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Ruvi Chauhan, Scott N Loewenstein, Aladdin H Hassanein Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Indianapolis, IN, USACorrespondence: Aladdin H HassaneinIndiana University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, 545 Barnhill Drive, Suite 232, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USATel +1 317-944-3636Fax +1 317-968-0733Email ahassane@iu.eduAbstract: Rhinophyma is an advanced stage of rosacea affecting the nasal soft tissues and resulting in disruption of the nasal architecture, airway obstruction, and disfigurement of the nasal aesthetic units. Rhinophyma presents with hypertrophy of the nasal soft tissues, erythema, telangiectasias, nodules, and lobules with a bulbous appearance. Significant psychosocial morbidity is associated with the disease. Understanding of this disease has improved and multiple treatment options exist. The article is a review of the literature to evaluate the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and epidemiology of keywords “rhinophyma” and “rosacea” using an OVID Medline and PubMed search along with a systematic review of outcomes pertaining to treatment of rhinophyma with laser therapy, scalpel excision, and the subunit method using an OVID Medline search. The subunit method has the highest complication and revision rates followed by carbon dioxide laser therapy. Outcomes between carbon dioxide laser and scalpel therapy and electrocautery are equivalent. Scalpel excision is a more cost-effective treatment modality with less post-operative complications; however, it risks poor hemostasis intraoperatively. Patient satisfaction is common post-therapy regardless of the treatment method. Over 89% of patients would recommend undergoing treatment for rhinophyma irrespective of treatment type. Treatment options vary, and choice of treatment can be dependent on practitioner and patients’ treatment goals.Keywords: subunit method, phyma, systematic review

PURPOSE: A cancellous iliac bone graft is used to treat alveolar clefts. A few hours can exist between graft harvest and placement into the alveolar defect. The purpose of this study was to determine whether intraoperative cooling of bone optimizes viability and to evaluate cellular preservation of cooled graft over time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve cancellous iliac bone graft specimens were obtained prospectively from consecutive patients undergoing alveolar cleft repair. Each sample was collected during graft procurement and divided into 3 groups: group 1 (immediate analysis), group 2 (analysis after 2 hours at room temperature), and group 3 (analysis after 2 hours on ice). To generate a viability curve, iliac bone specimens were stored on ice and assayed immediately and hourly for 8 hours. Resazurin, an oxidation-reduction indicator of metabolically active cells, was used to assess cellular viability (normalized relative fluorescence units). RESULTS: Group 1 (n = 7,370) had more active cells than did group 2 (n = 4,104) or group 3 (n = 5,005; P = .03). Group 3 had greater viability than group 2 (P = .03). Cellular preservation of the cooled graft was 100% at the immediate analysis, 98.4% ± 13.9% at 1 hour, 91.8% ± 9.8% at 2 hours, 83.1% ± 31.8% at 3 hours, 71.8% ± 27.2% at 4 hours, 71.4% ± 16.9% at 5 hours, 69.9% ± 19.0% at 6 hours, 70.0% ± 22.5% at 7 hours, and 66.7% ± 13.3% at 8 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Storing iliac bone graft on ice rather than at room temperature optimizes cellular viability, with cooled bone demonstrating 22.0% more active cells after 2 hours. Cellular loss of cooled graft plateaued after 4 hours. Clinically, the iliac graft should be maintained on ice until placed into the alveolar cleft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast prosthesis infections are challenging and traditionally managed with prosthesis removal and delayed reconstruction. Single-application negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell (NPWTi-d) has shown promise for salvaging infected implants, though prior studies have been small and heterogeneous. This study analyzes outcomes and compares protocols from four institutions., Methods: Data were collected on 56 patients (59 breasts) who underwent NPWTi-d salvage for peri-prosthetic infections. Patients with fewer than 3 months of follow-up were excluded. Salvage protocols included explantation, NPWTi-d application, antibiotics, and replantation. Successful salvage was defined as prosthesis retention without further explantation for at least 90 days posttreatment., Results: Intervention occurred on average 66 days after the index procedure. Methicillin-resistant organisms were cultured in 15% of cases. NPWTi-d was applied for an average of 61 hours with dwell times of 18 minutes every 3 hours, using institution-specific instillates. All patients were discharged with new prostheses (65% expanders, 35% implants) after an average hospital stay of 4 days. At 90-day follow-up, 71% of patients had no further complications, and 85% were successfully salvaged., Conclusions: This is the largest study to evaluate NPWTi-d for salvaging infected breast prostheses. The high success rate highlights the method's efficacy, safety, and potential for preserving reconstruction. These straightforward protocols can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs, offering a valuable option for managing prosthesis infections., Competing Interests: Risal Djohan, Luther Holton, and Devinder Singh are consultants for Solventum. The other authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. Disclosure statements are at the end of this article, following the correspondence information., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background:  Lymphedema can occur in patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and radiation for breast cancer. Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) is performed to decrease the risk of lymphedema in patients after ALND. Some patients who ultimately require ALND are candidates for attempted sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or targeted axillary excision. In those scenarios, ALND can be performed (1) immediately if frozen sections are positive or (2) as a second operation following permanent pathology. The purpose of this study is to evaluate immediate ALND/ILR following positive intraoperative frozen sections to guide surgical decision-making and operative planning., Methods:  A single-center retrospective review was performed (2019-2022) for breast cancer patients undergoing axillary node surgery with breast reconstruction. Patients were divided into two groups: immediate conversion to ALND/ILR (Group 1) and no immediate conversion to ALND (Group 2). Demographic data and operative time were recorded., Results:  There were 148 patients who underwent mastectomy, tissue expander (TE) reconstruction, and axillary node surgery. Group 1 included 30 patients who had mastectomy, sentinel node/targeted node biopsy, TE reconstruction, and intraoperative conversion to immediate ALND/ILR. Group 2 had 118 patients who underwent mastectomy with TE reconstruction and SLNB with no ALND or ILR. Operative time for bilateral surgery was 303.1 ± 63.2 minutes in Group 1 compared with 222.6 ± 52.2 minutes in Group 2 ( p  = 0.001). Operative time in Group 1 patients undergoing unilateral surgery was 252.3 ± 71.6 minutes compared with 171.3 ± 43.2 minutes in Group 2 ( p  = 0.001)., Conclusion:  Intraoperative frozen section of sentinel/targeted nodes extended operative time by approximately 80 minutes in patients undergoing mastectomy with breast reconstruction and conversion of SLNB to ALND/ILR. Intraoperative conversion to ALND adds unpredictability to the operation as well as additional potentially unaccounted operative time. However, staging ALND requires an additional operation., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background  There is a paucity of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) data in lower extremity salvage. Limb salvage can often be achieved with the use of local muscle flaps or fasciocutaneous flaps. The purpose of this study was to compare PROs of patients who underwent lower extremity salvage using local fasciocutaneous flaps or muscle flaps to lower extremity amputation. Materials and Methods  The outcomes of 61 patients that underwent lower extremity local flap reconstruction ( n  = 33) or amputation ( n  = 28) between 2014 and 2020 were recorded. Chart reviews were performed to collect perioperative data. Patients were contacted via telephone for participation in the survey portion of our study. PROs were recorded utilizing both the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results  Surveys were completed by 61 patients (response rate 59.2%). The mean time of survey after flap reconstruction or amputation was 2.7 ± 1.4 years. Recent trauma (within 90 days) was the most common indication for local flap coverage ( n  = 23). LEFS score and SF-36 physical functioning scores were significantly lower in patients who underwent muscle flaps compared with fasciocutaneous flaps ( p  = 0.021 and p  = 0.022). Muscle flap patients had similar LEFS and SF-36 scores to amputation patients, while fasciocutaneous flap patients had significantly higher LEFS ( p  = 0.01), SF-36 physical functioning ( p  = 0.031), physical role functioning ( p  = 0.031), and emotional role functioning ( p  = 0.047) scores than amputation patients. Conclusion  Patients who underwent local fasciocutaneous flaps for limb salvage reported higher PRO scores than those undergoing amputation, while patients undergoing muscle flaps reported outcomes similar to those undergoing amputation. PROs for muscle flap patients were significantly lower than those of fasciocutaneous flap patients. These data suggest that while fasciocutaneous and muscle flaps are both useful limb salvage procedures, fasciocutaneous flaps may confer advantages that result in improved patient-perceived outcomes. Further study is needed to better characterize outcomes in limb salvage., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ).)

Inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer involving skin lymphatics. Breast reconstruction traditionally has been delayed in IBC. Immediate reconstruction has been described in select patients. Studies evaluating the reconstructive and oncologic safety of immediate breast reconstruction in this patient population are limited and retrospective. The purpose of this study is to assess the current body of literature on immediate breast reconstruction in IBC patients to identify knowledge gaps. A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Original articles that evaluated patients diagnosed with IBC who underwent immediate breast reconstruction were included. The search yielded 821 articles, of which 9 articles containing 1429 IBC patients were included for analysis. Immediate implant-based reconstruction occurred in 12.2% (174/1429) of patients. Immediate autologous reconstruction occurred in 19.0% (272/1429). Immediate reconstruction with both autologous and implant-based techniques was 4.5% (64/1429). Reconstruction type was not reported for 63.0% (899/1429) of patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 1.8% (26/1429) of patients. Local cancer recurrence was 14.3% (3/21) at 18.9 months. The mortality rate was 32.4% (131/404) at 22 months. Performance of immediate breast reconstruction can be safely performed from a reconstructive standpoint in select patients., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Surgical Oncology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: A subset of females with breast implants have reported a myriad of nonspecific systemic symptoms collectively termed systemic symptoms associated with breast implants (SSBI). SSBI symptoms are similar to manifestations associated with autoimmune and connective tissue disorders. Breast tissue is rich in adipose cells, comprised of lipids. Insertion of an implant creates an oxidative environment leading to lipid oxidation. Oxylipins can influence immune responses and inflammatory processes., Objectives: In this study we explored the abundance of a spectrum of oxylipins in the periprosthetic tissue surrounding the breast implant. Because oxylipins are immunogenic, we sought to determine if they were associated with the SSBI patients. We have also attempted to determine if the common manifestations exhibited by such patients have any association with oxylipin abundance., Methods: The study included 120 patients divided into 3 cohorts. We analyzed 46 patients with breast implants exhibiting manifestations associated with SSBI; 29 patients with breast implants not exhibiting manifestations associated with SSBI (control cohort I, non-SSBI); and 45 patients without implants (control cohort II, no-implant tissue). Lipid extraction and oxylipin quantification were performed with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). LC-MS/MS targeted analysis of the breast adipose tissue was performed., Results: Of the 15 oxylipins analyzed, 5 exhibited increased abundance in the SSBI cohort when compared to the non-SSBI and no-implant cohorts., Conclusions: The study documents the association of the oxylipins with each manifestation reported by the patient. This study provides an objective assessment of the subjective questionnaire, highlighting which symptoms may be more relevant than the others., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Aesthetic Society.)

Breast cancer-related lymphedema is characterized by progressive limb enlargement and occurs in up to 30% of breast cancer patients following axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) is a preventative technique used to reduce lymphedema rates by performing lymphovenous anastomoses of disrupted afferent lymphatics. This study presents a novel method of axillary reconstruction following ALND using a buried dermal flap that provides local tissue with intact subdermal lymphatics to the axillary dead space. A single-center retrospective review was performed to assess breast cancer patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy without reconstruction between 2018 and 2023. Groups were divided into those who had ILR alone (group 1) and those who had buried dermal flap with attempted ILR (group 2). There were 31 patients included in this study: 18 patients in group 1 and 13 patients in group 2. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and breast cancer history were similar between the groups. There was no significant difference in the mean number of lymphovenous anastomoses performed (1.6 versus 1.7, P  = 0.84). Mean operative time of 224.4 ± 51.9 minutes in group 1 was similar to 223.4 ± 30.4 minutes in group 2 ( P  = 0.95). We introduce a novel method of axillary reconstruction following ALND using a buried dermal flap that is inset into the axillary dissection space and over the area of ILR. We propose that it is an efficient accessory procedure to augment ILR by providing supplementary intact lymphatic channels to the area of lymphatic injury, while obliterating the axillary dead space., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Implant infection is problematic in breast reconstruction. Traditionally, infected tissue expanders (TE)/implants are removed for several months before replacement, resulting in breast reconstruction delay. Salvage involving device removal, negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell (NPWTi-d) placement, and early staged TE/implant replacement within a few days has been described. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of the NPWTi-d salvage pathway with traditional implant removal., Methods: A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent implant-based reconstruction and developed TE/implant infection/exposure requiring removal. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 had TE/implant removal, NPWTi-d placement, and TE/implant replacement 1-4 days later. Group 2 (control) underwent standard TE/implant removal and no NPWTi-d. Reinfection after TE/implant salvage, TE/implant-free days, and time to final reconstruction were assessed., Results: The study included 47 patients (76 TE/implants) in group 1 (13 patients, 16 TE/implants) and group 2 (34 patients, 60 TE/implants). The success rate (no surgical-site infection within 90 days) of implant salvage was 81.3% in group 1. No group 1 patients abandoned completing reconstruction after TE/implant loss versus 38.2% (13 of 34) in group 2 ( P = 0.0094). Mean implant-free days was 2.5 ± 1.2 in group 1 versus 134.6 ± 78.5 in group 2 ( P = 0.0001). The interval to final implant-based reconstruction was 69.0 ± 69.7 days in group 1 versus 225.6 ± 93.6 days in group 2 ( P = 0.0001)., Conclusions: A breast implant salvage pathway with infected device removal, NPWTi-d placement, and early TE/implant replacement was successful in 81.3%. Patients experienced 132 less implant-free days and faster time to final reconstruction., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Infection after implant-based breast reconstruction remains challenging, with infection rates up to 24%. Best clinical practice indicates prophylactic oral antibiotics are ineffective at preventing infection. Absorbable antibiotic beads have been routinely used in other surgical subspecialties such as orthopedic and vascular procedures for continuous local antibiotic delivery to the surgical site when implants are placed. Biodegradable calcium sulfate antibiotic beads have been shown to normalize incidence of infection when used prophylactically for a high-risk prepectoral patient population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of prophylactic biodegradable antibiotic beads when used non-selectively for all prepectoral immediate tissue expander (TE) reconstruction. Patients who underwent mastectomy and immediate prepectoral TE reconstruction on the same day between 2018 and 2024 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received antibiotic beads (Group 1) and those who did not (Group 2). Absorbable calcium-sulfate beads were reconstituted with 1 g vancomycin and 240 mg gentamicin. There were 33 patients (63 TEs) in Group 1 and 330 patients (545 TEs) in Group 2. TE loss was present in 1.5% (1/65 TEs) Group 1 compared to 9.4% (51/545 TEs) in Group 2 (p = 0.032). The mean follow-up time was 178 days (range 93-266 days). Prophylactic biodegradable antibiotic beads used during immediate tissue expander reconstruction decreased implant loss rate. There was one occurrence of SSI in the antibiotic bead group. Antibiotic beads may potentially decrease complications in immediate TE reconstruction when used non-selectively for all patients., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) primarily affects women of childbearing age., Objectives: Studying the potential relationship between NMOSD and pregnancy characteristics and outcomes., Subjects and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that was conducted on 66 married female patients diagnosed with NMOSD. All patients underwent a thorough review of their demographic and clinical history through their medical records and personal interviews. Additionally, a complete neurological examination was performed, along with the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and a pregnancy registry questionnaire., Results: After comparing married patients before and after disease onset, there was a significant increase in the number of abortions and the percentage of cesarean sections, as well as a decrease in the percentage of breastfeeding after disease onset. The p values were .02, <.001, and <.001, respectively, with odds ratios of 2.03, 5.13, and 6.17. Additionally, there was a rise in the occurrence of postpartum relapses, which accounted for 66% of all relapses after the disease onset. Most of these relapses (88.7%) occurred within the first 3 months postpartum., Conclusion: Presence of NMOSD increased the percentage of miscarriage, delivery by cesarean section, and decreased the chance of breastfeeding. In addition, pregnancy increases NMOSD relapse and subsequent disability., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s), 2024.)

Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) and regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI) are used to prevent or treat neuromas in amputees. TMR for above-the-knee amputation (AKA) is most commonly performed through a posterior incision rather than the stump wound because recipient motor nerves are primarily located in the proximal third of the thigh. When preventative TMR is performed with concurrent AKA, a posterior approach requires intraoperative repositioning and an additional incision. The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility of TMR and operative times for nerve management performed through the wound compared to a posterior approach in AKA patients to guide surgical decision-making. Patients who underwent AKA with TMR between 2018-2023 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: TMR performed through the wound (Group I) and TMR performed through a posterior approach (Group II). If a nerve was unable to undergo coaptation for TMR due to the lack of suitable donor motor nerves, RPNI was performed. Eighteen patients underwent AKA with nerve management were included from Group I (8 patients) and Group II (10 patients). TMR coaptations performed on distinct nerves was 1.5 ± 0.5 in Group I compared to 2.6 ± 0.5 in Group II (p = 0.001). Operative time for Group I was 200.7 ± 33.4 min compared to 326.5 ± 37.1 min in Group II (p = 0.001). TMR performed through the wound following AKA requires less operative time than a posterior approach. However, since recipient motor nerves are not consistently found near the stump, RPNI may be required with TMR whereas the posterior approach allows for more TMR coaptations., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lymphedema is chronic limb swelling resulting from lymphatic dysfunction. It affects an estimated five million Americans. There is no cure for this disease. Assessing lymphatic growth is essential in developing novel therapeutics. Intravital microscopy (IVM) is a powerful imaging tool for investigating various biological processes in live animals. Tissue nanotransfection technology (TNT) facilitates a direct, transcutaneous nonviral vector gene delivery using a chip with nanochannel poration in a rapid (<100 ms) focused electric field. TNT was used in this study to deliver the genetic cargo in the murine tail lymphedema to assess the lymphangiogenesis. The purpose of this study is to experimentally evaluate the applicability of IVM to visualize and quantify lymphatics in the live mice model. Methods and Results: The murine tail model of lymphedema was utilized. TNT was applied to the murine tail (day 0) directly at the surgical site with genetic cargo loaded into the TNT reservoir: TNT pCMV6 group receives pCMV6 (expression vector backbone alone) ( n = 6); TNT Prox1 group receives pCMV6- Prox1 ( n = 6). Lymphatic vessels (fluorescein isothiocyanate [FITC]-dextran stained) and lymphatic branch points (indicating lymphangiogenesis) were analyzed with the confocal/multiphoton microscope. The experimental group TNT Prox1 exhibited reduced postsurgical tail lymphedema and increased lymphatic distribution compared to TNT pCMV6 group. More lymphatic branching points (>3-fold) were observed at the TNT site in TNT Prox1 group. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a novel, powerful imaging tool for investigating lymphatic vessels in live murine tail model of lymphedema. IVM can be utilized for functional assessment of lymphatics and visualization of lymphangiogenesis following gene-based therapy.

Background and Purpose: Within, we compare the short-term outcomes of patients receiving same day mastectomy and tissue expander reconstruction for those discharged on postoperative day one versus those discharged immediately following surgery to explore the safety, efficacy, and potential impact on hospital processes., Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients undergoing mastectomy with immediate TE reconstruction from March 2019 to March 2021. Patients were stratified into two cohorts; observation overnight (OBS), and discharge on same day of surgery (DC)., Results: In total, 153 patients underwent 256 mastectomies with immediate TE reconstruction. All patients were female and the mean age was 48 years old. The DC cohort contained 71 patients (125 mastectomies) and there were 82 patients (131 mastectomies) within the OBS cohort. On average the DC cohort had a lower BMI than the OBS group (mean ± SD; DC 26.8 kg/m 2 ± 5.3 kg/m 2 , OBS 28.7 kg/m 2 ± 6.1 kg/m 2 , p = 0.05), the DC cohort had higher rates of adjuvant chemotherapy (DC 40.1%, OBS 23.2%, p = 0.02), and were more likely to undergo bilateral TE reconstruction (DC 76%, OBS 60%, p = 0.03) than the OBS group. No differences were observed between cohorts in complication rates regarding primary or secondary outcomes., Conclusion: These findings indicate that it is safe and effective within the immediate 7-day post-operative period to immediately discharge patients undergoing mastectomy with immediate TE reconstruction. Additionally, alteration of patient management practices can have a profound impact on the operational flow within hospitals., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Lymphedema is chronic limb swelling from lymphatic dysfunction and is currently incurable. Breast-cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) affects up to 5 million Americans and occurs in one-third of breast cancer survivors following axillary lymph node dissection. Compression remains the mainstay of therapy. Surgical management of BCRL includes excisional procedures to remove excess tissue and physiologic procedures to attempt improve fluid retention in the limb. The purpose of this review is to highlight surgical management strategies for preventing and treating breast cancer-related lymphedema., Recent Findings: Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) is a microsurgical technique that anastomoses disrupted axillary lymphatic vessels to nearby veins at the time of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and has been reported to reduce lymphedema rates from 30% to 4-12%., Summary: Postsurgical lymphedema remains incurable. Surgical management of lymphedema includes excisional procedures and physiologic procedures using microsurgical technique. Immediate lymphatic reconstruction has emerged as a prophylactic strategy to prevent lymphedema in breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema results in chronic upper limb swelling with subcutaneous deposition of fluid and fibroadipose tissue. Morbidity includes psychosocial distress, infection, and difficulty using the extremity. Operative management includes excisional procedures such as suction-assisted lipectomy to reduce abnormal subcutaneous fibroadipose tissue to improve limb volume. Patients who have had postmastectomy breast reconstruction often benefit from fat grafting. This report introduces the concept of fat grafting the breast using the lymphedematous arm as a donor site. This technique improves the volume of the limb by removing the excess subcutaneous adipose, and at the same time reconstructs the breast without adding a donor site not related to the breast cancer-related lymphedema., Competing Interests: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant K08HL167164 (to AHH). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background and objective Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) is emerging as a useful adjunct after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), leading to a decrease in lymphedema rates from 30 to 3-13% in breast cancer patients. ILR requires coordination between two surgical specialties for oncologic ALND and microsurgical axillary lymphatic anastomosis. This study aimed to assess the trends in the frequency of ILR performed after ALND at our institution. Methods This study involved a retrospective review of breast cancer patients undergoing ALND with and without ILR at our institution (2017-2022). Data on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatments received were gathered and analyzed. Results A total of 316 patients underwent ALND at our institution and 30.7% (97/316) of them received ILR. There was no significant difference in clinical breast cancer stages between patients who underwent ALND with or without ILR (p>0.05). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given to 51.1% (112/219) of patients with ALND only compared to 60.8% (59/97) of patients who underwent ALND with ILR (p=0.09). All patients received adjuvant radiation therapy. ILR was performed after ALND in 4.2% (2/47) in 2017, 25.8% (3/58) in 2018, 17.6% (12/68) in 2019, 35% (21/60) in 2020, 56.9% (41/72) in 2021, and 54.5% (6/11) in 2022. When comparing the first year of the ILR program with the last year of the study period, the odds ratio of receiving ILR after ALND was 1.8 (p=0.04). Conclusions The frequency of performing ILR after ALND in breast cancer patients at our institution witnessed a substantial increase during the study period. The implementation of an established ILR program at an institution can increase procedure uptake accompanied by continued growth in utilization., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Ahmed et al.)

Introduction: Post-mastectomy reconstruction in patients with severe breast ptosis can be challenging. Traditionally, a skin sparing mastectomy (SSM) with a circumareolar incision or a horizontal elliptical extension results in a long, horizontally-oriented scar in the central breast. The Wise pattern SSM with an inferiorly-based dermal flap addresses skin redundancy and provides added vascularized implant coverage in ptotic patients with macromastia. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes in ptotic patients undergoing SSM with Wise pattern and a modified vertical technique which also uses de-epithelialized excess skin under the incision. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients that underwent SSM using a Wise or vertical skin reducing technique. The Wise pattern was performed using an inferiorly-based dermal flap and the vertical method used a laterally-based dermal flap covering the implant/tissue expander (TE). Results: SSM with the use of autoderm was performed in 42 patients (67 breasts) using either the Wise (n = 49 breasts) or vertical (n = 18 breasts) method. Both groups had similar BMI (35.4). The prepectoral plane was used in 93.5% of Wise pattern patients and all vertical patients. All cases of seroma and hematoma occurred in the Wise pattern group (10.2%). Mastectomy skin necrosis requiring unplanned return to surgery for debridement occurred in 20.4% of those undergoing Wise pattern SSM and 11.1% undergoing the vertical pattern (p = 0.49). Conclusion: Severely ptotic patients undergoing SSM have a high risk of skin necrosis. A dermal flap under the closure has the advantage of vascularized tissue reinforcing the wound in implant based reconstruction. The vertical pattern SSM using a laterally-based dermal flap may be a safe, simple alternative to the Wise pattern in select patients., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Lymphedema is chronic limb swelling resulting from lymphatic dysfunction. There is no cure for the disease. Clinically, a preventive surgical approach called immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) has gained traction. Experimental gene-based therapeutic approaches (e.g., using viral vectors) have had limited translational applicability. Tissue nanotransfection (TNT) technology uses a direct, transcutaneous nonviral vector, gene delivery using a chip with nanochannel poration in response to a rapid (<100 ms) focused electric field. The purpose of this study was to experimentally prevent lymphedema using focal delivery of a specific gene Prox1 (a master regulator of lymphangiogenesis). TNT was applied to the previously optimized lymphedematous mice tail (day 0) directly at the surgical site with genetic cargo loaded into the TNT reservoir: group I (sham) was given pCMV6 (expression vector backbone alone) and group II was treated with pCMV6- Prox1 . Group II mice had decreased tail volume (47.8%) compared to sham and greater lymphatic clearance on lymphangiography. Immunohistochemistry showed greater lymphatic vessel density and RNA sequencing exhibited reduced inflammatory markers in group II compared to group I. Prox1 prophylactically delivered using TNT to the surgical site on the day of injury decreased the manifestations of lymphedema in the murine tail model compared to control., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

This study investigates a mechanistic link of bacterial biofilm-mediated host-pathogen interaction leading to immunological complications associated with breast implant illness (BII). Over 10 million women worldwide have breast implants. In recent years, women have described a constellation of immunological symptoms believed to be related to their breast implants. We report that periprosthetic breast tissue of participants with symptoms associated with BII had increased abundance of biofilm and biofilm-derived oxylipin 10-HOME compared with participants with implants who are without symptoms (non-BII) and participants without implants. S. epidermidis biofilm was observed to be higher in the BII group compared with the non-BII group and the normal tissue group. Oxylipin 10-HOME was found to be immunogenically capable of polarizing naive CD4+ T cells with a resulting Th1 subtype in vitro and in vivo. Consistently, an abundance of CD4+Th1 subtype was observed in the periprosthetic breast tissue and blood of people in the BII group. Mice injected with 10-HOME also had increased Th1 subtype in their blood, akin to patients with BII, and demonstrated fatigue-like symptoms. The identification of an oxylipin-mediated mechanism of immune activation induced by local bacterial biofilm provides insight into the possible pathogenesis of the implant-associated immune symptoms of BII.

Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps are becoming the most frequent choice for autologous breast reconstruction. There are many benefits to DIEP flaps, but the procedures can be lengthy and have a steep learning curve. The balance of efficiency and education can be difficult to achieve. A framework was implemented to focus on both efficiency and education at each stage of the DIEP flap procedure. The author's methods to improve efficiency include a two-team approach with assigned roles for faculty and residents. The roles are consistent across the institution. Methods to enhance education include practice in a laboratory-based microsurgical training course and assigning goals for the rotation. Trainees include independent and integrated plastic surgery residents without microsurgical fellows. Bilateral DIEPs are performed with two attendings, and unilateral DIEPs, with one attending. A retrospective review identified patients undergoing DIEP flap reconstruction from 2017 to 2020. Outcome measures include operative time and complications, which are comparable to previously published data. Focusing on education allows residents to learn each stage of the case. The authors present a framework for training residents in DIEP flap reconstruction to optimize efficiency and education., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. The Indiana University Department of Surgery was awarded an educational grant for our microsurgery skills laboratory from Zimmer-Biomet on December 13, 2019, for $3114.00. The Indiana University Department of Surgery was awarded an educational grant for our microsurgery skills laboratory from Zimmer-Biomet on July 5, 2023, for $34,600.00. Disclosure statements are at the end of this article, following the correspondence information., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Infections are problematic in postmastectomy implant-based reconstruction with infection rates as high as 30%. Strategies to reduce the risk of infection have demonstrated various efficacies. A prolonged course of systemic, oral antibiotics has not shown evidence-based benefit. Although absorbable antibiotic beads have been described for orthopedic procedures and pressure wounds, their use has not been well studied during breast reconstruction, particularly for prepectoral implant placement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the selective use of prophylactic absorbable calcium sulfate antibiotic beads during high-risk implant-based, prepectoral breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Patients who underwent implant-based, prepectoral breast reconstruction between 2019 and 2022 were reviewed. Groups were divided into those who received antibiotic beads and those who did not. Outcome variables included postoperative infection at 90 days. A total of 148 patients (256 implants) were included: 15 patients (31 implants) who received biodegradable antibiotic beads and 133 patients (225 implants) in the control group. Patients who received antibiotic beads were more likely to have a history of infection (66.7%) compared with the control group (0%) ( P < 0.01). Surgical site infection occurred in 3.2% of implants in the antibiotic bead group compared with 7.6%, but this did not reach statistical significance. The incidence of infection in high-risk patients who have absorbable antibiotic beads placed during the time of reconstruction seems to be normalized to the control group in this pilot study. We present a novel use of prophylactic absorbable antibiotic beads in prepectoral breast implant reconstruction., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article. This work was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R01AI165958 and R21AI171932 to Dr. Sinha, and U.S. Department of Defense grants W81XWH2110135 and NIH K08HL167164 to Dr. Hassanein. Disclosure statements are at the end of this article, following the correspondence information., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background:  Microsurgical techniques have a steep learning curve. We adapted validated surgical approaches to develop a novel, competency-based microsurgical simulation curriculum called Fundamentals of Microsurgery (FMS). The purpose of this study is to present our experience with FMS and quantify the effect of the curriculum on resident performance in the operating room., Methods:  Trainees underwent the FMS curriculum requiring task progression: (1) rubber band transfer, (2) coupler tine grasping, (3) glove laceration repair, (4) synthetic vessel anastomosis, and (5) vessel anastomosis in a deep cavity. Resident anastomoses were also evaluated in the operative room with the Stanford Microsurgery and Resident Training (SMaRT) tool to evaluate technical performance. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) and Short-Form Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) quantified learner anxiety and workload., Results:  A total of 62 anastomoses were performed by residents in the operating room during patient care. Higher FMS task completion showed an increased mean SMaRT score ( p  = 0.05), and a lower mean STAI-6 score (performance anxiety) ( p  = 0.03). Regression analysis demonstrated residents with higher SMaRT score had lower NASA-TLX score (mental workload) ( p  < 0.01) and STAI-6 scores ( p  < 0.01)., Conclusion:  A novel microsurgical simulation program FMS was implemented. We found progression of trainees through the program translated to better technique (higher SMaRT scores) in the operating room and lower performance anxiety on STAI-6 surveys. This suggests that the FMS curriculum improves proficiency in basic microsurgical skills, reduces trainee mental workload, anxiety, and improves intraoperative clinical proficiency., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lower extremity reconstruction of the distal third of the leg is challenging. Free tissue transfer is the criterion standard. The COVID-19 pandemic encouraged seeking alternatives for resource consuming procedures. Bipedicled flaps are flaps with a dual-source subdermal perfusion. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes of patients who had bipedicled flaps primary or auxiliary local flap for distal third leg/foot reconstruction., Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing lower extremity reconstruction (2020-2021) was performed. Inclusion criteria were patients older than 18 years with lower extremity wounds secondary to traumatic injury for which bipedicled flaps were used in the reconstruction. Exclusion criteria included lower extremity wounds secondary to peripheral vascular disease or diabetes., Results: Fourteen patients were included in the study. All patients had distal third of the leg/foot wounds, and 12 patients (87.5%) had concurrent leg fractures. In 8 patients (57.1%), the bipedicled flap was used to decrease the wound size and facilitate another concurrent flap: hemisoleus (21.4%), anterior tibialis muscle turnover (14.3%), medial plantar artery (14.3%), and posterior tibial artery perforator (14.3%). Mean wound size for bipedicle flaps used alone was 42.0 ± 18.3 cm2, whereas wounds that required a bipedicled flap with an additional flap were 69.9 ± 80.8 cm2 (P = 0.187). Two patients had partial flap necrosis (14.3%) but healed their defect. One patient had nonunion (7.1%). Limb salvage rate was 100%., Conclusions: Bipedicled flaps can be used as an alternative to free flaps in distal third leg/foot defects in select patients. If distal extremity wounds cannot be covered with a bipedicled flap alone, the flap can be used an accessory flap to facilitate reconstruction with other local flaps., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Summary: Staged implant-based breast reconstruction with immediate tissue expanders (TEs) is the most common method of breast reconstruction after mastectomy. TEs traditionally are filled with saline for expansion. Some surgeons have advocated initial intraoperative fill of the TE with air to avoid excess pressure on ischemic mastectomy skin flaps. The purpose of the study was to compare intraoperative air versus saline tissue fills. All patients who underwent prepectoral TE reconstruction after mastectomy from 2017 to 2019 were reviewed. The primary predictive variable was whether saline or air was used for initial tissue expansion. Outcome variables included mastectomy skin necrosis, nipple necrosis, infection, number of expansions, hematoma, and explantation. A total of 53 patients (88 TEs) were included in the study: 28 patients (44 TEs) who underwent initial intraoperative fill with air and 25 patients (44 TEs) who underwent an initial saline fill were assessed. There were no significant differences in complication rates between initial TE fill with saline versus air, including nipple necrosis, wound dehiscence, cellulitis, abscess, or TE removal ( P = 1.0). The number of postoperative TE fills in the initial air fill group was 3.2 compared to 2.7 in the initial saline fill group ( P = 0.27). Prepectoral TE initial fill with air has similar postoperative outcomes compared to initial saline fill. The authors found no benefit to initially filling prepectoral TEs with air intraoperatively. Given the additional effort of exchanging air for saline during the first postoperative fill, there was no clinical advantage of filling prepectoral TEs with air., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Introduction: Oncoplastic reconstruction can optimize breast conserving therapy. Nipple loss is a concern in patients with significant ptosis and breast hypertrophy particularly with pedicle undermining during tumor resection. The modified Robertson technique (No-Vertical Scar reduction) has been previously described for breast reduction in large, ptotic patients using a wide, bell-shaped inferior pedicle with only inframammary fold and peri‑areolar incisions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the No-Vertical Scar (NVS) technique applied to oncoplastic reconstruction., Methods: Women undergoing oncoplastic breast reduction using a NVS, Wise, or Vertical method were assessed. Predictive variables included patient demographics, comorbidities, and sternal notch to nipple (SNN) distance. Outcome variables were delayed wound healing, surgical site infection, seroma, fat necrosis, nipple necrosis, use of a free nipple graft, and time between surgery and adjuvant radiation., Results: Fifty patients met inclusion criteria using NVS (N = 15), Wise (N = 16), and Vertical (N = 19) methods. The NVS group had a significantly higher BMI (p=.009), greater sternal notch to nipple distance (p=<0.001) and increased resection volume (p=<0.001) as compared to Wise and Vertical groups. There was no significant difference in complications (p=.25). No nipple necrosis occurred, and no free nipple grafts were required., Conclusion: The NVS approach is a useful technique for oncoplastic reconstruction in select patients with macromastia and severe Grade II or Grade III ptosis. The wide, bell-shaped pedicle is versatile for obliterating a lumpectomy cavity and optimizing nipple perfusion if pedicle undermining occurs during resection., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None., (Copyright © 2022 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The recurrence rate after pressure sore reconstruction remains high. Primary inciting factors can be organized into efforts aimed at wound prevention: spasticity relief, pressure off-loading, infection and contamination prevention, nutrition optimization, and maximizing extremity function. This article presents our detailed protocol, SPINE, to address each inciting factor with a summary of cases at our facility and review best practices from evidence-based medicine in the literature., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background:  Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) reconstruction can be performed in an immediate (at time of mastectomy), delayed-immediate (immediate tissue expander followed by staged DIEP), or delayed timing following mastectomy. Avoiding flap radiation is a known benefit of the delayed-immediate approach. The purpose of this study is to evaluate patients who chose DIEP flap as the reconstructive method during initial consultation and compared characteristics of surgery in relation to their final reconstructive choice., Methods:  Consecutive patients having breast reconstruction from 2017 to 2019 were divided into three groups: immediate DIEP after mastectomy (Group I); delayed-immediate DIEP with tissue expander first followed by DIEP (Group II); and patients who initially chose delayed-immediate DIEP but later decided on implants for the second stage of reconstruction (Group III). Exclusion criteria were patients that had delayed DIEP (no immediate reconstruction) or had initially chose implant-based reconstruction., Results:  The study included 59 patients. Unilateral free flaps in Group II had shorter operative times (318 minutes) compared with Group I unilateral free flaps (488 minutes) ( p  = 0.024). Eleven patients (30.6%) had prophylactic mastectomies in Group I compared with none in Group II ( p  = 0.004). Patients who had immediate tissue expansion frequently changed their mind from DIEP to implant for second stage reconstruction frequently (52.2%)., Conclusion:  Delayed-immediate DIEP reconstruction has several advantages over immediate DIEP flap including shorter free flap operative times. Patients commonly alter their preference for second stage reconstruction. A patient-centered advantage of delayed-immediate reconstruction is prolonging the time for patients to make their choice for the final reconstruction., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Breast pocket irrigation with antiseptic solutions is performed to reduce contamination with breast implants. The optimal antiseptic irrigation solution and the efficacy of individual practices are unclear. Oxychlorosene sodium is frequently used at our institution. Oxychlorosene is bactericidal with a mechanism of action of oxidation and hypochlorination. The purpose of our study was to compare the outcomes of oxychlorosene sodium irrigation with triple antibiotic solution (TAS) in implant-based breast reconstruction., Methods: All patients who underwent implant-based reconstruction after mastectomy were reviewed. The primary predictive variable was type of solution used for pocket irrigation (TAS or oxychlorosene). Outcome variables included surgical site infection, device removal, and wound complications., Results: Between 2013 and 2018, 331 implant-based breast reconstructions were performed. Of these, 62% (n = 206) received oxychlorosene for surgical pocket irrigation (group I), and 38% (n = 125) received TAS (group II). Group I had an 11.7% (n = 24) 90-day surgical site infection rate, with 4.9% (n = 10) requiring oral antibiotics, 2.4% (n = 5) requiring intravenous antibiotics without device removal, and 4.4% (n = 9) requiring prosthetic removal. Group II had an 11.2% (n = 14) 90-day infection rate, with 5.6% (n = 7) requiring oral antibiotics, 2.4% (n = 3) requiring intravenous antibiotics without device removal, and 3.2% (n = 4) requiring removal ( P = 0.90). When comparing the cost of oxychlorosene irrigation with TAS irrigation, oxychlorosene was less expensive., Conclusions: Oxychlorosene and TAS have similar surgical site infection rates in prosthetic breast reconstruction. Ease of preparation and cost make oxychlorosene a more favorable option for antibiotic irrigation in reconstructive breast surgery with prosthetic devices., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Significance: Lymphedema is chronic limb swelling from lymphatic dysfunction. The condition affects up to 250 million people worldwide. In breast cancer patients, lymphedema occurs in 30% who undergo axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Recent Advances: Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR), also termed Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (LyMPHA), is a method to decrease the risk of lymphedema by performing prophylactic lymphovenous anastomoses at the time of ALND. The objective of this study is to assess the risk reduction of ILR in preventing lymphedema. Critical Issues: Lymphedema has significant effects on the quality of life and morbidity of patients. Several techniques have been described to manage lymphedema after development, but prophylactic treatment of lymphedema with ILR may decrease risk of development to 6.6%. Future Directions: Long-term studies that demonstrate efficacy of ILR may allow for prophylactic management of lymphedema in the patient undergoing lymph node dissection.

Background: Breast implants are commonly placed postbreast cancer reconstruction, cosmetic augmentation, and gender-affirming surgery. Breast implant illness (BII) is a systemic complication associated with breast implants. Patients with BII may experience autoimmune symptoms including fatigue, difficulty concentrating, hair loss, weight change, and depression. BII is poorly understood, and the etiology is unknown. The purpose of this literature review is to characterize BII autoimmune disorders and determine possible causes for its etiology., Methods: The PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Web of Science, and OVID databases were interrogated from 2010 to 2020 using a query strategy including search term combinations of "implants," "breast implant illness," "autoimmune," and "systemic illness.", Results: BII includes a spectrum of autoimmune symptoms such as fatigue, myalgias/arthralgias, dry eyes/mouth, and rash. A review of epidemiological studies in the past ten years exhibited evidence affirming an association between breast implants and autoimmune diseases. The most commonly recognized were Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and Raynaud's syndrome. Explantation resulted in alleviation of symptoms in over 50% of patients, strengthening the hypothesis linking breast implants to BII. Studies have shown that silicone is a biologically inert material and unlikely to be the cause of these symptoms. This is supported by the fact that increased risk of autoimmune disease was also reported in patients with other implantable biomaterials such as orthopedic implants. Recent studies shed light on a possible role of bacterial biofilm and subsequent host-pathogen interactions as a confounding factor to this problem., Conclusion: BII could be dependent on biofilm infection and the microenvironment around the implants. The true pathophysiology behind these complaints must be further investigated so that alternative treatment regimens other than explantation can be developed. Translational significance of these studies is not limited to breast implants but extends to other implants as well., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Lily J. Suh et al.)

Introduction: Physiologic microsurgical procedures to treat lymphedema include vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) and lymphovenous bypass (LVB). The purpose of this study was to assess 30-day outcomes of VLNT and LVB using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database., Methods: NSQIP was queried (2012-2018) for lymphatic procedures for upper extremity lymphedema after mastectomy. Prophylactic lymphatic procedures and those for lower extremity lymphedema were excluded. Outcomes were assessed for three groups: LVB, VLNT, and patients who had procedures simultaneously (VLNA+LVB). Primary outcomes measured were operative time, 30-day morbidities, and hospital length of stay., Results: The study included 199 patients who had LVB (n = 43), VLNT (n = 145), or VLNT+LVB (n = 11). There was no difference in co-morbidities between the groups (p = 0.26). 30-day complication rates including unplanned reoperation (6.9% VLNT vs. 2.3% LVB) and readmission (0.69% VLNT vs. none in LVB) were not statistically significant (p = 0.54). Surgical site infection, wound complications, deep vein thromboembolism, and cardiac arrest was also similar among the three groups. Postoperative length of stay for VLNT (2.5 days± 2.3), LVB (1.9 days± 1.9), and VLNT+LVB (2.8 days± 0.3) did not differ significantly (p = 0.20). Operative time for LVB (305.4 min ± 186.7), VLNT (254 min ± 164.4), and VLNT+LVB (295.3 min ± 43.2) was not significantly different (p = 0.21)., Conclusions: Our analysis of the NSQIP data revealed that VLNT and LVB are procedures with no significant difference in perioperative morbidity. Our results support that choice of VLNT versus LVB can be justifiably made per the surgeon's preference and experience as the operations have similar complication rates., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background:  Deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is a common method of breast reconstruction. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) postoperative protocols have been used to optimize patient outcomes and facilitate shorter hospital stays. The effect of patient expectations on length of stay (LOS) after DIEP has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether patient expectations affect LOS., Methods:  A retrospective chart review was performed for patients undergoing DIEP flaps for breast reconstruction from 2017 to 2020. All patients were managed with the same ERAS protocol. Patients were divided in Group I (early expectations) and Group II (standard expectations). Group I patients had expectations set for discharge postoperative day (POD) 2 for unilateral DIEP and POD 3 for bilateral DIEP. Group II patients were given expectations for POD 3 to 4 for unilateral DIEP and POD 4 to 5 for bilateral. The primary outcome variable was LOS., Results:  The study included 215 DIEP flaps (45 unilateral and 85 bilateral). The average age was 49.8 years old, and the average body mass index (BMI) was 31.4. Group I (early expectations) included 56 patients (24 unilateral DIEPs, 32 bilateral). Group II (standard expectations) had 74 patients (21 unilateral, 53 bilateral). LOS for unilateral DIEP was 2.9 days for Group I compared with 3.7 days for Group II ( p  = 0.004). Group I bilateral DIEP patients had LOS of 3.5 days compared with 3.9 days for Group II ( p  = 0.02). Immediate timing of DIEP (Group I 42.9 vs. Group II 52.7%) and BMI (Group I 32.1 vs. Group II 30.8) were similar ( p  = 0.25)., Conclusion:  Our study found significantly shorter hospital stay after DIEP flap for patients who expected an earlier discharge date despite similar patient characteristics and uniform ERAS protocol. Patient expectations should be considered during patient counseling and as a confounding variable when analyzing ERAS protocols., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Melanoma tumor thickness and ulceration are the strongest predictors of nodal spread. The recommendations for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) have been updated in recent American Joint Committee on Cancer and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines to include tumor thickness ≥0.8 mm or any ulcerated melanoma. Mitotic rate is no longer considered an indicator for determining T category. Improvements in disease-specific survival conferred from SLNB were demonstrated through level I data in the Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT) I. The role for completion lymph node dissection has evolved to less surgery in lieu of recent domestic (MSLT II) and international (Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial [DeCOG-SLT]) level I data having similar melanoma-specific survival. Treatment options for the prevention of treatment of lymphedema have progressed to include immediate lymphatic reconstruction, lymphovenous anastomosis, and vascularized lymph node transfer., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Patients undergoing free flap breast reconstruction are at a high risk for venous thromboembolism based upon Caprini scores. Guidelines for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis recommend high-risk groups receive extended chemoprophylaxis for several weeks after gynecological, orthopedic, and surgical oncology cases. Extended prophylaxis has not been studied in free flap breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of free flap breast reconstruction patients who received extended venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis with those who received standard inpatient-only prophylaxis., Methods: Patients undergoing microsurgical breast reconstruction were divided into two groups: standard VTE prophylaxis (Group I) and extended prophylaxis (Group II). Both groups received prophylactic subcutaneous heparin or enoxaparin preoperatively and enoxaparin 40 mg daily postoperatively while inpatient. Group II was discharged with a home regimen of enoxaparin 40 mg daily for an additional 14 days., Results: In total, 103 patients met inclusion criteria (36 patients in Group I, 67 patients in Group II). The incidence of VTE was 1.5% in Group II compared with 2.8% in Group I ( P = 0.6). There was no difference in reoperative hematoma between Group I (n = 0) and Group II (n = 1) ( P = 0.7). Total flap loss was 2.2%., Conclusions: Although this retrospective pilot study did not show statistical significance in VTE between those receiving extended home chemoprophylaxis (1.5% incidence) compared with inpatient-only chemoprophylaxis (2.8%), the risk of bleeding complications was similar. These results indicate that a larger, higher powered study is justified to assess if an extended home chemoprophylaxis protocol should be standard of care post free flap breast reconstruction., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background:  Transcutaneous tissue oximetry is widely used as an adjunct for postoperative monitoring after microvascular breast reconstruction. Despite a high sensitivity at detecting vascular issues, alarms from probe malfunctions/errors can generate unnecessary nursing calls, concerns, and evaluations. The purpose of this study is to analyze the false positive rate of transcutaneous tissue oximetry monitoring over the postoperative period and assess changes in its utility over time., Methods:  Consecutive patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction at our institution with monitoring using transcutaneous tissue oximetry were assessed between 2017 and 2019. Variables of interest were transcutaneous tissue oximetry alarms, flap loss, re-exploration, and salvage rates., Results:  The study included 175 patients (286 flaps). The flap loss rate was 1.0% (3/286). Twelve patients (6.8%) required re-exploration, with 9 patients found to have actual flap compromise (all within 24 hours). The salvage rate was 67.0%. The 3 takebacks after 24 hours were for bleeding concerns rather than anastomotic problems. Within the initial 24-hour postoperative period, 43 tissue oximetry alarms triggered nursing calls; 7 alarms (16.2%) were confirmed to be for flap issues secondary to vascular compromise. After 24 hours, none of the 44 alarms were associated with flap compromise. The false positive rate within 24 hours was 83.7% (36/43) compared with 100% (44/44) after 24 hours ( p  = 0.01)., Conclusion:  The transcutaneous tissue oximetry false positive rate significantly rises after 24 hours. The benefit may not outweigh the concerns, labor, and effort that results from alarms after postoperative day 1. We recommend considering discontinuing this monitoring after 24 hours., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Lymphedema is progressive arm swelling from lymphatic dysfunction which can occur in 30% patients undergoing axillary dissection/radiation for breast cancer. Immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) is performed in an attempt decrease the risk of lymphedema in patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of ILR in preventing lymphedema rates in ALND patients., Methods: An institutional review board-approved retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent ILR from 2017 to 2019. Patient demographics, comorbidities, operative and pathologic findings, number of LVAs, limb measurements, complications, and follow-up were recorded and analyzed. Student's sample t-test, Fisher's exact test, and ANOVA were used to analyze data; significance was set at p < 0.05., Results: Thirty-three patients were included in this analysis. Three patients (9.1%) developed persistent lymphedema, and two patients (6.1%) developed transient arm edema that resolved with compression and massage therapy. A significant effect was found for body mass index and the number of lymph nodes taken on the development of lymphedema (p < 0.01)., Conclusions: The rate of lymphedema in this series was 9.1%, which is an improvement from historical rates of lymphedema. Our findings support ILR as a technique that potentially decreases the incidence of lymphedema after axillary lymphadenectomy. Obesity and number of lymph nodes removed were significant predictive variables for the development of lymphedema following LVA.

Objective: The virtual interview for residency and fellowship applicants has previously been utilized preliminarily in their respective processes. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many programs to switch to a virtual interview process on short notice. In the independent plastic surgery process, which was underway when the pandemic started, applicants had a heterogeneous experience of in-person and virtual interviews. The purpose of this study was to assess if applicants prefer a virtual interview experience to an in-person interview as well as determine if virtual interview applicants had a different opinion of a program compared to the in-person interview applicants., Design/setting/participants: The 2019 to 2020 applicants who interviewed at the Indiana University Independent Plastic Surgery program were administered an anonymous online survey about their interview experience at our program., Results: Our survey response was 60% (18/30). The in-person interview group (n = 10) rated their overall interview experience higher than the virtual interview group (n = 8) 8.8 vs 7.5 (p = 0.0314). The in-person interview group felt they became more acquainted with the program, the faculty, and the residents more than the virtual group (4.7 vs 3.25, p < 0.0001) (4.3 vs 3.25, p = 0.0194) (4.3 vs 2.75, p < 0.0001). The majority of applicants favored in-person interviews (16/18, 88.9%). The in-person interview group spent significantly more money on their interview at our program compared to the virtual interview group ($587 vs $0, p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the virtual interview process was an efficient process for applicants from both a financial and time perspective. However, the virtual interview process left applicants less satisfied with their interview experience. The applicants felt they did not become as acquainted with the program as their in-person counterparts. The virtual interview process may play a large role in residency and fellowship applications in the future, and programs should spend time on how to improve the process., (Copyright © 2020 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)