surgery ; *Endoscopy ; Dimethylpolysiloxanes/*adverse effects ; Dacryocystorhinostomy/*methods ; Dacryocystitis/*etiology/surgery ; Adult

We present here the case of a 40-year-old woman with a greater than 10 year prior history of bilateral breast silicone injection and saline bag implantation. Bilateral palpable breast nodules were observed, but the ultrasound scan was suboptimal and the magnetic resonance imaging showed no gadolinium-enhanced tumor. The 18F-FDG PET/CT scan showed a hypermetabolic nodule in the left breast with a 30% increase of 18F-FDG uptake on the delayed imaging, and this mimicked breast cancer. She underwent a left partial mastectomy and the pathology demonstrated a siliconoma.
Adult ; Breast Implants/adverse effects ; Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; *False Positive Reactions ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/diagnostic use ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Injections ; *Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals/diagnostic use ; Silicones/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Tracheal restenosis due to excessive granulation tissue around a silicone stent requires repeated bronchoscopic interventions in patients with post-tuberculosis tracheal stenosis (PTTS). The current study was conducted to identify the risk factors for granulation tissue formation after silicone stenting in PTTS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted between January 1998 and December 2010. Forty-two PTTS patients with silicone stenting were selected. Clinical and radiological variables were retrospectively collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Tracheal restenosis due to granulation tissue formation were found in 20 patients (47.6%), and repeated bronchoscopic interventions were conducted. In multivariate analysis, tracheal wall thickness, measured on axial computed tomography scan, was independently associated with granulation tissue formation after silicone stenting. Furthermore, the degree of tracheal wall thickness was well correlated with the degree of granulation tissue formation. CONCLUSION: Tracheal wall thickening was associated with granulation tissue formation around silicone stents in patients with post-tuberculosis tracheal stenosis.
Adult ; Bronchoscopy/methods ; Female ; Granulation Tissue/*pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Silicones ; Stents/*adverse effects ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trachea/*pathology ; Tracheal Stenosis/etiology/*pathology ; Tuberculosis/*complications