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Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate work ability and productivity in women who had undergone different types of surgical treatment for breast cancer, as well as breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed 152 women between 30 and 60 years of age, who worked outside the home in formal or informal jobs, or as self-employed. Thirty-eight of them had no history of breast cancer (control group), and 114 had undergone surgical treatment for breast cancer at least 1 year before their enrollment in the study, and were allocated as follows: mastectomy group (n = 38), breast-conserving surgery group (n = 38), or breast reconstruction breast reconstruction group (n = 38). The validated Brazilian versions of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-General Health questionnaire and Work Limitations Questionnaire were self-administered. Results The groups were homogeneous regarding age, education level, and other sociodemographic characteristics. Patients in the mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery groups showed reduced work performance and productivity compared with women in the breast reconstruction and control groups (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0006, respectively). In addition, women in the mastectomy group had more difficulty in performing activities of daily living compared with those in other groups (P = 0.0121). Conclusions Women who had undergone mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery had decreased work ability and productivity compared with women without a history of breast cancer and to those who had undergone breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND This randomized controlled trial was designed to assess whether dressing wear time could influence surgical-site infection rates and skin colonization. Patients' perception at self-assessment was also analyzed. METHODS Seventy patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty were randomly allocated to group I (dressing removed on postoperative day 1) or group II (dressing removed on postoperative day 6). Surgical-site infections were defined by standard criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Skin colonization was assessed by a culture of samples collected at predefined time points. Patients scored dressing wear time in regard to safety, comfort, and convenience. RESULTS Nine patients (12.9 percent) had an infection, seven from group I and two from group II (p = 0.09). There was no difference between the groups in regard to skin colonization before dressing, but on postoperative day 6, there was higher skin colonization by coagulase-negative staphylococci in group I (p = 0.000). If they had the choice, 66 percent of the patients in group I would choose to keep the dressing for 1 day, whereas 83 percent of the patients in group II would prefer to keep the dressing for 6 days (p = 0.000). Patients in group II also considered keeping the dressing for 6 days a safer choice (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS There was no difference in surgical-site infection rates between groups, but higher colonization levels were observed in group I on postoperative day 6. Most of the patients would choose to keep dressing for 6 days postoperatively, which was perceived as a safer choice. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, II.

BACKGROUND Nasal deviation is a common complaint in otorhinolaryngology and plastic surgery. This condition not only causes impairment of nasal function but also affects quality of life, leading to psychological distress. The subjective assessment of quality of life, as an important aspect of outcomes research, has received increasing attention in recent decades. Quality of life is measured using standardized questionnaires that have been tested for reliability, validity, and sensitivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life, self-esteem, and depression in patients with nasal deviation. METHODS Sixty patients were selected for the study. Patients with nasal deviation (n = 32) were assigned to the study group, and patients without nasal deviation (n = 28) were assigned to the control group. The diagnosis of nasal deviation was made by digital photogrammetry. Quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire; the Rosenberg Self-Esteem/Federal University of Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina Scale; and the 20-item Self-Report Questionnaire. RESULTS There were significant differences between groups in the physical functioning and general health subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (p < 0.05). Depression was detected in 11 patients (34.4 percent) in the study group and in two patients in the control group, with a significant difference between groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Nasal deviation is an aspect of rhinoplasty of which the surgeon should be aware so that proper psychological diagnosis can be made and suitable treatment can be planned because psychologically the patients with nasal deviation have significantly worse quality of life and are more prone to depression. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Risk, II.(Figure is included in full-text article.).

Background: This prospective trial was designed to assess the impact of oncoplastic surgery on quality of life and self-esteem of breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving treatment. Methods: Forty-five patients with primary breast cancer to be treated with breast-conserving surgery and immediate partial breast reconstruction were assessed with regard to quality-of-life and self-esteem outcomes preoperatively and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Another 42 breast cancer patients, treated by conservative surgery without breast reconstruction at least 1 year previously, were assessed for the control group. Validated questionnaires (Short Form-36, Brazilian version, and the Rosenberg-EPM Self-Esteem Scale) were used. Data were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests. Results: Participation rates at the follow-up assessments were 95.5 percent at the 6-month follow-up and 88.9 percent at the 12-month follow-up. Control and reconstruction groups were matched for age, body mass index, and demographic and oncologic aspects. At postoperative month 12, the breast reconstruction group had significantly better health status than the control group with regard to physical functioning (p < 0.000), health perception (p < 0.002), vitality (p < 0.007), social functioning (p < 0.02), role emotional (p < 0.02), mental health (p < 0.000), and self-esteem (p < 0.02). Compared with preoperatively, breast reconstruction group scores were significantly higher at 12 months postoperatively for seven of the eight dimensions of the Short Form-36: physical functioning (p < 0.01), role physical (p < 0.02), health perception (p < 0.02), vitality (p < 0.01), social functioning (p < 0.02), role emotional (p < 0.05), and mental health (p < 0.02). Self-esteem was also significantly better at 12 months (p < 0.02). Conclusion: Oncoplastic surgery had a positive impact on quality of life and self-esteem of patients undergoing breast-conserving treatment.

This prospective study was conducted to assess the influence of antibiotics use on surgical site infections (SSI) rates after reduction mammaplasty. Patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty were assigned to group 1 (n = 50), which received intravenous cephalotin pre- and postoperatively, besides oral cephalexin for 6 days after discharge, or to group 2 (n = 50), which received no antibiotics. Patients were followed up weekly for 30 days, regarding to SSI, by a blinded surgeon. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions and classification of SSI were adopted. There was no statistical difference between the groups in regard to age, body mass index, duration of operation, and total resection weight. SSI rates were 2% and 14% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.03). In group 2, older patients and those with higher resection weight had significant higher SSI rates (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively). We observed that antibiotics use decreased SSI rates after reduction mammaplasty.

The breasts are important for a woman’s psychological well-being, which may be negatively affected by distortions of breast size and shape. Improvements in self-esteem and sexuality are important psychological factors associated with motivation for cosmetic surgery. Mammaplasty is among the most sought-after and performed cosmetic procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of aesthetic breast surgery on a woman’s sexuality. This study was conducted in a plastic surgery clinic of a hospital university in Brazil, between 2009 and 2012. Forty-six patients with hypomastia and 30 patients with breast hypertrophy, who expressed the desire for aesthetic breast surgery, were selected for the study. The patients were assessed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively using the sexual quotient-Female version scale (QS-F). The QS-F is a validated Brazilian questionnaire to assess sexual function. It contains ten items covering five domains of female sexual function: desire and interest, foreplay, excitement and harmony, comfort, and orgasm and satisfaction. Higher QS-F scores indicate better sexual functioning. There was a significant increase in the mean total QS-F score after surgery in both groups (p

Sir:One of the most important risk factors for surgical-site infection is the presence of bacteria in the wound at the time of surgery. Thus, the purpose of preoperative skin preparation is to reduce bacteria on the skin before making an incision.1,2The antiseptics most commonly used for antisepsis