Reconstrucción mamaria inmediata prepectoral / Immediate prepectoral breast reconstruction

Introducción. La reconstrucción mamaria inmediata con implantes prepectorales permite realizar la mastectomía oncológica con un resultado estético en un solo tiempo quirúrgico y con menor morbilidad del área dadora. Las indicaciones son precisas, en directa relación con las condiciones de la mastectomía. Material y métodos. Se presentan 83 pacientes en el período comprendido entre febrero de 2020 a febrero de 2022 con mastectomías uni- y bilaterales, con conservación del complejo areola-pezón los cuales fueron injertados en 7 casos. La incisión en surco submamario se realizó en 60 casos, radiada externa en 8 casos, vertical en 8 casos y 7 casos con patrón de reducción en el Instituto Oncológico Alexander Fleming. Los criterios de exclusión que utilizamos son tumores mamarios a menos de 1 cm del complejo areola pezón y tumores localmente avanzados. Resultados. En total se realizaron 98 mastectomías, de las cuales 86 fueron terapéuticas y 12 profilácticas por mutaciones genéticas. La extracción de ganglios se realizó por una incisión axilar, excepto en el patrón de reducción donde se realizó a través de la incisión de la mastectomía. En 42 pacientes se utilizaron implantes anatómicos y en 56 casos redondos texturizados. El seguimiento de las pacientes fue a 25 meses. Conclusión. La reconstrucción mamaria prepectoral lleva a la reconstrucción de la mama en el mismo espacio con una baja morbilidad y resultado natural. Las indicaciones para esta técnica deben ser muy precisas para lograr obtener los resultados deseados. En nuestra experiencia, la reconstrucción mamaria inmediata con implante directo es una técnica segura y reproducible, con excelentes resultados en pacientes en las que está debidamente indicada la técnica, con una baja tasa de complicaciones y disminución en el tiempo de tratamiento y de recuperación.

Introduction. Immediate breast reconstruction with pre pectoral implants allows to perform oncologic mastectomy with an aesthetic result in a single surgical time and with less morbidity of the donor area. The indications are precise and directly related to the conditions of the mastectomy. Material and methods. We present 83 patients in the period from February 2020 to February 2022 with uni and bilateral mastectomies, with preservation of the nipple-areola complex which was grafted in 7 cases. The incision in the submammary sulcus was performed in 60 cases, external radiated in 8 cases, vertical in 8 cases and 7 with reduction pattern at the Alexander Fleming Oncological Institute. The exclusion criteria we used are breast tumors less than 1 cm from the nipple areola complex and locally advanced tumors. Results. A total of 98 mastectomies were performed, of which 86 were therapeutic and 12 prophylactic for genetic mutations. Node removal was performed through an axillary incision, except in the reduction pattern where it was performed through the mastectomy incision. Anatomical implants were used in 42 patients and textured round implants in 56 cases. The follow-up of the patients was 25 months. Conclusion. Pre pectoral breast reconstruction leads to reconstruction of the breast in the same space with low morbidity and natural results. The indications for this technique must be very precise to achieve the desired results. In our experience, immediate breast reconstruction with direct implant is a safe and reproductible technique, with excellent results in patients in whom the technique is properly indicated, with a low rate of complications and decrease in treatment and recovery time.

Neuraxial blocks and anticoagulant therapy.

Spinal and peridural anaesthesia has several advantages over general anaesthesia due to their low influence to endocrine and metabolic activity and their capacity to reduce postoperative surgical complications, intraoperative bleeding and deep venous thromboembolism incidence. Nevertheless, these anaesthesiologic techniques have a high risk of severe neurological events in patients treated with anticoagulant therapies and prophylaxis. However, this complication is rarely found in literature. It must be considered that spontaneous haematomas are possible, and these are independent of neuraxial blocks but associated to intrinsic factors or concomitant therapies. Anaesthetists must know the use and pharmacological properties of anticoagulant drugs in order to be able of giving up or modifying them during perioperative time, evaluating the risk of bleeding episodes and thrombotic events. An analysis of the literature has been made in order to establish favourable conditions, risk factors, international guide-lines and the real incidence of haemorrhagic complications associated to central blocks in patients being treated with drugs that modify their coagulative status. The survey of the literature and the international guide-lines shows that neuraxial anaesthesia should be performed in selected patients, respecting the free intervals of anticoagulant drugs, carrying out a correct postoperative neurological monitoring and evaluating, case by case, the risks and benefits of the procedure.

Preemptive analgesia: intraperitoneal local anesthetic in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: A controversy exists over the effectiveness and clinical value of preemptive analgesia. Additional studies are needed to define the optimum intensity, duration, and timing of analgesia relative to incision and surgery. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia plus topical peritoneal local anesthetic or saline were studied. Local anesthetic (0.5% bupivacaine with epinephrine) or placebo solutions were given as follows: immediately after the creation of a pneumoperitoneum (blocking before surgery), and at the end of the operation (blocking after surgery). Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups of 30 patients each. Group A (placebo) received 20 ml 0.9% saline both before and after surgery, group B received 20 ml 0.9% saline before surgery and 20 ml local anesthetic after surgery, group C received 20 ml local anesthetic both before and after surgery, group P received 20 ml local anesthetic before and 20 ml 0.9% saline after surgery. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale and a verbal rating scale at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after surgery. Metabolic endocrine responses (blood glucose and cortisol concentrations) and analgesic requirements also were investigated. RESULTS: Pain intensity (visual analog and verbal rating scales) and analgesic requirements were significantly less in the group receiving bupivacaine after surgery compared to placebo. However, in the groups receiving bupivacaine before surgery, both pain intensity and analgesic consumption were less than in the group receiving bupivacaine only after surgery. Blood glucose and cortisol concentrations 3 h after surgery were significantly less in groups receiving bupivacaine before surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that intraperitoneal local anesthetic blockade administered before or after surgery preempts postoperative pain relative to an untreated placebo-control condition. However, the timing of administration is also important in that postoperative pain intensity and analgesic consumption are both lower among patients treated with local anesthetic before versus after surgery.

The effects of intraperitoneal local anesthetic on analgesic requirements and endocrine response after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized double-blind controlled study.

This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the effects on postoperative pain of the local anesthetic, 0.5% bupivacaine with epinephrine, sprayed hepatodiaphragmatically under the surgeon's direct view during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Metabolic endocrine responses to surgery (glucose and cortisol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug requirements were investigated, as well as the presence of nausea, vomiting, and sweating. Local anesthetics or placebo solutions were given as follows. Immediately following the creation of a pneumoperitoneum, surgeons sprayed the first 20 mL of solution (S1), and an additional 20 mL of solution (S2) was sprayed at the end of the operation. Patients were classified into three groups (14 patients per group). Group A received 20 mL of saline during both S1 and S2, group B received 20 mL of saline during S1 and 20 mL of bupivacaine during S2, and group C received 20 mL of bupivacaine during both S1 and S2. The degree of postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the verbal rating scale (VRS) on arrival in the recovery room and subsequently at time intervals of 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, and 24 h. The results of this study indicate a significant decrease of postoperative pain in patients treated with local anesthetic. VAS and VRS pain scores, as well as respiratory rate and analgesic requirements, were significantly lower in group C. The postoperative plasma cortisol level in group C was significantly lower than in groups A and B.

[Effects of age, body weight, and ventilatory pattern on the difference between arterial and end-tidal PCO2]. / Effetti di età, peso corporeo e pattern ventilatorio sulla differenza tra PCO2 arteriosa e fine espirazione.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of physiological ventilatory patterns on P(a-ET)CO2 gradient and on the alveolar dead space production during controlled mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: Prospective and experimental comparison among three different ventilatory settings in three different groups of subjects. SETTING: General surgery's operating-theatre in university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-eight patients subdivided randomly in 3 groups differing for ventilatory setting. I group: constant tidal volume (VC = 8 ml.kg-1) and 3 different respiratory frequencies (f = 10, 12 and 14 breaths.min-1); II group: constant ventilation (112 ml.kg-1) but VC and f modified in three different ways; III group: inspiratory volume was set to give an end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) of about 35 mmHg. The cases were subdivided, on the basis of P(a-ET)CO2 distribution, in three groups: group with values larger than mean plus 1 standard deviation, group with values between +/- 1 standard deviation and group with values lower than mean minus 1 standard deviation. Moreover in two homogeneous groups for age. INTERVENTIONS: General surgery but not important because measures were performed before surgical manoeuvres. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Anthropometrical data (age and body weight), PaCO2, PETCO2, heart rate, invasive arterial pressure, ventilatory parameters and airway pressure were collected for every subject and ventilatory setting; arterial to end-tidal difference P(a-ET)CO2 and P(a-ET)CO2.PaCO2(-1) were calculated during data analysis. The P(a-ETFCO2 and P(a-ET)CO2.PaCO2(-1) values were not significantly different among the three different ventilatory patterns both in the first and in the second group. P(a-ET)CO2 values were significantly correlated with age, body weight and airway pressure. These parameters were correlated significantly also with P(a-ET)CO2.PaCO2(-1) values. CONCLUSIONS: Ventilatory setting, used in a normal physiological range, don't affect P(a-ET)CO2 difference during mechanical ventilation. Age, body weight and airway pressure of the patient must be considered to obtain a correct value of PaCO2 by the measure of PETCO2.