Reply #10: Really a fun operation. Sick, but fun.

[FM Arouet666]

I have a bunch of pics somewhere on my system, one of my servers is down tonight, I suspect they are on that system. If anyone has an interest I could post a few, they all protect the identity of the patient.

The most I took off was about 90 pounds. They sure do operate slowly in Spain. 9 hours? In residency we would book the case as a 'Paniculectomy with chains.' A large cubical was constructed around the OR table with steel beams, a single beam directly over the patient. Chains where attached to the center beam and steel wire sutures with needles resembling fish hooks were used to hoist the panus up.

However, it can be dangerous. I saw one patient arrest and die from post-op bleeding, and saved one patient by pumping four units of blood in rapid succession after a bleed.

I took a thirty pound mass of fat off a morbidly obese male's leg, he was unable to ambulate because of the thing. The mass of fat had been chronically infected, the skin thick as leather with grotesque features draining pus. Yummy. He did well, was able to walk again and eventually lost 300 pounds.

Again, sick but fun............