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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Reconstr Microsurg Open 2020; 05(02): e90-e94
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1718517
Original Article

Microsurgery: A 10-Year Experience with Loupe Magnification

Ferdinand Wanjala Nangole
1   Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
,
Stanley Ominde Khainga
1   Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

Background Microsurgical procedures are still rare in many countries especially in resource-constrained countries. Among reasons for this is the unavailability of operating microscopes that are costly. Operating loupes are considered inferior to the microscope and are most discouraged for many microsurgical procedures. We audit patients operated under loupes for the past 10 years and present our findings.

Patients and Methods This was a prospective audit of patients who underwent microsurgical reconstructive procedures in the plastic surgery unit at Kenyatta National Hospital between January 2009 and December 2019.

Results A total of 352 patients with 360 procedures were done over a 10-year period. The age range for the patients was 5 to 90 years. Free flaps accounted for 78% of the surgical procedures (n = 298) followed by nerve repairs 8.8% (n = 32) and reimplantation surgeries 8.5% (n = 30). The overall success rate for free flaps was 93.3% with reimplantations of 77%.

Conclusion Microsurgical reconstructive procedures as demonstrated in this study can safely be done with loupes. Loupes provide an alternative means of magnification that is cost effective and cheaper. In good hands, good surgical outcomes can be achieved that are comparable to the operating microscopes.

Keywords

microsurgery - free flaps - reimplantation - loupes


Publication History

Received: 20 May 2020

Accepted: 25 August 2020

Article published online:
14 October 2020

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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