Vessel loops for primary closure of fasciotomies Background: Compartment syndrome of the extremity may occur after severe trauma with vascular lesions secondary to fractures, crushes or gunshots. To prevent it a fasciotomy must be done. Aim To report the use vessel loop shoelace technique for the progressive closure of the fasciotomy. Material and methods: Descriptive study of 24 patients aged 26 ± 9 years (21 males) that required fasciotomy to prevent compartment syndromes. The fasciotomy wound was closed progressively using vessel loops anchored to the skin with staples or sutures, which were tightened progressively, according to the evolution. Results: The studied patients required a total of 56 fasciotomies. In all patients a complete or near complete closure of the wound was achieved. The mean closure time was 9.5 ± 3.3 days. Mean hospital stay was 12.3 ± 4.3 days. Conclusions: Vessel loop shoelace technique is effective for fasciotomy wound closure.

Fasciotomy closure technique with vessel loopsAim: Present and describe the progressive fasciotomy closure technique with vessel loops. Methods: Progressive and multicentric study in the period between June of 2007 and June of 2011. Results: In 2007 we initiated the complementary treatment for fasciotomy closure related to compartment syndrome or acute ischemia cases. Progressive closure with vessel loops, the shoelace technique. In 2010's preliminary report, we published a total of 56 fasciotomies closed by this technique, with an average closure time of 9.5 ± 3.31 days. Current report is the result of a 4 years prospective study intending to prove that is possible to associate this technique to the initial management of fasciotomies closure. This final report shows a total of 122 fasciotomies cases closed in 7.9 ± 3.31 days, without skin grafts. Conclusion: The technique is easy to learn, reproducible and not expensive. Results show that this technique is useful in reduce the time for fasciotomy closure.

RESUMENObjetivo del estudio: Proponer una nueva clasificación para la estenosis traqueal para estandarizar el manejo. Diseño: Estudio prospectivo realizado entre Octubre del 2002 y septiembre del 2005 en el Hospital San José. Pacientes: Se incluyeron 32 pacientes, 9 mujeres y 23 varones, con estenosis traqueal de etiología benigna (20 casos) y maligna (12 casos), de los cuales 4 tenían fístula traqueoesofágica. Método: Los pacientes fueron divididos en tres grupos de acuerdo a la morfología, longitud, número y localización de la o las lesiones que causaban estenosis. Según lo anterior Tipo I (7 casos; 22%), Tipo II (5 casos; 16%). Tipo III (20 casos; 62%). Intervenciones: Las estenosis Tipo I fueron tratadas mediante electrocoagulación. Las Tipo II con cirugía (resección y anastomosis traqueal termino-terminal primaria). Las Tipo III utilizando un stent dinámico. Resultados: La evolución posterior a la realización del procedimiento correspondiente a cada grupo, fue favorable, mejorando la capacidad funcional, demostrado por la realización de curva flujo-volumen y la desaparición de manifestaciones clínicas (según escala de Borg modificada) en el 69% de los pacientes, con una calidad de vida que mejora en el 100% de los casos, objetivado mediante el cuestionario de Saint-George. La mortalidad global es de 25% (8/32), no atribuible al tratamiento otorgado. Conclusiones: Consideramos que la clasificación propuesta es un método operacional, de fácil utilización, que permite planificar un tratamiento independientemente de la etiología de la estenosis traqueal, permitiendo asignar un pronóstico y mejorar calidad de vida.PALABRAS CLAVE: Estenosis traqueal, cirugía traqueal, stent dinámico. SUMMARYBackground: Tracheal stenosis is a common complication of intubation or tracheostomy. Aim: To report the experience with tracheal stenosis and propose a new classification to standardize its management. Material and Methods: Prospective study of 32 patients aged 17 to 79 years, 23 males. Twenty had a benign and 12 a malignant stenosis, four of which had tracheoesophageal fistula. Seven patients had a Type I stenosis, defined as a lesion of less than 1 cm in length, five had a type II lesion, defined as a diffuse