filling a void due to internal organ removal

[brossa]

@Leo_Bloom

Isn’t omentum tripe?

Tripe is stomach.

[Kobal2]

@Elendil_s_Heir

Don’t forget circulatory juice, i.e. blood.

I think you mean bone juice.

[KneadToKnow]

@Kobal2

@Elendil_s_Heir

Don’t forget circulatory juice, i.e. blood.

I think you mean bone juice.

Heh. Heh-heh. “Bone juice.” Heh-heh.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Or bean juice. Human bean juice. Hurm.

[Agent_Foxtrot]

@brossa

I’ve taken out lots of internal parts, and I’ve never left permanent bulk filler material in place. That includes things from both the thoracic and abdominal cavities. There are some semi-exceptions, of course. In major trauma situations, one practices damage control surgery in which staged operations are expected: the first surgery stops the life-threatening bleeding; the patient goes to the ICU to get buffed up a bit; the patient returns to the OR to have secondary issues repaired, rinse and repeat. In those situations, it’s not unusual to leave bulky packing in place to help control bleeding, but the plan is to return in several hours to remove it.

If part of the diaphragm or pelvic floor or chest/abdominal wall has to be removed, then a barrier must be placed there to restore the integrity of the cavity. This isn’t really to replace bulk, though; it’s to prevent herniation from one space into another.

There’s a sort of internal apron of vascular fat called the omentum which is pretty mobile within the abdomen. The omentum tends to stick to areas of inflammation and ‘tries’ to seal them off from the rest of the abdominal cavity; kind of like that fix-a-flat goo that you squirt into a tire. It’s not unheard of for a surgeon to tack the omentum down in a trouble spot if it looks like it could use a little backup. This could be considered a bit of bulk addition, I suppose.

I know of cases in which orthopedists have had to remove an infected joint replacement, and have molded a wad of some kind of polymer cement infused with antibiotics and placed it in the resulting gap so as to keep the limb from shortening in the interval while the infection clears. Again, the plan was to remove this when the definitive procedure was completed.

There are also a number of products meant to stop bleeding from raw surfaces, like thrombin glue and thrombin/gelfoam, which are left in place and allowed to absorb over time, but they are not bulk agents per se.

That is truly fascinating. I take it you’re a trauma surgeon?

[brossa]

@Agent_Foxtrot

That is truly fascinating. I take it you’re a trauma surgeon?

General surgeon, with some trauma experience, but not specialty training. No trauma responsibilities for the last couple of years, thankfully.

[Canadjun]

@wakingdream

The tumor was removed through his nose,

18 replies later and I’m the first one that has gone…

EWWW!!!

???

I guess I’m more squeamish than all you guys! :eek:

[Der_Trihs]

@Superhal

@Elendil_s_Heir

Don’t forget circulatory juice, i.e. blood.

Blood is overrated.

No, for the blood is the life.

<swishes out of the thread in a black cape>