ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of intermittent irrigation of insulin solution combined with continuous drainage of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in chronic diabetic lower limb ulcers. MethodsBetween January 2012 and December 2014, 45 patients with diabetic lower limb ulcer were treated with VSD (group A, n=15), with VSD combining irrigation of normal saline (group B, n=15), and with VSD combining irrigation of insulin solution (group C, n=15) after debridement. There was no significant difference in gender, age, course of ulcers, area and depth of wound, glycosylated hemoglobin, and Wagner grade among 3 groups (P>0.05), and the data were comparable. The levels of fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, and random blood glucose were determined everyday during treatment. The contents of insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1), tumor growth factor α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) in necrotic tissue after drainage were determined. The coverage rate and thickness of granulation tissue and clearance rate of bacteria in wound were calculated, the granulation tissue in the center of the wound was harvested for pathological observation with HE staining after 6 days of treatment. The second stage operation was performed according to the condition of wounds, and the time to the second stage operation and the method of the second stage operation were recorded and the survival rate of grafted skin or flap was calculated. ResultsThe pathological staining showed that there were a few new microvessels and fibroblasts in group A after treatment;more new microvessels and fibroblasts were observed in group B;and many new microvessels and fibroblasts were found in group C. There was no significant difference in levels of fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, and random blood glucose among 3 groups during treatment (P>0.05). The coverage rate and thickness of granulation tissue and clearance rate of bacteria in group C were significantly higher than those in groups A and B after treatment (P<0.05). The contents of IGF-1 and NO were significantly increased and TNF-α was significantly decreased in group C when compared with those in group A (P<0.05). Compared with group B, IGF-1 and NO contents were significantly increased at 3-6 days and at 2-6 days respectively, and TNF-α content was significantly decreased at 3-6 days in group C (P<0.05). The method of the second stage operation showed no significant difference among 3 groups (χ2=2.920, P=0.230), but the time to the second stage operation in group C was significantly shorter than that in groups A and B (P<0.05), and the survival rate of grafted skin or flap in group C was significantly higher than that in groups A and B (P<0.05). ConclusionThe treatment of diabetic lower limb ulcers with intermittent irrigation of insulin solution combined with continuous drainage of VSD can reduce inflammatory reaction effectively, promote development of granulation tissue, improve recovery function of tissue, increase the rate and speed of wound healing obviously, but it has no effect on blood glucose levels.
ObjectiveTo investigate and evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a modified anterior approach for transpupillary silicone oil removal combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. MethodsA retrospective case-control study. A total of 148 patients (148 eyes) who underwent silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital between January 2020 and November 2024 were included in the study. All affected eyes underwent preoperative examinations including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, corneal topography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Based on the method of silicone oil removal, the eyes were divided into two groups: group A (modified anterior approach transpupillary silicone oil removal combined with phacoemulsification and IOL implantation, 99 eyes) and group B (standard pars plana approach silicone oil removal combined with phacoemulsification and IOL implantation, 49 eyes). The surgical duration, changes in BCVA and intraocular pressure at 1 day, 7 days, and 1 month postoperatively, as well as the incidence of complications such as corneal edema and its resolution, conjunctival congestion, iris prolapse, posterior capsule rupture, nucleus drop, IOL position, residual silicone oil in the vitreous cavity or anterior chamber, vitreous hemorrhage, recurrent retinal detachment (RD), and choroidal detachment or hemorrhage, were compared between the two groups. The independent sample t-test was used for the comparison of measurement data between the two groups, and the χ2 test was used for the comparison of count data. Results The operation time of group A and group B was (17.01±1.28) min and (31.62±2.32) min, respectively. The operation time of group A was significantly shorter than that of group B, and the difference was statistically significant (t=−41.002, P＜0.001). The comparison of BCVA (t =−0.561, −0.833, −1.386) and IOP (t =−0.055, 1.375, −0.507) between the two groups of affected eyes before surgery and at 1 day and 7 days after surgery showed no statistically significant differences (P＞0.05). There was no silicone oil residual in group A, while 3 eyes in group B were observed with silicone oil residual (6.1%, 3/49). Neovascular glaucoma was observed in one eye. Compared to group A, group B exhibited a statistically significant increase in the incidence of postoperative conjunctival congestion, silicone oil retention, and posterior capsular opacification (χ2=10.600, 6.187, 92.617; P＜0.05). In contrast, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in the incidence of corneal edema or recurrent retinal detachment (RD) (χ2=0.272, 1.557; P＞0.05). No intraoperative complications, such as iris prolapse, posterior capsular rupture, nucleus drop, zonular dehiscence, choroidal detachment, or hemorrhage, occurred in any of the operated eyes. Furthermore, no postoperative complications, including corneal endothelial decompensation, IOL displacement, or endophthalmitis, were observed during the follow-up period. ConclusionCompared to the conventional pars plana approach for silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery, the modified anterior perfusion transpupillary approach demonstrated significantly shorter surgical duration and a reduced incidence of postoperative complications.