A nurse-led tissue viability service in Malta

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. S30-S32
Author(s):  
Corinne Scicluna Ward
Keyword(s):  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 610-614
Author(s):  
Garry Cooper-Stanton

There are various opportunities and challenges in the delivery of care to those diagnosed with chronic oedema/lymphoedema. Service provision is not consistent within the UK, and non-specialist nurses and other health professionals may be called on to fill the gaps in this area. The latest best practice guidance on chronic oedema is directed at community services that care for people within their own homes in primary care. This guide was developed in order to increase awareness, knowledge and access to an evidence base. Those involved in its creation cross specialist fields (lymphoedema and tissue viability), resulting in the document covering a number of areas, including an explanation of chronic oedema, its assessment and management and the association between chronic oedema and wet legs. The document complements existing frameworks on the condition and its management and also increases the available tools within chronic oedema management in the community. The present article provides an overview of the guidance document and discusses its salient features.


Author(s):  
C. Dittfeld ◽  
M. Winkelkotte ◽  
S. Behrens ◽  
F. Schmieder ◽  
A. Jannasch ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND/AIM: Tissue pathogenesis of aortic valve (AV) stenosis is research focus in cardiac surgery. Model limitations of conventional 2D culture of human or porcine valvular interstitial/endothelial cells (VIC/VECs) isolated from aortic valve tissues but also limited ability of (small) animal models to reflect human (patho)physiological situation in AV position raise the need to establish an in vitro setup using AV tissues. Resulting aim is to approximate (patho)physiological conditions in a dynamic pulsatile Microphysiological System (MPS) to culture human and porcine AV tissue with preservation of tissue viability but also defined ECM composition. MATERIALS/METHODS: A tissue incubation chamber (TIC) was designed to implement human or porcine tissues (3×5 mm) in a dynamic pulsatile culture in conventional cell culture ambience in a MPS. Cell viability assays based on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-release or resazurin-conversion were tested for applicability in the system and applied for a culture period of 14 days with interval evaluation of tissue viability on every other day. Resazurin-assay setup was compared in static vs. dynamic culture using varying substance saturation settings (50–300μM), incubation times and tissue masses and was consequently adapted. RESULTS: Sterile dynamic culture of human and porcine AV tissue segments was established at a pulsatile flow rate range of 0.9–13.4μl/s. Implementation of tissues was realized by stitching the material in a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) –ring and insertion in the TIC-MPS-system. Culture volume of 2 ml caused LDH dilution not detectable in standard membrane integrity assay setup. Therefore, detection of resazurin-conversion of viable tissue was investigated. Optimal incubation time for viability conversion was determined at two hours at a saturated concentration of 300μM resazurin. Measurement in static conditions was shown to offer comparable results as dynamic condition but allowing optimal handling and TIC sterilization protocols for long term culture. Preliminary results revealed favourable porcine AV tissue viability over a 14 day period confirmed via resazurin-assay comparing statically cultured tissue counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Human and porcine AV tissue can be dynamically cultured in a TIC-MPS with monitoring of tissue viability using an adapted resazurin-assay setup. Preliminary results reveal advantageous viability of porcine AV tissues after dynamic TIC-MPS culture compared to static control.


Angiology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 409-410
Author(s):  
Achala de Mel ◽  
Martin A. Birchall ◽  
Alexander M. Seifalian

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