Extended uses of scalp vein set in plastic surgery

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Letters to Editor
Extended uses of scalp vein
set in plastic surgery
Sir,
Winged infusion set — also known as “Butterfly or scalp
vein set” is a device primarily used for venipuncture.
It consists of a hypodermic needle, two bilateral flexible
wings, flexible small bore transparent tubing (20-35 cm
long), a connector (female Leur). Sizes 8-24G (22 and 23G
are most common).
Scalp vein set can be used for multiple procedures in
plastic surgery:
1. Saline infusion and removal from tissue expander.
2. Penrose type tube drain in wound margins.
3. Continuous suction drain.
4. Irrigation of wound.
5. Tourniquet for finger, penis.
6. Dye injection in sinus/fistula to delineate cavity/tract.
7. Soft cover over cut K-wire used after fracture fixation
of digits.
8. For venipuncture.
The most common use of scalp vein set in plastic surgery
is an infusion of saline in tissue expander [Figure 1]. It
can be connected to a syringe to infuse saline without
repetitive punctures to skin and port. Furthermore, it can
be used to evacuate the fluid from the expander after
removal from the body.
The scalp vein set can be used as a continuous suction
drain [Figure 2]. It needs to be connected to a 10 ml
syringe and 2 cc syringe piston to maintain negative
suction. Apart from it, small pieces of scalp vein can be
used as Penrose type tube drains [Figure 3] for suture site.
Scalp vein set can be used for continuous irrigation of
any wound when connected to saline infusion.[1] After an
adequate number of irrigation holes have been made a
scalp vein infusion set is placed into the wound[2] Scalp
vein set is soft hence it can be used as a tourniquet
for finger and penis [Figure 4]. It is fixed in position at
appropriate tension with the help of a haemostat.
It can be used for instillation of dye (methylene blue) in a
sinus/fistula to delineate the cavity/tract respectievely as in a
pilonidal sinus [Figure 5], presternal sinus. The hypodermic
needle needs to be removed to avoid false tract formation.
Scalp vein set can be used to cover the cut sharp end of
K-wires during fracture fixation of digits [Figure 6].
Apart from this, it is used for venipuncture, which is its
primary function not limited to any particular specialty.
Scalp vein set is a very cheap and easily available device
which can be used in various procedures. It can be used
as a replacement for Romo Vac Set (Romsons Scientific
Figure 1:Tissueexpanderination
Figure 2: Continuous suction drain with 10 cc syringe and piston of 2 cc syringe
Figure 3: Penrose type tube drains post-Huber transfer of ADM(Abductor
Digiti Minimi) for thumb Opposition
Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery May-August 2015 Vol 48 Issue 2 222
Published online: 2019-08-26

Letters to Editor
Figure 4: Finger tourniquet
Figure 6: For covering sharp end of K-wire
Figure 5: For instillation of dye in pilonidal sinus
and Surgical Industries, Nunhai, Agra, India) for drainage,
for infant feeding tube and glove as finger tourniquet and
for venflon as for intravenous access.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
Hardeep Singh, Rakesh Kumar Khazanchi,
Aditya Aggarwal, Sanjay Mahendru,
Vimalendu Brajesh, Sukhdeep Singh
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery,
Medanta - The Medicity, sector 38 Gurgaon, NCR,
Haryana, India
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Hardeep Singh, Department of Plastic,
Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medanta - The Medicity,
Sector 38, Gurgaon - 122 001, NCR, Haryana, India.
E-mail: drhardeepaulakh@gmail.com
REFERENCES
1. Neviaser RJ. Infections. In: Green DP, editor. Operative Hand Surgery.
3rd ed., Vol. 1. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 1993. p. 1021-33.
2. Turan A, Kul Z, Ozygit T, Gözü A, Ozsoy Z. Use of the scalp vein
infusion set for irrigation in infections of the hand. Plast Reconstr
Surg 2004;114:1004-5.
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DOI:
10.4103/0970-0358.163078
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How to cite this article: Singh H, Khazanchi RK, Aggarwal A,
Mahendru S, Brajesh V, Singh S. Extended uses of scalp vein set
in plastic surgery. Indian J Plast Surg 2015;48:222-3.
Universal Splint for upper
limb support during
reconstruction by pedicled
abdominal ap
Sir,
Although the last few decades have seen rapid expansion
in the use of free flaps for the reconstruction of upper
Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery May-August 2015 Vol 48 Issue 2223