The Journal of Bucharest College of Physicians and the Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences

Florin-Teodor Bobirca

Florin-Teodor Bobirca

The Assessment of the Vascular Risk for Facial Procedures using Thermal Scanning Imaging and Doppler Ultrasonography

Introduction: Surgical and non-surgical facial procedures have gained immense popularity thanks to their aesthetic benefits. Understanding the vascularization of the face and assessing potential risks is crucial to ensure patient safety and optimal outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the utility of thermal scanning and Doppler ultrasonography in evaluating the vascular risk for facial procedures. Material and Methods: A cohort of 60 patients were included in this prospective study. Preoperative thermal scanning and Doppler ultrasonography were performed in order to visualize the facial vasculature and identify potential areas of risk. Results: For 30 patients, we performed preprocedural Doppler ultrasound imaging and thermal scanning at the injection site. Only 6.66% of them suffered vascular complications, whilst 23.33% among those who didn’t undergo ultrasound and thermoscanning suffered vascular injuries. The combined use of these tools proved to be valuable in assessing the vascular risk for facial procedures. The findings emphasize the importance of preoperative assessment to identify patients at risk for vascular complications. Conclusions: Thermal scanning and Doppler ultrasonography offer a comprehensive approach to assessing the vascular risk for facial procedures. By ensuring the identification of abnormal vascular patterns and altered blood flow dynamics, these techniques enhance patient safety and procedure planning.

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Surgical Implications in the Pathology of Diabetes Mellitus – Review of the Literature

Diabetes mellitus brings together several syndromes, all burdened by a high complexity and with the potential to generate vital impairment. The large number of complications result from the association of high blood glucose level with vascular damage, neuropathy, poor healing and overall increased atherosclerosis process. The clinical manifestation of these complications involves a wide range of manifestations from simple lesions to complex pathology, many of them requiring surgical treatment. Surgical implications of diabetes mellitus include diabetic foot syndrome, soft tissue infections, renal impairment and abdominal pathology.

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Cutaneous Adverse Reactions to TNF Alpha Blockers. Case Report and Literature Review

Biological therapy is used in a wide range of medical settings. Adverse reactions to biological therapy can limit their widespread use, so early detection and treatment can adjust attempts to stop these molecules. TNF Alpha blockers may cause the following skin reactions in alpha patients: injection site reactions, infections, immune-mediated reactions (psoriasis, psoriasis, drug-induced lupus, vasculitis, hidradenitis, alopecia), allergic or neoplastic reactions. We present the case of a patient with RA who developed skin lesions during biological therapy and was diagnosed with drug-induced lupus based on clinical elements, associated autoimmunity, and dermatological evaluation. The skin lesions were attributed to the interaction of three medications (biosimilar Etanercept, Leflunomide, and Isoniazid), all of which have been implicated in causing these side effects. The solutions that saved the patient were temporarily discontinuing the immunosuppressive medication and replacing it with a local corticoid, followed by the continuation of Etanercept in associated with Methotrexate, and the patient was able to continue the biological medication and obtain a favorable response to the treatment. In conclusion, skin changes caused by TNF Alpha inhibitors are common, but vary in severity, and do not warrant therapy interruption.

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Preserving Left Aberrant Hepatic Artery During Gastrectomy for Cancer – Literature Review and Case Report

Introduction: Identifying left aberrant hepatic artery during gastrectomy for cancer is occasional. In case of replaced left hepatic artery, its ligation can lead to hepatic injury or ischemia, while preserving it can cause difficulties during lymphadenectomy. In literature there is no consensus regarding preserving replaced left hepatic artery during gastrectomy for cancer. A recent study, analysing adverse effects of ligating an aberrant left hepatic artery, shows in pacients with over 5 times elevated transaminase levels, increase in hospital length and postoperative complications. On the other hand, there are studies that consider ligation of aberrant left hepatic artery safe, the only inconvenient being postoperative transient elevation of transminase levels, when ligated artery diameter is over 1.5 mm. Matherial and methoods: We report the case of a 65 years old male, known with myocardial infarction, admitted for epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, dysphagia for solids and important weight loss. Upper gastrointesinal endoscopy with biopsy and computed tomography showed eso-gastric tumoral mass, signet ring cell carcinoma, no metastases. Intraopertive, we found replaced left heaptic artery arising from left gastric artery, close to the celiac trunk, its diameter being approximately 1 cm. Total radical D2 gastrectomy with mechanical eso-jejunal Roux-en-Y anastomosis was performed. Postoperative evolution was favourable surgically, but the patient had SarsCov2 infection during hospitalisation The final pathology report showed 18 lymph nodes examined, 5 being with adenocarcinoma metastases. Conclusions: Preserving replaced left hepatic artery during gastectomy for cancer is preferable, lyphadecnectomy not being affected. Potential postoperative complications resulted from ligation of replaced left hepatic artery could have chanced the prognosis.

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Characteristics of Anemia in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory, chronic and systemic disease that primarily affects the synovial joints. Anemia is a common extra-articular manifestation in the absence of an effective treatment. The main mechanisms involved include shortening the lifespan of erythrocytes, inadequate bone marrow and abnormalities in iron metabolism. Eighty-eight patients over 18 years with definite diagnosis of rheumatoid were included in this study. The prevalence, respectively the characteristics of anemia were analyzed, together with demographic data, the type of symptoms, the type of comorbidities, the hematological indices and treatments. The mean age of the study population was 65.31 ± 12.57 years. Treat to target was achieved in one third of the patients (36.4%). The prevalence of anemia was 55% with higher prevalence in males (57%) than females (50%). Anemia was associated with higher disease activity (p=0.036). Out of the anemic patients, 7.14% had megaloblastic anemia, 40.48% had anemia of chronic disease and 21.43% suffered from iron deficiency anemia. Microcytic normochromic and normocytic hypochromic patterns can have mixed causes, belonging to both iron-pathophysiological processes and chronic inflammation. The prevalence of anemia at the 1-year check-up was 29.44% and the percentage of patients who achieved treat-to-target goals increased from 36.40% to 40.90%. The majority (48.80%) did not prove to have anemia neither at admission nor at follow-up. The results of the study suggest that anemic patients tend to have a higher level of RA activity, therefore screening for anemic syndrome should be part of the management of these patients, in an effort to establish the best therapeutic conduct.

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