An Unexpected Contributor to the Cause of Wound Dehiscence |
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Sections Clinical History Light Microscopy Electron Microscopy Diagnosis Discussion Reader Feedback |
Light Microscopy |
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 Figure 1. Magnify Image |
The silk sutures retrieved from the site of wound dehiscence were intact. | |
 Figure 2 Magnify Image |
Histologic sections of the esophagus demonstrated marked, acute inflammation, granulation tissue and empty surgical suture sinus site at the surgical wound. | |
 Figure 3 Magnify Image |
Additional sections of the esophagus demonstrated numerous epithelial cells with viral cytopathic effect. Some cells had multinucleation and molding of the nuclei. Other cells had a single nucleus with "ground glass" features. | |
| The presence of viral cytopathic effect in esophageal epithelial cells and the proximity of these cells next to remnants of surgical suture material were the reasons that formalin fixed, postmortem tissue from the esophagus was processed for electron microscopy | ||
| Electron Microscopy | ||
| December 1997 Case-of-the-Month | ||