The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alloplastic breast reconstruction: An analysis of national outcomes.
J Surg Oncol
; 126(2): 195-204, 2022 Aug.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1777596
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Immediate alloplastic breast reconstruction shifted to the outpatient setting during the COVID-19 pandemic to conserve inpatient hospital beds while providing timely oncologic care. We examine the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for trends in and safety of outpatient breast reconstruction during the pandemic.METHODS:
NSQIP data were filtered for immediate alloplastic breast reconstructions between April and December of 2019 (before-COVID) and 2020 (during-COVID); the proportion of outpatient procedures was compared. Thirty-day complications were compared for noninferiority between propensity-matched outpatients and inpatients utilizing a 1% risk difference margin.RESULTS:
During COVID, immediate alloplastic breast reconstruction cases decreased (4083 vs. 4677) and were more frequently outpatient (31% vs. 10%, p < 0.001). Outpatients had lower rates of smoking (6.8% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.03) and obesity (26% vs. 33%, p < 0.001). Surgical complication rates of outpatient procedures were noninferior to propensity-matched inpatients (5.0% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.03 noninferiority). Reoperation rates were lower in propensity-matched outpatients (5.2% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.003).CONCLUSION:
Immediate alloplastic breast reconstruction shifted towards outpatient procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic with noninferior complication rates. Therefore, a paradigm shift towards outpatient reconstruction for certain patients may be safe. However, decreased reoperations in outpatients may represent undiagnosed complications and warrant further investigation.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Mammaplasty
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
J Surg Oncol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Jso.26883
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