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Abstract Introduction This resource serves as a primer on cardiopulmonary exercise testing and is intended for first-year fellows in pulmonary and critical care medicine, and senior internal medicine residents who will be supervising and interpreting cardiopulmonary exercise tests during their rotations on a pulmonary diagnostic service. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is a standard diagnostic tool in pulmonary medicine. Several leading textbooks are available which provide detailed explanations of exercise physiology and the conduct and interpretation of these tests, but many of these texts are very long and detailed, and, as a result, are difficult for the trainee to cover in a short period of time while busy with other clinical responsibilities. Methods This primer was designed to address this problem by providing a concise explanation of the physiology of exercise, the role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in clinical practice, how to conduct and interpret these tests and a series of case studies. Through coverage of these topics, the primer will give learners a basis upon which they can then build in the future by referring to more detailed sources on this topic. Results The 2008–2009 fellowship class was asked to evaluate the primer at the conclusion of the clinical rotation during which they do the bulk of their cardiopulmonary exercise tests. On Likert scale questions, six out of six residents stated agreement with statements that the primer helped them understand the key physiologic responses to exercise, how to conduct an exercise test, how to interpret test results, and how to identify the ventilatory threshold. All six fellows thought the sample cases were useful and three of the six fellows stated that the primer was more useful overall than other materials they consulted on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. One fellow stated that it was as useful as other resources, while another stated that it was less useful. Discussion The primer is designed to be an introduction to the process of conducting and interpreting tests. As a result, the known and unknown cases presented in the primer are ideal cases with clean data. In reality, many cases are more complex than those presented in the primer and additional learning and supervision will be necessary before the learner is able to handle such tests. Apart from a qualitative survey of the pulmonary and critical care fellows to assess their general impressions of the primer, we have not conducted a more formal study to evaluate in more objective terms whether this primer is an effective teaching tool.

Background: The goal of this study was to assess whether adding a latissimus dorsi (LD) flap to a secondary implant-based reconstruction (IBR) improves outcomes following explantation of the primary device due to infection., Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent a second IBR with or without the addition of an LD flap during 2006-2019, following explantation due to infection. Surgical outcomes were collected and compared between reconstruction types., Results: A total of 6093 IBRs were identified during the study period. Of these, 109 underwent a second attempt at breast reconstruction with IBR alone (n = 86, 79%) or IBR/LD (n = 23, 21%) following explantation of an infected device. Rates of secondary device explantation due to a complication were similar between the two groups (26% in the IBR/LD group and 21% in the IBR group; P = 0.60). Among the patients who underwent prior radiotherapy, the IBR/LD group had lower rates of any complication (38% versus 56%; P = 0.43), infection (25% versus 44%; P = 0.39), and reconstruction failure (25% versus 44%; P = 0.39); however, differences were not statistically significant., Conclusion: Following a failed primary breast reconstruction due to infection, it may be appropriate to offer a secondary reconstruction. For patients with a history of radiotherapy, combining an LD flap with IBR may provide benefits over IBR alone. Although not statistically different, this outcome may have clinical significance, considering the magnitude of the effect, and may result in decreased complication rates and a higher chance of reconstructive success., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Background: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OBCS) is most commonly performed using established or modified mastopexy/breast reduction techniques. Although the comparative complication profiles of Wise-pattern mastopexy/breast reduction techniques compared with vertical scar techniques are well understood, outcomes in the setting of OBCS are unknown., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of all patients that underwent OBCS using mastopexy/breast reduction techniques at a single center over a 6-year period. Patients who underwent Wise-pattern techniques were compared with those who underwent vertical scar techniques. Demographic, treatment, and outcomes data were collected. Descriptive statistics were used, and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between these multiple variables and complications., Results: Of 413 eligible patients, 278 patients (67.3%) received a Wise-pattern technique and 135 (32.7%) underwent a vertical scar technique. The overall complication rate was significantly higher in the Wise-pattern than in the vertical scar group (30.6% vs 18.5%, respectively; P = 0.012), as was the major complication rate (11.9% vs 4.4%; P = 0.011) including need for additional surgery for complications (6.8% vs 1.5%; P = 0.029). Complications resulted in a delay to any adjuvant therapy in 20 patients (4.8%); however, the difference between the groups was not significant (6.1% for Wise pattern vs 2.2% for vertical scar; P = 0.098). In a multivariable logistic model, use of a Wise-pattern technique (odds ratio, 0.37 [95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.99]; P = 0.049) was a significant predictor of major complications., Conclusions: The Wise-pattern mastopexy/breast reduction OBCS technique was associated with a significantly higher complication and major complication rate than vertical scar techniques. The findings should be considered during choice of surgical technique in oncoplastic breast conservation.

Background: Volume replacement oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (VR-OBCS) uses islanded or pedicled chest wall fasciocutaneous perforator flaps from outside of the breast footprint to replace the volume that has been excised during lumpectomy, extending the options for breast conservation to patients who may otherwise require mastectomy. This study compares outcomes for VR-OBCS with both standard volume displacement oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (VD-OBCS) and mastectomy with immediate total breast reconstruction (TBR)., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted; demographic data, clinicopathologic factors, surgical details, and postoperative events were collected until patients had completed their reconstructions. Variables were compared using the t test and analysis of variance test, or chi-square analysis and Fisher's exact test, as appropriate., Results: Ninety-seven consecutive patients (109 immediate breast reconstruction procedures) were included: 43 percent underwent standard VD-OBCS procedures, 35 percent underwent mastectomy with immediate TBR, and VR-OBCS techniques were used in 22 percent, of which only one patient required a delayed procedure for symmetry. Mean whole tumor size was similar in the VR-OBCS and TBR groups and was significantly higher than for the VD-OBCS group (p < 0.05). Overall rate of complications affecting the breast area (p < 0.001), need for additional surgery to either breast (p < 0.001), and time to reconstruction completion (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the TBR group., Conclusions: VR-OBCS extends the options for breast conservation to many patients that would otherwise require mastectomy. The complication rate is lower, fewer procedures are necessary, and less time is required to complete the reconstruction when compared with mastectomy and immediate TBR., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Background: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery expands the indications for breast conservation. When performed using modified mastopexy/breast reduction techniques, the optimal timing of the contralateral symmetrizing mastopexy/breast reduction remains unclear. This study examined the effect of the timing of symmetrizing mastopexy/breast reduction on oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery outcomes., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of all patients who underwent oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery using mastopexy/breast reduction techniques at a single center from 2010 to 2016. Patients who received synchronous (immediate) contralateral breast symmetrizing mastopexy were compared with those who underwent a delayed symmetrizing mastopexy procedure. Demographic, treatment, and outcome data were collected. Descriptive statistics were used and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the various relationships., Results: There were 429 patients (713 breasts) included in the study; of these, 284 patients (568 breasts) underwent oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery involving mastopexy/breast reduction techniques and immediate symmetrizing mastopexy, and 145 patients underwent delayed contralateral symmetrizing mastopexy. The overall complication rate was similar between the immediate and delayed groups (25.4 percent versus 26.9 percent, respectively; p = 0.82), as was the major complication rate (10.6 percent versus 6.2 percent; p = 0.16). Complications resulted in a delay in adjuvant therapy in 18 patients (4.2 percent); in two patients (0.7 percent), this delay resulted from a complication in the contralateral symmetrizing mastopexy breast. Immediate contralateral symmetrizing mastopexy was not associated with increased risk of complications per breast (p = 0.82) or delay to adjuvant therapy (p = 0.6)., Conclusion: Contralateral mastopexy/breast reduction for symmetry can be performed at the time of oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery in carefully selected patients without significantly increasing the risk of complications or delay to adjuvant radiation therapy., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Purpose: There is an ongoing debate on the optimal sequence of radiation and breast reconstruction. The purpose of this article was to (a) assess the impact of radiation on autologous breast reconstruction and (b) analyze the best timing for autologous breast reconstruction in the setting of radiation in a Chinese population., Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing breast reconstruction with autologous lower abdominal flaps between 2001 and 2014 in the Tianjin Medical University and Cancer Hospital was performed. Patients were grouped by their irradiation status (irradiated vs nonirradiated). The irradiated group was further stratified into 2 groups by the timing of irradiation (immediate breast reconstruction followed by radiation vs prior radiation and delayed breast reconstruction). The primary outcomes were early and late breast complications, secondary and revision surgeries to the reconstructed breast, whereas the secondary outcomes were aesthetic and psychological evaluations of the patients. Logistic regression was used to assess the potential association between irradiation, patient and treatment variables, and surgical outcomes., Results: Three hundred sixty patients with 370 reconstructed breasts were included in the study. Two hundred seventy-eight cases were nonirradiated, of which 158 were immediate and 120 were delayed. Ninety-two cases were irradiated, of which 61 were immediate, and 31 were delayed. Three hundred thirty-two cases underwent pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, 38 had deep inferior epigastric perforator flap. The irradiated group had a significant increase in secondary surgery due to fat necrosis (P < 0.001) and in late complications (P = 0.011). A significant increase in flap contracture (P = 0.043) and an increasing trend in the severity of fat necrosis were observed when radiation was performed after breast reconstruction. However, radiation and its timing did not have an adverse impact on patients' aesthetic and psychological evaluations by the Breast-Q survey., Conclusions: Radiation administered to the reconstructed breast mound increased the rate of late complications and the need for secondary surgery with increased abdominal flap shrinkage and contracture and the severity of flap fat necrosis. Irradiation on the reconstructed breast did not lead to worse aesthetic outcomes due to the generally different expectation in the Chinese female patients in that they were more focused on the breast shape when clothed. Immediate breast reconstruction followed by irradiated was a generally successful treatment sequence in the Chinese module.

The most commonly chosen flaps for delayed breast reconstruction after postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) are abdominal-based free flaps (ABFFs) and pedicled latissimus dorsi (LD) musculocutaneous flaps. The short-and long-term advantages and disadvantages of delayed ABFFs versus LD flaps after PMRT remain unclear. We hypothesized that after PMRT, ABFFs would result in fewer postoperative complications and a lower incidence of revision surgery than LD flaps., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively maintained database of consecutive patients who underwent unilateral, delayed breast reconstruction after PMRT using ABFFs or pedicled LD flaps with implants at the MD Anderson Cancer Center between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2011. We compared outcomes and additional surgeries required between the 2 groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression modeling analyzed the relationships between patient and reconstruction characteristics and postoperative outcomes., Results: A total of 139 consecutive patients' breast reconstructions were evaluated: 101 ABFFs (72.7%) versus 38 LDs (27.3%). Average follow-up was similar for ABFF and LD reconstructions. Although ABFF and LD reconstructions experienced similar rates of overall (30.7% vs 23.7%, respectively; P = 0.53), donor-site (8.91% vs 5.13%, respectively; P = 0.48), and flap (20.7% vs 17.9%, respectively; P = 0.37) complications, the LD reconstructions required more additional surgeries (92.1% vs 67.3%; P < 0.001). Furthermore, LDs required more revision surgeries more than 1 year after reconstruction (37.1% vs 14.7%; P = 0.02)., Conclusion: Although early complication rates were similar for both types of reconstructions, ABFFs seem to have the advantage of providing a more durable result that required fewer revision surgeries in the long term., Competing Interests: Dr. Garvey is a consultant for LifeCell Corporation (Branchburg, N.J.). Neither of the other authors has any financial interest disclosures. This study was supported, in part, by the National Institutes of Health through MD Anderson’s Cancer Center Support grant CA016672. The Article Processing Charge was paid for by the authors.

Using a perfusion decellularization protocol, we developed a decellularized skin/adipose tissue flap (DSAF) comprising extracellular matrix (ECM) and intact vasculature. Our DSAF had a dominant vascular pedicle, microcirculatory vascularity, and a sensory nerve network and retained three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrous structures well. DSAF, which was composed of collagen and laminin with well-preserved growth factors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor), was successfully repopulated with human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), which integrated with DSAF and formed 3D aggregates and vessel-like structures in vitro. We used microsurgery techniques to re-anastomose the recellularized DSAF into nude rats. In vivo, the engineered flap construct underwent neovascularization and constructive remodeling, which was characterized by the predominant infiltration of M2 macrophages and significant adipose tissue formation at 3months postoperatively. Our results indicate that DSAF co-cultured with hASCs and HUVECs is a promising platform for vascularized soft tissue flap engineering. This platform is not limited by the flap size, as the entire construct can be immediately perfused by the recellularized vascular network following simple re-integration into the host using conventional microsurgical techniques., Statement of Significance: Significant soft tissue loss resulting from traumatic injury or tumor resection often requires surgical reconstruction using autologous soft tissue flaps. However, the limited availability of qualitative autologous flaps as well as the donor site morbidity significantly limits this approach. Engineered soft tissue flap grafts may offer a clinically relevant alternative to the autologous flap tissue. In this study, we engineered vascularized soft tissue free flap by using skin/adipose flap extracellular matrix scaffold (DSAF) in combination with multiple types of human cells. Following vascular reanastomosis in the recipient site, the engineered products successful regenerated large-scale fat tissue in vivo. This approach may provide a translatable platform for composite soft tissue free flap engineering for microsurgical reconstruction., (Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Importance: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) serves the need for continual quality assessment in general surgery. Previously, no parallel mechanism specific to head and neck oncologic surgery existed., Objective: To address the need for continual quality assessment in subspecialty surgery by adapting the ACS NSQIP platform for complex head and neck oncologic surgical procedures., Design, Setting, and Participants: With an institutional ACS NSQIP team's guidance, surgeons from the departments of head and neck surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery developed disease- and procedure-specific preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables specific to head and neck surgery requiring reconstruction. Collection occurred with 100% sampling and standard ACS NSQIP 30-day follow-up. After a pilot period, long-term functional outcomes were added to this platform. A total of 312 patients underwent head and neck surgery requiring reconstruction at an academic medical center between August 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013., Exposures: Development of a specialty-specific head and neck surgery ACS NSQIP platform., Main Outcomes and Measures: The feasibility of adapting the ACS NSQIP platform to capture complex head and neck surgery metrics in all patients., Results: Head and neck surgery-specific preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were added to the ACS NSQIP platform and evaluated in 312 patients (201 [64.4%] male). Only 42 patients (13.5%) had no preoperative risk factors, and 136 (43.6%) had 3 or more risk factors. The mean (SD) duration of operation was 9.4 (3.0) hours (range, 1.7-19.3 hours). The mean (SD) postoperative length of stay was 7.9 (4.7) days (range, 1-40 days), 58 patients (18.6%) had an unplanned return to the operating room, 23 patients (7.4%) were readmitted within 30 days, and 3 patients (1.0%) died within 30 days. More than half of the patients (160 [51.3%]) did not experience a postoperative occurrence., Conclusions and Relevance: To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive complex oncologic surgery outcomes platform derived from ACS NSQIP methods. The initial pilot demonstrates the ability to systematically capture head and neck surgery-specific variables with complete sampling. With multi-institutional expansion, increased accrual, and long-term patient-reported outcomes, we hope to set risk-adjusted benchmarks that may underpin quality improvement efforts in complex head and neck surgery.

Background: The authors hypothesized that obese patients would experience fewer complications after oncoplastic breast reconstruction following partial mastectomy than after immediate breast reconstruction following total mastectomy., Methods: Complication rates were compared for oncoplastic breast reconstruction versus immediate breast reconstruction (with either implants or autologous tissue) in consecutive obese patients (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) treated at a single center between January of 2005 and April of 2013. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between patient and surgical characteristics and postoperative outcomes., Results: The study included 408 patients: 131 oncoplastic breast reconstruction and 277 immediate breast reconstruction patients. Presenting breast cancer stage was similar between the two groups. Oncoplastic breast reconstruction patients were older (55 years versus 53 years; p = 0.029), more obese (average body mass index, 37 kg/m(2) versus 35 kg/m(2); p < 0.001), and had more comorbidities. Nevertheless, the oncoplastic breast reconstruction group experienced fewer major complications requiring operative management (3.8 percent versus 28.5 percent; p < 0.001), fewer complications delaying adjuvant therapy (0.8 percent versus 14.4 percent; p < 0.001), and fewer incidences of hematoma/seroma formation (3.1 percent versus 11.6 percent; p < 0.004) than the immediate total breast reconstruction group. Univariate analysis found oncoplastic breast reconstruction to be an independent protector against major complications (OR, 0.1; p < 0.001) and complications that delayed adjuvant therapy (OR, 0.05; p = 0.002)., Conclusion: Oncoplastic breast reconstruction likely represents a safer option than immediate total breast reconstruction following mastectomy for obese patients, particularly for patients who are superobese or present with preexisting medical comorbidities., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Loss of a breast free flap is a relatively rare but catastrophic occurrence. Our study aims to identify risk factors for flap loss and to assess whether different salvage techniques affect flap salvage. We performed a retrospective review of all breast free flaps performed at a single institution from 2000 to 2010. Overall, 2138 flaps were performed in 1608 patients (unilateral, 1120 and bilateral, 488) with 44 flap losses (2.1%). Age, body mass index, smoking, radiation, chemotherapy, and surgeon experience did not affect flap loss. Abdominal flaps based on a single perforator were at significantly higher risk for flap loss compared with flaps based on multiple perforators (P = 0.0007). Subgroup analysis of the subset of 166 compromised free flaps (flaps requiring a return to the operating room, an intraoperative anastomotic revision, or loss/partial loss of a free flap) demonstrated deep inferior epigastric perforator, and other flaps (superficial inferior epigastric artery and superior gluteal artery perforator) were significantly associated with flap loss [odds ratio (OR) 5.20; P = 0.03 and OR 6.91; P = 0.0004, respectively] compared with transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous and muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps. Although an intraoperative complication was not associated with a flap loss, the need for a reoperation was strongly predictive (P < 0.0001). Flap salvage was the highest within the first 24 hours (83.7%) and significantly less between days 1 and 3 (38.6%; P < 0.0001) and beyond 4 days (29.4%; P < 0.0001). Longer ischemia time was significantly associated with flap loss (P = 0.04). Salvage techniques (aspirin, heparinzation, thrombectomy, and thrombolytic) had no impact on flap salvage rates. Heparinization and thrombolytics were associated with higher loss rates (OR 3.40; P = 0.003 and OR 10.36; P < 0.0001, respectively). Free flap loss following breast reconstruction is multifactorial with higher losses in superficial inferior epigastric artery and gluteal flaps, single-perforator abdominal flaps, and longer ischemia times. Salvage rates are most successful within the first 24 hours, and the use of heparinization, aspirin, and thrombolytics does not improve salvage rates.

Achieving symmetry in unilateral free flap breast reconstruction often requires a contralateral procedure; however, no large studies exist that examine the factors related to revisions performed on the contralateral breast. The present study examines the relationship between revision and complication rate, and the type and timing of the contralateral procedure. Retrospective analysis was performed of all unilateral free flap breast reconstructions from January 2000 to December 2010 at a single academic institution. Overall, 1120 patients underwent unilateral free flap breast reconstruction with 558 (49.8%) patients undergoing a contralateral procedure, 154 (27.6%) immediate and 404 (72.4%) delayed. Contralateral procedures included 106 augmentations, 168 reductions, 240 mastopexies, and 37 augmentation-mastopexies. Revision of the symmetry procedure was performed in 114 (20.8%) patients. Augmentation and mastopexy were associated with significantly higher revision rates when performed immediately. The complication rate was higher in immediate contralateral procedures than delayed [15 (9.7%) vs 16 (4.0%), P = 0.01]. The average number of procedures per patient was significantly higher in delayed contralateral procedures than immediate (2.45 vs 1.84, P < 0.0005). In summary, approximately half of patients undergoing a unilateral free flap for breast reconstruction will also undergo a contralateral balancing procedure. Immediate contralateral augmentation and mastopexy carry a higher revision rate and consideration should be given to performing them in a staged fashion. There were no differences in the rate of revisions for breast reductions, and therefore, performance of simultaneous contralateral reduction is a reasonable option. Although complication rates were higher in the immediate cohort, overall "symmetry" was achieved in significantly fewer operations.

Background: This study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of factors that might contribute to abdominal donor-site morbidity after abdominally based free flap breast reconstruction., Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of all abdominally based free flap breast reconstructions performed from January of 2000 through December of 2010 at their institution., Results: Overall, 89 of 1507 patients developed an abdominal bulge/hernia (unilateral: 57 of 1044; bilateral: 32 of 463). A unilateral transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap was significantly more likely to develop an abdominal bulge/hernia than was a muscle-sparing TRAM flap or a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap (9.9 percent versus 3.7 percent versus 5.9 percent; p = 0.004). However, there was no difference in the risk of developing an abdominal bulge/hernia between a muscle-sparing TRAM and a DIEP flap (p = 0.36). Patients who underwent bilateral reconstructions were 1.35 times more likely to develop an abdominal bulge/hernia than patients who underwent unilateral reconstruction, but the difference was not significant. Harvesting more fascia as occurs when both medial and lateral rows are used was significantly associated with need for mesh (p < 0.0001). Overall, placement of mesh for fascia closure reduced the odds of occurrence of bulge/hernia by 70 percent compared with primary fascia closure., Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the risk of developing abdominal bulge/hernia between bilateral versus unilateral breast reconstruction. For abdominally based free flap breast reconstruction, the extent of the fascia harvested, how it is repaired, and the amount of muscle preserved might play an important role in donor-site morbidity., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Background: The internal mammary vessels are commonly used as primary recipient vessels for free flap breast reconstruction. However, there is debate about the reliability of the left internal mammary vein. The authors explored the anatomy of the internal mammary vessels as revealed during free flap breast reconstruction to determine whether microvascular complications differed between the left and right sides., Methods: All free flap breast reconstructions performed using internal mammary recipient vessels at the authors' institution between January of 2000 and December of 2010 were reviewed. The authors compared left and right breast reconstructions for internal mammary vessel diameters and microvascular complications, pedicle thrombosis, and total flap losses., Results: Overall, 1773 free flap breast reconstructions were performed in 1336 patients using the internal mammary vessels: 899 unilateral and 437 bilateral. The left side was used in 904 cases and the right side in 869 cases. Although the mean sizes of the left and right internal mammary arteries (2.44 and 2.47 mm, respectively) did not differ significantly, the left vein was significantly smaller than the right vein (2.47 mm versus 2.93 mm; p = 0.038). The overall rate of venous thrombosis was significantly higher on the left than on the right (3.0 percent versus 2.3 percent; p = 0.028). The rates of flap loss in left and right breast reconstructions did not differ significantly (1.9 percent versus 2.2 percent)., Conclusion: Although the left internal mammary vein is smaller than the right and is at higher risk for venous complications, it remains an acceptable recipient vessel for free flap breast reconstruction., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Therapeutic, III.

Background: The authors hypothesized that, for obese patients, delayed abdominal-based free flap (rather than implant-based and immediate) breast reconstruction would result in fewer overall complications and reconstruction losses., Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed consecutive implant- and abdominal-based free flap breast reconstructions performed in obese patients between 2005 and 2010 by utilizing the World Health Organization obesity classifications: class I, 30.0 to 34.9 kg/m2; class II, 35.0 to 39.9 kg/m2; and class III, ≥40 kg/m2. Primary outcome measures included flap failures and overall complications. Logistic regression analysis identified associations among patient, defect, and reconstructive characteristics and surgical outcomes., Results: The analysis included 990 breast reconstructions (548 flaps versus 442 implants) in 700 patients. Mean follow-up was 17 months. Age, smoking, medical illness, and body mass index greater than 37 predicted overall complications on regression analysis. Implants demonstrated a higher failure rate (15.8 percent) than flaps (1.5 percent). Although failure rates were similar for immediate and delayed flap reconstructions overall (1.3 versus 1.9 percent) and among obesity classifications, there was a trend toward more implant failures in immediate rather than delayed reconstructions (16.8 versus 5.3 percent). Differences between immediate implant versus flap reconstruction failure rates were highest among more obese patients [class II (24.7 versus 1.3 percent) and class III (25.4 versus 0 percent) compared with class I (11.7 versus 1.4 percent)]., Conclusions: Obese patients (particularly class II and III) experience higher failure rates with implant-based breast reconstruction, particularly immediate reconstruction. Free flap techniques or delayed implant reconstruction may be warranted in this population., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Risk, II.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is a locally invasive tumor that can grow extensively with diffuse infiltration into surrounding tissue. Resecting a large neurofibroma can result in an extensive defect that is difficult to reconstruct and can cause both aesthetic and functional deformities., Methods: From 2000 to 2010, 5 patients with NF-1 underwent radical resection and immediate reconstruction with 6 free flaps at our institution. All patients presented with recurrent tumor, and involved head and neck region in 4 and foot in 1 patient. Ages ranged from 18 to 75 years. The follow-up ranged from 1 to 94 months., Results: Defect sizes ranged from 84 to 252 cm. A single free flap was used in 4 cases and 2 free flaps were used in 1 case. All the flaps survived. Complications included loss of skin graft, necrosis of the distal tip of a flap, and wound dehiscence. All complications were successfully managed with minor surgical procedures., Conclusion: Immediate reconstruction using a free flap after resecting a large neurofibroma is a safe and reliable method that facilitates radical resection of the tumors that are difficult to resect and that may result in an extensive defect.

Background: The authors examined the safety of a protocol for planned skin-preserving delayed breast reconstruction after postmastectomy radiotherapy with placement of a tissue expander for patients with locally advanced breast cancer (stages IIB and III)., Methods: The authors compared 47 patients treated according to the protocol between December 2003 and May 2008 with 47 disease-stage-matched control patients who underwent standard delayed reconstruction after postmastectomy radiotherapy (no skin preservation or tissue expander) during the same period., Results: Protocol-group complication rates were 21 percent for skin-preserving mastectomy and placement of the expander (stage 1), 5 percent for postmastectomy radiotherapy, 25 percent for expander reinflation after radiotherapy, and 24 percent for skin-preserving delayed reconstruction. The complication rate for standard delayed reconstruction was 38 percent. Tissue-expander loss rates were 32 percent overall, 9 percent for stage 1, 5 percent for postmastectomy radiotherapy, and 22 percent for reinflation. Wound-healing complications after reconstruction occurred in 3 percent of protocol-group and 10 percent of control-group patients. The median follow-up time for patients still alive at last follow-up was 40 months (range, 8.5 to 85.3 months). Three-year recurrence-free survival rates were 92 percent (95 percent CI, 83 to 100 percent) and 86 percent (95 percent CI, 76 to 98 percent) for the protocol and control groups, respectively (p = 0.87)., Conclusion: In patients with locally advanced breast cancer, skin-preserving mastectomy with a deflated tissue expander on the chest wall during postmastectomy radiotherapy does not increase locoregional recurrence risk and is associated with lower complication rates of definitive reconstruction.

Background: Young age is an independent risk factor for local-regional recurrence after mastectomy in patients with T1/T2 tumors with zero or one to three positive lymph nodes. The authors evaluated the current incidence and management of local-regional recurrence after immediate breast reconstruction in patients with T1/T2 tumors and zero to three positive lymph nodes who did not receive postmastectomy radiotherapy., Methods: Clinical and pathologic factors were identified for 495 patients with T1/T2 tumors and zero to three positive lymph nodes who were treated with mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction between 1997 and 2002 and did not receive primary systemic chemotherapy or postmastectomy radiation therapy., Results: Autologous tissue-based reconstruction was performed in 70 percent of patients, and 30 percent had tissue expander placement. At a median follow-up of 7.5 years, local-regional recurrence had occurred in 16 patients (3.2 percent). Independent predictors of local-regional recurrence were age 40 years or less, estrogen receptor-negative tumors, and T2 (versus T1) tumors (p < 0.05). Multimodality therapy was utilized for all 16 patients with local-regional recurrence. Nine patients (56.3 percent) who had an isolated local-regional recurrence had a 100 percent local control rate and were treated with curative intent. The 10-year overall survival rate for patients with an isolated local-regional recurrence (87.5 percent) was not significantly different from that for patients without a local-regional recurrence (90.3 percent; p = 0.234)., Conclusions: Routine use of postmastectomy radiation therapy in this heterogeneous patient population should be discouraged to allow more patients to undergo immediate breast reconstruction and ease the burden on plastic surgeons who have had to confront the problems of reconstruction in the face of perioperative radiation in an ever-increasing number of patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal timing of delayed abdominal free flap breast reconstruction following postmastectomy radiation therapy. The authors evaluated the association between timing of delayed abdominal free flap breast reconstruction following postmastectomy radiation therapy and postoperative complications., Methods: The authors reviewed a prospectively maintained database of delayed abdominal free flap breast reconstruction performed between July of 2005 and December of 2009. Data regarding demographics, operative variables, and clinical outcomes were collected. Patients were classified as having undergone reconstruction less than 12 months after postmastectomy radiation therapy (group I) or 12 months or more after postmastectomy radiation therapy (group II). Complications were compared between groups, including microvascular thrombosis, flap loss, reoperation, wound dehiscence, and fat necrosis., Results: One hundred eighty-nine patients were identified, 82 (43.4 percent) in group I and 107 (56.6 percent) in group II. The total flap loss rate was 2.6 percent, with all flap losses occurring in group I (p = 0.014). The reoperation rate was higher in group I (14.6 percent versus 4.7 percent; p = 0.022). In addition, group I patients trended toward a higher incidence of microvascular thrombosis, infection, and wound dehiscence., Conclusions: Patients who underwent delayed abdominal free flap breast reconstruction after 12 months from the completion of postmastectomy radiation therapy developed fewer complications, including microvascular thrombosis and total flap loss, than those who underwent delayed abdominal free flap breast reconstruction within 12 months of completing postmastectomy radiation therapy. Allowing an interval of 12 months between the completion of postmastectomy radiation therapy and delayed abdominal free flap breast reconstruction will likely minimize complications and optimize outcomes in free flap breast reconstruction in patients receiving postmastectomy radiation.

The authors describe their experience with the use of the distally based dorsal pedal neurocutaneous flap for distal foot coverage. Ten patients underwent reconstruction with 13 flaps between 2004 and 2008. One patient suffered from a traffic accident and 9 from electrical injury. All of the soft tissue defects resulted in metatarsophalangeal joint and phalanx bone exposure. The size of the flaps ranged from 6 × 2 cm to 11 × 6 cm. The flaps were elevated based on intermediate or medial dorsal pedal nerves. Nine flaps were harvested in first stage to repair the distal foot. Among them, 3 showed partial necrosis in the distal region because of venous insufficiency. Four flaps underwent a surgical delay procedure in the first stage and were then transferred to reconstruct phalanx wounds in the second stage, surviving completely. All patients were satisfied with their reconstruction and donor site contour. The distally based dorsal pedal neurocutaneous flap can be used to repair the distal foot soft tissue defects, providing sufficient skin territory and excellent aesthetic and functional recovery. Surgical delay effectively enhances the distally based dorsal pedal neurocutaneous flap survival, particularly for the large size flaps.

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap has gained popularity, yet the donor site remains problematic. With increased knowledge of the vascular anatomy, we anticipated that we would be able to contour the ALT adipofascial flap when reconstructing facial deformities and micromastia without sacrificing skin at the donor site. A total of 24 cases of hemifacial atrophy and 1 case of micromastia underwent anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap transplantation with vascular anastomosis. All surgical reconstructions resulted in satisfactory results with minimal donor-site morbidity. The anterolateral thigh adipofascial perforator flap is an ideal choice for autologous tissue reconstruction with primary defatting., (Thieme Medical Publishers.)

Background: : Pharyngoesophageal defects traditionally have been reconstructed using a jejunal or radial forearm flap. In 2002, the authors began using the anterolateral thigh flap for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction, and it has become our preferred method. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical and functional outcomes achieved using this technique., Methods: : The medical records of 91 male and 23 female patients who underwent pharyngoesophageal reconstruction using an anterolateral thigh flap were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes analyzed included length of hospital and intensive care unit stay, fistula and anastomotic stricture formation and other complications, swallowing and tracheoesophageal speech function, and survival. Most patients had primary (27%) or recurrent (42%) squamous cell carcinoma. Before reconstruction, 71% of patients had undergone surgery, radiotherapy, or both. There were 67 circumferential and 47 near-circumferential defects., Results: : Mean intensive care unit stay was 1.9 +/- 2.2 days, and mean hospital stay was 9.0 +/- 4.7 days. Two patients experienced total flap loss, and 1 patient had partial flap necrosis. Pharyngocutaneous fistulas and strictures occurred in 9% and 6% of patients, respectively. Ninety-one percent of patients tolerated an oral diet without the need for tube feeding. Tracheoesophageal puncture was performed for speech rehabilitation in 51 patients. Eight-one percent of patients with a secondary tracheoesophageal puncture achieved fluent speech versus 41% of patients with a primary tracheoesophageal puncture., Conclusions: : This series demonstrates that excellent clinical and functional outcomes, with minimal donor site morbidity and quick recovery, are possible with pharyngoesophageal reconstruction using an anterolateral thigh flap. Cancer 2010. (c) 2010 American Cancer Society.

The purpose of this article is to describe the author's experience using the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap for the reconstruction of a variety of soft tissue defects. The flap utility and donor site morbidity were evaluated in 126 cases from March 1985 to August 2007. The ALT flaps were harvested as either free fasciocutaneous, free adipofascial, fasciocutaneous island, or reversed fasciocutaneous island flaps to repair facial, neck, breast, trunk, and extremity defects. In 40 cases (32%), the skin vessels were found to be septocutaneous perforators, and in 86 cases (68%), they were found as musculocutaneous perforators. Of the 126 flaps, 121 survived completely, providing a success rate of 96.0%. There were four cases undergoing multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for preoperative perforator mapping, and all perforators were confirmed intraoperatively. In conclusion, the ALT flap is a versatile and reliable flap that could well be a priority option for soft tissue reconstruction. CTA can provide more valuable and accurate anatomic information about the pedicle and perforators, making it safer and faster to harvest a targeted ALT perforator flap with less donor site morbidity.

Background: Our goal was to determine the impact of reconstructive microsurgery on the treatment of advanced oral cavity cancers., Methods: We reviewed 484 patients undergoing resection of T3-4 oral cavity squamous cell cancers from 1980 to 2004. To examine how reconstructive microsurgery affects outcomes, we compared 135 patients treated prior to the introduction of free tissue transfer and 349 patients treated after the introduction of free tissue transfer., Results: Cancers treated after the introduction of free flaps included a significantly higher proportion of T4 compared to T3 lesions and significantly more advanced N classification lesions. Although cancers were more advanced, survival and recurrence rates were maintained and the rate of positive pathologic margins decreased significantly. In addition, fistula and tracheostomy dependence rates decreased and rates of intelligible speech increased., Conclusion: Reconstructive microsurgery contributes to improved oncologic outcomes in addition to better function and lower morbidity in oral cavity cancer treatment., ((c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: The optimal timing and technique of breast reconstruction in patients who may require postmastectomy radiation therapy are controversial. To help surgeons make the best decisions, the authors reviewed the recent literature on this topic., Methods: The authors searched the MEDLINE database for studies of radiation therapy and breast reconstruction with most patients treated after 1985 and mean follow-up of more than 1 year. Forty-nine articles were reviewed., Results: Even with the latest prosthetic materials and modern radiation delivery techniques, the complication rate for implant-based breast reconstruction in patients undergoing postmastectomy radiation therapy is greater than 40 percent, and the extrusion rate is 15 percent. Modified sequencing of two-stage implant reconstruction, such that the expander is exchanged for the permanent implant before postmastectomy radiation therapy, results in higher rates of capsular contracture and is not generally feasible after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Current evidence suggests that postmastectomy radiation therapy also adversely affects autologous tissue reconstruction. Even with modern radiation delivery techniques, immediate implant-based or autologous tissue breast reconstruction can distort the chest wall and limit the ability to treat the targeted tissues without excessive exposure of the heart and lungs. In patients for whom postmastectomy radiation therapy appears likely but may not be required, "delayed-immediate reconstruction," in which tissue expanders are placed at mastectomy, avoids the difficulties associated with radiation delivery after immediate reconstruction and preserves the opportunity for the aesthetic benefits of skin-sparing mastectomy., Conclusions: In patients who will receive or have already received postmastectomy radiation therapy, the optimal approach is delayed autologous tissue reconstruction after postmastectomy radiation therapy. If postmastectomy radiation therapy appears likely but may not be required, delayed-immediate reconstruction may be considered.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the causes of flap compromise and failure in head and neck free flap reconstruction., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1310 free flap reconstructions for head and neck defects performed between July 1995 and June 2006., Results: Forty-nine cases of flap compromise due to vascular obstruction (3.7%) were identified, and 27 flaps were lost (2%). Arterial occlusions occurred in 12 flaps, with a salvage rate of 33%. Eight flaps failed within the first 24 hours, and only 1 of these was salvageable. Five of the 8 flaps had intraoperative thrombosis due to technical difficulties. Venous occlusions occurred in 31 flaps, with a salvage rate of 58%. Twenty-two venous occlusions occurred within the first 72 hours. The main reason for venous failure was mechanical obstruction due to compression, twisting, kinking, or stretching of the vein. The most common cause of late failures (after 7 days) was unrecognized failure of a buried flap owing to the lack of reliable monitoring. Overall, there was no correlation between surgeon experience and flap failure, but the flap failure rate was lower in surgeons who had performed more than 70 free flap procedures., Conclusion: Precise surgical techniques, avoidance of mechanical obstruction, and better monitoring of buried flaps may further improve the success rate of free tissue transfer in complex head and neck reconstruction., ((c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009.)

Background: The goal of the authors' study was to determine whether an autologous tissue flap, when combined with an implant for breast reconstruction, reduces the incidence of implant-related complications in previously irradiated breasts., Methods: The authors reviewed 1000 consecutive cases of implant-based breast reconstructions performed in 706 patients at the authors' institution. The median age was 49.5 years, and mean follow-up was 22.2 months. Eighty-six patients (8.6 percent) received preoperative radiation therapy and 43 patients (4.3 percent) received postoperative radiation therapy to the reconstructed breast. Breast reconstructions were performed using an expander/implant alone in 776 cases, a latissimus dorsi flap/implant in 146 cases, and a free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap/implant in 78 cases. Implant-based reconstructions were considered to have failed if an implant was lost because of extrusion, infection, or rupture or if implant exchange was required because of a severe capsular contracture., Results: In patients who had undergone preoperative irradiation, patients with free TRAM flap/implant reconstructions had a significantly lower implant loss rate than patients with expander/implant-only reconstructions (5.0 percent versus 30.3 percent, p < 0.04). Also, significantly fewer reconstructions failed in patients with latissimus dorsi flap/implant reconstructions or TRAM flap/implant reconstructions than in patients with expander/implant-only reconstructions (15.2 percent or 10.0 percent versus 42.2 percent, p < 0.03)., Conclusion: An autologous flap, when combined with an implant for breast reconstruction, appears to reduce the incidence of implant-related complications in previously irradiated breasts.

Background: The purpose of this study was to address questions concerning the functional outcome following mandibular reconstruction with vascularized fibula flap in skeletally immature children, Methods: Eleven patients 14 years old or younger who underwent mandibular reconstruction using a free fibula flap were evaluated., Results: The mean follow-up was 3.4 years. One flap loss occurred and required a second fibula flap. Panorex radiographs showed good bone union and growth in all patients. Functional outcomes were normal according to age in all patients. Two patients had long-term malocclusion. No patients had to undergo corrective orthognathic surgery. Donor-site morbidities consisted of great toe flexion contracture (n = 4) and a valgus deformity (n = 1). All patients had a normal gait, and there were no discrepancies in leg length., Conclusion: A mandible reconstructed using a vascularized fibula flap appears to grow accordingly as the child grows, with minimal disturbance to the growth pattern of the midface., ((c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 2008.)

Background: The authors previously compared the local tissue rearrangement, breast reduction, and latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction techniques for repairing partial mastectomy defects and showed the benefits of breast reduction., Methods: In this study, the authors focused solely on factors influencing outcome in 41 patients who underwent repair of a partial mastectomy defect using breast reduction., Results: Tumor location had a significant effect on the design of the parenchymal pedicle (p = 0.05). Most repairs were performed with an inferior pedicle. Fifty percent of the lower outer and central quadrant tumors required an amputative design with a free nipple graft. The complication rates for immediate and delayed repair were 24 and 50 percent, respectively. The superior pedicle was associated with the highest complication rates. Tumors in the upper outer quadrant of the breast were associated with the highest complication rate (35 percent). Ninety percent of patients with planned repairs had a viable nipple-areola complex (p = 0.05) and did not require a free nipple graft. More favorable cosmetic outcomes were achieved using an inferior pedicle; less favorable cosmetic outcomes were achieved for tumors in the upper inner quadrant of the breast. Larger defects did not result in less favorable cosmetic outcomes than smaller defects. Only 7 percent of patients had a positive tumor margin. Five percent of patients developed local breast cancer recurrence after a mean follow-up of 36 months., Conclusion: The authors provide practical guidelines for repairing a partial mastectomy defect using breast reduction that should minimize the occurrence of complications and optimize the cosmetic outcome.

Background: Use of internal mammary perforator recipient vessels may decrease recipient-site morbidity in free flap breast reconstruction. However, it is not known whether they are as reliable as the internal mammary vessels or whether their use would result in increased recipient-site complications., Methods: A retrospective study of all 686 lower abdominal free flap breast reconstructions performed during a 4-year period at the authors' institution identified 38 cases in which internal mammary perforator vessels were used. A subset of 114 of the 686 cases was studied in which patients were treated by a single surgeon, internal mammary perforator vessel use was attempted, and vessel measurements were taken intraoperatively., Results: Internal mammary perforator recipient vessels were used in 27 percent of cases attempted, 94 percent of which were located at the second or third intercostal space. Internal mammary perforator arteries were significantly smaller in diameter (1.9 mm) than internal mammary arteries (2.6 mm) (p < 0.0001). Despite this, the incidences of flap loss, fat necrosis, and mastectomy skin flap necrosis were not significantly different between the internal mammary and internal mammary perforator vessel groups. The internal mammary and internal mammary perforator veins were similar in diameter., Conclusions: To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest published series of internal mammary perforator vessels used as free flap recipient vessels. In selected cases, internal mammary perforator vessels can be used without increasing the risk of flap loss, fat necrosis, or mastectomy skin flap necrosis, and are equally reliable and require less invasive surgical dissection than internal mammary vessels. The use of internal mammary perforator vessels may safely minimize recipient-site morbidity.

Background: The various surgical procedures for early-stage breast cancer are equivalent in terms of survival. Therefore, other factors, such as the procedures' effect on psychosocial adjustment and quality of life (QOL), take on great importance. The aim of the current study was to prospectively examine the short- and long-term effects of mastectomy with reconstruction, mastectomy without reconstruction, and breast conservation therapy on aspects of psychosocial adjustment and QOL in a sample of 258 women with breast cancer., Methods: Participants completed questionnaires before surgery and then again 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Questionnaires assessed depressive symptoms, anxiety, body image, sexual functioning, and QOL., Results: Adjustment patterns differed throughout the 2-year period after surgery. Some short-term changes in adjustment (less anxiety, less overall body satisfaction) were similar across surgery groups, whereas others (satisfaction with chest appearance, QOL in physical health domain) were higher for women who had breast conservation therapy. However, women who had mastectomy with reconstruction reported greater satisfaction with their abdominal area. During the long-term follow-up period (6 months to 2 years after surgery), women in all three groups experienced marked improvements in psychosocial adjustment (depressive symptoms, satisfaction with chest appearance, sexual functioning) and QOL in physical and mental health domains. In fact, the level for most variables returned to baseline levels or higher., Conclusions: Overall, the general patterns of psychosocial adjustment and QOL are similar among the three surgery groups.

Background: Neoplasms of the skull base are rare in children and require a multidisciplinary approach. Surgical defects are often large and cause significant functional, aesthetic, and psychological issues. The authors present their experience with reconstruction of the anterior and lateral skull base in the pediatric population., Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review at a comprehensive cancer center., Results: Between January of 1993 and February of 2005, 10 children and adolescents underwent surgical resection of a skull base tumor followed by reconstruction of the skull base. Patients ranged in age from 6.4 to 17.9 years (median, 11.8 years). Four patients had rhabdomyosarcoma, and one each had spindle cell sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, liposarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and neurofibromatosis. Surgical defects involved the anterior skull base in three patients, the infratemporal fossa in three patients, both the anterior and middle cranial fossae in three patients, and the temporal bone in one patient. Fourteen flap procedures were performed in these patients-11 after tumor resection and three in a delayed fashion to promote improved functional and aesthetic outcomes. Complications occurred in three patients, and there was one case of flap loss., Conclusions: Skull base reconstruction may be reliably and successfully accomplished in children and adolescents using soft-tissue free flaps or regional flaps. Full rehabilitation, including bony reconstruction and prosthetic rehabilitation, may be accomplished as craniofacial development plateaus in adolescence.

Background: Over the years, the authors' preferred recipient vessels for microvascular autologous breast reconstruction have changed from the thoracodorsal to the internal mammary vessels., Methods: From 1994 to 2004, 1483 microvascular autologous breast reconstructions were performed in 1168 patients at the authors' institution. Potential factors involved in the selection of the recipient vessels were evaluated and compared between the thoracodorsal and internal mammary groups. Rates of recipient vessel unusability and flap-related complications were also analyzed and compared between the two groups., Results: The mean patient age was 48 years, and the mean follow-up time was 1.5 years. The vessel conversion rate was 2.8 percent for the thoracodorsal group and 1.9 percent for the internal mammary group. Preoperative radiotherapy and previous axillary node dissection were significantly associated with thoracodorsal vessel conversion (odds ratios, 4.7 and 2.6, respectively). The overall flap-related complication rate (12.6 percent versus 8.6 percent) and specific flap-related complications, including flap loss (2.6 percent versus 3.8 percent), vessel thrombosis (3.7 percent versus 5.0 percent), fat necrosis (4.5 percent versus 2.6 percent), infection (0.7 percent versus 0.7 percent), and hematoma (1.6 percent versus 1.9 percent), were comparable between the two groups, but the flap seroma rate was significantly higher in the thoracodorsal group (4.0 percent versus 0.7 percent; odds ratio, 4.2)., Conclusion: In the authors' experience, use of internal mammary vessels is safe, with low rates of vessel conversion and flap-related complications.

Background: Although sentinel lymph node biopsy is rapidly replacing complete axillary lymph node dissection for lymph node staging in women with clinically node-negative breast cancer, it is unclear what impact the transition to sentinel lymph node biopsy will have on the practice of breast reconstruction., Methods: To determine the effect of the transition from complete axillary lymph node dissection to sentinel lymph node biopsy on their practice of breast reconstruction, the authors reviewed the records of 717 patients with breast cancer who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy and 1887 breast reconstructions-487 were performed in patients who also underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1998 and 2003., Results: Before 1999, sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed infrequently. Between 1999 and 2003, the number of sentinel lymph node biopsy procedures performed per year increased almost 50-fold. Concurrent with this increase in the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy, there was a corresponding increase in the proportion of breast reconstruction procedures performed in patients who had also undergone sentinel lymph node biopsy (13 percent per year, p = 0.0001). In 2003, 54 percent of all breast reconstructions were performed in patients who had sentinel lymph node biopsy. In 2000, 1 year after the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy began to increase, the choice of recipient vessels for free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction began to change. Between 2001 and 2002, the internal mammary vessels replaced the thoracodorsal vessels as the preferred recipient vessels for TRAM flap reconstruction (p < 0.0001). Over the study period, the authors noted a decrease in the percentage of free TRAM flap procedures requiring revision, more frequent use of contralateral implant-based augmentation to achieve symmetry, an increase in the percentage of patients desiring a second attempt at reconstruction after loss of a TRAM flap, and a decrease in the percentage of patients being referred for physical therapy or treatment of lymphedema after free TRAM flap reconstruction., Conclusions: The transition from axillary lymph node dissection to sentinel lymph node biopsy has resulted in a change in breast reconstruction practices. The increased use of the internal mammary vessels reflects the decreased dissection of axillary tissue to expose the thoracodorsal vessels with sentinel lymph node biopsy in addition to concern that a subsequent axillary surgery to remove additional axillary nodes might injure the thoracodorsal vessels should they be used in breast reconstruction. Awareness of the decreased morbidity associated with sentinel lymph node biopsy has led patients to expect less morbidity and better aesthetic outcomes from TRAM flap reconstruction.

Background: Pharyngoesophageal defects are commonly reconstructed with free jejunal or fasciocutaneous flaps, with various outcomes, and a direct comparison is lacking., Methods: Fifty-seven circumferential pharyngoesophageal reconstructions with an anterolateral thigh flap (n = 26 patients) performed by a single surgeon or jejunal flap (n = 31 patients) performed by six experienced surgeons between 1998 and 2004 were reviewed and outcomes were compared., Results: Total flap loss occurred in one (4 percent) and two (6 percent) patients, fistula rates were 8 percent and 3 percent, and stricture rates were 15 percent and 19 percent in the anterolateral thigh and jejunal flap groups, respectively (p > 0.5). A completely oral diet was achieved in 95 percent and 65 percent, and fluent tracheoesophageal speech was achieved in 89 percent and 22 percent of patients with the anterolateral thigh and jejunal flaps, respectively (p < 0.01). The mean lengths of postoperative ventilator support, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay were 1.0 +/- 0.2, 1.7 +/- 1.0, and 8.0 +/- 3.7 days for the anterolateral thigh flap group and 2.2 +/- 3.0, 3.0 +/- 3.2, and 12.6 +/- 7.9 days for the jejunal flap group (p < 0.001 for all), respectively. Mean hospital charges per patient were $8694 and $12,651 for the anterolateral thigh and jejunal flap groups, respectively (p = 0.02)., Conclusions: With the limitations of comparing a single surgeon's results with those of multiple surgeons, the anterolateral thigh flap appears to offer better speech and swallowing functions and quicker recovery and to be more cost-effective than the jejunal flap for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction. The complication rates were similar.

Background: Unfortunately, patients who desire repair of contour deformities after partial mastectomy usually present after radiation therapy, which may increase the risk of complications and result in a poor aesthetic outcome. The authors reviewed their experience with repair of partial mastectomy defects to determine the optimal approach to breast reconstruction after partial mastectomy., Methods: Sixty-nine patients who underwent repair of a partial mastectomy defect and received radiation therapy were included in this analysis. The reconstructive techniques were categorized as local tissue rearrangement (LTR), breast reduction, or use of a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap or thoracoepigastric skin flap (hereafter referred to as "flap")., Results: Fifty patients underwent immediate reconstruction before radiation therapy, and 19 underwent delayed reconstruction after radiation therapy. The reconstructive techniques in patients with immediate reconstruction were local tissue rearrangement in 28 percent, breast reduction in 66 percent, and flaps in 6 percent. In patients with delayed reconstruction, 32 percent had local tissue rearrangement, 42 percent had breast reduction, and 26 percent had flaps. The complication rates for immediate and delayed reconstruction were 26 percent and 42 percent, respectively. Overall, and in the setting of immediate reconstruction, the flap technique was associated with a higher complication rate than local tissue rearrangement and breast reduction. However, in the setting of delayed reconstruction, the flap technique was associated with a lower complication rate than the other two techniques. Fifty-seven percent of the immediate reconstructions performed with the local tissue rearrangement or breast reduction technique, but only 33 percent of the immediate reconstructions performed with the flap technique, were associated with an excellent or good aesthetic outcome., Conclusion: Immediate repair of partial mastectomy defects with local tissues results in a lower risk of complications and better aesthetic outcomes than immediate repair of partial mastectomy defects with a latissimus dorsi flap.

Background: Functional outcomes and morbidities of pharyngoesophageal reconstruction have not been satisfactory. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate such outcomes following pharyngoesophageal reconstruction with the anterolateral thigh flap., Methods: Reconstruction of pharyngoesophageal defects was performed in 41 consecutive patients with the anterolateral thigh flap. There were 31 circumferential and 10 near-circumferential defects. In the initial nine patients, a portion of the flap was externalized for monitoring by deepithelializing a strip of skin at the distal anastomosis. This technique resulted in a 33-percent fistula rate and was thus modified for the subsequent 32 patients, in whom a true end-to-end, spatulated anastomosis was performed., Results: Total flap loss occurred in one patient, and one patient had partial flap necrosis due to ischemic bowel and sepsis. The mean hospital stay was 6.7 +/- 1.9 days. With the modified technique, fistulas occurred in two out of 25 patients (8 percent) and two out of seven patients (29 percent) with circumferential and near-circumferential defects, respectively, for an overall fistula rate of 13 percent. Strictures occurred in three out of 25 (12 percent) of patients with circumferential defects only. Fluent speech was achieved in all 13 patients who had successful tracheoesophageal prosthesis placement. Among the 34 patients available for diet assessment, two patients (6 percent) required partial tube feeding owing to extensive tongue resection; all other patients tolerated a regular (88 percent) or pureed (6 percent) diet., Conclusion: The anterolateral thigh flap offers comparable complication rates, superior speech and swallowing functions, minimal donor-site morbidity, a quick recovery, and a short hospital stay.

For defects up to approximately 80% of either upper or lower lip, reconstructions that use remaining lip and cheek can function and look reasonably well. Free tissue transfers, such as the free radial forearm flap, are useful for larger defects as they import additional tissue in one step and reduce microstomia, which is more likely to result from local tissue repairs. At best, free flaps provide a static dam or curtain that functions as a lip; at worst, they deliver a large amount of composite tissue to allow for primary healing. Satisfactory outcomes after free flap reconstructions for lip are best achieved when the transferred tissue is integrated with the native tissues by suspending free flaps appropriately, resurfacing with the flaps with vermilion substitutes, and judicious interposition of remaining lip segments.

Reconstruction of total or near-total glossectomy defects has been challenging and the functional outcomes are often disappointing. In this article, the 10-year experience of total or near-total tongue reconstruction at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is reviewed. The trends of surgical and functional outcomes, length of hospital stay, and choices of flaps and recipient vessels are identified. In addition, the investigators' experience, as well as a literature review, of sensory and motor reinnervation for tongue reconstruction is presented.

Background: Multiple factors may influence whether patients undergo immediate breast reconstruction along with mastectomy for breast cancer. The authors investigated whether ethnicity was an independent predictor of immediate breast reconstruction., Methods: The authors identified 1004 patients who underwent mastectomy for breast cancer during the period 2001-2002. The rates of immediate reconstruction among different ethnicities were evaluated using the chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to adjust for covariates, including age and disease stage. Medical records were analyzed to identify factors that influenced each patient's decision for or against immediate breast reconstruction., Results: Three hundred seventy-six women (37.5%) underwent immediate breast reconstruction: This included 20.2% of African-American women, compared with 40.0% of white women, 42.0% of Hispanic women, 42.2% of Asian women, and 10.0% of Middle Eastern women (P < 0.001). The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for immediate reconstruction for African-Americans versus whites was 0.38 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.23-0.63; P < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, this disparity persisted, with an adjusted OR of 0.34 (95% CI, 0.18-0.62; P = 0.001). Asian women had lower rates of immediate reconstruction compared with white women (adjusted OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.24-1.04; P = 0.06). Hispanic women did not have immediate reconstruction rates that differed significantly from white women. Middle Eastern women had lower rates of immediate reconstruction compared with white women (adjusted OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.02-0.38; P = 0.002), but they had a corresponding increase in the rate of delayed reconstruction. In a stepwise analysis of the decision pathway to immediate reconstruction, it was found that African-American women were less likely to be offered referrals for reconstruction, were less likely to accept offered referrals, were less likely to be offered reconstruction, and were less likely to elect reconstruction if it was offered., Conclusions: African-American women underwent immediate breast reconstruction at significantly lower rates compared with white women, Hispanic women, and Asian women. After adjusting for covariates, including age and disease stage, African-American women and Asian women had lower rates of reconstruction compared with white women. The factors that contribute to these differences warrant further study., ((c) 2004 American Cancer Society.)

Background: Treatment for soft tissue sarcoma of the upper extremity has evolved to include limb salvage techniques. We reviewed our experience with limb salvage therapy for upper extremity sarcomas with an emphasis on functional outcomes following the reconstructive surgery., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of 81 consecutive patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the upper extremity who had limb salvage therapy with reconstruction by a plastic surgeon. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses of relevant outcome variables were performed. Enneking functional scores were obtained from 43 patients., Results: The study included 16 microvascular reconstructions and 67 non-microvascular reconstructions for a total of 83 reconstructions in 81 patients. The mean defect size was 129 cm(2) (standard deviation: 106 cm(2)). The mean total functional score was 23.1 (range, 9 to 30). Any reconstruction-related complication and preoperative chemotherapy use were associated with a 7.3 point (P = .03) and 4.7 point (P = .01) decrease in total functional score, respectively. Kaplan-Meier product-limit analysis showed 82% 5-year overall survival and 67% 5-year disease-free survival rates., Conclusions: For soft tissue sarcoma of the upper extremity, limb salvage with good functional outcome is possible with a judicious approach to reconstruction.