What is a fasciocutaneous flap? Fasciocutaneous flap surgery is the excision of a skin and tissue flap for positioning over skin burns, injuries or other reconstructive sites. This specific flap technique preserves extra tissue and blood vessels in addition to skin. Fasciocutaneous flaps are tissue flaps, which consist of skin and underlying tissues including fascia (a collagen-rich lining tissue). Fasciocutaneous...
How Long Does It Take to Recover from TRAM Flap Surgery?
What is TRAM flap surgery? The patient requires 6 to 12 weeks to regain prior energy levels and resume normal activities. TRAM stands for Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous, a muscle, and tissue of the lower abdomen between the waist and pubic bone. TRAM flap surgery uses the flap (graft) from this skin, fat, and the TRAM muscles for breast reconstruction....
What Is PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosis) Heart Surgery?
What is PDA heart surgery? Ductus arteriosus is a normal connection or opening in a fetus between the descending thoracic aorta and the pulmonary artery. In normal development, the ductus arteriosus closes after birth. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure surgery is a procedure to close this connection if it persists (remains patent) after birth. The procedure may be performed as...
How Long Does It Take to Recover from A Transradial Heart Catheterization?
Is transradial cardiac catheterization painful? Transradial cardiac catheterization is performed using local anesthesia, and may take an hour or more, depending on the procedure performed. The patient usually feels nothing more than a short stinging pain from the initial numbing injection. The patient will be administered painkillers and mild sedation before the procedure. There might be a certain amount of...
What Is a Transradial Heart Catheterization Procedure?
What is a transradial heart catheterization procedure? Transradial cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure to diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular diseases. Transradial cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure to diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular diseases. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted through the radial artery in the hand and into the heart and its blood vessels. Ultrasound...
How Is PDA Surgery Performed?
How long does PDA surgery take? The PDA closure procedure may take up to three hours, depending on the type of procedure. It may take longer if the PDA closure is accompanied by other procedures to correct any additional heart defects. PDA stands for “patent ductus arteriosis,” which is a congenital failure of the heart to develop properly, leaving an...
Interferon beta-1a (Rebif) for MS: Potential COVID-19 Drug
What is interferon beta-1a (Rebif), and what is it used for? Interferon beta-1a (Rebif) is a protein produced by recombinant DNA technology using genetically engineered Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells into which the human interferon beta genes have been introduced. It is used for treating multiple sclerosis (MS). Interferon beta-1a is designed to be identical to interferon beta that is naturally...
lopinavir & ritonavir (Kaletra): HIV Drug with COVID-19 Coronavirus Potential?
What is lopinavir and ritonavir, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Kaletra is an oral medication that is a combination of lopinavir and ritonavir. It is used for treating infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is in a class of drugs called protease inhibitors which, among others, includes ritonavir (Norvir), nelfinavir (Viracept) and saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase)....
Avonex (interferon beta 1a injection) for MS: Side Effects & Dosage
What is Avonex (interferon beta-1a), and what is it used for? Avonex (Interferon beta-1a) is a prescription medicine used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. It reduces the occurrence of MS flares and reduces physical disability caused by MS. Interferon beta-1a (Avonex) is a protein produced by recombinant DNA technology using genetically engineered Chinese hamster ovary...
Interferon: Autoimmune Drugs for Potential COVID-19 Treatment
What are interferons and how do they work? Interferons are a family of naturally-occurring proteins that are made and secreted by cells of the immune system (for example, white blood cells, natural killer cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells). Three classes of interferons have been identified: alpha, beta, and gamma. Each class has many effects, though their effects overlap. Commercially available...