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There is a lack of an accurate standardised objective method to assess aesthetic outcome after breast surgery. In this methodological study, we investigated the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of breast symmetry and volume assessed using three-dimensional surface imaging (3D-SI), evaluated the reproducibility depending on imaging posture, and proposed a new combined volume-shape-symmetry (VSS) parameter. Images were acquired using the VECTRA XT 3D imaging system, and analysed by two observers using VECTRA Analysis Module. Breast symmetry was measured through the root mean square distance. All women had undergone bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction. The reproducibility and correlations of breast symmetry and volume measurements were compared using Bland-Altman's plots and tested with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. 3D surface images of 58 women were analysed (348 symmetry measurements, 696 volume measurements). The intra-observer reproducibility of breast symmetry measurements was substantial-excellent, the inter-observer reproducibility was substantial, and the inter-posture reproducibility was substantial. For measurements of breast volumes, the intra-observer reproducibility was excellent, the inter-observer reproducibility was moderate-substantial, and the inter-posture reproducibility was substantial-excellent. The intra-observer reproducibility of VSSVSS was excellent while the inter-observer reproducibility was substantial for both observers, independent of posture. There were no statistically strong correlations between breast symmetry and volume differences. The intra-observer reproducibility was found to be substantial-excellent for several 3D-SI measurements independent of imaging posture. However, the inter-observer reproducibility was lower than the intra-observer reproducibility, indicating that 3D-SI in its present form is not a great assessment for symmetry.

Importance: Multiple-dose antibiotic prophylaxis is widely used to prevent infection after implant-based breast reconstruction despite the lack of high-level evidence regarding its clinical benefit. Objective: To determine whether multiple-dose antibiotic prophylaxis is superior to single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing surgical site infection (SSI) after implant-based breast reconstruction. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical superiority trial was conducted at 7 hospitals (8 departments) in Sweden from April 25, 2013, to October 31, 2018. Eligible participants were women aged 18 years or older who were planned to undergo immediate or delayed implant-based breast reconstruction. Follow-up time was 12 months. Data analysis was performed from May to October 2021. Interventions: Multiple-dose intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis extending over 24 hours following surgery, compared with single-dose intravenous antibiotic. The first-choice drug was cloxacillin (2 g per dose). Clindamycin was used (600 mg per dose) for patients with penicillin allergy. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was SSI leading to surgical removal of the implant within 6 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes were the rate of SSIs necessitating readmission and administration of intravenous antibiotics, and clinically suspected SSIs not necessitating readmission but oral antibiotics. Results: A total of 711 women were assessed for eligibility, and 698 were randomized (345 to single-dose and 353 to multiple-dose antibiotics). The median (range) age was 47 (19-78) years for those in the multiple-dose group and 46 (25-76) years for those in the single-dose group. The median (range) body mass index was 23 (18-38) for the single-dose group and 23 (17-37) for the multiple-dose group. Within 6 months of follow-up, 30 patients (4.3%) had their implant removed because of SSI. Readmission for intravenous antibiotics because of SSI occurr

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat transplantation (AFT) is being increasingly used to improve the results after breast-conserving surgery and breast reconstruction. However, studies on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after AFT are scarce. The aim of this prospective longitudinal case-series study was to assess PRO in women who had undergone AFT after surgery for breast cancer or risk-reducing mastectomy. METHODS: Fifty women, who had undergone breast-conserving surgery or breast reconstruction, needing corrective surgery, were consecutively included between 2008 and 2013. A 20-item study-specific questionnaire (SSQ) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were used pre-operatively and 6 months, 1 year and 2 years post-operatively, to evaluate PRO and HRQoL. RESULTS: The patients underwent three (1-4) AFT procedures, with the injection of 164 ml (median) (range 40-516) fat. Thirty-eight and 34 patients completed the study-specific questionnaire and the SF-36, respectively, both pre-operatively and after 2 years. Sixteen of the 20 items in the SSQ were improved after 2 years, including breast size (p < 0.0001), shape (p < 0.0001), appearance (p < 0.0001), softness of the breast (p = 0.001), pain in the region (p = 0.005), scarring from previous breast surgery (p < 0.001) and willingness to participate in public physical activities (p < 0.001). HRQoL did not largely differ before and after AFT, or between the study group and a reference population. CONCLUSIONS: AFT alone or in combination with other corrective surgical procedures, improved PRO after breast-conserving surgery and breast reconstruction in both irradiated and non-irradiated women.

A burn injury is an unforeseen event that means physical and psychological trauma for the person afflicted. The trauma experienced by different individuals varies greatly, as do perceived problems during care, rehabilitation, and throughout the remainder of life. The purpose of this study was to explore burn patients' experiences of adapting to life after burn injury to acquire a deeper understanding of the most important issues for patients when providing care during and after a burn injury. A qualitative approach was applied, and interviews were conducted with 12 adult burn patients (8 men and 4 women) 6 to 12 months postburn. The interviews were analyzed using Kvales' method for structuring analysis and comprised a close reading and interpretation of the texts. Analysis focused on the personal experiences of burn patients living after burn injury and treatment. Struggling with the consequences of burn injury and how patients perceived life today after treatment are important issues for adapting to life after burn injury. New experiences of a fragile body, coping with daily life, and reflections of burn care were also prominent themes. Patients with burn injuries need adequate repeated information about the plan for their care, about the physiological changes, and more support to handle the trauma event. The patients would also like to be more involved in their care. A program of support and preparatory work to help the patient to cope with the new bodily sensations and new body image is necessary and should begin during hospital care. A multidisciplinary team approach for pain treatment needs to be prioritized. In addition, multidisciplinary follow-up after burns need to include patients with minor burns. (J Burn Care Res 2012;33:595-605)

Background/Objective: This study attempted a national inventory of all bilateral prophylactic mastectomies performed in Sweden between 1995 and 2005 in high-risk women without a previous breast malignancy. The primary aim was to investigate the breast cancer incidence after surgery. Secondary aims were to describe the preoperative risk assessment, operation techniques, complications, histopathological findings, and regional differences. Methods: Geneticists, oncologists and surgeons performing prophylactic breast surgery were asked to identify all women eligible for inclusion in their region. The medical records were reviewed in each region and the data were analyzed centrally. The BOADICEA risk assessment model was used to calculate the number of expected/prevented breast cancers during the follow-up period. Results: A total of 223 women operated on in 8 hospitals were identified. During a mean follow-up of 6.6 years, no primary breast cancer was observed compared with 12 expected cases. However, 1 woman succumbed 9 years post mastectomy to widespread adenocarcinoma of uncertain origin. Median age at operation was 40 years. A total of 58% were BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. All but 3 women underwent breast reconstruction, 208 with implants and 12 with autologous tissue. Four small, unifocal, invasive cancers and 4 ductal carcinoma in situ were found in the mastectomy specimens. The incidence of nonbreast related complications was low(3%). Implant loss due to infection/necrosis occurred in 21 women (10%) but a majority received a new implant later. In total, 64% of the women underwent at least 1 unanticipated secondary operation.

Pain after burns is a major clinical problem and researchers continue to report that burn pain remains undertreated. Adequate pain management could contribute to the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder and can give a growing sense of patients' self-confidence and strength. Freedom from pain might be unrealistic, but the objective should be to reduce pain as much as possible. The purpose of this study was to describe burn patients' experiences and memories of pain during burn care and to acquire a deeper understanding of how patients cope with the experience. The study method was qualitative and interviews were conducted with 12 adult burn patients ( eight men and four women) 6 to 12 months postburn (mean = 7 months). The mean burn size for the group was 10.6% mean of TBSA and the mean stay in hospital was 16 days. The interviews were analyzed using Kvales' method for structuring analysis. The patients' experiences and memories of pain during the trajectory of care were clearly described by the informants during the interviews. Four themes were identified for pain: becoming aware of pain, allowing oneself to feel pain, different pain experiences, and fragile body surface. Four themes were identified for coping: pragmatic coping, allowing someone to care for you, carrying the pain, and perspectives on the trauma. Both good and bad memories were recorded during the care trajectory, and it is evident that the patient has to carry the pain experience by themselves to a large extent. (J Burn Care Res 2010;31:319-327)

The objective of the investigations included in this thesisis to show how the properties of alkyd resins, used as bindersin offset printing inks, affect the ink in terms of pigmentdispersion, emulsification of fountain solution, and inksetting. The interactions between alkyd resins and aqueous solutionshave been investigated by interfacial tension measurementsusing the pendant drop technique and by measurement of dropletsize using light diffraction. The interfacial tension dependsboth on the alkyd resin used and the surface active additivesin the fountain solution. Alkyd resins are surface active,acting as emulsifiers to stabilise the emulsion. Similar to oilsoluble surfactants, small amounts of alkyd resin are needed todecrease the interfacial tension substantially. The interfacialtension and droplet size show a strong dependence of hydroxylicand acidic value of the alkyd resins. Polar alkyd resins givelower interfacial tension and smaller droplets. Adsorption of alkyd resin onto pigment surfaces weredetermined by the solution depletion technique. The adsorptionof alkyd resins onto pigment surfaces must be discussed interms of adsorption of polydisperse polymers and the adsorbedamount depends on the total area available for adsorption. Theadsorbed amount increases with alkyd resin polydispersity andhydroxylic value but decreases with increasing oil length. Anempirical equation to determine adsorption of alkyd resins ontocalcium carbonate is presented. This equation may also beuseful to predict differences in adsorbed amount of alkyd resinon other surfaces. When adsorption of alkyd resins onto different pigmentsurfaces are compared, the porosity of the pigments must beconsidered. Larger molecules are unable to penetrate into thesmall pores. Alkyd resins with low molecular mass do notdiscriminate between different surface areas whereas with highmolecular mass alkyd resins the adsorbed amount decreases withincreasing surface area. It is also shown that the adsorbedamo, NR 20140805