Oren Tessler

Breast reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy: predictors of complications, reconstruction outcomes, and 5-year trends.

Background: Nipple-sparing mastectomy is increasingly used for treatment and prevention of breast cancer. Few data exist on risk factors for complications and reconstruction outcomes. Methods: A single-institution retrospective review was performed between 2007 and 2012. Results: Two hundred eighty-five patients underwent 500 nipple-sparing mastectomy procedures for breast cancer (46 percent) or risk reduction (54 percent). The average body mass index was 24, and 6 percent were smokers. The mean follow-up was 2.17 years. Immediate breast reconstruction (reconstruction rate, 98.8 percent) was performed with direct-to-implant (59 percent), tissue expander/implant (38 percent), or autologous (2 percent) reconstruction. Acellular dermal matrix was used in 71 percent and mesh was used in 11 percent. Seventy-seven reconstructions had radiotherapy. Complications included infection (3.3 percent), skin necrosis (5.2 percent), nipple necrosis (4.4 percent), seroma (1.7 percent), hematoma (1.7 percent), and implant loss (1.9 percent). Positive predictors for total complications included smoking (OR, 3.3; 95 percent CI, 1.289 to 8.486) and periareolar incisions (OR, 3.63; 95 percent CI, 1.850 to 7.107). Increasing body mass index predicted skin necrosis (OR, 1.154; 95 percent CI, 1.036 to 1.286) and preoperative irradiation predicted nipple necrosis (OR, 4.86; 95 percent CI, 1.0197 to 23.169). An inframammary fold incision decreased complications (OR, 0.018; 95 percent CI, 0.0026 to 0.12089). Five-year trends showed increasing numbers of nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction and more single-stage versus two-stage reconstructions (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Nipple-sparing mastectomy reconstructions have a low number of complications. Smoking, body mass index, preoperative irradiation, and incision type were predictors of complications. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Beyond biologics: absorbable mesh as a low-cost, low-complication sling for implant-based breast reconstruction.

Background: There is an intense push to decrease overall healthcare costs in the United States. Although the use of acellular dermal matrix in implant-based reconstruction has grown significantly over the past decade, potential drawbacks remain a source of debate. Matrices are costly and not universally available across institutions, whereas Vicryl mesh is widely available, relatively inexpensive, and resistant to bacteria biofilm formation. With the intent of maximizing the reconstructive and economic advantages of direct-to-implant breast reconstruction, the authors report the first experience in the literature using an absorbable mesh as an inferolateral sling. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of the first 50 consecutive patients (76 reconstructions) who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction with Vicryl mesh from August of 2011 until June of 2012. Results: Fifty patients underwent 76 direct-to-implant reconstructions with Vicryl mesh between August of 2011 and June of 2012 (mean follow-up, 1.2 years). Five breasts (6.6 percent) had complications, with only one complication resulting in implant loss (1.3 percent). Implant positioning and contour were excellent, with only two patients [three breasts (3.9 percent)] undergoing revision procedures, for size enlargement. Using costs available at the authors’ institution, use of Vicryl mesh instead of acellular dermal matrix resulted in a direct material cost savings of

Nonendoscopic deactivation of nerve triggers in migraine headache patients: surgical technique and outcomes.

172,112 in 10 months. Conclusions: Results to date have been encouraging, with a low complication rate (6.6 percent) and excellent aesthetic results. The technique has resulted in

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis as an under-diagnosed cause of flap failure in heparin-naive patients: a case report and systematic review of the literature.

172,112 in direct material cost savings over 10 months. Continued follow-up is planned to evaluate long-term results. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Transverse Cervical Artery: Consistent Anatomical Landmarks and Clinical Experience with Its Use as a Recipient Artery in Complex Head and Neck Reconstruction

Background: Low efficacy, significant side effects, and refractory patients often limit the medical treatment of migraine headache. However, new surgical options have emerged. Dr. Bahman Guyuron and others report response rates between 68 and 95 percent after surgical deactivation of migraine trigger sites in select patients. In an effort to replicate and expand migraine trigger-site deactivation surgery as a treatment option, the authors’ group and others have developed nonendoscopic algorithms. The exclusion of endoscopic techniques may be useful for surgeons with little experience or limited access to the endoscope and in patients with challenging anatomy. Methods: Forty-three consecutive trigger deactivation procedures in 35 patients were performed. Preoperative and 12-month postoperative migraine questionnaires and patient charts were reviewed. Response to surgery in terms of migraine symptom relief and adverse events were evaluated. Results: The overall positive response rate was 90.7 percent. Total elimination of migraine headaches was reported in 51.3 percent of those with a positive response, greater than 80 percent resolution of symptoms was reported in 20.5 percent, and 28.2 percent had resolution between 50 and 80 percent. No significant effect was reported following 9.3 percent of procedures. There were no major adverse events. Conclusions: Nonendoscopic trigger deactivation is a safe and effective treatment in select migraine headache patients. Although surgical techniques and understanding of the mechanisms of relief are evolving, results continue to be promising. This series confirms that excellent results can be attained without the endoscope. The authors continue to study these patients prospectively to improve patient selection and refine the protocol. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Digital Replantation versus Revision Amputation

Heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITT) is an immune complex mediated and potentially devastating cause of flap loss in microvascular surgery. HITT may be an under‐reported cause of early‐flap failure due to subclinical manifestations at the time of flap loss. A case report of a patient presenting with HITT‐related flap failure and the results of a systematic literature review of the clinical presentation of HITT in microsurgery are presented here.

Three Years Experience with Absorbable Mesh in Single-Stage Breast Reconstruction: A Cost-Effective Alternative.

Background: Many head and neck reconstructions occur in patients with extensive history of surgery or radiation treatment. This leads to complicated free flap reconstructions, especially in choosing recipient vessels in a “frozen neck.” The transverse cervical artery is an optimal second-line recipient artery in head and neck reconstruction. Methods: Seventy-two neck sides in 36 cadavers were dissected, looking for the transverse cervical artery and transverse cervical vein. Anatomical location of these vessels, their diameter, and length were documented. A retrospective analysis on 19 patients who had head and neck reconstruction using the transverse cervical artery as a recipient artery was undertaken as well with regard to outcome of procedures, reason for surgery, previous operations, and use of vein grafts during surgery. Results: The transverse cervical artery was present in 72 of 72 of cadaveric specimens, and was infraclavicular in two of 72 specimens. Transverse cervical artery length ranged from 4.0 to 7.0 cm, and the mean diameter was 2.65 mm. The transverse cervical vein was present in 61 of 72 cadaveric specimens, the length ranged from 4.0 to 7.0 cm, and the mean diameter was 2.90 mm. The transverse cervical artery averaged 33 mm from midline, and branched off the thyrocervical trunk at an average 17 mm superior to the clavicle. Transverse cervical artery stenosis was markedly less in comparison with external carotid artery stenosis. In a 20-year clinical follow-up study, the transverse cervical artery was the recipient artery in 19 patients. A vein graft was used in one patient, and no flap loss occurred in any of the 19 patients. Conclusion: The transverse cervical artery is a reliable and robust option as a recipient artery in free flap head and neck reconstruction.

A methodological analysis of the plastic surgery cost-utility literature using established guidelines.

Background Earlier, digit viability judged the success of digital replantation. Now, utility health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) measures can better assess the impact of digital replantation. Methods Overall, 264 digital injury patients were sent a regimen of utility measures: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions, visual analog scale (VAS), time trade‐off (TTO), and standard gamble (SG). Overall, 51 patients responded completely to all of these—36 replantation patients and 15 revision amputation patients. The utility results of these patients were stratified between replantation versus revision amputation; dominant hand replantation versus nondominant hand replantation; and dominant hand revision amputation versus nondominant hand revision amputation. Results The mean VAS score of replant (0.84) and revision amputation (0.75) groups was significantly different (p = 0.05). The mean DASH score of dominant hand replantations (29.72) and nondominant hand replantations (17.97) was significantly different (p = 0.027). The dominant hand revision amputation had higher anxiety levels in comparison to nondominant hand revision amputation (p = 0.027). Patients with two or more digits replanted showed a significant decrease in VAS, TTO, and SG scores in comparison to patients who only had one digit replanted (p = 0.009, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). Conclusions This study suggests that HRQOL can offer better indices for outcomes of digital replantation. This shows some specific replantation cohorts have a significantly better quality of life when compared with their specific correlating revision amputation cohort. These findings can be employed to further refine indications and contraindications to replantation and help predict the quality of life outcomes.

“Donʼt Let Your Flap Get HITT”: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis

PURPOSE: The current circumstances of US healthcare mandate elimination of unnecessary costs while increasing efficiency in patient care. Traditional implant-based breast reconstruction encompasses multiple stages and using acellular dermal matrix (ADM); both increase cost. The senior author (WGA) has used absorbable knitted mesh (VicrylTM polyglactin 910) as an inferior pole sling in single-stage directto-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction since 2011. We report 3 year outcomes and cost savings data using this material.

Breast Reconstruction Following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Predictors of Complications

Background: Cost-utility studies, common in medicine, are rare within plastic surgery despite their capability of measuring the value of procedures by considering the societal costs of improving quality of life. The objectives of this study were to analyze the design quality of the plastic surgery cost-utility literature and to identify areas of needed improvement for future studies. Methods: A scoring tool was constructed based on the Recommendations of the Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine. A PubMed search through October of 2012 was conducted for English-language plastic surgery utility studies. Articles were selected using two inclusion criteria and evaluated using the scoring tool. Results: A 9-point scoring tool was created, and 37 publications were selected. Their average score was 3 out of 9 points. Thirty studies (81 percent) used population preferences in utility measurements. Fifteen studies (41 percent) measured costs, but only four (11 percent) included indirect costs and only five (14 percent) applied discount rates to calculate the value of treatments over time. Three studies (8 percent) earned zero points. The highest scoring study earned 8 points. Conclusions: The identified studies manifest the potential of cost-utility analyses in plastic surgery. Nonetheless, they are inconsistent in applying established cost-utility guidelines, especially in measuring costs and conducting recommended sensitivity analysis. Following this simple scoring tool can help future studies achieve some necessary improvements.