Lipedema: What we don't know.

BACKGROUND: Lipedema is a loose connective tissue disease characterized by a disproportionate accumulation of adipose tissue in the limbs of women. Despite its incidence of 10-20%, lipedema is often underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. OBJECTIVES: This review aims to outline current, available evidence regarding this enigmatic syndrome and gives a synopsis of the subjects that are still unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and Embase searches were conducted to identify relevant articles on lipedema pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. RESULTS: Lipedema can be considered a disease of the adipocytes or a circulatory disorder of the lymphatics. The relationship between lymphatics and adipose tissue remains controversial. The clinical distinction between lipedema, lymphedema, phlebolymphedema, and lipolymphedema can be difficult. Diagnoses often coexist, further complicating the diagnosis of lipedema, which is currently made on clinical grounds alone. The value of diagnostic imaging studies is unclear. Liposuction appears to be an effective treatment and significantly improves symptoms. CONCLUSION: Diagnosing lipedema remains a challenge due to its heterogeneous presentation, co-existing diseases, and lack of objective diagnostic imaging. Further directions for research include the effect of excess skin resection surgery on lymphatic drainage.

[Treatment of pseudogynecomastia in massive weight loss patients: Liposuction assisted and made-to-measure desepidermization technique]. / Prise en charge chirurgicale de la pseudogynécomastie après perte de poids massive : technique de désépidermisation sur mesure assistée par lipoaspiration.

BACKGROUND: After massive weight loss (MWL), the chest in men may show significant deformities. The surgical treatment of gynecomastia after MWL remains a difficult and partially misunderstood surgery due to 4 main factors: a complex excess of skin in height and width that sometimes continues in the axilla or dorsal region, a predominantly fatty rather than glandular component, the malposition of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) that is often enlarged and an inframammary fold (IMF) that is often marked. The techniques currently described are either insufficient or lead to frequent and/or significant complications. The authors describe a new approach that dissociates the treatment of the volume and the skin with a customized resection that is simple, reproducible and safe. Our goal is to improve patient satisfaction while reducing complication rates. METHODS: Seventeen patients with adipomastia with excess skin after massive weight loss were operated on using liposuction and skin redraping technique. The authors describe the technique, indications and contraindications of the procedure and analyze the results. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 39 years. The average body mass index (BMI) before weight loss is 42,7kg/m2, the average weight loss before body correction is 49kg, with an average delta of BMI loss of 15,34kg/m2. The average stay in hospital is 1,3 nights. No patient had major complications (hematoma, hemorrhage, necrosis, thrombophlebitis, immediate surgical revision to treat complications). Minor complications including scar dehiscence, infection, steatonecrosis, and distant scar correction were reported in 2 patients, i.e. 11%. CONCLUSION: Liposuction assisted and desepidermization torsoplasty is a new technique for correction of pseudogynecomastia in MWL patients. The results are reproductible and the complication rates are low. There is no dead space and therefore no drains are needed. There is little pain and a short hospital stay. This technique is simple, quick and easy to learn. However, it is only applicable in adipomastia. A different technique should be used in the presence of firm glandular tissue.

[Profunda artery perforator flap: Reliable secondary option for breast reconstruction?] / Profunda artery perforator flap : quelle place dans la reconstruction mammaire par lambeau autologue ?

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the DIEP-flap has become the standard for autologous breast reconstruction. However, when abdominal donor site is unavailable, secondary options are numerous. This report documents our experience with PAP-flap breast reconstruction. METHOD: We carried out a retrospective study of patients who underwent reconstructive breast surgery by PAP-flaps in our institution since 2014. RESULTS: Seventeen PAP-flaps were carried out in 15 patients, two of which received consecutive reconstruction of each breast at distinct intervals. Indication was lack of abdominal excess in 8 patients and history of abdominoplasty in 6 patients. These six patients and one more had bad or absence of perforator for DIEP flap. There were 2 flap losses (11.8%). Other complications included minor dehiscences from seroma at donor site in 6 cases (35.3%), flap dehiscence in one case (5.8%), and receiver site hematoma in 1 patient (5.8%). DISCUSSION: The authors analyze their series when the high rate of complications and the results obtained compared to the second alternative choices of other teams. CONCLUSION: The author is of the opinion that the PAP-Flap is a reliable option as a second choice for breast reconstruction in patients whose DIEP can not be retained. It is limited in terms of volume and a third choice should be considered when the indication is to reconstruct a breast of large volume.

[Advantages of the superior areolar approach for tuberous breast II and III correction with implants]. / Avantages de la voie hémi-aréolaire supérieure pour la correction par implants des seins tubéreux de types II et III.

Tuberous breast is a mammary malformation that remains difficult to treat in most cases. It results from an abnormal development of the mammary base, mainly at the lower pole of the breast. The superficialis fascia is adherent to the dermis and deep plane. For type II and III of Grolleau's classification, we were confronted by some difficulties with inferior areolar approach as in Puckett's or Ribeiro's techniques. We had frequently an insufficient glandular volume at the inferior part of the breast and an early look of a "double bubble" deformity. We propose a technical modification to these procedures using a superior hemiareolar approach to place the implant. Associated with an incision of the deep part of the superficialis fascia, it provides a good-shaped lower pole of the breast by preserving glandular volume at this part and reduces the apparition of "double bubble". We operated on 14 types II-III tuberous breasts on nine female patients and had no significant complication. The mean follow-up is 36 months and the results were very satisfying for the patient and her surgeon.

Classification and prognosis of psychoses.

This article is a report of the symposium "classification and outcome of psychoses" (Jerusalem, 20 June 1982, 13th CINP-congress). As for scientific as for clinical reasons, there is a large need for a good and operational classification system. Different classification systems are examined. The longitudinal ones (DSM-III, Feighner and to a lesser extent RDC) are able to identify a group of schizophrenics with poor outcome. This is mainly due to the time-criterion. Concluding comments are given on the procedure how to investigate and to identify schizophrenics with good prognosis.