AeroForm patient controlled tissue expansion and saline tissue expansion for breast reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic reconstruction of the breast, as a 2-staged procedure using tissue expanders followed by placement of permanent implants, offers favorable aesthetic results with minimal additional surgical intervention. However, the current outpatient process to fill saline expanders can be lengthy and onerous, involving months of office visits and discomfort from the bolus saline expansions. We present a new technology (AeroForm Tissue Expansion System), which has the potential to improve the process of breast tissue expansion by providing a method for low-volume incremental filling, eliminating the need for injections and directly involving the patient by allowing her some control over the expansion process. METHODS: The described study is a 2:1 randomized controlled trial of the investigational CO2 expansion system and saline expanders. Of the 82 women receiving expanders, 58 (39 bilateral and 19 unilateral; bilateral rate, 67%) were implanted with CO2 tissue expanders and 24 subjects (15 bilateral and 9 unilateral; bilateral rate, 63%) were implanted with saline expanders. RESULTS: Preliminary validated expansion results were available for 55 women. Available mean time for active expansion in the CO2 group was 18.2 (9.2) days (median, 14.0; range, 5-39; number of expanders, 53), which was less than the mean time for active expansion in the saline group: 57.4 (33.6) days (median, 55; range, 5-137; number of expanders, 33). Available mean time from implant placement to exchange for a permanent prosthesis in the CO2 group was shorter [106.3 (42.9) days; median, 99; range, 42-237; number of expanders, 53] than for the women in the control group [151.7 (62.6) days; median, 140; range, 69-433; number of expanders, 33]. After 2 events--underexpansion (n=1) and erosion (n=1)--in the CO2 group, the internal membrane was redesigned and the expander bulk was decreased to minimize the risk of underexpansion and erosion in subsequent patients. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary evidence indicates that the CO2-based tissue expansion system performs the same function as saline expansion devices without significantly altering the risk to the patient and that the device has the potential to make the expansion process faster and more convenient for both the patient and the physician.

Repair of abdominal wall defects with bovine pericardium.

BACKGROUND: Ventral hernia repair with prosthetic mesh has recurrence rates up to 54% and is contraindicated in the setting of infection. The aim of this study was to provide our experience with acellular bovine pericardium (Veritas collagen matrix; Synovis Life Technologies, Inc., St. Paul, MN) in complex abdominal wall reconstruction where prosthetic mesh had failed or was contraindicated. Between 2005 and 2008, a retrospective review of a single general surgeon's practice identified patients reconstructed with acellular bovine pericardium. Thirty primary or recurrent ventral hernias were treated in 26 patients. All patients presented with either contaminated wounds or failure of a prosthetic mesh material. RESULTS: Hernia size ranged from 20 cm(2) to 600 cm(2) (mean 111 cm(2)). Seven patients had previous hernia repair with prosthetic mesh, and 16 patients had ongoing infection or gross contamination at the time of repair. The mean follow-up was 22 months. The hernia recurrence rate in our series was 19% with no fistula development. CONCLUSIONS: Acellular bovine pericardium's high strength, minimal infection rate, and low cost allow its use in the reconstruction of complex abdominal wall defects.

Management of contaminated autologous grafts in plastic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Contamination of autologous grafts unfortunately occurs in plastic surgery, but the literature provides no guidance for management of such incidents. METHODS: American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery members were asked to complete an online survey that asked about the number and causes of graft contaminations experienced, how surgeons dealt with the problem, the clinical outcomes, and patient disclosure. RESULTS: Nineteen hundred surgeons were asked to participate in the survey, and 223 responded. Of these, 70% had experienced at least 1 graft contamination incident, with 26% experiencing 4 or more. The most frequently reported reason for graft contamination was a graft falling on the floor (reported by 75%). Nearly two thirds of the contaminated grafts related to craniofacial procedures. Ninety-four percent of grafts were managed with decontamination and completion of the operation. The most common method of decontamination was washing with povidone-iodine, but this practice is contrary to recommendations in the literature. Only 3 surgeons (1.9%) said a clinical infection developed following decontaminated graft use. Patients were not informed in 60% of graft contamination incidents. The survey results and review of the literature led to development of algorithms for the management of inadvertent graft contamination and patient disclosure. CONCLUSIONS: Although autologous grafts do become contaminated in plastic surgery, the overwhelming majority can be safely decontaminated and produce minimal or no clinical sequelae. The algorithms presented are intended to serve as guides for prevention of contamination events or for their management should they occur.