Gretl Lam

The Impact of Two Operating Surgeons on Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Given the complexity of microsurgical breast reconstruction, there are many opportunities to improve both surgical efficiency and outcomes. The use of two operating surgeons has been employed, but the outcomes are unproven. In this study, the authors compare the outcomes of patients undergoing microsurgical breast reconstruction with one operating surgeon to those with two surgeons. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing microsurgical breast reconstruction between July of 2011 and January of 2014 at a single academic institution was conducted. Patients were divided into two cohorts: those undergoing reconstruction with one surgeon and those having reconstruction with two surgeons. Once identified, patients were analyzed and outcomes were compared. Results: A total of 157 patients underwent 248 microsurgical breast reconstructions during the study period. One hundred three patients (170 flaps) had two surgeons and 54 patients (78 flaps) had one surgeon. Patients undergoing unilateral and bilateral reconstructions with two surgeons had decreased mean operating room time by 60.1 minutes and 134 minutes (p < 0.001) and length of stay by 1.8 days and 1.3 days (p < 0.05), when compared to a single surgeon. Additionally, patients with one surgeon were more likely to have postoperative donor-site breakdown at 5.1 percent (n = 4) versus 0.6 percent (n = 1) (p = 0.0351). Conclusions: The use of two operating surgeons has demonstrable effects on the outcomes of microsurgical breast reconstruction. The addition of a second surgeon significantly decreases operating room time and shortens hospital length of stay in both unilateral and bilateral reconstruction. It also significantly decreases donor-site wound healing complications. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Determining the Oncologic Safety of Autologous Fat Grafting as a Reconstructive Modality: An Institutional Review of Breast Cancer Recurrence Rates and Surgical Outcomes

Background: The increasing use of autologous fat grafting in breast cancer patients has raised concerns regarding its oncologic safety. This study evaluated patient outcomes and tumor recurrence following mastectomy reconstruction and autologous fat grafting. Methods: Retrospective chart review identified patients who underwent mastectomy followed by breast reconstruction from 2010 to 2015. Eight hundred twenty-nine breasts met inclusion criteria: 248 (30.0 percent) underwent autologous fat grafting, whereas 581 (70.0 percent) breasts did not. Patient demographics, cancer characteristics, oncologic treatment, surgical treatment, surgical complications, local recurrence, and distant metastases were analyzed. Results: Autologous fat grafting patients and control patients were of similar body mass index, smoking status, and BRCA status. Patients who underwent fat grafting were significantly younger than control patients and were less likely to have diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. The two groups represented similar distributions of BRCA status, Oncotype scores, and hormone receptor status. Patients underwent one to four grafting procedures: one procedure in 83.1 percent, two procedures in 13.7 percent, three in 2.8 percent, and four in 0.4 percent. Mean follow-up time from initial surgery was 45.6 months in the fat grafting group and 38.8 months in controls. The overall complication rate following fat grafting was 9.4 percent. Among breasts undergoing surgery for therapeutic indications, there were similar rates of local recurrence (fat grafting group, 2.5 percent; controls, 1.9 percent; p = 0.747). Interestingly, mean time to recurrence was significantly longer in the fat grafting group (52.3 months versus 22.8 months from initial surgery; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Autologous fat grafting is a powerful tool in breast reconstruction. This large, single-institution study provides valuable evidence-based support for its oncologic safety. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Impact of Evolving Radiation Therapy Techniques on Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction

Background: Patients undergoing implant-based reconstruction in the setting of postmastectomy radiation therapy suffer from increased complications and inferior outcomes compared with those not irradiated, but advances in radiation delivery have allowed for more nuanced therapy. The authors investigated whether these advances impact patient outcomes in implant-based breast reconstruction. Methods: Retrospective chart review identified all implant-based reconstructions performed at a single institution from November of 2010 to November of 2013. These data were cross-referenced with a registry of patients undergoing breast irradiation. Patient demographics, treatment characteristics, and outcomes were analyzed. Results: Three hundred twenty-six patients (533 reconstructions) were not irradiated, whereas 83 patients (125 reconstructions) received radiation therapy; mean follow-up was 24.7 months versus 26.0 months (p = 0.49). Overall complication rates were higher in the irradiated group (35.2 percent versus 14.4 percent; p < 0.01). Increased maximum radiation doses to the skin were associated with complications (maximum dose to skin, p = 0.05; maximum dose to 1 cc of skin, p = 0.01). Different treatment modalities (e.g., three-dimensional conformal, intensity-modulated, field-in-field, and hybrid techniques) did not impact complication rates. Prone versus supine positioning significantly decreased the maximum skin dose (58.5 Gy versus 61.7 Gy; p = 0.05), although this did not translate to significantly decreased complication rates in analysis of prone versus supine positioning. Conclusions: As radiation techniques evolve, the maximum dose to skin should be given consideration similar to that for heart and lung dosing, to optimize reconstructive outcomes. Prone positioning significantly decreases the maximum skin dose and trends toward significance in reducing reconstructive complications. With continued study, this may become clinically important. Interdepartmental studies such as this one ensure quality of care. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Analysis of Flap Weight and Postoperative Complications Based on Flap Weight in Patients Undergoing Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction.

Background Higher body mass index (BMI) has been shown to increase postoperative complications in autologous breast reconstruction. However, the correlation with flap weight is unknown. Here, we explore the relationship of flap weights and complication rates in patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction. Methods Retrospective chart review identified all patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction with abdominally based flaps at a single institution between November 2007 and April 2013. Breasts with documented flap weight and 1‐year follow‐up were included. Patients undergoing stacked deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps were excluded. Breasts were divided into quartiles based on flap weight and examined by demographics, surgical characteristics, complications, and revisions. Results A total of 130 patients undergoing 225 flaps were identified. Patients had a mean age of 50.4 years, mean BMI of 27.1 kg/m2, and mean flap weight of 638.4 g (range: 70–1640 g). Flap weight and BMI were directly correlated. Flaps were divided into weight‐based quartiles: first (70–396 g), second (397–615 g), third (616–870 g), and fourth (871–1640 g). There were no associations between flap weight and incidences of venous thrombosis, arterial thrombosis, hematoma, flap loss, fat necrosis, or donor site hernia. However, increased flap weight was associated with increased rate of donor site wound healing problems in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Conclusions Increased flap weight is not associated with added flap complications among patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction, however, patients with flaps of 667.5 g or more are more likely to have donor site healing problems. The success and evidence contrary to previous studies may be attributed to surgeon intraoperative flap choice.

Targeted Nrf2 activation therapy with RTA 408 enhances regenerative capacity of diabetic wounds

AIMS Though unmitigated oxidative stress in diabetic chronic non-healing wounds poses a major therapeutic challenge, currently, there are no effective pharmacological agents. We targeted the cytoprotective Nrf2/Keap1 pathway, which is dysfunctional in diabetic skin and the regenerative environment in the diabetic wound. We assessed the efficacy of a potent Nrf2-activator, RTA 408, a semi-synthetic oleanane triterpenoid, on accelerating diabetic wound healing. METHODS Using Leprdb/dbmice, we made 10 mm-diameter excisional humanized wounds in dorsal skin. We administered RTA 408 formulations daily, and used ANOVA for comparison of time to closure, in vivo real-time ROS, histology, molecular changes. RESULTS We found that RTA 408, specifically a 0.1% formulation, significantly reduced wound healing time and increased wound closure rate. While either systemic or topical administration of RTA 408 is effective, wound closure time with the latter was far superior. RTA 408-treated diabetic wounds upregulated Nrf2 and downstream antioxidant genes, and exhibited well-vascularized granulation tissue that aided in re-epithelialization. Reintroduction of redox mechanisms via RTA 408-induced Nrf2 resulted in reduction of the oxidative status of wounds, to coordinate successful wound closure. CONCLUSIONS This preclinical study shows that promoting Nrf2-mediated antioxidant activity in the localized regenerative milieu of a diabetic wound markedly improves the molecular and cellular composition of diabetic wound beds. RTA 408 treats and corrects the irregularity in redox balance mechanisms involving Nrf2, in an avenue not explored previously for treatment of diabetic wounds and tissue regeneration. Our study supports development of RTA 408 as a therapeutic modality for chronic diabetic wounds.

Limb-sparing sarcoma reconstruction with functional composite thigh flaps

Innervated muscle transfer can improve functional outcomes after extensive limb‐sparing sarcoma resections. We report our experience using composite thigh flaps for functional reconstruction of large oncologic extremity defects.

Does the Timing of Chemotherapy Affect Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction Complications?

Introduction In this study we evaluated how the timing of chemotherapy for breast cancer affects post‐reconstruction complications to determine whether there is an optimal time for breast reconstruction after chemotherapy. Patients and Methods A retrospective review identified 344 breast cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy with mastectomy and autologous/prosthetic reconstruction from 2011 to 2014. A control group of 127 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy and autologous/prosthetic reconstruction without chemotherapy was also identified from the same period. The 2 groups were compared and analyzed for differences in demographic characteristics, treatment, and postoperative complication rates. The chemotherapy group was subsequently stratified into 3 subgroups on the basis of the number of days between chemotherapy treatment and reconstructive surgery (≤ 30 days, 30‐60 days, > 60 days) for further analysis. Results Patients who received chemotherapy were followed for an average of 803.4 days (26.4 months) from the time of initial reconstruction (mean time to complication, 43.3 ± 82.7 days), and experienced an overall greater complication rate compared with control subjects (32.8% vs. 24.4%; P = .078). When complications were divided into minor, major, and reconstructive failure categories, analysis revealed that the chemotherapy group experienced more minor complications than the control group (18% vs. 11%; P = .067). However, there were no statistically significant differences in major complication rates (10.5% vs. 9.4%) and reconstructive failure complication rates (3.8% vs. 2.4%) between the chemotherapy group and control group. Sixty‐eight patients (19.8%) underwent surgery within 30 days of chemotherapy, 210 patients (61%) within 30 to 60 days, and 66 patients (19.2%) after 60 days. Of note, patients in the ≤ 30 days group underwent surgery at a mean time of 24.8 days with 2 patients who underwent surgery in < 15 days. The 3 groups did not differ with respect to demographic factors or breast reconstructive modality, and there were no significant differences in overall complication rates (33.8% for ≤ 30 days, 31.4% for 30‐60 days, and 36.4% for > 60 days), time to complication, complication severity, or complication type. Whereas patients who underwent surgery 30 to 60 days from the time of chemotherapy had lower rates of skin necrosis (3.8%) and infection (15.7%) compared with the ≤ 30 days and 60 to 90 days groups, this finding was not statistically significant. Conclusion Results of this study suggest that chemotherapy does increase overall breast reconstruction complications, however, a decreased time between chemotherapy and surgical reconstruction does not predispose patients to postoperative complications. Consequently, surgery might be feasible in close temporal proximity to chemotherapy administration. Micro‐Abstract This review of 344 patients who underwent chemotherapy with mastectomy and autologous/prosthetic reconstruction from 2011 to 2014 shows that chemotherapy does increase overall breast reconstruction complications, however, timing of chemotherapy with relation to surgery (≤ 30 days, 30‐60 days, > 60 days), does not affect overall complication rates, time to complication, complication severity (major vs. minor), or complication type.