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Background: Obese patients experience more complications after autologous breast reconstruction. This study evaluates how bariatric surgery modulates risk of complications in the setting of microvascular breast reconstruction., Methods: Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) databases were queried for patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥35 kg/m2 undergoing bariatric surgery from 2017-2022. Outcomes included BMI and obesity-related comorbidities before and 1 year after bariatric surgery. Paired Breast Reconstruction Risk Assessment (BRA) scores were analyzed to evaluate risk modulation before and after bariatric surgery in the setting of microvascular breast reconstruction., Results: A total of 1,026 patients were included with an average age of 47 and BMI of 44.7 kg/m2. Comorbidities included hypertension (601, 59%), type 2 diabetes (291, 28%), and cardiovascular disease (10, 1%). One-year outcomes after bariatric surgery included an average BMI of 32.7 kg/m2, with remission of type 2 diabetes in 29% of patients. Paired BRA risk analysis for microvascular breast reconstruction before and after bariatric surgery showed reduction in 30-day surgical complications (40.4% vs. 24.8%, P<0.0001), with an absolute risk reduction (ARR) of 15%, relative risk reduction (RRR) of 36%, and a number needed to treat (NNT) of 7. Each 1 kg/m2 reduction in preoperative BMI was associated with a 3.4% reduction in surgical complications (P<0.0001)., Conclusions: There is potential efficacy for metabolic bridge therapy in reducing complications for obese patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction., Competing Interests: Financial Disclosure Statement: The authors have no financial conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction is among the higher-risk patient groups for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in plastic surgery. Surgeons often opt for a patient-specific approach to postoperative anticoagulation, and the field has yet to come to a consensus on VTE chemoprophylaxis regimens., Methods: A new chemoprophylaxis protocol was introduced starting in March of 2019 that involved 2 weeks of treatment with enoxaparin, regardless of patient risk factors. A retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients who underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction at the authors' institution between January of 2014 and March of 2020. Patients were grouped based on whether they enrolled in the new VTE protocol in the postoperative period or not. Patient demographics, prophylaxis type, and outcomes data were recorded, retrospectively. The primary outcome measure was postoperative VTE incidence., Results: Risk of VTE was significantly higher in patients discharged without VTE prophylaxis compared with patients discharged with prophylaxis (3.7% versus 0%; P = 0.03). Notably, zero patients in the VTE prophylaxis group developed a deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. In addition, the risk of a VTE event was 25 times greater in patients with a Caprini score greater than or equal to 6 ( P = 0.0002)., Conclusion: The authors demonstrate the successful implementation of a 2-week VTE chemoprophylaxis protocol in DIEP flap breast reconstruction patients that significantly reduces the rate of VTE while not affecting the rate of hematoma complications., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Microsurgical breast reconstruction following mastectomy represents a high-risk patient group for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but there is limited consensus on postoperative prophylaxis duration. The aim of this study was to characterize the risk of VTE after microsurgical breast reconstruction, the risk reduction associated with postoperative outpatient VTE prophylaxis, the clinical factors associated with VTE events, and surgeon prescribing patterns regarding outpatient VTE prophylaxis., Methods: A commercially available database of 53 million unique patients, PearlDiver, was used to identify patients with breast cancer who underwent microsurgical breast reconstruction. Patients were grouped into those receiving any form of outpatient VTE prophylaxis at discharge and those who did not. Probability of VTE within 90 days was calculated for each group followed by absolute risk reduction and number needed to treat. A logistic regression, assuming binomial distribution, was performed to determine clinical factors associated with VTE events after surgery., Results: A total of 22,606 patients underwent microsurgical breast reconstruction from 2010 to 2020. Of these patients, 356 (1.6%) were discharged with VTE prophylaxis and 22,250 (98.4%) were discharged without. No patients developed a VTE in the prophylaxis group, and 403 (1.8%) developed a VTE in the group without prophylaxis. The number needed to prevent one VTE was 55.25 patients. Most VTE events occurred after postoperative day 10 (71.3%)., Conclusions: Outpatient chemoprophylaxis following breast reconstruction is underused despite the majority of VTE events occurring after the acute postoperative period. Breast microsurgeons should consider routine outpatient chemoprophylaxis as part of their postoperative care pathway to optimize VTE prevention., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: In addition to its intended purpose of perforator mapping, computed tomography angiography can also identify incidental findings that may require further evaluation. In this multi-institutional study, the authors evaluated the frequency of incidental findings and their significance and effects on treatment course and aimed to identify risk factors for detecting such findings., Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent perforator mapping with computed tomography angiography was performed over a 5-year period from three academic institutions. Relevant sociodemographic and clinicopathologic information, computed tomography angiography reports, follow-up visits, and treatment outcomes were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the relationship between risk factors and incidental findings., Results: From January of 2015 to July of 2020, a total of 656 patients were identified who met inclusion criteria. Overall, 342 incidental findings were found, 76 of which required additional imaging or consultation. Ultimately, 10 patients (1.5 percent) had findings that altered reconstructive management, including five patients (0.8 percent) having severe disease that resulted in the cancellation of their reconstruction. Advanced age and immediate reconstruction timing were independent risk factors for incidental findings., Conclusions: Incidental findings are commonly identified on preoperative computed tomography angiography for deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction. Suspicious findings should be investigated thoroughly because they can alter the reconstructive course. Understanding of high-risk groups for incidental findings can further advance patient education during initial consultation., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Risk, III., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Implant-based reconstruction is the most common procedure for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Acellular dermal matrix is used to provide additional coverage in subpectoral and prepectoral implant placement. In this study, the authors compared postoperative outcomes between AlloDerm (LifeCell, Branchburg, N.J.) and DermACELL (Stryker, Kalamazoo, Mich.), two acellular dermal matrix brands., Methods: A retrospective review of implant-based breast reconstruction from 2016 to 2020 was conducted. Patient demographics and comorbidities, implant size and location, acellular dermal matrix choice, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Primary outcomes assessed were seroma and infection compared between two acellular dermal matrix brands. Independent clinical parameters were assessed with multiple logistic regression models for the primary outcomes., Results: Reconstruction was performed in 150 patients (241 breasts). Eighty-eight patients underwent expander placement with AlloDerm and 62 patients with DermACELL. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics between the two groups. There was a significantly higher incidence of seroma in the AlloDerm group in univariate (AlloDerm 21.7 percent versus DermACELL 8.2 percent, p < 0.005) and multivariate analyses ( p = 0.04; 95 percent CI, 1.02 to 6.07). Acellular dermal matrix use (regardless of type) was not associated with higher rates of infection ( p = 0.99), but body mass index was ( p = 0.004)., Conclusions: Both AlloDerm and DermACELL had similar infection rates regardless of contributing risk factors. AlloDerm was found to be a risk factor for seroma formation in the postoperative period. As such, it is important to be aware of this complication when performing implant-based reconstruction with this brand of acellular dermal matrix., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: The superficial fascial system is routinely closed to alleviate tension at the abdominal donor site after harvest of the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap (DIEP) for breast reconstruction. This is thought to decrease rates of wound dehiscence and improve contour postoperatively. There has been no comparative analysis on closure of the superficial fascial system and its effect on donor-site outcomes., Methods: The authors retrospectively evaluated outcomes of DIEP flap breast reconstructions performed between 2017 and 2019. After May of 2018, the surgeons collectively agreed to stop closure of the superficial fascial system. All subsequent patients underwent closure of rectus abdominis fascia followed by skin closure. Patient demographic data and abdominal donor-site comorbidities were recorded between the superficial fascial system closure and no-superficial fascial system closure groups. Representative photographs of patients from the two groups were blindly assessed for scar appearance and contour using previously published grading scales. The results were compared., Results: DIEP flap breast reconstruction was performed in 103 consecutive women. Among patients with abdominal donor-site reconstruction, 66 had superficial fascial system closure and 37 did not. There was not a significant difference in fat necrosis or wound dehiscence between the two groups (p = 0.29 and p = 0.39, respectively). Postoperative abdominal scar and contour were evaluated by 10 independent raters and showed no significant difference between the two groups., Conclusion: Omission of superficial fascial system closure resulted in no difference in wound dehiscence or fat necrosis rates and aesthetic appearance of the abdominal scar and contour., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Copyright © 2021 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Learning Objectives: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Understand how to determine nipple-areola complex positioning on the reconstructed breast. 2. Understand the multitude of local flap and distant graft options for nipple-areola complex reconstruction. 3. Draw at least three fundamental nipple-areola complex reconstruction patterns. 4. Understand the forces that are responsible for flattening of the reconstructed papule. 5. Understand the current techniques used in secondary nipple-areola complex reconstructions., Summary: Nipple-areola complex reconstruction and tattooing represent the final two stages of breast reconstruction. Nipple-areola complex reconstruction is typically accomplished with the use of local flaps, local flaps with augmentation grafts, or a combination thereof. Regardless of the technique used, however, all nipple-areola complex reconstructions lose a degree of projection over time. Options for secondary reconstruction include the use of local tissue flaps alone or in combination with acellular biological matrices.

Background: Wound complications after perineal and groin obliterative procedures are a significant cause of morbidity, particularly following chemoradiation therapy. Vertical and, increasingly, oblique rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps have been used to fill potential dead space and bring healthy, vascularized tissue into the defect. The authors compared the complications and outcomes of patients undergoing perineal or groin reconstruction with vertical or oblique rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps. They hypothesized that the oblique flap offers outcomes similar to those of the vertical flap, without an increased risk of complications., Methods: All patients who underwent immediate reconstruction of perineal, pelvic, or groin defects using vertical (n=49) or oblique rectus abdominis myocutaneous (n=22) flaps over the past 10 years at the University of Washington Medical Center were reviewed retrospectively. Patient, disease, and obliterative procedure characteristics and donor- and recipient-site complications were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using the t test for continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables., Results: There were no statistically significant differences in major or minor donor- or recipient-site complication rates, need for augmented fascial closure, need for additional flaps, flap loss, readmission, or reoperation rate between the two groups., Conclusions: Immediate reconstruction of perineal or groin defects with oblique rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps results in complication rates similar to those with reconstruction using with vertical flaps. Oblique flap reconstruction is a reasonable and safe alternative, providing several distinct advantages over the vertical flap, including greater arc of rotation, thinner skin paddle, less bulk, and limited fascial harvest., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Background: Preoperative knowledge of a patient's individual variations in facial artery anatomy would benefit plastic surgeons for reconstructive planning. The authors evaluated the feasibility of multislice computed tomographic angiography in vascular mapping of the facial artery., Methods: In total, 187 facial arteries in 94 patients without facial tumor or vascular disease were studied. Anatomical variations of the facial artery were classified into four types: type 1, a short course that terminates proximal to the superior labial artery; type 2, an intermediate course that terminates distal to the superior labial artery near the nasolabial fold; type 3, a classic course that extends to the lateral nasal ala beyond the nasolabial fold with an angular branch; and type 4, duplex with dominant lateral angular branch. Facial artery patterns were compared with dominant patterns of the facial-submental artery bifurcation. The extent of the inferior and superior labial artery was evaluated separately., Results: Sixty-four facial artery branches (34 percent) were classified as type 1, 74 (40 percent) as type 2, and 45 (24 percent) as type 3. Type 4 was seen in only four branches (2 percent). The facial artery was dominant in the facial-submental artery bifurcation in 84 percent of type 3 facial arteries. Three-dimensional volume-rendered images allow detailed visualization of the facial artery and its branches and help preoperative mapping., Conclusion: Facial computed tomographic angiography allows detailed visualization of the facial artery and its branches and is a potential noninvasive imaging tool for preoperative vascular mapping for facial reconstructive operations.

Background: Infection rates for breast surgery are 3 to 15 percent, higher than average for a clean surgical procedure. Preoperative and postoperative antibiotics have lowered infection rates in other surgical groups, yet there is no consensus on postoperative prophylactic antibiotic use in microsurgical breast reconstruction., Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction between 2006 and 2009 was performed. Specific risk factors for autologous reconstruction were reviewed, including medical comorbidities, irradiation, and chemotherapy history. Data were collected on type and duration of prophylactic antibiotics. A prospective cohort of patients who received only 24 hours of postoperative antibiotics was identified. The incidence of surgical-site infections was measured using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria., Results: A total of 256 patients with 360 microvascular breast reconstructions who received both preoperative and postoperative prophylactic antibiotics were analyzed. The overall surgical-site infection rate was 17.2 percent (44 of 256 patients). Surgical-site infection was correlated with increased age, tobacco use, and prior radiation. Duration of postoperative antibiotic use did not differ in those patients who developed surgical-site infections (6.2 versus 7.7 days; p = 0.19). Eighty-two patients (32 percent) received only 24 hours of postoperative antibiotics, while 174 (68 percent) received more than 24 hours of antibiotics for a median duration of 10 days. There was no difference in the overall surgical-site infection rate in those who received more than 24 hours of antibiotics (19.5 versus 15.5 percent; p = 0.47)., Conclusion: There was no reduction in the overall surgical-site infection rate among autologous breast reconstruction patients who received postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis for more than 24 hours., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Background: Pressure ulcers are estimated to be present in more than one-third of patients with spinal cord injury. The rate of recurrence after flap surgery over last 50 years has ranged between 3 and 82 percent, with no trend toward improvement. This study seeks to identify and evaluate patient and operative characteristics associated with flap dehiscence and ulcer recurrence., Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent pressure ulcer flap coverage between 1993 and 2008 was performed. Thirty-one demographic and operative variables were collected. Multivariate logistic regression with generalized estimating equation was used to evaluate the effect of significant variables. The primary outcome was recurrence of pressure ulcer at the operative site. Secondary outcomes included flap line dehiscence and the need for operative revision., Results: There were 88 recurrences of pressure ulcers after flap surgery (39 percent) of 227 operations performed on 135 patients. Thirty-six flaps (16 percent) had dehiscences necessitating return to the operating room. Hemoglobin A1c less than 6 percent and previous same-site flap failure were associated with both dehiscence and recurrence (odds ratios, 2.15 and 3.84; and odds ratios, 6.51 and 3.27). Younger age and albumin less than 3.5 were associated with early flap failure (odds ratios, 5.95 and 2.45). Ischial wound location correlated with late recurrence (odds ratio, 4.01). Patients with multiple risk factors had operative success rates that approached zero., Conclusions: Confirmation of adequate nutritional status and strict preoperative management of blood glucose may improve operative success rates. The authors propose that operative management should be approached with trepidation, if at all, in young patients with recurrent ischial ulcers.

Background: To plan abdominal perforator-based microsurgical breast reconstruction, duplex ultrasound is often employed to preoperatively identify the location of abdominal wall perforating vessels. Recently, several groups have published the use of computed tomography angiography for preoperative planning in perforator flap breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of computed tomography angiography in locating clinically useful abdominal wall perforators with that of duplex ultrasound., Methods: A prospective study was conducted of 22 consecutive patients undergoing 30 abdomen-based microsurgical breast reconstructions using both preoperative computed tomography angiography and duplex ultrasound. Perforator data were obtained with both computed tomography angiography and ultrasound. The two largest perforators were chosen per abdominal side for comparison between studies. In addition, the locations of perforators were confirmed at surgery., Results: Computed tomography angiography preoperatively identified 83 of the largest perforators, while only 55 of these large perforators (66.3 percent) were preoperatively identified on ultrasound. No superficial inferior epigastric arteries were identified by ultrasound. However, in all eight breast reconstructions performed with the superficial inferior epigastric system, the superficial inferior epigastric arteries were identified preoperatively as adequate size for microsurgical transfers, with an average diameter of 1.6 mm., Conclusions: There are many advantages to preoperative computed tomography angiography for planning abdominal perforator-based microsurgical breast reconstruction, including accurate identification of perforating vessels, the underlying branching pattern of the deep inferior epigastric artery, and the presence of the superficial inferior epigastric vessels. This study demonstrates the superiority of computed tomography angiography over duplex ultrasound as a tool for preoperative planning of perforator-based breast reconstruction.

Learning Objectives: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Discuss nomenclature and anatomy associated with reconstruction of the back. 2. Perform preoperative assessment, decision making, and counseling of patients. 3. Describe current surgical planning, including careful analysis of the defect and appropriate selection of tissue to provide coverage while maximizing form and function., Background: The plastic surgeon is called to reconstruct defects in the posterior truck that involve an extensive zone of injury. Simple solutions, such as wide undermining and primary closure, will not result in a stable closed wound. Successful closure of these wounds depends on preoperative evaluation of tissue needs and host defects, and selection of the most appropriate flap to close dead space and provide vascularized tissue to the wound bed., Methods: The authors examined the literature regarding the available treatment options surrounding reconstruction of posterior back wounds. They review the important details surrounding the use of each flap and present select cases from their own experience regarding reconstruction of the back., Results: : The posterior trunk benefits from multiple flaps that can be used in reconstruction of the back. The wound must be evaluated in terms of tissue requirements and host issues, such as infection or previous radiation. Most wounds can be closed in a single stage, after careful flap section based on the wound's needs and anatomic location, with minimal postoperative complications. Early and aggressive treatment of these wounds improves patient outcomes and can reduce the time spent in hospital., Conclusions: Reconstruction of the posterior trunk depends on careful analysis of the tissue defects, host issues, and application of functional anatomy. The majority of wounds can be reconstructed after thorough débridement with a vascularized muscle flap.