Prophylactic Surgery in the BRCA+ Patient: Do Women Develop Breast Cancer While Waiting?

Breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutation carriers have an increased risk of breast cancer. Mitigation of this risk can be achieved via surveillance or prophylactic mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction. Those that choose surgery expect to reduce their chance of developing cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of patients developing breast cancer prior to surgery and to identify modifiable contributing factors within the patient journey. This is a historical cohort study of all BRCA mutation carriers identified through the British Columbia Cancer Hereditary Cancer Program between 2000 and 2012. Patients were divided into two groups: surveillance (S) and prophylactic mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (PM/IBR). The incidence of cancer, time to PM/IBR and patient journeys were analyzed. A total of 333 women were identified. The time to surgery from mutation disclosure was a median of 31 (5.3, 75.7) months. During this period, 6% of patients developed breast cancer compared with a 14% incidence of breast cancer in patients choosing surveillance. The majority of time to surgery was attributed to the period between mutation disclosure and the decision to proceed with surgery. Strategies to facilitate decision-making as well as wait list prioritization and dedicated operative time should be targeted to this population to decrease the number of women developing an interval cancer prior to surgery.

Meaningful power grip recovery after salvage reconstruction of a median nerve avulsion injury with a pedicled vascularized ulnar nerve.

In cases of median nerve injury alongside an unsalvageable ulnar nerve, a vascularized ulnar nerve graft to reconstruct the median nerve is a viable option. While restoration of median nerve sensation is consistently reported, recovery of significant motor function is less frequently observed. The authors report a case involving a previously healthy man who sustained upper arm segmental median and ulnar nerve injuries and, after failure of sural nerve grafts, was treated with a pedicled vascularized ulnar nerve graft to restore median nerve function. Long-term follow-up showed near full fist, with 12 kg of grip strength, key pinch with 1.5 kg of strength and protective sensation in the median nerve distribution. The present case demonstrates that pedicled ulnar vascularized nerve grafts can provide significant improvements to median nerve sensory and motor function in a heavily scarred environment.

Une greffe du nerf cubital vascularisé pour reconduire le nerf médian est une solution viable lorsque le nerf cubital ne peut pas être récupéré. La sensation du nerf médian est presque toujours rétablie, mais la fonction motrice significative l'est moins. Les auteurs présentent le cas d'un homme auparavant en santé qui a subi des traumatismes des nerfs médian et cubital du bras et, après le rejet des greffes du nerf saphène externe, a subi une greffe du nerf cubital pédiculé vascularisé pour rétablir la fonction du nerf médian. Au suivi à long terme, le poing était presque complet, la prise de force atteignait 12 kg, la pince sub-termino-latérale s'associait à une force de 1,5 kg et la distribution du nerf médian était liée à une sensation protectrice. Le présent cas démontre que des greffes du nerf cubital pédiculé vascularisé peuvent améliorer considérablement la fonction sensorielle et motrice du nerf médian très cicatrisé.

Improving patient follow-up in developing regions.

BACKGROUND: Cleft surgery follow-up in developing regions is challenging. This study evaluated rates, costs, and satisfaction of 2 follow-up programs at the Guwahati Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre (GC4) in Assam, India. METHODS: For this study, 10,582 postoperative visits were analyzed from May 2011 to November 2013. A questionnaire was administered to subsets of follow-up patients at both locations. Costs were calculated. RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of patients had follow-up at GC4, and 15% were seen in the patients' local districts. One hundred ninety-five questionnaires were completed (122 at GC4, 73 in local districts). Patients with local follow-up had fewer accompanying family members (mean, 1.95 vs 0.99; P = 0.00), fewer days off work (mean, 1.84 vs 1.15; P = 0.19), less lost income (Indian rupees 367 vs 143, P = 0.00), and lower direct costs (mean Rs, 911 vs 299; P = 0.00). The financial burden of local follow-up was significantly lower (P = 0.003). No significant differences were seen for convenience, likelihood of attending follow-up, or satisfaction. Follow-ups increased after revising programs from a mean of 139 monthly visits (follow-up to surgery ratio of 0.722) to a mean of 363 visits (ratio of 1.57). The center's mean cost for local follow-up was Rs 303 per patient, whereas the estimated costs would have been Rs 1100 for follow-up at the center. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates potential improvements in costs and outcomes by changing the model of care. Despite significant follow-up challenges, much progress can be achieved through process changes and outreach follow-up programs. The results have important applications across the developing world.

The evidence base for the acellular dermal matrix AlloDerm: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Many decellularized dermal matrices are available with various applications, all with slight differences. AlloDerm appears to have the greatest presence in the literature. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the experience with AlloDerm, stratified by clinical indication. METHODS: A literature search was performed across Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Collaboration using the search terms "AlloDerm" and "acellular dermal matrix." Two independent authors applied a priori inclusion and exclusion criteria. Relevant articles were categorized by application, type of study, and evidence level. RESULTS: A total of 753 articles met the initial inclusion criteria, and 311 remained after discarding irrelevant articles: skin (25), head and neck (82), breast (34), trunk (66), pelvis (10), extremities (8), and basic science (86). Non-basic science study designs included 32 analytic articles (3 randomized controlled trials and 29 observational studies including 11 cohort studies, 1 cross-sectional study, and 17 case-controlled studies), 192 descriptive articles (106 case series, 51 case reports, 2 cross-sectional studies, and 33 qualitative studies), and 1 systematic review. More than 85% of articles had a level of evidence of 4 or 5. Articles showed outcomes that were 70% positive, 23% neutral, and 7% negative. CONCLUSIONS: AlloDerm has many clinical uses with promising results. Most evidence lies in descriptive and nonrandomized studies, but randomized trials are emerging. Cost and logistics of large trials with these products make large-scale trials challenging but necessary. Emphasis needs to shift to randomized controlled trials focusing on areas where most clinical benefit can be realized.

Reduced length of stay in hospital for burn patients following a change in practice guidelines: financial implications.

The objective of this study was to analyze the financial implications of the implementation of new institutional practice guidelines including greater outpatient care and earlier operative intervention in a provincial burn center. A retrospective review was performed including all patients admitted to the Burn Unit with burns up to 20% TBSA between August 2005 and July 2009, including 2 years before and after the new guidelines were introduced. Daily costs for the burn unit were used to calculate this portion of cost. Length of stay (LOS) was based on actual data and representative clinical scenarios. Two hundred sixty-four patients were included. Mean LOS decreased from 10.3 to 3.9 (P < .01) and 21.0 to 13.3 (P > .05) for nonoperative burns 0 to 10% and 10 to 20% TBSA, respectively. Mean LOS for operative burns decreased from 16.6 to 12.9 and 32.3 to 29.8 days for 0 to 10% and 10 to 20% TBSA, respectively (P > .05). Burn patient management requires significant financial resources, and LOS has a large impact on cost. Given per diem rates of Can$1,663, scenario analysis shows potential cost savings of Can$19,956 per patient for operative and nonoperative burns <20% TBSA. With an average of 66 such patients treated each year, potential annual cost savings are Can$1.3 million. If outcomes are not compromised, earlier operative management and greater outpatient care can translate into significant cost savings. A prospective analysis capturing all costs and patient quality of life is required for further assessment.

Bilateral temporomandibular joint dislocation with locked mandibular impaction.

Bilateral anterior temporomandibular joint dislocation is very rare, with only 2 reported cases published. In the present report, we describe a healthy 25-year-old man from Haida Gwaii, in British Columbia, Canada, who was transferred to our tertiary trauma center with life-threatening complications of a bilateral anterior temporomandibular joint dislocation with locked mandibular impaction.

Preclosure fluid resuscitation influences outcome in gastroschisis.

Optimal preclosure fluid resuscitation in gastroschisis (GS) is unknown. The purpose of our study was to evaluate effects of preclosure intravenous fluid resuscitation on GS outcome. Cases were accrued from a national GS database. Risk variables analyzed included gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), neonatal illness severity score, and bolus fluid administration within 6 hours of neonatal intensive care unit admission. Outcomes analyzed included closure success, days of ventilation/total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and bacteremic episodes. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed. Four hundred seven live-born GS cases were identified (362 with complete resuscitative fluids data). Mean BW, GA, and Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology-II score were 2562 ± 539 g, 36.17 ± 1.95 weeks, and 9.97 ± 12.65, respectively. One hundred sixty-two patients received no supplemental fluid, and 200 patients received a mean of 21.49 (0.81 to 134.81) mL/kg of intravenous fluid. Multivariate outcomes analyses demonstrated a significant, direct relationship between resuscitative volume and days of postclosure ventilation, TPN, length of hospital stay, and bacteremic episodes; specifically, every 17 mL/kg of fluid predicted one additional ventilation day (p = 0.002), TPN day (p = 0.01), and hospital day (p = 0.01) and 0.02 odds increase of an episode of bacteremia (p = 0.03). Judicious, preclosure fluid resuscitation is essential in early GS management. Excessive fluid is associated with several adverse survival outcomes.

The use of AlloDerm in postmastectomy alloplastic breast reconstruction: part I. A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Postmastectomy alloplastic breast reconstruction is a common procedure that continues to evolve. Increasingly, AlloDerm is being used in both direct-to-implant and two-stage breast reconstruction. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize the outcomes from studies describing this use of AlloDerm, and to compare outcomes to those from studies reviewing non-AlloDerm alloplastic reconstruction. METHODS: A computerized search was performed across multiple databases. Studies involving patients undergoing alloplastic breast reconstruction with AlloDerm were included. A systematic review was performed to include randomized controlled trials, comparative observational studies, noncomparative observational studies, and case series. RESULTS: A systematic review of the literature revealed 14 studies that satisfied inclusion criteria. Both acute and long-term complication rates were obtained. No objective validated outcomes were reported. Ninety-three percent of included studies were level IV evidence. Complication rates were as follows: infection, 0 to 11 percent; hematoma, 0 to 6.7 percent; seroma, 0 to 9 percent; partial flap necrosis, 0 to 25 percent; implant exposure with removal, 0 to 14 percent; implant exposure with salvage, 0 to 4 percent; capsular contracture, 0 to 8 percent; and rippling, 0 to 6 percent. No study included a cost analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Complications using AlloDerm are comparable to those of non-AlloDerm alloplastic reconstructions. AlloDerm appears to confer a low rate of capsular contracture. A formal analysis is required to determine AlloDerm's cost effectiveness in use for direct-to-implant reconstructions. In addition, a randomized controlled trial comparing AlloDerm use to conventional two-stage reconstruction is currently absent from the literature.

The use of AlloDerm in postmastectomy alloplastic breast reconstruction: part II. A cost analysis.

BACKGROUND: Increasingly, AlloDerm is being used in alloplastic breast reconstruction, and has been the subject of a recent systematic review. The authors' objective was to perform a cost analysis comparing direct-to-implant with AlloDerm reconstruction to two-stage non-AlloDerm reconstruction. METHODS: Seven clinically important health outcomes and their probabilities for both types of reconstruction were derived from the recent review. A decision analytic model from the Canadian provincial payer's perspective was constructed based on these health states. Direct medical costs were estimated from a university-based hospital, yielding expected costs for direct-to-implant reconstruction with AlloDerm and two-stage non-AlloDerm reconstruction. Sensitivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Baseline and expected costs were calculated for direct-to-implant AlloDerm and two-stage non-AlloDerm reconstruction. Direct-to-implant reconstruction with AlloDerm was found to be less expensive in the baseline ($10,240 versus $10,584) and expected cost ($10,734 versus $11,251) using a 6 × 16-cm AlloDerm sheet. With a 6 × 12-cm sheet, expected cost falls to $9673. By increasing direct-to-implant operative time from 2 hours to 2.5 hours, expected cost rises to $11,784. If capsular contracture rate requiring revision is set at 15 percent for both procedures, expected costs are $10,926 and $11,251 for direct-to-implant and two-stage procedures, respectively. If the capsular contracture rate is lowered for either procedure, this has minimal impact on expected cost. CONCLUSIONS: Although AlloDerm is expensive, it appears to be cost-effective if used for direct-to-implant breast reconstruction. The methods used here may be extrapolated to different centers incorporating local costs and complication rates. A formal randomized controlled trial, including costs, is recommended.

Outcomes in microsurgery.

The reporting of microsurgical outcomes has been variable. Historically, emphasis has been placed on flap and digit survival or failure in the case of free-tissue transfer or digit replantation, respectively. Outcomes have also been measured with indices such as range of motion or grip strength for digital replantations, the ability to eat or talk for head and neck microsurgery, and the ability to walk or return to work for lower extremity microsurgery. Although relevant, this type of reporting of outcomes may fail to capture the effectiveness of microsurgical intervention from the patient's, the third-party payer's, or society's perspective. Significant events have arisen in the past two decades, including the emphasis on outcomes research, recent recommendations to adopt evidence-based microsurgery, and the inclusion in academic training programs of the competency "manager" to the health care system. This necessitates rethinking the way we report outcomes in microsurgery. This article explains the need to (1) use health-related quality-of-life scales to measure the benefits of microsurgical interventions, (2) measure outcomes with high-quality clinical research designs, and (3) incorporate proper cost-effectiveness studies in our clinical research before adopting new technologies such as new free flaps or techniques.

A comparison of the superficial inferior epigastric artery flap and deep inferior epigastric perforator flap in postmastectomy reconstruction: A cost-effectiveness analysis.

PURPOSE: To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) and deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps in postmastectomy reconstruction. METHODS: A decision analytic model with seven clinically important health outcomes (health states) was used, incorporating the Ontario Ministry of Health's perspective. Direct medical costs were estimated from a university-based hospital. The utilities of each health state converted into quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were obtained from previously published data. Health state probabilities were computed from a systematic literature review. Analyses yielded SIEA and DIEP expected costs and QALYs allowing calculation of the incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR). One-way sensitivity analyses were conducted under five plausible scenarios, assessing result robustness. RESULTS: Five SIEA and 27 DIEP studies were identified. The baseline SIEA expected cost was slightly higher than that for the DIEP ($16,107 versus $16,095), with slightly higher QALYs (33.14 years versus 32.98 years), giving an ICUR of $77/QALY. Taking into account conversions from SIEA to DIEP, the ICUR increased to $4,480/QALY. Sensitivity analysis gave ICURs ranging from $2,614/QALY to 'dominant', all consistent with the adoption of the SIEA over the DIEP. CONCLUSION: The best available evidence suggests the SIEA is a cost-effective procedure. However, given the high SIEA to DIEP conversion rates and small marginal differences in cost and effectiveness, the ICUR may be sensitive to minor changes in costs or QALYs. The 'truth' can only be obtained from a randomized, controlled trial comparing both techniques side by side, simultaneously capturing the costs of the competing interventions.