Small Intestinal Perforation after 360-Degree Liposuction: A Case Report.

OBJECTIVE: As one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures, liposuction is relatively safe. Bowel injury following liposuction is a rare but devastating complication, which necessitates hospital admission and surgical intervention. The authors highlight a case report describing the presentation, diagnosis, and management of a patient with bowel injury following liposuction. CASE: A 58-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain, erythema, and discharge three days after 360-degree abdominal liposuction with concomitant fat grafting to bilateral buttocks at an outpatient surgery center. Bowel perforation was suspected after CT-scan revealed extraluminal gas in the abdomen and communication that traversed the peritoneum. Exploratory laparotomy was performed which demonstrated at least one site of distinct perforation of the small bowel and an area omentum noted to be inflamed, thickened and with a purulent rind. The patient underwent 20-cm small bowel resection and partial omentectomy temporarily closed with negative pressure wound therapy. After subsequent abdominal wall debridements the patient received ventral hernia repair with bridging mesh and abdominal closure. CONCLUSIONS: While safe, elective cosmetic procedures are not without risk of serious and even fatal complications. Providers must be familiar with the presentation of bowel injury following abdominal liposuction to prevent delays in appropriate surgical and medical care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Lymphovenous Coupler-Assisted Bypass for Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer-related lymphedema is the most common cause of lymphedema in the United States and occurs in up to 50% of individuals receiving axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Lymphovenous bypass (LVB) at the time of ALND may prevent lymphedema, but long-term results and anastomotic patency are unclear. This study evaluates the feasibility and outcomes of performing immediate lymphatic reconstruction via coupler-assisted bypass (CAB). METHODS: This is a retrospective review of all patients undergoing prophylactic LVB following ALND at two tertiary care centers between 2018 and 2022. Patients were divided into cohorts based on whether they received the "standard" end-to-end (E-E) suturing or CAB technique. The primary outcome of interest was development of lymphedema. Quantitative and qualitative assessments for lymphedema were performed preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Overall, 63 LVBs were performed, of which 24 lymphatics underwent immediate reconstruction via "CAB" and 39 lymphatics via "standard" end-to-end suture. Patient characteristics, including body mass index, and treatment characteristics, including radiation therapy, did not significantly differ between groups. CAB was associated with a greater mean number of lymphatics bypassed per vein (standard 1.7 vs. CAB 2.6, p = 0.0001) and bypass to larger veins (standard 1.2 vs. CAB 2.2 mm, p < 0.0001). At a median follow-up of 14.7 months, 9.1% (1/11) of individuals receiving CAB developed lymphedema. These rates were similar to those seen following standard bypass at 4.8% (1/21), although within a significantly shorter follow-up duration (standard 7.8 vs. CAB 14.7 months, p = 0.0170). CONCLUSION: The CAB technique is a viable, effective technical alternative to the standard LVB technique. This comparative study of techniques in prophylactic LVB suggests that CABs maintain long-term patency, possibly due to the ease of anastomosing several lymphatics to single large caliber veins while reducing the technical demands of the procedure.

Free functional muscle transfer for lower extremity reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Free functional muscle transfer is a reconstructive strategy for the reconstruction of lost muscle units in the lower extremity after oncologic resection, trauma, compartment syndrome, or severe nerve injuries. Under appropriate circumstances, free functional muscle transfer may be the only suitable reconstructive option. This article reviews the underlying principles of free functional muscle transfer, its application to lower extremity reconstruction, appropriate patient selection, and surgical techniques. METHODS: The underlying principles of free functional muscle transfer, its application to lower extremity reconstruction, appropriate patient selection, and surgical techniques are presented. Commonly used donor muscles appropriate for each type of functional defect are discussed. A review of recent publications on free functional muscle transfer in the lower extremity was also performed. RESULTS: Good functional recovery with a Medical Research Council grade of up to 4/5 and full range of motion can be attained with free functional muscle transfer. Clinical outcomes and specific parameters for published case series in lower extremity free functional muscle transfer are presented and an illustrative case. CONCLUSION: Free functional muscle transfer is a suitable treatment for the appropriate patient to restore essential functions and potentially regain ambulation. However, additional published clinical outcomes are needed and represent a major area for further investigation.

A prospective randomized clinical trial to assess antibiotic pocket irrigation on tissue expander breast reconstruction.

Bacterial infection is the most common complication following staged post-mastectomy breast reconstruction initiated with a tissue expander (TE). To limit bacterial infection, antibiotic irrigation of the surgical site is commonly performed despite little high-quality data to support this practice. We performed a prospective randomized control trial to compare the impact of saline irrigation alone to a triple antibiotic irrigation regimen (1 g cefazolin, 80 mg gentamicin, and 50,000 units of bacitracin in 500 mL of saline) for breast implant surgery. The microbiome in breasts with cancer (n = 16) was compared to those without (n = 16), as all patients (n = 16) had unilateral cancers but bilateral mastectomies (n = 32). Biologic and prosthetic specimens procured both at the time of mastectomy and during TE removal months later were analyzed for longitudinal comparison. Outcomes included clinical infection, bacterial abundance, and relative microbiome composition. No patient in either group suffered a reconstructive failure or developed an infection. Triple antibiotic irrigation administered at the time of immediate TE reconstruction did not reduce bacterial abundance or impact microbial diversity relative to saline irrigation at the time of planned exchange. Implanted prosthetic material adopted the microbial composition of the surrounding host tissue. In cancer-naïve breasts, relative to saline, antibiotic irrigation increased bacterial abundance on periprosthetic capsules (P = 0.03) and acellular dermal matrices (P = 0.04) and altered the microbiota on both. These data show that, relative to saline only, the use of triple antibiotic irrigation in TE breast reconstruction does impact the bacterial abundance and diversity of certain biomaterials from cancer-naïve breasts. IMPORTANCE The lifetime risk of breast cancer is ~13% in women and is treated with a mastectomy in ~50% of cases. The majority are reconstructed, usually starting with a tissue expander to help restore the volume for a subsequent permanent breast implant or the women's own tissues. The biopsychosocial benefits of breast reconstruction, though, can be tempered by a high complication rate of at least 7% but over 30% in some women. Bacterial infection is the most common complication, and can lead to treatment delays, patient physical and emotional distress and escalating health care cost. To limit this risk, plastic surgeons have tried a variety of strategies to limit bacterial infection including irrigating the pocket created after removing the breast implant with antibiotic solutions, but good-quality data are scarce. Herein, we study the value of antibiotics in pocket irrigation using a robust randomized clinical trial design and molecular microbiology approaches.

Quality of Life in Breast Reconstruction Patients after Irradiation to Tissue Expander: A Propensity-Matched Preliminary Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tissue expanders (TEs) are routinely placed as a first step in breast reconstruction for women who require postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). The final reconstruction can then be performed with implants or conversion to autologous tissues. The purpose of this study was to compare patient-reported outcomes and surgical complications in autologous (ABR) versus implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) patients following TE-PMRT. METHODS: The authors performed a propensity score preliminary analysis (1:1 matching, no replacement) in patients undergoing ABR or IBR following TE-PMRT. Matched covariates included age, race/ethnicity, smoking status, body mass index, history of psychiatric diagnosis, and laterality of reconstruction. Outcomes of interest included complications and BREAST-Q scores for Satisfaction with Breasts, Physical Well-Being of the Chest, Sexual Well-Being, and Psychosocial Well-Being domains. RESULTS: Of 341 patients with TE-PMRT, a total of 106 patients were included in the matched analysis: 53 ABR patients and 53 IBR patients. ABR and IBR did not differ significantly in matched baseline, cancer, and surgical characteristics. ABR patients had higher scores for Satisfaction with Breasts (greater than the four-point minimal clinically important difference) at all postreconstruction time points compared with IBR patients ( P < 0.05). There were no significant postoperative differences in other BREAST-Q domains. The incidence of complications after definitive reconstruction did not differ significantly among cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: In this matched preliminary analysis, patients who underwent ABR following irradiation to a TE demonstrated superior satisfaction with breast scores compared with IBR patients. Higher powered matched studies are needed to improve shared decision-making for patients who require mastectomy and PMRT as part of their treatment. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Impact of High-Deductible Health Plans on Breast Reconstruction: Considerations for Financial Toxicity.

BACKGROUND: High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) are used within the United States to curb unnecessary health care spending; however, the resulting increased out-of-pocket (OOP) costs may be associated with financial toxicity. The aim was to assess the impact of HDHPs on use and seasonality of mastectomy and breast reconstruction procedures. The hypothesis is that the high OOP costs of HDHPs will lead to decreased overall service use and greater fourth-quarter use after the deductible has been met. METHODS: MarketScan was queried from 2014 to 2017 for episodes of mastectomy, breast reconstruction (immediate and delayed), breast revision, and reduction. Only patients continuously enrolled for the full calendar year after the index operation were included. HDHPs and low-deductible health plans (LDHPs) were compared based on OOP cost sharing. Outcomes included surgery use rates, seasonality of operations, and median/mean OOP costs. RESULTS: Annual mastectomy and breast reconstruction use rates varied little between LDHPs and HDHPs. Mastectomies, delayed breast reconstruction, and elective breast procedures (P < 0.001) all showed significant increases in fourth-quarter use, whereas immediate breast reconstruction did not. Regardless of timing and reconstruction method, HDHPs had significantly greater median OOP costs compared to LDHPs (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mastectomy and breast reconstruction rates did not differ between LDHPs and HDHPs, but seasonality for all breast procedures was measured with the exception of immediate breast reconstruction, suggesting that women are rational economic actors. Regardless of service timing and reconstruction modality, HDHP patients had greater OOP costs compared to LDHP patients, which serves as a good starting point for provider engagement in financial toxicity.

Combined pectoralis and rectus abdominis flaps are associated with improved outcomes in sternal reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Mortality increases nearly 5-fold in the approximately 5% of patients who develop sternal wound complications after cardiothoracic surgery. Flap-based reconstruction can improve outcomes by providing well-vascularized soft tissue for potential space obliteration, antibiotic delivery, and wound coverage; however, reoperation and readmission rates remain high. This study used the high case volume at a tertiary referral center and a diverse range of reconstructive approaches to compare various types of flap reconstruction. Combined (pectoralis and rectus abdominis) flap reconstruction is hypothesized to decrease sternal wound complication-related adverse outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients treated for cardiothoracic surgery sternal wound complications between 2008 and 2018 was performed. Patient demographics, comorbidities, wound characteristics, surgical parameters, and perioperative data were collected. Multivariable regression modeling with stepwise forward selection was used to characterize predictive factors for sternal wound-related readmissions and reoperations. RESULTS: In total, 215 patients were assessed for sternal wound reconstruction. Patient mortality at 1 year was 12.4%. Flap selection was significantly associated with sternal wound-related readmissions (P = .017) and reoperations (P = .014). Multivariate regression demonstrated rectus abdominis flap reconstruction independently predicted increased readmissions (odds ratio 3.4, P = .008) and reoperations (odds ratio 2.9, P = .038). Combined pectoralis and rectus abdominis flap reconstruction independently predicted decreased readmissions overall (odds ratio 0.4, P = .031) and in the deep sternal wound subgroup (odds ratio 0.1, P = .033). CONCLUSION: Although few factors can be modified in this complex highly comorbid population with a challenging and rare surgical problem, consideration of a more surgically aggressive multiflap reconstructive approach may be justified to improve outcomes.

Free Flap Reconstruction of Traumatic Pediatric Foot and Ankle Defects: An Analysis of Clinical and Functional Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic lower extremity injuries involving the foot and ankle can have devastating consequences and represent a complex reconstructive challenge. To date, there are limited reports on microsurgical reconstruction for foot and ankle defects in children. This study aims to evaluate clinical and functional outcomes of free flaps for pediatric foot and ankle injuries. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of patients undergoing free flaps for traumatic foot and ankle defects at a pediatric trauma center between 2000 and 2015. Patients with less than 5-year follow-up were excluded. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty patients undergoing 30 flaps were analyzed. The mean age was 11.9 years (range: 2 to 17 years). Muscle flaps (n = 21, 70%) were more common than fasciocutaneous flaps (n = 9, 30%). Limb salvage with functional ambulation was achieved in 96.7% of patients (n = 29). The complication rate was 33.3% (n = 10), with wound breakdown (n = 6, 20.0%) as most common feature. There were no significant differences in limb salvage, total or partial flap loss, fracture union, and donor-site complications based on flap type. Fasciocutaneous flaps were more likely to require revision procedures for contour compared with muscle flaps (55.6 vs. 9.5%, p = 0.013). Mean follow-up was 8.5 years. CONCLUSION: Microsurgical reconstruction of pediatric foot and ankle defects results in high rates of limb salvage. A defect- and patient-centered approach to reconstruction, emphasizing durable coverage and contour, is critical to facilitating ambulation and ensuring favorable long-term functional outcomes.

Lower Extremity Reconstruction After Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection.

Surgical resection with wide margins and perioperative radiation therapy is the standard treatment of extremity soft tissue sarcomas. This combination often results in complex wounds and functional compromise. Reconstructive surgery is integral to limb salvage after sarcoma resection. Advances in adjuvant therapy and reconstructive surgical techniques have made functional limb salvage, instead of amputation, possible for most patients. This article reviews key concepts in the multidisciplinary care of patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas and details reconstructive surgical techniques, including locoregional and free tissue transfer, free functional muscle transfer, and vascularized bone transfer, to optimize functional limb restoration after sarcoma resection.

Surgical Technique for Below-knee Amputation with Concurrent Targeted Muscle Reinnervation.

Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is beneficial for decreasing pain following below-knee amputation (BKA). While most current literature describes the principles behind primary TMR, they provide few principles key to the amputation, as the BKA is usually performed by another surgeon. When the BKA and TMR are performed by the same surgeon, it can be performed through the same surgical access as needed for both procedures. The purpose of this article is to describe our anatomically based BKA technique in the setting of planned primary TMR as performed by 3, single, peripheral nerve plastic surgeons at 2 institutions. Advantages of the single-surgeon technique include efficiency in dissection, preservation of donor nerve length, limited proximal dissection, early identification of recipient motor nerves for coaptation, ability to stimulate these while still under tourniquet, and decreased tourniquet and operative time. This technique is quick, reliable, and reproducible to help promote widespread adoption of TMR at the time of BKA.

Challenges and Solutions for the Implementation of Shared Decision-making in Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Patient-centered care is a hallmark of quality in healthcare. It is defined as care that is respectful of, and responsive to, individual patient preferences, needs, and values, while ensuring patients are informed and engaged in the treatment decision-making process. METHODS: We reviewed the literature and drew upon our own experiences to study the implementation of tools intended to facilitate shared decision-making in breast reconstruction. RESULTS: For women with breast cancer, decision-making about breast reconstruction is often a challenging and perplexing process. The variety of choices available regarding timing and type of reconstruction and the unique individual patient and clinical treatment variables to consider can further complicate decisions. Accordingly, strategies to facilitate the decision-making process and enable patients and clinicians to make high-quality decisions about breast reconstruction are an essential component of comprehensive breast cancer care. Shared decision making is one proposed model to support informed and preference-sensitive decision-making in line with the principles of patient-centered care. Despite an emerging level of interest in shared decision making, there remains a lack of clarity regarding what the process involves and how to effectively implement it into clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, widespread adoption of shared decision making remains lacking in clinical practice for women considering postmastectomy breast reconstruction. To address these gaps, this article reviews the principles of shared decision making, explores ways shared decision making can be utilized for patients who are candidates for breast reconstruction, and provides a practical overview to facilitate implementation of shared decision making into clinical practice.

Enhanced Recovery With Paravertebral and Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks in Microvascular Breast Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: We have shown previously that a preoperative paravertebral nerve block is associated with improved postoperative recovery in microvascular breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of a complete enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol with complete regional anesthesia coverage to our traditional care with paravertebral block. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 83 patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction by T.M.M. between May 2014 and February 2018 at a tertiary academic center. Patients in the ERAS group were additionally administered acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), gabapentin, a transversus abdominis plane block (liposomal or plain bupivacaine), and primarily oral opioids postoperatively. The patients were mobilized earlier with more rapid diet progression. All patients received a preoperative paravertebral block. RESULTS: Forty-four patients in the ERAS cohort were compared with 39 retrospective controls. The 2 groups were similar with respect to demographics and comorbidities. The ERAS cohort required significantly less opioids (291 vs 707 mg oral morphine equivalent, P < .0001) with unchanged postoperative pain scores and a shorter time to oral only opioid use (16.0 vs 78.2 hours, P < .0001). Median length of stay (3.20 vs 4.62, P < .0001) and time to independent ambulation (1.86 vs 2.88, P < .0001) were also significantly decreased in the ERAS cohort. Liposomal bupivacaine use did not significantly affect the results (P ⩾ .2). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a robust enhanced recovery protocol with complete regional anesthesia coverage was associated with significantly decreased opioid use despite unchanged pain scores, with improved markers of recovery including length of stay, time to oral only narcotics, and time to independent ambulation.

Insights into the Microbiome of Breast Implants and Periprosthetic Tissue in Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma.

Though rare, breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a CD30+ T-cell lymphoma associated with textured breast implants, has adversely impacted our perception of the safety of breast implants. Its etiology unknown, one hypothesis suggests an initiating inflammatory stimulus, possibly infectious, triggers BIA-ALCL. We analyzed microbiota of breast, skin, implant and capsule in BIA-ALCL patients (n = 7), and controls via culturing methods, 16S rRNA microbiome sequencing, and immunohistochemistry. Alpha and beta diversity metrics and relative abundance of Gram-negative bacteria were calculated, and phylogenetic trees constructed. Staphylococcus spp., the most commonly cultured microbes, were identified in both the BIA-ALCL and contralateral control breast. The diversity of bacterial microbiota did not differ significantly between BIA-ALCL and controls for any material analyzed. Further, there were no significant differences in the relative abundance of Gram-negative bacteria between BIA-ALCL and control specimens. Heat maps suggested substantial diversity in the composition of the bacterial microbiota of the skin, breast, implant and capsule between patients with no clear trend to distinguish BIA-ALCL from controls. While we identified no consistent differences between patients with BIA-ALCL-affected and contralateral control breasts, this study provides insights into the composition of the breast microbiota in this population.

The Analgesic Effects of Liposomal Bupivacaine versus Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Administered as a Transversus Abdominis Plane Block after Abdominally Based Autologous Microvascular Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective, Single-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain control after abdominally based autologous microvascular breast reconstruction is critical to functional recovery, patient satisfaction, and early discharge. The transversus abdominis plane block using 0.25% bupivacaine hydrochloride has been shown to be effective, but it is limited by a short duration of effect. Liposomal bupivacaine is a recently U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved preparation of bupivacaine that can provide up to 72 hours of pain relief. The purpose of this randomized, controlled trial was to compare the analgesic efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine and conventional bupivacaine. METHODS: This study was a prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial of 44 patients undergoing abdominally based autologous breast reconstruction between June of 2016 and February of 2018 performed by a single surgeon. Each patient was randomized to receive either 266 mg of liposomal bupivacaine or 75 mg of conventional bupivacaine to the transversus abdominis plane at the conclusion of the reconstruction procedure. All patients were managed postoperatively according to an enhanced recovery protocol. RESULTS: In our study of 44 patients, 22 patients received a transversus abdominis plane block with conventional bupivacaine and 22 patients received liposomal bupivacaine. There were no significant differences with regard to any outcome measure. No differences were found in total opioid consumption (p = 0.98), Quality of Recovery-15 scores (p = 0.72), pain scores (p = 0.39), or length of stay (p = 0.20). CONCLUSION: In the setting of a robust enhanced recovery after surgery protocol, liposomal bupivacaine does not confer advantages over conventional bupivacaine when used as single injections in transversus abdominis plane blocks after abdominally based microvascular breast reconstruction. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, II.

Overlapping Surgery in Plastic Surgery: An Analysis of Patient Safety and Clinical Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Overlapping surgery is an important and controversial health care issue. To date, there is minimal evidence on the safety of overlapping surgery in plastic surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare outcomes for patients undergoing overlapping surgery versus nonoverlapping surgery in plastic surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing plastic surgery procedures at a tertiary academic center between January of 2016 and January of 2018. Demographic and procedural characteristics, clinical outcomes, and adverse events were analyzed for patients undergoing overlapping versus nonoverlapping surgery. An a priori power analysis was performed, and chi-square, Wilcoxon rank sum, and bivariate logistic regression tests were used for analyses. RESULTS: Eight hundred sixty-six patients constituted the study population: 555 (64.1 percent) underwent nonoverlapping surgery and 311 (35.9 percent) underwent overlapping surgery. There was no significant difference (p > 0.050) in mean age, body mass index, tobacco use, American Society of Anesthesiologists rating, or Charlson Comorbidity Index score between cohorts. Comparison of nonoverlapping and overlapping cases revealed no differences in complications (12.1 percent versus 11.9 percent; p = 0.939), reoperations (6.1 percent versus 6.8 percent; p = 0.717), readmissions (3.6 percent versus 3.5 percent; p = 0.960), or emergency room visits (4.7 percent versus 4.8 percent; p = 0.927). Stratification by procedure demonstrated no difference (p > 0.050) in complications between cohorts. Median operative time was significantly longer for overlapping operations (105 minutes versus 83 minutes; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the safety of overlapping surgery in plastic surgery. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction with Acellular Dermal Matrix: A Comparison of Sterile and Aseptic AlloDerm in 2039 Consecutive Cases.

BACKGROUND: Sterile ready-to-use acellular dermal matrix, introduced as an alternative to aseptic freeze-dried acellular dermal matrix for implant-based breast reconstruction, has been investigated in a limited number of studies. This study compared outcomes in implant-based breast reconstruction with ready-to-use and freeze-dried acellular dermal matrix. METHODS: The authors analyzed patients undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction with either freeze-dried or ready-to-use acellular dermal matrix, including demographics, clinical variables, and outcomes. An a priori power analysis was performed and logistic regression modeling was used to quantify the effect of acellular dermal matrix on outcomes while controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: A total of 1285 consecutive patients undergoing 2039 immediate prosthetic breast reconstructions constituted the population: 612 (n = 910 breasts) with freeze-dried matrix and 673 (n = 1129 breasts) with ready-to-use acellular dermal matrix. The freeze-dried matrix cohort had a significantly higher rate of explantation compared with the ready-to-use matrix cohort (18.0 percent versus 12.0 percent; p = 0.0036), but surgical-site infection, wound dehiscence, mastectomy flap necrosis, seroma, and hematoma did not differ significantly between groups. On multivariate regression, patients undergoing reconstruction with freeze-dried matrix, compared to ready-to-use matrix, did not have higher odds of experiencing surgical-site infections (OR, 1.064; p = 0.7455), but did have higher odds of explantation (OR, 1.570; p = 0.0161). Tobacco use (OR, 2.809; p = 0.0002) and body mass index (OR, 1.054; p < 0.0001) were also independent predictors of explantation. CONCLUSION: Immediate implant-based breast reconstruction with sterile ready-to-use acellular dermal matrix has a comparable overall safety profile and a lower rate of prosthetic explantations compared with aseptic freeze-dried acellular dermal matrix. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Paravertebral blocks and enhanced recovery after surgery protocols in breast reconstructive surgery: patient selection and perspectives.

The management of postoperative pain is of critical importance for women undergoing breast reconstruction after surgical treatment for breast cancer. Mitigating postoperative pain can improve health-related quality of life, reduce health care resource utilization and costs, and minimize perioperative opiate use. Multimodal analgesia pain management strategies with nonopioid analgesics have improved the value of surgical care in patients undergoing various operations but have only recently been reported in reconstructive breast surgery. Regional anesthesia techniques, with paravertebral blocks (PVBs) and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks, and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been increasingly utilized in opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia protocols for women undergoing breast reconstruction. The objectives of this review are to 1) comprehensively review regional anesthesia techniques in breast reconstruction, 2) outline important components of ERAS protocols in breast reconstruction, and 3) provide evidence-based recommendations regarding each intervention included in these protocols. The authors searched across six databases to identify relevant articles. For each perioperative intervention included in the ERAS protocols, the literature was exhaustively reviewed and evidence-based recommendations were generated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system methodology. This study provides a comprehensive evidence-based review of interventions to optimize perioperative care and postoperative pain control in breast reconstruction. Incorporating evidence-based interventions into future ERAS protocols is essential to ensure high value care in breast reconstruction.