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Background: Robot-assisted nipple sparing mastectomy (RANSM) is emerging because it offers hidden incisions and ergonomic movements. In this study, we report the learning curve and feasibility of RANSM., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among women who underwent RANSM with immediate breast reconstruction from July 2019 to June 2022. All RANSM procedures were performed by a single surgeon. We divided all the cases into two phases: the early phase (cases 1 to 21) and the late phase (cases 22 to 46). The total operation time, breast operation time, docking time, and console time were analyzed, and the cumulative sum (CUSUM) method was used to evaluate the effects of case experience accumulation on the time required for RANSM. Postoperative complications were analyzed according to their Clavien-Dindo grade., Results: Overall, 42 women underwent 46 RANSM procedures. In the early and late phases, the mean console times were 78.1 min and 60.1 min (p = 0.011), respectively. In learning curve analysis, 21 RANSM procedures were required to reduce the breast operation time. Two cases of Clavien-Dindo grade III postoperative complications occurred (4.3 %). One case was an implant removal caused by infection, and the other was partial nipple ischemia; both occurred in the early phase, with none in the late phase., Conclusions: The breast operation time improved after the 21st RANSM procedure, and only two cases had Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher postoperative complications. RANSM is thus technically feasible and acceptable, with a short learning curve., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by total mastectomy and immediate reconstruction has become an important strategy in the treatment of breast cancer. Although the safety of subpectoral implant-based breast reconstruction with NACT has been extensively evaluated, the safety in prepectoral reconstruction has not been clearly elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the association of NACT with immediate prepectoral breast reconstruction outcomes., Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent total mastectomy and immediate implant-based prepectoral breast reconstruction between May and December 2021 was conducted. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: those receiving NACT and those not receiving it. Postoperative complication rates were compared between the 2 groups. The independent association between NACT and the complication profiles was evaluated. Propensity score matching was also conducted., Results: We analyzed 343 cases, including 85 who received NACT treatment and 258 who did not. Compared with the non-NACT group, the NACT group was younger, had a higher body mass index, and a higher rate of adjuvant radiotherapy. There were no differences in the rates of overall complications or type of complication between the 2 groups. In the multivariable logistic analyses, NACT did not show a significant association with the development of adverse outcomes. Similar results were observed in propensity score matching analyses., Conclusions: Our results suggest that receiving NACT may not have a significant detrimental effect on the postoperative outcomes of immediate prepectoral prosthetic reconstructions. Conducting prepectoral implant-based reconstruction in the setting of NACT might be safe and provide acceptable outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In two-stage expander-based breast reconstruction, the use of air as the initial filling medium has been suggested to confer clinical advantages over conventional saline, but this has not been demonstrated in a large series. This study aimed to evaluate the association between material type (air versus saline) for initial expander filling and postoperative outcomes., Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent immediate, subpectoral, tissue expander-based breast reconstruction between January of 2018 and March of 2021. The participants were categorized into two groups according to the material used for initial filling: saline-inflated expanders, which were used during the first 22 months consecutively, and air-inflated expanders, which were used during the latter 17 months consecutively. Complications including mastectomy flap necrosis and postoperative expansion profiles were compared. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of postoperative complications., Results: A total of 443 breasts (400 patients), including 161 air-filled and 282 saline-filled breasts, were analyzed. The two groups had similar baseline characteristics. The air-filled group showed a significantly lower rate of mastectomy flap necrosis; this difference remained significant after adjustment for other variables in the multivariable analysis. The rates of other complications did not differ between the two groups. The air-filled group had fewer office visits and a shorter period to complete expansion., Conclusions: The use of air for initial expander filling could provide safe and reliable outcomes with reduced patient discomfort during postoperative expansion; thus, air-filled expanders might be an effective alternative to saline-filled expanders., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Purpose: Despite the increasing use of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR), its oncologic safety in the setting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) needs to be comprehensively clarified in breast cancer management. The objective of the present study was to analyze the oncologic safety of IBR following NACT., Methods: In total, 587 patients with breast cancer who underwent a total mastectomy (TM) with IBR after NACT between 2008 and 2017 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. The reviewed patients with IBR following skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) or nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) were matched 1:3 to patients who underwent TM alone after NACT. Matching variables included age, clinical T and N stages before NACT, response to NACT, pathologic T and N stages, and molecular subtypes., Results: After propensity score matching, 95 patients who underwent IBR following SSM/NSM after NACT (IBR group) and 228 patients who underwent TM alone after NACT (TM group) were selected. The median follow-up period was 73 (range, 5-181) months after matching. After matching, there were no significant differences between the two groups in 5-year locoregional recurrence-free survival (88.8% vs. 91.2%, p = 0.516), disease-free survival (67.3% vs. 76.6%, p = 0.099), distant metastasis-free survival (71.9% vs. 81.9%, p = 0.057), or overall survival (84.1% vs. 91.5, p = 0.061) rates. In multivariate analyses, conducting IBR was not associated with increased risks for locoregional recurrence, any recurrence, distant metastasis, or overall death., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that IBR following SSM/NSM elicits comparable long-term oncologic outcomes to those of TM alone in the setting of NACT., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Korean Breast Cancer Society.)

Background: The efficacy of tranexamic acid (TXA) has been reported in breast surgery; however, its application and duration have varied across studies. This study aimed to assess the early postoperative outcomes of rinsing the breast pocket with TXA during prepectoral prosthetic breast reconstruction using an acellular dermal matrix (ADM)., Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in consecutive patients who underwent immediate prosthetic prepectoral reconstruction between August 2021 and December 2022. For cases performed during the earlier part of the study period (up to April 2022), TXA was not administered (non-TXA group), whereas those performed after April 2022 received topical TXA application during surgery (TXA group). Postoperative outcomes including hematoma, seroma, drainage volume, and drain maintenance duration were compared between the two groups using propensity score matching (PSM)., Results: A total of 674 breasts were analyzed; 280 in the TXA group and 394 were in the non-TXA group. There were 251 breasts in each group after PSM, and their characteristics were similar. The incidence of hematoma in the first 24 hours and total drain output were significantly lower in the TXA group than the non-TXA group. In cases of direct-to-implant cases, the TXA group showed a significantly lower seroma rate., Conclusions: Rinsing the breast pocket with TXA can potentially reduce the occurrence of hematoma and decrease drain output in prepectoral ADM-assisted prosthetic breast reconstruction. Moreover, this approach may be beneficial in lowering the incidence of seroma in direct-to-implant reconstruction., (Copyright © 2023 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Whether the breast reconstruction modality could influence the long-term development of post-mastectomy lymphedema has been little investigated. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential association of the breast reconstruction method with the incidence of lymphedema over an extended follow-up period., Methods: Patients with breast cancer who underwent immediate reconstruction from 2008 to 2014 were reviewed. They were categorized into three groups according to the reconstruction method: tissue expander/implant, abdominal flaps, and latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle flaps. Differences in the cumulative incidence of lymphedema by the reconstruction method were analyzed, as well as their independent influence on the outcome. Further analyses were conducted with propensity-score matching for baseline characteristics., Results: In total, 664 cases were analyzed with a median follow-up of 83 months (402 prostheses, 180 abdominal flaps, and 82 LD flaps). The rate of axillary lymph node dissection was significantly higher in the LD flap group than in the other two groups. The 5-year cumulative incidences of lymphedema in the LD flap, abdominal flap, and prosthesis groups were 3.7%, 10.6%, and 10.9%, respectively. In multivariable analyses, compared to the use of the LD flap, that of tissue expander/implant and that of abdominal flaps were associated with increased risks of lymphedema. A similar association was observed in the propensity-score matching analysis. The use of abdominal flaps or prostheses was not associated with the outcomes., Conclusions: Our results suggest that the method of immediate breast reconstruction might be associated with the development of postmastectomy lymphedema., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Two-stage tissue expander/implant (TE/I) and deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps are the two main pillars of breast reconstruction. This study aimed to conduct a longitudinal analysis of long-term outcomes after immediate DIEP- and TE/I-based reconstruction. This retrospective cohort study included patients with breast cancer who underwent immediate DIEP- or TE/I-based reconstruction between 2012 and 2017. The cumulative incidence of major complications, defined as unplanned reoperation/readmission due to complications, was analyzed by the reconstruction modality and its independent association. In total, 1,474 cases (1,162 TE/I and 312 DIEP cases) were analyzed, with a median follow-up of 58 months. The 5-year cumulative incidence of major complications was significantly higher in the TE/I group (10.3% vs. 4.7%). On the multivariable analyses, the use of DIEP flap was associated with a significantly reduced risk of major complications compared to that of TE/I. A more prominent association was observed in the analysis of patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy. Restricting analysis to those who received adjuvant chemotherapy revealed no differences between the two groups. The rate of reoperation/readmission for improving aesthetic outcomes was similar in the two groups. Long-term risks for unexpected reoperation/readmission may differ between DIEP- and TE/I-based immediate reconstruction., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: In two-stage prosthetic breast reconstruction, autologous fat graft (AFG) is often conducted simultaneously with the second-stage operation, which is usually performed shortly after mastectomy. There is a paucity of studies evaluating whether conducting AFG early, with a relatively short interval from the primary operation, is oncologically safe. This study aimed to evaluate potential associations of AFG with breast cancer prognosis, focusing on its timing., Methods: Patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent immediate two-stage prosthetic reconstruction following mastectomy between 2011 and 2016 were identified. They were categorized into two groups by whether AFG was performed during the second-stage operation. Cumulative incidence of oncologic events was compared between the two groups, after stratifying patients by the time interval between mastectomy and the second-stage operation (≤ 12 months vs. > 12 months)., Results: Of 267 cases that met the selection criteria, 203 underwent the second-stage operation within 12 months of mastectomy. AFG was performed for 112 cases and was not performed in 91 cases. The two groups showed similar baseline characteristics including tumor stage and adjuvant treatments. Compared with the control, AFG was associated with lower locoregional recurrence-free survival and disease-free survival, and this difference remained significant after adjusting for other variables including tumor stage. In the 64 cases undergoing the operation after 12 months following mastectomy, oncologic outcomes did not differ between the two groups., Conclusion: Our results suggest that AFG timing in relation to mastectomy may be associated with risks for breast cancer recurrence., (© 2022. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Aim: Both skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) have been widely adopted. Although postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) can improve clinical outcomes, it can worsen cosmesis following reconstruction. Therefore, identifying risk factors of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) could help de-escalate PMRT after NSM/SSM in patients with pT1-2 disease., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients treated with SSM (N = 400) and NSM (N = 156) in patients with pT1-2N0-1 disease between 2009 and 2016. Seventy-four patients received PMRT with 50-50.4 Gy in 25-28 fractions. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the prognostic factors of IBTR., Results: With a median follow-up of 66.2 months, 17 IBTR events were observed, with 5-year IBTR-free rate of 97.2%. Although only one IBTR was observed after PMRT, there was no statistical difference in the 5-year IBTR-free rate (PMRT vs. no PMRT, 98.6% vs. 97.0%, p = 0.360). Multivariable analyses demonstrated that age ≤45 years and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were adverse features of IBTR. The low-risk group (0 risk factor) showed a better 5-year IBTR-free rate than the high-risk group (≥1 risk factor) (100.0% vs. 95.8%, p = 0.003). In the high-risk group, PMRT slightly improved 5-year IBTR-free rate compared with no PMRT (98.6% vs. 95.2%, p = 0.166). In addition, PMRT increased 5-year cumulative incidence of reconstruction failure (10.0% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.001)., Conclusion: We identified risk factors (age and LVI) related to IBTR following upfront SSM/NSM with pT1-2 disease. As a hypothesis-generating study, de-escalation of PMRT by omitting chest wall irradiation in selective patients could improve reconstruction-related complications without compromising oncologic outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest statement The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: The latissimus dorsi muscle originates from the lower thoracic spine with broad attachment and plays a subsidiary role in spinal postural stability. The authors investigated whether harvesting unilateral latissimus dorsi muscle for breast reconstruction could influence spinal posture in the long term., Methods: Patients who underwent immediate unilateral breast reconstruction between 2002 and 2010 were reviewed. They were grouped according to reconstruction methods: latissimus dorsi muscle flap and tissue expander/implant. The Cobb angle was assessed twice at each of five different time points (preoperatively and 2, 4, 6, and 8 years postoperatively) by an independent physician blinded to the reconstruction modality. Postoperative scoliosis was defined as a mean Cobb angle greater than 10 degrees at 8 years postoperatively. The trends of changes in Cobb angle over time and the rates of postoperative scoliosis were compared between reconstruction methods., Results: In total, 153 women were analyzed, including 102 using latissimus dorsi muscle flap and 51 using tissue expander/implant, with a median follow-up of 103 months. The latissimus dorsi flap group showed enhanced trends of increasing postoperative Cobb angles as compared with the tissue expander/implant group, and the difference remained significant after adjusting for other variables ( p = 0.001). The rate of postoperative scoliosis was significantly higher in the latissimus dorsi flap group than in the control group ( p = 0.029). Multivariable analyses revealed that use of the latissimus dorsi flap was associated with a significantly increased rate of postoperative scoliosis., Conclusion: Unilateral latissimus dorsi muscle flap harvest for breast reconstruction might be associated with changes in spinal posture in the long term., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Sarcopenia, defined as a significant loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is suggested to be associated with an increased risk of complications after various surgical interventions. However, evidence regarding sarcopenia in microsurgical breast reconstruction has been lacking. The present study was designed to evaluate the association between preoperative sarcopenia and adverse outcomes in deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap-based breast reconstruction., Methods: Patients who underwent breast reconstruction using DIEP flap between 2009 and 2018 were reviewed. Sarcopenia was defined as a skeletal muscle index < 38.5 cm 2 /m 2 , calculated by normalizing the cross-sectional area of the skeletal muscle, measured at the level of the third lumbar vertebra based on preoperative computed tomography angiography, to patient height. Postoperative complication rates were compared between patients with sarcopenia and those without it. Independent association of sarcopenia with complication profiles were evaluated. Further analyses were conducted using propensity score matching., Results: In total, 557 patients were analyzed, of which 154 (27.6%) had preoperative sarcopenia. The sarcopenia group had a significantly lower body mass index, a lower elevated flap weight, and greater use of bipedicled flaps compared to the nonsarcopenia group. Complications developed in 128 patients (23.0%) and were more prevalent in the sarcopenia group. Preoperative sarcopenia was associated with a significantly higher rate of complications, including breast hematoma, breast wound problems, abdominal functional weakness, and reoperation in the multivariable analyses. Similar associations were observed in the propensity score matching analysis., Conclusions: Preoperative sarcopenia appears to be associated with adverse outcomes in DIEP flap-based breast reconstruction., (© 2022. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Background: Despite the long-standing presumption that nighttime surgery could affect adverse outcomes, its association independent of patient's general condition and disease severity remains unclear. We hypothesized that conducting elective surgery for subjects with good physical status at nighttime was not associated with increased risks of postoperative complications and aimed to examine it in tissue-expander-insertion (TEI) operation for breast reconstruction., Method: Patients who underwent immediate unilateral TEI-based breast reconstruction between 2014 and 2019 were enrolled. They were categorized into 3 groups based on the starting time of the TEI operation: 8 am to 6 pm (group 1), 6 pm to 8 pm (group 2), and after 8 pm (group 3). The postoperative complication rates were compared among the groups. The independent associations of each variable, including the operation starting time and adverse outcomes, were analyzed., Results: In total, 1458 patients were analyzed, including 970 in group 1, 358 in group 2, and 130 in group 3. The groups showed similar baseline characteristics regarding comorbidities and the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification. Compared with group 1, group 3 was associated with significantly increased rates of overall complications including infection, reoperation, and premature removal of the tissue expander. These differences retained influences in the multivariable analyses. Group 3 showed a significantly longer hospitalization period than the other 2 groups. The complication rates did not differ between groups 1 and 2., Conclusions: Conducting TEI operation at nighttime seems to be associated with increased risks of adverse postoperative outcomes compared with conducting it during regular working hours., Competing Interests: The authors disclose no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate the impact of immediate breast reconstruction (iBR) on patients treated with post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) using propensity score matching (PSM)., Methods: After a retrospective review of patients treated with PMRT between 2008 and 2017, we included 153 patients who underwent iBR and 872 patients who did not undergo iBR. Among the 153 patients who underwent iBR, 34 received one-stage iBR with autologous tissue and 119 received two-stage iBR. Conventional fractionated PMRT with a total dose of 50-50.4 Gy in 25-28 fractions was performed in all patients. Propensity scores were calculated via logistic regression., Results: Patients who underwent iBR were younger, had early stage disease, and had more frequent hormone receptor-positive tumor than those who did not undergo iBR. After PSM, 127 patients from each group with well-balanced characteristics were selected. With a median follow-up of 67.5 months, iBR led to better 6-year disease-free survival rates compared to no iBR before PSM (84.8% vs. 71.4%, p = 0.003); after PSM, there was no significant difference (84.8% vs. 75.5%, p = 0.130). On multivariable analysis in the matched cohort, iBR was not associated with inferior disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.67; p = 0.175). In the sensitivity analysis, iBR was not associated with a lower disease-free survival across all prognostic groups. The 5-year cumulative incidence of iBR failure was 15.0%., Conclusion: In patients with adverse pathologic factors planning to receive PMRT, iBR did not compromise oncologic outcomes. In addition, iBR can be considered in patients treated with PMRT with several clinicopathologic risk factors., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Time intervals for expander-to-implant exchange from radiation therapy have been reported to reduce device failure. This study investigated the optimal timing of expander-to-implant exchange after irradiation in terms of short- and long-term outcomes., Methods: This retrospective review enrolled consecutive patients who underwent immediate two-stage breast reconstruction and radiation therapy to tissue expanders from 2010 to 2019. Receiver operating characteristic curves and the Youden index were used to estimate the optimal time from radiation therapy to implant placement in terms of 49-day (early) and 2-year (late) complications. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for each complication., Results: Of the 1675 patients, 133 were included. The 49-day and 2-year complication rates were 8.3 percent and 29.7 percent, respectively. Capsular contracture was the most common 2-year complication. The Youden index indicated that implant placement at 131 days after radiation therapy was most effective in reducing the 49-day complications, but that the 2-year complication was less significant, with lower sensitivity and area under the curve. Modified radical mastectomy, expander fill volume at radiation therapy, and size of permanent implant increased the odds of 49-day complications; none of them was associated with the odds of 2-year complications., Conclusions: To reduce short-term complications, the best time point for permanent implant placement was 131 days after radiation therapy. However, there was no significant time interval for reducing long-term complications. Capsular contracture was an irreversible complication of radiation injury that was not modified by postirradiation variables including the time from irradiation or size of permanent implant., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Two-stage tissue expander/implant-based method has been used predominantly for breast reconstruction. Implant rupture is one of the bothersome complications, inducing additional morbidity including reoperation. The present study aimed to identify the independent factors associated with development of implant rupture., Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent immediate two-stage prosthetic breast reconstruction between 2010 and 2016 were reviewed. Inserted implants were followed up using magnetic resonance imaging every 2 years and/or ultrasound/computed tomography scans every 6 or 12 months that were conducted for cancer surveillance. Associations of perioperative and intraoperative variables with the development of implant rupture were evaluated., Results: In total, 797 cases (744 patients) were analyzed. During a median follow-up of 43 months after second-stage operation, implant rupture was identified in 22 cases. The 5-year cumulative incidence was 3.1%. Multivariable analyses showed that the interval between the first- and second-stage operations was inversely associated with the risk of implant rupture. Maximal discrimination was observed at the interval of 6.5 months. Cases with an interval ≤ 6 months were associated with higher risks for implant rupture than those with ≥ 7 months, after adjusting for other variables. Type of implant was associated with the development of implant rupture, showing that using two kinds of fourth-generation implant (Allergan Biocell textured round and Allergan smooth round implants) was associated with a significantly increased risk of implant rupture compared with that of Mentor MemoryShape implants (fifth-generation implant)., Conclusion: Several operation-related variables appear to be associated with implant rupture in two-stage prosthetic reconstruction., (© 2021. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Background: Since April 2015, the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) has reimbursed breast cancer patients, approximately 50% of the cost of the breast reconstruction (BR) procedure. We aimed to investigate NHI reimbursement policy influence on the rate of immediate BR (IBR) following total mastectomy (TM)., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed breast cancer data between April 2011 and June 2016. We divided patients who underwent IBR following TM for primary breast cancer into "uninsured" and "insured" groups using their NHI statuses at the time of surgery. Univariate analyses determined the insurance influence on the decision to undergo IBR., Results: Of 2,897 breast cancer patients, fewer uninsured patients (n = 625) underwent IBR compared with those insured (n = 325) (30.0% vs. 39.8%, P < 0.001). Uninsured patients were younger than those insured (median age [range], 43 [38-48] vs. 45 [40-50] years; P < 0.001). Pathologic breast cancer stage did not differ between the groups (P = 0.383). More insured patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( P = 0.011), adjuvant radiotherapy ( P < 0.001), and IBR with tissue expander insertion ( P = 0.005) compared with those uninsured., Conclusion: IBR rate in patients undergoing TM increased after NHI reimbursement., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2021 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)

Background: In immediate two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction, adjuvant chemotherapy, when indicated, is usually conducted between the stages, which might influence the outcomes of the second-stage operation., Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential influence of adjuvant chemotherapy on the final outcomes of two-stage implant-based reconstructions., Methods: Patients who underwent immediate tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction between 2010 and 2016, with completion of both stages, were reviewed. Cases were categorized into two groups-adjuvant chemotherapy and no adjuvant chemotherapy. The rates of adverse outcomes were compared between the groups., Results: A total of 602 cases in 568 patients were analyzed, with a mean follow-up period of 58.5 months, including 236 patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and 366 patients not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. The two groups had similar baseline characteristics, except for a significantly higher rate of adjuvant radiotherapy in the former group. The adjuvant chemotherapy group showed significantly higher rates of overall complications (odds ratio [OR] 2.127, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.231-3.676), including infections (OR 4.239, 95% CI 1.059-16.970), severe capsular contractures (OR 2.107, 95% CI 1.067-4.159), and reconstruction failures (OR 12.754, 95% CI 1.587-102.481) compared with the control group, after adjusting for other variables, including adjuvant radiotherapy. In the analysis regarding the influence of chemotherapy regimens, the use of sequential anthracycline/cyclophosphamide and taxane, and concurrent 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, were associated with increased risks for adverse outcomes compared with the no chemotherapy group, while the use of other regimens, including anthracycline/cyclophosphamide alone, was not., Conclusions: Adjuvant chemotherapy might influence the final outcomes of two-stage implant-based reconstruction.

Background: In two-stage prosthetic breast reconstruction, two types of tissue expanders are used for the first stage: microtextured Siltex and macrotextured Biocell. Despite emerging concerns regarding the safety of macrotextured prostheses, the association between the use of macrotextured expanders and adverse outcomes remains unknown clinically. This study aimed to evaluate potential impacts of the type of tissue expander on the long-term outcomes of implant-based breast reconstruction., Methods: Patients who underwent immediate two-stage tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction between 2014 and 2018 were evaluated and categorized into two groups according to the expander type. Those two were propensity score matched for baseline characteristics and compared for complication rates after the first- and second-stage operations. The impacts of several variables, including type of tissue expander used, on outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analyses., Results: Of the 1391 cases in 1294 patients, 276 pairs (552 cases) were successfully propensity score matched. In the first-stage operation, the macrotextured group showed a significantly shorter drain indwelling period and lower rate of seroma than the microtextured group. These differences retained influences after adjusting for other variables. Incidence rates of other complications were similar between the groups. Regarding the second-stage operation, the use of macrotextured expanders showed a significant association, with an increased rate of severe capsular contracture on the multivariable analyses in cases using textured implants. Development of other complications was not affected by the expander type., Conclusion: The type of tissue expander might influence the outcomes of two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction, and generally acceptable safety of both microtextured and macrotextured expanders was shown., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III., (Copyright © 2021 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction with tissue expander in breast cancer patients who were expected to receive adjuvant therapy, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, has been a topic of debate. Postoperative complications from tissue expander procedures can delay the timing of adjuvant treatment and subsequently increase the probability of recurrence. The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on postoperative complications in patients who underwent immediate reconstruction (IR) using tissue expander., Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 1081 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy and IR using tissue expander insertion between 2012 and 2017 in Samsung Medical Center. The patients were divided into two groups based on complications (complication group vs. no complication group). Complication group was regarded to have surgical removal or conservative treatment based on clinical findings such as infection, capsular contracture, seroma, hematoma, rupture, malposition, tissue viability, or cosmetic problem. The complication group had 59 patients (5.5%) and the no complication group had 1022 patients (94.5%)., Results: In univariate analysis, adjuvant radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with postoperative complications. In multivariate analysis, however, only higher pathologic N stage was significantly associated with postoperative complications (p < 0.001). Chemotherapy (p = 0.775) or radiotherapy (p = 0.825) were not risk factors for postoperative complications., Conclusions: IR with tissue expander after mastectomy may be a treatment option even when the patients are expected to receive adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These results will aid patients who are concerned about the complications of IR caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy determine whether or not to have IR., Trial Registration: Patients were selected and registered retrospectively, and medical records were evaluated.

Importance: The potential association between breast implant-related anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) and implant texture has raised concerns about the additional unexpected adverse effects of textured implants, including potentially adverse outcomes for other cancers. In addition to the risk of developing BIA-ALCL, breast cancer survivors may worry about whether the type of implant inserted is associated with recurrence of their original cancer-an issue for which little evidence currently exists., Objective: To evaluate the oncologic outcomes of breast cancer according to the surface type of implants used for reconstruction and to identify the independent factors associated with breast cancer recurrence and survival, including implant surface type., Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study was conducted at Samsung Medical Center, a single tertiary referral center in Seoul, South Korea. Patients with breast cancer who underwent total mastectomy and immediate 2-stage tissue expander/implant reconstruction between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2016, were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patients were categorized into 2 groups according to the surface type of implant used for their reconstruction (smooth or textured implant). These patients were followed up for at least 2 years after insertion of the implant. Data analysis was performed from February 15, 2020, to March 5, 2020., Exposures: Use of smooth implants vs textured implants at the second-stage operation., Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcomes of interest were local and regional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates. Cumulative incidence of oncologic events in the smooth implant and textured implant groups and their respective hazard ratios (HRs) were collected and updated regularly., Results: In total, 650 patients (all women, with a mean [SD] age of 43.5 [7.4] years), representing 687 cases, met the inclusion criteria and were followed up for a median (range) duration of 52 (31-106) months. Of the 687 cases, 274 (39.9%) received a smooth implant and 413 (60.1%) received a textured implant. Patients in these 2 surface texture groups had similar characteristics, including tumor staging (stage I: 102 [37.2%] vs 173 [41.9%]; stage II: 93 [33.9%] vs 119 [28.8%]; stage III: 14 [5.1%] vs 20 [4.8%]; P = .50) and rates of adjuvant radiotherapy (42 [15.3%] vs 49 [11.9%]; P = .19) and chemotherapy (113 [41.2%] vs 171 [41.4%]; P = .97). The 5-year LRRFS was 96.7%, and the 5-year DFS was 95.2%. Compared with the use of a smooth implant, textured implant use was statistically significantly associated with lower DFS, and this difference remained significant after adjusting for estrogen receptor (ER) status and tumor stage (HR, 3.054; 95% CI, 1.158-8.051; P = .02). Similar statistically significant associations were observed on multivariable analysis of patients with ER-positive cancer (HR, 3.130; 95% CI, 1.053-9.307; P = .04) and those with invasive cancer (HR, 3.044; 95% CI, 1.152-8.039; P = .03). The association of textured implant use with recurrence (lower DFS) was more prominent in cases with late-stage (stage II or III) tumor (HR, 8.874; 95% CI, 1.146-68.748; P = .04). The LRRFS did not differ statistically significantly according to implant surface texture., Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study found that use of textured implants in reconstruction appears to be associated with recurrence of breast cancer. Further investigation is required to verify these results.

Background: Few studies have evaluated clinical outcomes of novice surgeons trained in a microsurgical training program. Herein, we describe successful free flap reconstructions performed by trainees who completed a structured microsurgical training program., Methods: The Microsurgical Skills Training Course, a laboratory-based structured microsurgical training program, was developed and used for microsurgical training. Three trainees (postgraduate years 6 and 7) who completed the training course during residency were assigned to perform free flap reconstructions between March 2015 and February 2019. Clinical outcomes of free flap reconstruction were assessed. A retrospective propensity-score-matched analysis was performed between the trainee and expert microsurgeon groups., Results: A total of 161 patients were included. Of them, 67 (25 of the trainee group and 42 of the expert group) were propensity score-matched. No flap failure developed in either matched group (p>0.999). Rates of overall complications, partial flap loss, and emergent reoperation due to vascular compromise were not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.384, p=0.525, and p=0.322, respectively), whereas those of donor complications and overall operation time were significantly higher in the trainee group than the expert group (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively)., Conclusion: The use of a structured microvascular training program in qualified teaching hospitals may help trainees achieve independence as microsurgeons and favorable clinical outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Contralateral augmentation mammoplasty in implant-based reconstruction could potentially lead to deterioration of the thickness of the mastectomy skin flap and increase postoperative complications of the reconstructed breast. We compared the complication rates of the reconstructed breast in the augmentation and no-augmentation groups among patients undergoing tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction., Methods: Patients who underwent mastectomy followed by tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction between February 2010 and April 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome measures were complications and the need for a revision operation. The augmentation and no-augmentation groups underwent propensity score-matched analysis and the matched cases underwent multivariable logistic regression analysis., Results: From the 234 patients in the augmentation group and 517 patients in the no-augmentation group, 200 propensity score-matched pairs were obtained. Analysis of the matched pairs revealed that the augmentation group as compared to the no-augmentation group showed a significantly higher overall complication rate (13.5 percent versus 6.5 percent; P=0.025) and revision operation rate (9.0 percent versus 3.0 percent; P=0.019). Multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses of the matched cases revealed that contralateral augmentation (odds ratio, 3.457; 95% confidence interval, 1.039-11.498; P=0.043) was associated with increased odds for a revision operation of the reconstructed breast., Conclusions: This study investigated the postoperative complications of the reconstructed breast associated with contralateral augmentation mammoplasty in patients who underwent mastectomy followed by tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction. The augmentation group had a higher revision operation rate than did the no-augmentation group. A clinical evaluation of the risks and benefits of contralateral augmentation and preoperative counseling may be indicated for patients who are undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction and are candidates for contralateral augmentation mammoplasty., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/gs-20-509). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2020 Gland Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Background: Overweight and obesity are well-known risk factors for postoperative complications; however, their impacts on hematoma formation have not been clarified. Several studies have suggested that overweight/obesity could have procoagulative effects, potentially reducing a risk for developing postoperative bleeding complications. This study aimed to investigate the effects of overweight/obesity on hematoma formation following tissue expander-based breast reconstruction., Method: Patients who underwent immediate tissue expander-based unilateral breast reconstruction between January 2010 and November 2018 were reviewed. They were categorized into four groups according to body mass index (BMI): underweight (<18.5 kg/m 2 ), normal weight (18.5-25.0 kg/m 2 ), overweight (25.0-30.0 kg/m 2 ), and obesity (>30.0 kg/m 2 ). The outcome was major postoperative hematoma, defined as one requiring emergent surgical intervention. Independent impacts of variables on hematoma development were evaluated via uni- and multivariable analyses., Results: A total of 1,431 patients were analyzed, including 133 cases (9.3%) with underweight, 952 (66.5%) with normal weight, 302 (21.1%) with overweight, and 44 (3.1%) with obesity. Postoperative major hematoma developed in 29 cases (2.0%). The rate of hematoma formation was 2.3%, 2.6%, 0.3%, and 0% in the underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity groups, respectively, showing a significantly decreasing trend (p = 0.009), while those of other complications including seroma and mastectomy flap necrosis revealed the opposite trends, being significantly elevated as patient BMI increased. Multivariate analyses found overweight to be an independent protector against major hematoma compared with normal weight (p = 0.014; odds ratio=0.071)., Conclusion: Overweight/obesity might have a protective effect on development of major bleeding complications following tissue expander-based breast reconstruction., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to disclose, (Copyright © 2020 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: No preoperative risk assessment tool is available to predict postoperative bulge formation after abdomen-based breast reconstruction. The authors evaluated the association between clinical variables and morphometric measurements on preoperative computed tomographic (CT) angiography and postoperative abdominal wall morbidity., Methods: The authors evaluated all cases of postoperative bulge/hernia and normal controls in patients who underwent preoperative CT angiography and abdomen-based microsurgical breast reconstruction between July 2009 and January 2018. CT-based abdominal wall profiles, including abdominal wall protrusion, abdominopelvic cavity cross-sectional area (CSA), and abdominopelvic cavity-to-total body CSA ratio, were obtained and analyzed. A novel risk stratification scoring system to stratify the risk of bulge/hernia was developed., Results: Among 463 patients who underwent abdomen-based breast reconstruction, 23 were diagnosed as having a bulge/hernia. Age (OR 2.912; 95% CI 1.157-7.333), lateral row perforator (OR 5.065; 95% CI 1.834-13.986), and abdominal wall protrusion (OR 3.687; 95% CI 1.494-9.100) were significant risk factors associated with postoperative bulge/hernia in the multivariate analysis. Using the risk stratification scoring system, the incidence rates of postoperative bulge/hernia were 1.7%, 4.8%, and 19.0% for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients, respectively (p<0.001)., Conclusions: Age, lateral row perforator, and abdominal wall protrusion were significantly associated with postoperative bulge/hernia formation after abdomen-based microsurgical breast reconstruction. The authors' risk score based on the three variables may help predict and minimize donor-site morbidity., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction is safe from an oncological perspective, but the relatively high rate of postoperative complications raises oncological concerns. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential influence of postoperative complications after immediate breast reconstruction on breast cancer recurrence and survival., Methods: Patients with breast cancer who had total mastectomy and immediate reconstruction between 2008 and 2013 were followed for at least 5 years. The impact of postoperative complications on oncological outcomes was assessed using multivariable Cox regression analyses., Results: In total, 438 patients with a median follow-up of 82 months were analysed. Five-year local recurrence-free, disease-free and overall survival rates were 95·4, 93·1 and 98·4 per cent respectively. Postoperative complications developed in the operated breast in 120 patients (27·4 per cent) and at other sites (flap donor) in 30 patients (6·8 per cent). Development of breast complications was associated with significantly increased rate of recurrence compared with no complications (16·7 versus 5·9 per cent; P = 0·002). In multivariable analysis, patients with breast complications had significantly worse disease-free survival than those with no complications (hazard ratio (HR) 2·25; P = 0·015). This remained significant in patients who received adjuvant therapy without delay (8 weeks or less after surgery) (HR 2·45; P = 0·034)., Conclusion: Development of postoperative complications in the breast can have a negative impact on survival and recurrence after immediate reconstruction., (© 2020 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Complications after 2-stage tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction have been studied as outcomes of a single procedure. We separately evaluated complications after the second stage and assessed factors associated with the outcomes of the second stage of breast reconstruction., Methods: Patients who underwent immediate 2-stage breast reconstruction between February 2010 and April 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, surgical factors of the first stage of breast reconstruction, and complications and number of revision surgeries after the second stage were recorded. Factors associated with postoperative complications were analyzed, and a risk-scoring system was devised., Results: We analyzed 619 patients who underwent 653 immediate 2-stage breast reconstructions. Multivariate analysis showed that complications were associated independently with smoking history, radiotherapy, and a final inflation volume of 450 mL or greater. Each factor contributed 1 point in the creation of a risk-scoring system. The overall complication rate was increased as the risk score increased (1.2%, 4.7%, and 16.0% for 0, 1, and 2 risk scores, respectively, P < 0.001). Revision operation rate was also significantly different across the 3 groups (0.2%, 1.6%, and 12.0% for 0, 1, and 2 risk scores, respectively, P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.732 and 0.731 for the logistic regression model and risk-scoring system, respectively (P = 0.975)., Conclusions: In the second stage of immediate 2-stage tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction, the rate of complication and revision surgery can be predicted by a novel risk-scoring system. Greater attention and preventive measures for complications are needed for high-risk patients.

Background: Removal of the infected device has been the general treatment for device-associated infection in antibiotic failure. There have been anecdotal attempts to salvage infected medical devices by introducing a continuous closed irrigation system., Objective: This study examines whether continuous closed irrigation of an infected device is a successful alternative to removal in patients with recalcitrant device-associated infection., Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with recalcitrant periexpander infections during the course of expander-implant breast reconstruction from 2010 to 2018 were enrolled in a retrospective case-control study. Patients who failed antibiotics before 2017 underwent expander removal, but patients since 2017 underwent continuous closed irrigation of the infected expanders. Treatment details and clinical outcomes were compared. Rationale for expander irrigation was based on review of the current literature on biofilm research., Results: During the study period, 21 out of the 1176 patients were diagnosed with periexpander infection recalcitrant to antibiotic therapy. Among the 21 patients, 16 underwent expander removal and five underwent expander irrigation. Clinical outcomes were comparable in terms of resolution of infection signs. The irrigation group showed fewer patients who abandoned reconstruction after infection treatment (removal = 11/16, irrigation = 1/5). Literature review revealed that expander irrigation might have induced hydrodynamic disruption of the biofilm structure., Conclusion: Expander irrigation was less invasive than removal and effective in suppressing severe recalcitrant periexpander infection. Continuous closed irrigation of infected expander devices may be a successful antibiofilm strategy in treating device-associated infections in select patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: A closed-suction drain is usually inserted during tissue expander-based breast reconstruction. Prolonged duration of drain retention can disturb patients' daily lives and affect overall sociomedical costs. This study aimed to investigate factors that may influence the drainage and to identify predictors of unusually prolonged drain duration., Methods: Patients who underwent delayed-immediate, two-stage breast reconstruction using a tissue expander between January of 2013 and July of 2017 were reviewed. Prolonged drain duration was defined as drain duration for longer than the 75th percentile of that for the entire cohort. Effects of patient- and operation-related variables on drainage and prolonged drain duration were evaluated., Results: A total of 1056 cases (1002 patients) were analyzed. The median drain duration was 10 days. Drain placement for more than 12 postoperative days was observed in 256 cases (24.2 percent), classified as prolonged drain duration. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that old age, high body mass index, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, insertion of large Siltex textured tissue expanders, and greater volume of initial inflation were independent risk factors of prolonged drain duration. The size and texture of the tissue expanders and initial inflation volume retained their influence, regardless of mastectomy specimen weight. Use of acellular dermal matrix had contradictory effects according to breast size, being protective against prolonged drain duration in cases with mastectomy specimen weight greater than 400 g, and being a significant predictor for it in cases with mastectomy specimen weight less than or equal to 400 g., Conclusion: Several factors, including reconstructive operation-related factors, might influence drain duration following tissue expander-based breast reconstruction., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Risk, III.

Background: Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), a commonly used antihypertensive drug, is reported to affect wound healing and flap survival in animal models. However, this has not been elucidated in a clinical series. This study aimed to investigate the impact that perioperative use of ARB has on outcomes after breast reconstruction., Methods: Patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction using a tissue expander or a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap were reviewed. The patients were categorized according to the types of antihypertensive medications as follows: the ARB group consisted of hypertensive patients treated with ARB alone or a combination of ARB and other drugs; the non-ARB group included those receiving drugs other than ARB; and the control group did not receive any medication. The effects of antihypertensive drugs on the development of complications were evaluated., Results: The study analyzed 1390 cases including 999 cases of tissue-expander insertion and 391 cases of DIEP flap reconstruction. With regard to tissue-expander reconstruction, the rates of seroma, reoperation, reconstruction failure, and overall complications were significantly higher in the ARB group than in the other two groups. Compared with no medication, ARB use was an independent risk factor for these complications. With regard to DIEP flap reconstruction, the ARB group showed a significantly higher rate of fat necrosis and significantly greater odds for the development of overall perfusion-related complications and fat necrosis than the control group after adjustment for other variables., Conclusions: Perioperative administration of ARB might be associated with adverse outcomes after breast reconstruction.

Background: Closed reduction of the fracture under general or local anesthesia with elevators or forceps is widely used to treat nasal bone fractures. However, operating under general anesthesia increases the risk of morbidity and raises the cost of management. Furthermore, using forceps or elevators may cause undercorrection, new fractures, mucosal damage, and nasal hemorrhage. We therefore performed manual reduction under local anesthesia, using the little finger, to minimize the demerits of treatment under general anesthesia with forceps or elevators and aimed to assess functional and aesthetic outcomes, and patient satisfaction., Methods: Patients who visited the plastic and reconstructive surgery department between November 2016 and November 2017 with nasal bone fractures and treated by a single surgeon were prospectively followed up. Patients with simple unilateral or bilateral nasal bone fractures were treated with bedside finger reduction under local anesthesia and patients with comminuted nasal bone or septal fractures were scheduled for closed reduction under general anesthesia., Results: Of 84 patients, 28 met the inclusion criterion and underwent bedside finger reduction under local anesthesia. Twenty-seven patients (96.4%) were successfully contacted via telephone for survey. Twenty-three (85.2%) showed good and three (11.1%) showed fair results. All 27 patients (100%) were satisfied with their postoperative function and 25 (92.6%) were satisfied with their postoperative aesthetic result. Twenty-five patients (92.6%) preferred the finger reduction method under local anesthesia over closed reduction under general anesthesia., Conclusion: Finger reduction under local anesthesia in patients with mild unilateral or bilateral nasal bone fractures is an easy and efficient procedure with high patient satisfaction and favorable postoperative functional and aesthetic outcomes.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of breast reconstruction modality on the incidence of shoulder morbidity., Methods: Breast cancer patients who underwent immediate reconstructions using three modalities, namely, tissue expander-implant, latissimus dorsi (LD) pedicled flap, and deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap, from 2008 to 2013 were examined. The cumulative incidence of shoulder morbidity was compared among the reconstruction modalities, and risk factor analysis was performed using multivariable analysis., Results: A total of 430 reconstructions (223 expander-implant, 44 LD flap, and 163 DIEP flap) in 420 patients were analyzed in this study. Shoulder morbidity developed in 95 patients (22.1%) and was most common in the LD group (43.2%) followed by the expander-implant (23.8%) and the DIEP (14.1%) groups over a mean follow-up of 52 (range: 24-120) months. The multivariable analysis showed that the expander-implant (odds ratio (OR) 2.15, p = 0.010) and the LD flap (OR 6.27, p < 0001) were significant risk factors for shoulder morbidity, compared to the DIEP flap. Old age (p = 0.041), presence of tumor-positive lymph nodes (p = 0.014), and receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.002) were independent risk factors for the development of shoulder morbidity. Early rehabilitation within 2 postoperative-months reduced the risk of sustained shoulder morbidity., Conclusion: The choice of reconstruction modality might affect the development of postmastectomy shoulder morbidity. Understanding the risk factors for shoulder morbidity would help to improve the informed consent process and assist surgeons in the early diagnosis and initiation of rehabilitation therapy to prevent chronic shoulder dysfunction after breast reconstruction., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Acellular dermal matrix (ADM), popularly used in tissue expander-based breast reconstruction, is applied either as a partial or full sling, but without any consensus regarding which method of application produces better outcomes. We aimed to compare the outcomes between two patient groups who underwent tissue expander-based breast reconstruction using these techniques., Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for consecutive patients who underwent immediate two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction using ADM between January 2013 and June 2016. They were categorized into two cohorts: cohort 1 included patients in whom ADM was applied using the partial-sling technique, insetting it obliquely after releasing the pectoralis major muscle from its costal origin, and cohort 2 included those who underwent a full-sling technique, insetting it transversely after releasing the muscle from its costal and lower sternal origin. Postoperative complications and aesthetic outcomes were compared between the two groups., Results: We analysed 329 cases (167 in cohort 1 and 162 in cohort 2) with similar baseline characteristics in both cohorts. Reconstruction failure occurred in 2.4% of overall patients. The rates of each and overall acute complications did not differ significantly between the cohorts. Cohort 2 showed significantly lower rates of tissue expander displacement and malposition following the first-stage operation and rippling following the second-stage operation, differences that retained the influences in multivariate analyses. Higher aesthetic scores were obtained in cohort 2., Conclusion: Using the full-sling ADM might reduce unintended migration of prostheses and enable proper tissue expansion, resulting in better overall outcomes without increasing morbidities., Level of Evidence Iii: 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 www.springer.com/00266 .

Background: Reconstruction of extensive penoscrotal defects is a surgical challenge. Resurfacing defects in highly complex three-dimensional structures and restoring their function are an essential part of the reconstruction of penoscrotal regions., Objective: We describe a technique using internal pudendal artery perforator (IPAP) pedicled propeller flaps created from the gluteal fold. This could be a reliable surgical option that maintains a natural looking scrotal pouch with minimal donor site morbidity and optimal sexual activity., Design, Setting, and Participants: We retrospectively reviewed data for 10 consecutive patients who had undergone penoscrotal reconstruction using IPAP pedicled propeller flaps between January 2011 and March 2015., Surgical Procedure: The IPAP was identified using a hand-held Doppler ultrasound device. This was the pivot around which the flap was internally rotated more than 90° in a tension-free manner. The long axis of the flap was centred on the gluteal fold to provide a better-orientated donor site scar., Measurements: Complications and patient satisfaction with respect to size, colour match, scar appearance, and sexual activity were evaluated., Results and Limitations: Anatomic and aesthetic penoscrotal reconstruction was performed without any major complications in the follow-up period (mean, 19.7 mo). The mean width of the IPAP pedicled propeller flaps was 6.7cm, and the mean length was 11.7cm. Partial distal flap necrosis occurred in only one case, and healed spontaneously. All of the patients were satisfied with the cosmetic and functional results., Conclusions: On the basis of reliable perforators, donor site morbidity, flap thickness, and a better orientated scar, our technique using IPAP pedicled propeller flaps created from the gluteal fold could be a reasonable surgical option for extensive penoscrotal reconstruction., Patient Summary: The creation of pedicled propeller flaps using an internal pudendal artery perforator could be a reliable surgical option for reconstruction of extensive penoscrotal defects. The approach yields functional and aesthetically acceptable surgical results., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Placement of a closed suction drain is a common cause of patient complaints, such as postoperative pain or discomfort following immediate expander-implant breast reconstruction. This study aims to identify factors that affect drainage volume, time to drain removal, and seroma formation., Methods: A retrospective chart review of prospectively collected data was conducted on patients who underwent immediate expander-implant breast reconstructions following nipple-sparing or skin-sparing mastectomy without skin excision (nipple areolar complex excision only) between February 2010 and April 2015. Daily drainage volume was measured until the drain was removed. Eight independent variables, including acellular dermal matrix (ADM) usage and inflation ratio (the rate of initial inflation volume to mastectomy weight) were analysed by univariable and multivariable analyses., Results: A total of 162 breasts in 148 patients were included in this study. The inflation ratio did not influence the drain amount or days to drain removal. Although the use of ADM was significantly associated with increased drainage during the first 5 postoperative days (p = 0.015), it was not significant when adjusted for time. Old age, larger expander size, and larger drain amount on the first postoperative day were predictors for longer days to drain removal (p < 0.001). Old age had a trend toward higher risk of seroma formation that approached statistical significance (p = 0.057)., Conclusions: The use of ADM and initial inflation ratio do not influence days to drain removal or seroma formation. A longer period of drain placement is expected when a larger expander is used or in elderly patients.

Purpose: Controversy exists regarding complications associated with the use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM). This likely stems from the heterogeneous and unmatched patient characteristics in study groups. The purpose of this study was to analyze complications in a matched cohort to identify whether ADM use increased postoperative complications of the first-stage immediate expander-implant breast reconstructions., Methods: A retrospective matched-cohort study was performed. We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data from patients who underwent immediate expander-implant breast reconstruction after mastectomy between February 2010 and January 2016. Independent variables included clinical characteristics, mastectomy weight, mastectomy type, expander size, initial inflation volume, number of days to drain removal, and adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapies. Different independent variables between the ADM and non-ADM groups were used for propensity score matching. After matching, a pairwise comparison of the 2 cohorts' independent variables was carried out using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and McNemar test. Incidence of complications was evaluated for the 2 matched cohorts. To adjust for ablative and reconstructive surgeons, a multivariable generalized estimating equation analysis was performed., Results: A total of 574 immediate expander-implant breast reconstructions in 533 patients were included in this study. We identified 398 reconstructions (199 for each group; ADM and non-ADM group) of matched cohorts using propensity score matching. Characteristics were similar between the 2 matched cohorts. In the matched analysis, there were no significant differences in the rate of skin flap complications (16.1% vs 16.1%, P > 0.999), seroma (4.0% vs 8.5%, P = 0.065), infection (3.0% vs 3.5%, P = 0.781), and overall complications (21.1% vs 26.1%, P = 0.251). Acellular dermal matrix was not associated with increased risk of complication when ablative and reconstructive surgeon factors were considered in a multivariable analysis (P = 0.511)., Conclusions: A matched cohort analysis demonstrated that ADM usage is not associated with an increased risk of complications, including skin flap complications, seroma, and infection. Our result suggests that ADM can be safely used in immediate expander-implant breast reconstruction when necessary.

Background: Of the many antimicrobial agents available, iodophore-based formulations such as povidone iodine have remained popular after decades of use for antisepsis and wound healing applications due to their favorable efficacy and tolerability. Povidone iodine's broad spectrum of activity, ability to penetrate biofilms, lack of associated resistance, anti-inflammatory properties, low cytotoxicity and good tolerability have been cited as important factors, and no negative effect on wound healing has been observed in clinical practice. Over the past few decades, numerous reports on the use of povidone iodine have been published, however, many of these studies are of differing design, endpoints, and quality. More recent data clearly supports its use in wound healing., Methods: Based on data collected through PubMed using specified search criteria based on above topics and clinical experience of the authors, this article will review preclinical and clinical safety and efficacy data on the use of povidone iodine in wound healing and its implications for the control of infection and inflammation, together with the authors' advice for the successful treatment of acute and chronic wounds., Results and Conclusion: Povidone iodine has many characteristics that position it extraordinarily well for wound healing, including its broad antimicrobial spectrum, lack of resistance, efficacy against biofilms, good tolerability and its effect on excessive inflammation. Due to its rapid, potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, and favorable risk/benefit profile, povidone iodine is expected to remain a highly effective treatment for acute and chronic wounds in the foreseeable future., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The question of whether expander inflation/deflation status has any bearing on surgical complications in the setting of adjuvant radiation (XRT) has not been addressed. The objective of this study is to investigate whether the inflation/deflation status of the expander at the time of XRT is associated with complications in immediate two-stage expander-implant breast reconstruction., Methods: A retrospective review of 49 consecutive patients who underwent immediate two-stage expander-implant breast reconstruction and received post-mastectomy XRT was conducted. Full deflation of the expanders was performed in the deflation group (20 patients), while the expanders remained inflated in the inflation group at the time of XRT (29 patients). XRT-related complications of each stage of reconstructions were compared between the two groups, and multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for XRT-related complications., Results: Overall XRT-related complications (65.0 vs. 6.9%, p < 0.001) and reconstruction failures (35.0 vs. 6.9%, p = 0.022) of the first-stage reconstructions were significantly higher in the deflation group. The most common cause of reconstruction failure in the deflation group was failure to re-expand due to skin fibrosis and contracture. In multivariable analysis, deflation of expanders was a significant risk factor for overall complications (odds = 94.4, p = 0.001) and reconstruction failures (odds = 9.09, p = 0.022) of the first-stage reconstructions., Conclusions: Maximal inflation without deflation before XRT can be an option to minimize XRT-related complications and reconstruction failure of the first-stage reconstructions., Level of Evidence Iii: 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 www.springer.com/00266 .

Introduction: Although the indication for immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) after skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) or nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) has been expanded, IBR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is still controversial. We conducted retrospective matched case-control study to analyze oncologic outcomes between patients who underwent TM only and those who underwent IBR after SSM or NSM after NACT., Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of breast cancer patients who underwent IBR after SSM or NSM after NACT between 2008 and 2015 at a single center was conducted. These cases were maximally matched by 1:5 to patients who underwent total mastectomy (TM) alone after NACT. Matching variables included age, clinical T and N stage before NACT, response to NACT, and pathologic stage after NACT. Pathologic stage followed the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification., Results: Overall, 31 patients were enrolled onto the IBR after SSM or NSM group (study group) and matched to 85 patients (control group). In the study group, 13 patients (41.9%) underwent NSM and 18 (58.1%) underwent SSM. Median follow-up duration was 29.2 (range, 7-31) and 38.8 (range, 11-85) months for the study and control groups (P = .012), respectively, and median age was 37.0 (range, 26-57) and 40.0 (range, 24-56) years (P = .890), respectively. Overall survival (P = .971), disease-free survival (P = .520), distant metastasis-free survival (P = .795), and local recurrence-free survival (P = .628) did not differ significantly between the 2 groups., Conclusion: IBR after SSM or NSM might be a feasible surgical treatment option even in breast cancer patients who underwent NACT., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Correcting facial contour deformities is a challenge, as it demands thoughtful planning on design, composition of flap, and secondary procedures. The thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap has become a workhorse flap for various reconstructions. In this report, we present our experience of reconstructing facial contour deformities using the free TDAP adipofascial flap, focusing on its customized design., Patients and Method: Sixteen patients underwent correction of a facial contour deformity with free TDAP adipofascial flaps from 2002 to 2012. The causes of defects were Romberg disease (n = 7), oncological defects (n = 5), craniofacial microsomia (n = 3), and trauma (n = 1). The flaps were three-dimensionally designed in a contour map fashion to have different thickness according to the defects by adjusting the height of adipose tissue and varying tissue composition. Customized dimension of flaps having reliable perfusion were harvested with minimized sacrifice of overlying skin., Results: Flap size ranged from 6 × 3 cm to 25 × 25 cm. Six flaps were based on two perforators and the other 10 on one. Five flaps were harvested in a chimeric fashion. All flaps survived completely. No donor morbidity developed in any case. Seven patients underwent secondary corrections including fat injection or liposuction. Improved contour and symmetry were achieved in all patients and was confirmed by a photographic evaluation. Mean follow-up period was 37.8months., Conclusions: Our results suggest that the stereoscopic TDAP adipofascial flaps with diligent secondary approaches may be a reliable alternative for aesthetic reconstruction of facial contour deformities. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:300-306, 2017., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Several studies have demonstrated an association between immediate autologous or implant-based breast reconstruction and a reduced incidence of lymphoedema. However, few of these have ocused specifically on whether the reconstruction method affects the development of lymphoedema. The study evaluated the potential impact of breast reconstruction modality on the incidence of lymphoedema., Methods: Outcomes of women with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy and immediate reconstruction using an autologous flap or a tissue expander/implant between 2008 and 2013 were reviewed. Arm or hand swelling with pertinent clinical signs of lymphoedema and excess volume compared with those of the contralateral side was diagnosed as lymphoedema. The cumulative incidence of lymphoedema was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Clinicopathological factors associated with the development of lymphoedema were investigated by Cox regression analysis., Results: A total of 429 reconstructions (214 autologous and 215 tissue expander/implant) were analysed; the mean follow-up of patients was 45·3 months. The two groups had similar characteristics, except that women in the autologous group were older, had a higher BMI, and more often had preoperative radiotherapy than women in the tissue expander/implant group. Overall, the 2-year cumulative incidence of lymphoedema was 6·8 per cent (autologous 4·2 per cent, tissue expander/implant 9·3 per cent). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that autologous reconstruction was associated with a significantly reduced risk of lymphoedema compared with that for tissue expander/implant reconstruction. Axillary dissection, a greater number of dissected lymph nodes and postoperative chemotherapy were also independent risk factors for lymphoedema., Conclusion: The method of breast reconstruction may affect subsequent development of lymphoedema., (© 2016 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: Although an increase in flap perfusion by incorporating multiple perforators has been demonstrated with free perforator flaps, whether the same efficacy can be achieved with pedicled flaps remains unclear, due to concerns regarding pedicle tension or kinking during flap transposition. The aim of this report was to investigate the reliability of multiple perforator-based pedicled flaps in a series of clinical cases., Patients and Methods: Twenty-six patients undergoing soft tissue reconstruction using multiple perforator-based pedicled flaps from 2008 to 2012 were reviewed. The causes of the defects were oncologic (n = 15) or chronic wounds (n = 11). The defect sites were the trunk (n = 19), lower extremities (n = 4), head and neck (n = 2), and upper extremities (n = 1). Diverse flap types were used, including the superior gluteal artery perforator flap, the lateral femoral circumflex artery perforator flap, the medial femoral circumflex artery perforator flap, and the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap. The flaps were transposed in a rotation-and-advancement manner after skeletonizing each perforator and proximally dissecting the pedicle. The donor site was closed primarily., Results: Mean flap size was 125.2 cm 2 , and the mean number of perforators used was 2.3 (2-5). The mean angle of pivotal rotation for flap transposition was 132.8°. No rotation-related problems including pedicle kinking or twisting developed, and all flaps survived completely. No significant donor-site morbidity was observed. The mean follow-up period was 38.1 months., Conclusions: This report suggests that through meticulous dissection of pedicles of sufficient length, the multiple perforator-based pedicled flaps can be successfully transposed while minimizing the risk of pedicle tethering. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:105-111, 2017., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background  Freestyle propeller flaps have been widely used as a reconstructive option for both trunk and extremities. It offers the advantage of "like-with-like" reconstruction with an adjacent tissue with no dissection to the source vessels. However, there is the risk of vascular complications. In the present study, the authors investigated the incidence of vascular complications and their risk factors following freestyle propeller flap in the trunk and extremities. Methods  The authors conducted a retrospective review of 50 patients who underwent soft tissue reconstruction of the trunk and the extremities with 55 freestyle propeller flaps from 2004 to 2015. Data regarding patient demographics, surgical details, including the arc of rotation, and flap complications were collected from a prospectively maintained database and analyzed. Results  There were 10 flap complications (18.2%), including 7 superficial partial necrosis, 2 full-thickness partial necrosis, and 1 total necrosis from the 55 freestyle propeller flaps harvested. Previous irradiation was a significant risk factor for flap complications and the propeller flap harvested from the extremities showed a significantly higher rate of complications compared with those harvested from the trunk. Complication rates were higher in flaps with the arc of rotation between 150 and 180 degrees with marginal significance compared with flaps with the arc of rotation less than 150 degrees. Conclusions  Freestyle propeller flaps proved to be a valid and reliable option for reconstruction of defects in the trunk, while complication rate was quite high in the extremities. A prudent preoperative evaluation and preparation may be necessary before performing this surgical technique in the extremities., (Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.)

Background and Aim: In the evolution of facial rejuvenative methods, thread lifts have gained popularity among patients who require mild degree of cosmetic improvement. The REEBORN (PrestigeMedicare, South Korea, Gyeonggi-do) is a newly developed type of mesh suspension thread composed of implantable mesh and barbed thread. In this article, we presented our experience with midface rejuvenation using novel modified mesh suspension thread including reliable esthetic results and minimal complications., Methods: Prospective record analysis was conducted for 20 female patients who underwent REEBORN thread Lifting. To validate acceptable surgical results, three physicians rated the severity of nasolabial folds and marionette lines of patients. The patients were also asked to complete a questionnaire about satisfaction with this procedure and following adverse effects., Results: The mean operation time was 40 min, and surgery-related complications included two minor complications. Significant improvement in wrinkle severity was observed at 6 months after thread lifting (P < 0.0001). Patients showed high satisfaction with surgical results (≥90%) and procedure (≥80%)., Conclusions: Although further follow-up and more studies are required to prove long-term efficacy of emerging technique, our early experience has been positive. We are expected to provide sufficient holding power apart from cogs; in addition, fixation mesh is ensured by the implantable distal mesh that provides long lasting maintenance in thread lifting rejuvenation., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Mastectomy flap necrosis is one of the most common and significant complications in immediate expander-based breast reconstruction. Negative-pressure wound therapy is widely used for open wounds but is not commonly used for closed incisional wounds. However, the postoperative use of incisional negative-pressure wound therapy is demonstrated to reduce complication rates. The authors evaluate the incidence of mastectomy flap necrosis in patients with incisional negative-pressure wound therapy after immediate expander-based breast reconstruction compared with the incidence in patients with conventional dressing., Methods: A retrospective review was conducted to identify patients who underwent immediate expander-based breast reconstruction between January of 2010 and February of 2015 at a single institution. Patients were divided into a conventional dressing group and an incisional negative-pressure wound therapy group. Patient demographics, intraoperative findings, and complications were compared between the two groups., Results: A total of 228 breasts (206 patients) were included in this study. Of these, the incisional negative-pressure wound therapy group included 45 breasts (44 patients) and the conventional dressing group included 183 breasts (162 patients). The incisional negative-pressure wound therapy group had a lower overall complication rate (11.1 percent versus 27.9 percent; p = 0.019), overall mastectomy flap necrosis rate (8.9 percent versus 23.5 percent; p = 0.030), and major mastectomy flap necrosis rate (2.2 percent versus 13.7 percent; p = 0.031) compared with the conventional dressing group., Conclusions: Incisional negative-pressure wound therapy reduced the incidence of mastectomy flap necrosis. This simple and reliable dressing technique can be effective in preventing mastectomy flap necrosis in immediate expander-based breast reconstruction., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Background: Controversy exists regarding appropriate surgical treatment for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). The purpose of this study was to propose treatment recommendations based on long-term outcomes of surgical treatments for DFSP., Methods: A total of 63 patients who underwent surgical resection for primary DFSP were retrospectively reviewed from 1999 to 2011. They were classified into three groups based on the width of the gross resection margins: group I with marginal excision (14 patients); group II with resection margins < 3 cm (21 patients); and group III with resection margins ≥ 3 cm (28 patients) (group II and group III had wide local excision)., Results: The median follow-up period was 65 months (range 31-190 months). The marginal excision group showed a significantly higher recurrence rate than the wide excision group (35.7% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). Among wide excision groups, group III showed a significantly higher requirement for reconstructive surgery than group II (82.7% vs. 52.4%, p = 0.011), yet both groups had no recurrence and pathologic margin status was comparable. The accuracy rate of frozen section analyses was 100% for the margin status in the wide excision group. Adjuvant radiation was significantly associated with a reduced recurrence in the marginal excision group (0% vs. 60%, p = 0.016)., Conclusions: Wide local excision with margins of 1.5-2 cm along with frozen biopsy is recommended for DFSP. Either re-excision or adjuvant radiation therapy can serve as a treatment option for patients with positive margins., (Copyright © 2015 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although obesity is a well-known risk factor for complications in immediate expander-implant breast reconstruction, no studies have identified risk factors for non-obese patients. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for complications in non-obese patients., Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 397 consecutive immediate expander-implant breast reconstructions in 367 non-obese patients at a single institution over a 5-year period was conducted. Univariable and multivariable analysis were performed to determine the influence of six patient-related and eight procedure-related characteristics on complications., Results: Mean BMI was 21.7 ± 2 kg/m(2) and median mastectomy weight was 298.0 g (range: 40-1164 g). Multivariable analysis showed that neither BMI nor the use of acellular dermal matrix was a predictor for complications. Adjuvant radiation (odds = 3.12, p < 0.001) and mastectomy weight (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for complications. A 100 g increase in the mastectomy weight was significantly associated with a 23 % increase in the odds of overall complications (p = 0.003), major complications (p = 0.004), and skin flap complications (p = 0.007), as well as a 28 % increase in the odds of seroma (p = 0.044), but was not associated with reconstruction failure. Adjuvant radiation (p < 0.001) and hypertension (p < 0.001) were risk factors for reconstruction failure., Conclusions: Breast size was an independent risk factor for complications in non-obese patients while BMI was not. In the reconstruction of large breasts, greater attention and additional adjunctive procedures would be needed to prevent complications., Level of Evidence Iii: 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 www.springer.com/00266.