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Nipple–areolar complex (NAC) necrosis is a devastating complication in nipple-sparing mastectomies (NSMs) that significantly impacts patient's quality of life. The use of fluorescence angiography for intraoperative assessment of mastectomy skin flap perfusion in NSM has been successfully described and can be utilized to help guide surgical decision-making. Recently, a novel fluorescence-guided surgical imager was developed, OnLume Avata System (OnLume Surgical, Madison, WI), which provides intraoperative evaluation of vascular perfusion in ambient light. In this case report, we describe the use of OnLume fluorescence-guided surgery technology to help aid in clinical decision-making for two breast reconstruction cases with concern for intraoperative nipple hypoperfusion.

Nipple–areolar complex (NAC) necrosis is a devastating complication in nipple-sparing mastectomies (NSMs) that significantly impacts patient's quality of life. The use of fluorescence angiography for intraoperative assessment of mastectomy skin flap perfusion in NSM has been successfully described and can be utilized to help guide surgical decision-making. Recently, a novel fluorescence-guided surgical imager was developed, OnLume Avata System (OnLume Surgical, Madison, WI), which provides intraoperative evaluation of vascular perfusion in ambient light. In this case report, we describe the use of OnLume fluorescence-guided surgery technology to help aid in clinical decision-making for two breast reconstruction cases with concern for intraoperative nipple hypoperfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A patient who underwent bilateral wise-pattern mastopexy augmentation with threatened nipple-areolar complex necrosis was successfully managed medically with IV methylprednisolone and topical nitroglycerin ointment as immediate consultation with the operating surgeon was not possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large volume breast reductions are at increased risk of nipple ischemia and necrosis due to tenuous blood supply of long pedicles. We adapted incisional negative pressure wound therapy to augment nipple survival in such patients undergoing mammaplasty by inferior pedicle technique. Methods: Patients with nipple-to-inframammary fold distance >14 cm were informed of increased risk of requiring free nipple graft. All patients underwent inferior pedicle technique with Wise pattern skin incision. Once incisions were closed and the nipple-areolar complex was inset, the complex was assessed for vascularity. In 12 cases there was evidence of compromised arterial inflow or venous outflow. For these patients, incisional negative pressure wound therapy was applied to the bilateral nipple-areolar complexes for 5-7 days. Results: None of the 12 patients (24 breasts) in this series experienced nipple-areolar complex ischemia or necrosis. Only 2 patients experienced delayed wound healing which was successfully managed by local wound care. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the utility of negative pressure wound therapy in nipple survival for at-risk patients. We believe it augments healing by allowing improved micro-circulation. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeThis study is to directly compare surgical outcomes between conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy (CNSM) and robot-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy (RNSM).Materials and MethodFor this case–control study, 369 cases of 333 patients who underwent CNSM or RNSM with immediate reconstruction between November 2016 and January 2019 at Severance Hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea were reviewed. Patients with stage IV breast cancer (n = 1), receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 43), or subjected to previous operations (n = 14) or radiotherapy on the breasts were excluded. The main outcomes were comparing rates of post-operative complications, of high-grade post-operative complications as defined by the Clavien-Dindo classification, and nipple necrosis between the CNSM and the RNSM groups.ResultsA total of 311 cases, including 270 CNSMs and 41 RNSMs, were analyzed. The rates of post-operative nipple necrosis (p = 0.026, 2.4 vs. 15.2%) and of high-grade post-operative complications (p = 0.031, 34.8 vs. 17.1%) in the RNSM group were significantly lower than those in the CNSM group.ConclusionRNSM was associated with lower rates of high-grade post-operative complications and nipple necrosis than CNSM for patients with small breast volumes and less ptotic breasts.

Purpose: This study is to directly compare surgical outcomes between conventional nipple-sparing mastectomy (CNSM) and robot-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy (RNSM). Materials and Method: For this case–control study, 369 cases of 333 patients who underwent CNSM or RNSM with immediate reconstruction between November 2016 and January 2019 at Severance Hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea were reviewed. Patients with stage IV breast cancer (n = 1), receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 43), or subjected to previous operations (n = 14) or radiotherapy on the breasts were excluded. The main outcomes were comparing rates of post-operative complications, of high-grade post-operative complications as defined by the Clavien-Dindo classification, and nipple necrosis between the CNSM and the RNSM groups. Results: A total of 311 cases, including 270 CNSMs and 41 RNSMs, were analyzed. The rates of post-operative nipple necrosis (p = 0.026, 2.4 vs. 15.2%) and of high-grade post-operative complications (p = 0.031, 34.8 vs. 17.1%) in the RNSM group were significantly lower than those in the CNSM group. Conclusion: RNSM was associated with lower rates of high-grade post-operative complications and nipple necrosis than CNSM for patients with small breast volumes and less ptotic breasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to compare the rate of nipple necrosis between the submuscular (SM) versus the prepectoral (PP) implant placement after immediate breast reconstruction (IBR)., Methods: An institutional review board-approved database was reviewed of patients who underwent nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM) with IBR at our institution between 2016 and 2019. Patients who had SM versus PP IBR were compared. Incidence of nipple necrosis was evaluated between the two groups., Results: A total of 525 NSM with IBR were performed in 320 patients with SM reconstruction in 61% (n ​= ​322) and PP in 39% (n ​= ​203) of the mastectomies. Overall, 43 nipples experienced some form of necrosis with 1% of mastectomies experiencing nipple loss. There was no difference between SM group and PP group at the rate of nipple necrosis (9 ​% vs 7 %, P ​= ​0.71)., Conclusion: In patients undergoing NSM with IBR, the rate of nipple necrosis, nipple loss or complications did not differ between groups whether the implant was placed SM or PP, supporting the safety of this newer procedure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest ElSherif, MD, Bernard, MD, Djohan, MD, Atallah, MD, Tu, MS, Valente, DO have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Periareolar incisions for nipple-sparing mastectomy offer the advantages of smaller inconspicuous wounds and easier resection below the nipple–areolar complex. However, they provide a narrow surgical field, which complicates the procedure and carries a risk of nipple necrosis. This study evaluated the clinical outcomes and safety of periareolar incisions for breast reconstructive surgery in patients with breast cancer. Methods: The study included 181 patients with primary operable breast cancer who underwent nipple-sparing mastectomy for reconstructive breast procedures without intraoperative nipple-areolar complex resection. The clinical outcomes and complications were retrospectively evaluated. The recurrence-free survival was compared using Kaplan–Meier curves. Results: Nipple-sparing mastectomy was performed via inframammary fold and periareolar incisions in 31 and 150 patients, respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes related to surgery, frequency of complications, nipple necrosis (inframammary fold incision vs. periareolar incision: 0% vs. 3.3%, P = 0.590), or the recurrence-free survival (P = 0.860) between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Our results showed that the clinical outcomes and complication rates of periareolar incisions for breast reconstruction were equivalent to those of inframammary fold incisions, suggesting that the periareolar incision technique for breast reconstructive surgery may safely improve cosmetic outcomes if done with adequate care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In most breast reduction techniques, the pedicle of the nipple–areola complex (NAC) is de-epithelialized to preserve the subdermal plexus, thereby decreasing the risk of NAC necrosis. However, deskinning the pedicle is faster and makes it more pliable, which potentially improves the aesthetic outcome. There is no scientific evidence regarding the beneficial effects of de-epithelialization. In this study, we present data from patients undergoing breast reduction with deskinning of a superomedial pedicle. Methods: In the period June 2013 to March 2019, a single surgeon performed all breast reductions using a superomedial glandular pedicle. The patients were included retrospectively and data were collected by reviewing the medical records. The NAC necrosis rate was compared with data from the literature through a systematic review. Results: The cohort consisted of 142 consecutive patients. The median resection weight was 287 g (interquartile range (IQR), 197–399) per breast. No complete NAC necroses occurred during the follow-up period, but two patients (1.4%) developed partial NAC necrosis. In the literature, the rate of NAC necrosis (complete or partial) was 1.5% of patients undergoing breast reduction with de-epithelialization. Conclusion: The rate of NAC necrosis after breast reduction with deskinning of the pedicle was comparable with breast reductions with de-epithelialization that has been reported in the literature. Our findings support that the pedicle in breast reduction surgery can be deskinned safely in patients with low resection weights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgeons remain reluctant to perform nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) in large breasts due to a higher risk of necrosis. We performed a systematic review of the literature to evaluate indications, techniques, and outcomes in immediate or delayed breast reconstructions in large and/or ptotic breasts. The following search terms were used for both titles and key words: [NSM AND ("breast ptosis" OR "ptotic breast" OR "large breast" OR "breast hypertrophy" OR "gigantomastia")]. All forms of breast reconstruction in large and/or ptotic breasts from 1990 through September 1st 2018 reporting indications, techniques, and outcomes were included. Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, yielding 1128 NSMs (709 immediate and 419 delayed) in 629 patients for analysis. The overall complication rate was 29.08%. The mastectomy flap necrosis rate was 12%, the partial nipple-areola complex (NAC) necrosis 11%, and the complete NAC rate 11%. The overall complication rate in one-stage versus delayed reconstructions was 37.52% versus 14.8%. The incidence of necrosis in one-stage versus delayed reconstructions was 5.36% versus 2.15% for partial, 5.08% versus 0.48% for complete NAC necrosis, and 4.8% versus 1.43% for skin flap necrosis. The majority of studies being small and retrospective as well as the large variation in outcomes indicates that we lack consensus on the timing of reconstruction or ideal technique. A noticeable difference in skin flap and NAC necrosis, however, is seen in the favor of NAC-delayed procedures. Randomized controlled trials are mandatory to prove this difference significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Necrosis of the nipple–areolar complex (NAC) is one of the most devastating complications of reduction mammoplasty. A variable, asymmetrical pattern of blood supply from the main sources was found in the same individual. To solve this problem, we present a method to be sure that the blood supply to the NAC is contained within the designed pedicle during reduction mammoplasty. This is done using the colored duplex scan and handheld Doppler to perform freestyle perforator flap reduction mammoplasty. Methods: This is a prospective randomized study that has been performed on 105 patients in the period between January 2014 and 2019 at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Tanta University Hospitals. Freestyle perforator flaps were performed for all cases after perforator detection using handheld Doppler and confirmed by colored duplex scan. Results: The procedure was performed as freestyle on medial perforators in 35 (33.3%) cases, on lateral perforators in 20 (19%) cases, on combined medial and lateral perforators, as a bipedicle in 30 (28.7%) cases, on upper pole perforators in 12 (11.4%) cases, and on lower pole perforators in 8 (7.6%) cases. Conclusions: The use of handheld Doppler and the confirmation by duplex scan are mandatory to decrease the incidence of NAC necrosis or ischemia. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine Ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective was to determine the 10‐year oncological safety of nipple‐sparing mastectomy (NSM) in patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The use of NSM preserves the nipple‐areola complex (NAC). As residual fibroglandular breast tissue can remain behind the spared NAC, its use for patient with breast cancer is controversial. The oncologic outcomes and complication rates after performing NSM compared to other techniques are still under debate and a concern when treating patients with breast cancer. We retrospectively reviewed 69 consecutive NSM patients diagnosed with DCIS during 1984‐2016 at the Valencia Institute of Oncology, Valencia, Spain. 13 of 82 reviewed cases were excluded from the analysis owing to the presence of invasive tumor in the final pathologic report. All 69 patients who underwent NSM due to DCIS were included and analyzed. The indications were as follows: unfavorable correlation between tumor size and breast size in 53 patients, 10 patients with multifocal or multicentric tumors and breast cancer recurrence after breast‐conserving surgery in six patients. The reconstruction was performed using a prosthetic implant: saline‐filled implant 33 (47.8%) or tissue expander 36 (52.2%). No frozen section was performed in the patients included in our study. The presence of DCIS was confirmed in 60 patients and in the other nine patients we found no tumor in the mastectomy specimen (removed due to excisional biopsy procedure). High risk features were: tumor grade 3 in 27 (39.2%) cases and comedonecrosis in 32 (46.4%) cases. In 27 patients surgical axillary staging was performed and no residual disease in the axilla was observed. After a mean follow‐up period of 142.6 ± 70.7 months no nipple necrosis was observed. In 15 patients (21.7%) an additional surgical procedure was performed. 48 patients (69.6%) did not receive any adjuvant treatment. Adjuvant hormone therapy was given to 20 patients (29%) and one patients received radiation therapy (1.4%). Eight patients showed a local relapse (11.6%). One patient developed a recurrence within the nipple‐areola region presented as Paget's disease (1.4%). One patient presented a thorax wall relapse after 42 months of disease‐free survival and died because of metastatic dissemination of the tumor. The DFS rate was 88.4% and the overall survival rate was 98.6%. In patients with DCIS that are not candidates to breast‐conserving therapy, NSM is a realistic option of treatment. No case of nipple necrosis was observed. A low rate of nipple relapse (1.4%) and a good survival rate (98.5%) were observed after a median follow‐up of 142.6 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The superomedial pedicle (SMP) reduction mammaplasty offers several advantages over more traditional operative techniques, such as retained sensation to the nipple areola complex (NAC) and improved preservation of long-term breast shape. However, many surgeons believe that using the SMP can cause an increase in NAC necrosis rates up to 13.1%, especially in large volume reductions. The aims of this paper are to determine the rate of nipple necrosis when performing an SMP reduction mammaplasty at our institution and establish if there is a difference in those rates based on the weight of tissue removed. We then compared our overall rate of nipple necrosis to those found using a systematic review of literature involving other pedicles to determine if this technique is equivalent to more commonly used methods. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent breast reduction surgery using SMP at a single institution between May 1, 2013, and May 1, 2015. Each breast was counted separately, and the weight of the tissue removed was recorded. Six-mo follow-up data were analyzed using the chi-square analysis to compare rates of NAC necrosis among our patients and historical cohorts. Results One hundred thirty-five breasts (70 patients) met inclusion criteria. Patients had a mean resection weight per breast of 1016.7 g (±478.3). There was an NAC necrosis rate of 0% in the groups where 1200 g or less of tissue were removed and 2.3% ( n = 1) in the group where greater than 1200 g of tissue were removed. We found no statistically significant difference in the rate of NAC necrosis with increased resection weights, ( P = 0.32). The overall rate of NAC necrosis for this study was 0.7% per breast, which is equivalent to the rates found during the systematic review of literature. Conclusions In this study, the SMP breast reduction technique shows a low rate of NAC. We found no statistically significant increase in NAC necrosis rates as the volume of tissue removed increases, and the SMP appears to have an overall rate of NAC necrosis similar to more commonly used pedicles. Although the results of this study may be related to patient selection or surgical technique, we believe that this pedicle preserves the breast's main blood supply so that less tissue ischemia occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Breast reduction is one of the most common procedures performed by plastic surgeons, and the inferior pedicle is a technique frequently used to maintain vascular supply to the nipple areolar complex (NAC). One of the relative contraindications for its use is the presence of a long nipple-to-inframammary fold (IMF) length; however, in the authors' practice, inferior pedicle mammoplasties have been successfully performed for over 10 years on almost all patients. Methods. The authors performed a retrospective study including patients who underwent bilateral breast reduction with inferior pedicle technique from October 2009 to April 2021 by 2 different surgeons in New Orleans, Louisiana. Patient baseline characteristics as well as surgical outcomes were recorded. Results. The study population consisted of 221 patients and 436 breasts. The average age of patients was 38 years, and average body mass index was 32.35 kg/m². Average follow-up time was 135 days. The average nipple-to-IMF distance for the patient population was 16.03 cm, and the average pedicle width of the inferior pedicles used for breast reductions was 10 cm. There was no incidence of total nipple necrosis. The most common complication was a superficial wound at the T junction of the breast reduction incision (23%). Conclusions. Breast reductions with an inferior pedicle are safe to perform, without the risk of nipple necrosis, for all patients with inferior pedicle length up to 33 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is increasingly popular for the treatment of select breast cancers and prophylactic mastectomy. This study aimed to analyze the authors' 11-year experience with NSM and breast reconstruction in cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with an emphasis on indications, complications, and cancer recurrence rate. Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2010, 41 NSMs were performed in 41 women for DCIS. The mean age of the women was 49.7 ± 8.7 years (range, 33-66 years). The indications for NSM were tumor size greater than 3 cm (18 cases), multifocal tumor (16 cases), and tumor recurrence (7 cases). In all cases, the tumor was located more than 2 cm from the nipple-areola complex (NAC), as shown by preoperative radiologic imaging. Histologic results, secondary NAC resection, complications, and cancer recurrence rates were recorded. Results: The NAC was lost in seven cases (17 %) due to postoperative necrosis. In another 10 patients (25 %), the NAC was secondarily removed due to proximity of the tumor to the resection margin. Five patients were lost to follow-up evaluation (12 %). The authors report the long-term follow-up data for the remaining 19 patients (46 %). In this group, they observed one local recurrence (5.3 %) and one case of ovarian cancer. Conclusion: Despite the low locoregional recurrence rate for DCIS, NSM remains controversial because of the nipple necrosis observed and the irradical tumor excisions. Given the ethical impossibility of conducting randomized controlled studies to compare NSM with conventional or skin-sparing mastectomy in DCIS, only long-term follow-up evaluations can demonstrate the safety of NSM. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Large and ptotic breasts are considered an anatomical contraindication for nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM). Necrosis rates can be as high as 76%. The authors examined whether targeted preshaping mastopexy/reduction combined with simultaneous two-stage preshaping of the implant pocket prepares for an uneventful implant reconstruction., Methods: Macromastia and ptosis patients opting for risk-reducing NSM or having a peripherally localized carcinoma in situ, were offered a two-stage mastopexy/reduction simultaneously with preshaping of the implant pocket by subpectoral expansion. Only the inferior pedicle bearing the nipple-areola complex (NAC), remained. A delayed secondary NSM and tissue expander-to-implant reconstruction was scheduled 3 months later. The use of an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) was not necessary because the capsule around the expander created a hammock supporting the definite prosthesis. Follow up was at 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months., Results: Forty-one procedures were performed in 24 patients. The mean age was 45±12.08 years (range, 22 to 72 years). Patients' mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.79 kg/m 2 (range, 19 to 35 kg/m 2 ). One patient had diabetes and two smoked. One transient epidermolysis of the NAC occurred in each stage. No NAC or skin necrosis occurred; no implant had to be removed., Conclusions: A two-stage mastopexy/reduction, simultaneously with preshaping of the implant pocket by tissue expansion and followed by a 3-month delayed secondary NSM with tissue expander-to-implant reconstruction is a safe technique in large ptotic breasts., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://gs.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/gs-21-734/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2022 Gland Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Nipple necrosis is a rare but severe complication of mammaplasty. It can occur with every type of technique to every surgeon, in spite of an increasing security with the new procedures. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a solution to this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The indications for nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) are broadening as more breast surgeons appreciate the utility of preserving the nipple-areolar complex. A number of incision locations are available to the mastectomy surgeon, including inframammary, lateral and periareolar approaches. The present study investigated the effect of these three incisions on reconstructive outcomes; specifically, nipple necrosis., Methods: A single-centre, retrospective review of 37 breast NSM reconstructions treated with immediate tissue expander reconstruction with acellular dermis between 2007 and 2008 was performed. The primary outcome was the incidence of nipple necrosis associated with periareolar, lateral and inframammary incisions. Secondary outcomes were the effects of radiation, chemotherapy and breast size on nipple necrosis., Results: Thirty-seven breast procedures performed on 20 patients were included in the present study. Periareolar incisions were used in 21 cases, lateral incisions in 14 and inframammary incisions in two. The periareolar incision was associated with a significantly higher incidence of nipple necrosis compared with lateral or inframammary incisions (38.1% versus 6.3%, P=0.028). Patients receiving breast radiation (45.5% versus 15.4%, P=0.066) and those with larger breast size (540.4 g versus 425.7 g, P=0.130) also demonstrated a modest trend toward an increased rate of nipple necrosis., Conclusion: The periareolar incision results in a higher rate of nipple necrosis following NSM and immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction. Using the lateral or inframammary incision reduces the incidence of nipple necrosis and may help improve overall reconstructive and cosmetic outcomes.

Introduction: Women with extremely large breasts have many complaints. Reduction mammaplasty improves shape and relieves physical symptoms and alleviates psychological complaints. Mammaplasty is a an evolving technique; no single method is ideal or suitable for all breasts. Many techniques are advocated for reduction mammaplasty, including the superior, vertical, horizontal, lateral and inferior (the most popular) pedicle techniques. Even after 60 years of development in breast reduction techniques, there are still reported incidences of nipple-areola complex (NAC) necrosis., Objective: To assess the perioperative conversion to free nipple graft to prevent the complication of nipple necrosis when pedicle viability is grossly compromised., Methods: Between January 2002 and March 2006, 66 patients (132 breasts) underwent reduction mammaplasty using the inferior pedicle technique. The patients presented with breast gigantism and required excision of more than 1000 g of breast tissue per side. The mean patient age was 34.81 years. Patients had neck, shoulder and back pain as well as psychological complaints. Data regarding sternal notch-to-nipple distances and inframammary fold-to-nipple distances were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively. The weights of the excised breast tissue from either side were recorded. Viability of the pedicle flap was carefully monitored through perioperative clinical observation of skin colour, temperature, capillary refill and bleeding characteristics, and reassessed after pedicle folding and placement inside the newly tailored skin envelope. Nonvital NAC, as evaluated by the surgeon during surgery, necessitated conversion to the free nipple graft technique., Results: During the course of the study, two patients (four breasts; 3.03%) exhibited impending gangrene to the NAC, and perioperative conversion to the free nipple graft was performed. In these two patients, the pedicle length ranged from 23 cm to 25 cm, and breast mass reduction ranged from 1950 g to 2250 g., Conclusion: Perioperative conversion to a free nipple-areola graft is always a good and safe option when impending gangrene to the NAC is evident during mammaplasty by inferior pedicle technique.