Intraoperative Systolic Blood Pressure as a Significant Predictor of Postoperative Hematoma Following Facelift: Single Surgeon Experience of 118 Consecutive Facelifts.

BACKGROUND: While there exists ample evidence on the impact of perioperative blood pressure on hematoma incidence following facelift; the association of elevated or labile intraoperative blood pressure with postoperative hematoma remains to be explored. OBJECTIVES: The authors evaluate the association of elevated or labile intraoperative systolic blood pressure (SBP) with postoperative hematoma, using the senior author's single surgeon experience of 118 consecutive facelifts. METHODS: A multivariate logistic regression was conducted using complete demographic, procedure-related, blood pressure-related, and outcomes-related data, with the outcome of interest representing postoperative hematoma. One-way ANOVA and linear regression analyses were used to assess for significant associations between a preoperative history of hypertension and a tendency to demonstrate elevated or labile intraoperative SBP. A Fisher's Exact test was subsequently used to assess for specific intraoperative SBP measurement cut-offs significantly associated with postoperative hematoma, including maximum recorded intraoperative SBP, and specific degree of intraoperative SBP fluctuations. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated no statistically significant patient- or procedure-related demographic predictors of postoperative hematoma. With aggressive treatment of preoperative hypertension, high preoperative SBP was not found to be a significant predictor of postoperative hematoma following facelift, although this approached statistical significance (p=0.05). In contrast, labile intraoperative SBP (maximum recorded intraoperative SBP - minimum recorded intraoperative SBP; p=0.026), as well as high immediate postoperative SBP (p=0.002), were both independent and statistically significant predictors of postoperative hematoma. Patients with a preoperative history of hypertension, and more specifically those with elevated SBP measurements in the preoperative clinic, were more likely to demonstrate labile (p=0.007) or elevated (p=0.005) intraoperative SBP during facelift surgery. Specifically, maximum recorded intraoperative SBP ≥155mmHg (p=0.045), as well as maximum intraoperative SBP fluctuations ≥80mmHg (p=0.036) were found to be significantly associated with hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: A multimodal approach is necessary to control perioperative systolic blood pressure within the strict <120mmHg target demonstrated to significantly decrease hematoma incidence. The senior author's preference is for intraoperative SBP to remain within a strict 90-100mmHg range. In contrast to hypertension that is aggressively treated and successfully controlled, hypertension that is difficult to control intraoperatively, may be a predictor of systolic blood pressure that is difficult to control postoperatively, and thus a significant risk factor for postoperative hematoma following facelift.

Techniques in Nipple Areolar Reconstruction: A Retrospective Analysis of Surgical Interventions and Patient-reported Satisfaction Scores.

Background: Nipple areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction often signifies completion of the breast reconstruction process for some patients and has been shown to improve both psychosocial and sexual well-being. Several techniques have been described; however, there currently exists little evidence in the literature describing outcomes or patient satisfaction. Methods: A retrospective analysis of NAC reconstructions over the last decade was queried for patient demographics, operative technique, and postoperative outcomes. A standardized, validated survey was also utilized to evaluate overall satisfaction, with a focus on aesthetic outcome, shape, color, and projection. Results: Eighty-three patients were identified, with 49 (59.0%) completing the survey. The modalities used for reconstruction include the C-V flap (45.7%), the modified skate flap technique (42.2%), and free nipple grafting (FNG, 12.0%). No significant differences in age, BMI, or comorbidities were found among the three types. The most utilized donor site for skate flap reconstruction was the suprapubic area (37.1%). There were also no significant differences in complication rate (C-V 10.5%, FNG 10%, skate 5.7%, P = 0.630) or revision surgery (C-V 2.6%, FNG 0%, skate 5.7%, P = 0.732). The most common complication was nipple necrosis. Adjusting for time to follow-up using multivariate analysis, there was a significant difference in overall patient satisfaction when compared across all three techniques, with the modified skate flap having the highest mean overall satisfaction scores. Conclusions: NAC reconstruction can be completed safely and effectively with a variety of techniques. The modified skate flap technique was associated with high levels of patient satisfaction and a low complication rate.

Beyond Physical Well-being: Exploring Demographic Variances in Psychosocial Well-being before Breast Reconstruction.

A patient's preoperative satisfaction with their breasts and baseline psychosocial, sexual, and physical well-being are important considerations when planning breast reconstruction. We sought to elucidate variances in preoperative responses among patients undergoing postmastectomy breast reconstruction. Methods: Preoperative BREAST-Q responses and demographic data, including race, generation, median household incomeinstitutional review board and body mass index (BMI) were collected from breast cancer patients scheduled for mastectomy. Associations between demographic group and survey response were analyzed by chi-square or independent t-tests. Results: In total, 646 of 826 patients identified had complete data and were included in the final analysis. Patients in BMI group 1 (16-24.9) were more likely to report feeling "very satisfied" with how they looked unclothed compared with patients in other BMI groups (P = 0.031). Conversely, patients in groups 3 and 4 (35+), reported lower satisfaction (P = 0.037) and felt less attractive without clothes (P = 0.034). Asian women were less likely to feel attractive (P = 0.007), and Black patients were less likely to feel of equal worth to other women (P < 0.001). Finally, patients were less likely to report confidence in social settings if they were Black (P < 0.001), Asian (P < 0.001), from the millennial generation (P = 0.017), or living in zip codes with median household income less than $55,000 (P = 0.042). Conclusions: Breast cancer patients' feelings toward their natural breasts vary widely between demographic groups. Understanding baseline psychosocial factors in this population is key to informing preoperative discussions and interpreting postoperative satisfaction.

Systolic Blood Pressure Less Than 120 mmHg is a Safe and Effective Method to Minimize Bleeding After Facelift Surgery: A Review of 502 Consecutive Cases.

BACKGROUND: Hematoma is the most common complication after facelift surgery. Hypertension is the major risk factor for hematoma following facelift. Measures taken to reduce systolic blood pressure perioperatively significantly reduce the risk of hematoma. There is evidence that treating systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or above reduces hematoma; there were no studies to date in which systolic blood pressures below 120 mmHg had been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety and efficacy of maintaining systolic blood pressures of 120 mmHg or less postoperatively to reduce hematoma after facelift. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of a single surgeon's series of facelift procedures from January 2004 to July 2018 was undertaken. Implementation of a more stringent perioperative blood pressure protocol (maintaining a systolic blood pressure of less than 120 mmHg postoperatively) was initiated in January of 2013, dividing patients into 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 502 consecutive patients who underwent a facelift by F.N. were included in the study. A total of 319 patients underwent a facelift before 2013, and a total of 183 patients underwent a facelift in 2013 or later. Overall, a total of 13 hematomas occurred during the entire 15-year study period (2.59%), of which 12 occurred before the implementation of a strict blood pressure regimen (3.76%), and only 1 occurred after the new protocol (0.5%). There were no adverse events related to the lower blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Treating systolic blood pressure greater than 120 mmHg postoperatively is a safe and effective method for reducing the risk of hematoma after facelift.

Time to Radiation after Oncoplastic Reduction versus After Lumpectomy.

Prior studies contrasting oncoplastic reduction (OCR) to traditional lumpectomy have validated oncoplastic reduction surgery with similar survival and oncological outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if there was a significant difference in the time to initiation of radiation therapy after OCR in comparison with the standard breast-conserving therapy (lumpectomy). Methods: The patients included were from a database of breast cancer patients who all underwent postoperative adjuvant radiation after either OCR or lumpectomy at a single institution between 2003 and 2020. Patients who experienced delays in radiation for nonsurgical reasons were excluded. Comparisons were made between the groups in the time to radiation and complication rates. Results: A total of 487 patients underwent breast-conserving therapy, with 220 having undergone OCR and 267 lumpectomy patients. There was no significant difference in days to radiation between patient cohorts (60.5 OCR, 56.2 lumpectomy, P = 0.059). There was a significant difference in the number of complications between OCR and lumpectomy patients (20.4% OCR, 2.2% lumpectomy, P < 0.001). However, of patients who had complications, there was no significant difference in the number of days to radiation (74.3 OCR, 69.3 lumpectomy, P = 0.732). Conclusions: Compared with lumpectomy, OCR was not associated with an increased time to radiation but was associated with higher complications. Statistical analysis did not reveal surgical technique or complications to be independent, significant predictors of increased time to radiation. Surgeons should be aware that although complications may remain higher in OCR, this does not necessarily translate to delays in radiation.

Close the GAPS: A Standardized Perioperative Protocol Reduces Breast Reconstruction Implant Infections.

BACKGROUND: Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) is a complex process with significant practice variability. Infections after IBBR are associated with higher rates of readmission, reoperation, and reconstructive failure. To reduce process variability and postoperative infections, the authors implemented an evidence-based, standardized protocol for IBBR. METHODS: The protocol was applied to all patients undergoing IBBR at a single institution from December of 2019 to February of 2021. Intraoperative protocol adherence was recorded, and infection events were considered minor (managed with outpatient antibiotics) or major (managed with readmission or reoperation). A historic control group was retrospectively analyzed for comparison. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (120 breasts) in the protocol group were compared with 159 patients (269 breasts) in the retrospective group. No differences were found in demographic characteristics, comorbidities, or type of reconstruction (expander versus implant). Intraoperative protocol adherence was 80.5% (SD, 13.9%). Overall infection rate was significantly lower in the protocol group versus controls (8.7% versus 17.0%; P < 0.05). When dichotomized, protocol patients had a lower rate of both minor (2.9% versus 5.7%; P = 0.99) and major (5.8% versus 11.3%; P = 0.09) infections, although this was not statistically significant. Rate of reconstructive failure secondary to infection was significantly lower in the protocol group (4.4% versus 8.8%; P < 0.05). Among protocol patients, those without infection had higher protocol adherence (81.5% versus 72.2%; P < 0.06), which neared statistical significance. CONCLUSION: A standardized perioperative protocol for IBBR reduces process variability and significantly decreases rate of overall infections and reconstructive failure secondary to infection. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Drain Removal Time in Pre-pectoral versus Dual Plane Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction following Nipple-sparing Mastectomy.

Pre-pectoral prosthetic breast reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) has become a popular approach compared with the dual plane technique. Our objective was to determine if there was a difference in time to postoperative breast drain removal in direct-to-implant or tissue expander reconstruction following NSM when comparing pre-pectoral with dual plane technique. Methods: A total of 200 patients (335 breasts) received NSM followed by implant or expander reconstruction at our institution between the years 2009 and 2020. Direct-to-implant reconstruction had 113 pre-pectoral versus 67 dual plane, and tissue expander reconstruction had six pre-pectoral versus 149 dual plane. Our analysis included age at mastectomy, body mass index, history of preoperative breast radiation, and smoking history. Case complications included seroma or hematoma, breast or axillary infection requiring antibiotics or operative washout, device replacement due to extrusion or infection, skin necrosis, and capsular contracture. Statistical analysis was completed with Pearson chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and the two-sample T-test using IBM SPSS Statistics 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y.). Results: The average time until breast drain removal in dual plane implant patients was significantly less than in pre-pectoral implant patients (9.42 versus 14.01 days). The average time until breast drain removal in dual plane expander patients was significantly less than in pre-pectoral expander patients (11.47 versus 20.30 days). Conclusion: In both implant and expander reconstruction following NSM, patients receiving dual plane device placement had a shorter postoperative time until breast drain removal when compared with patients receiving pre-pectoral device placement.

Incidence and Outcomes of Completion Mastectomy following Oncoplastic Reduction: A Case Series.

Background: Patients occasionally need completion mastectomy (CM) following oncoplastic reduction for various reasons necessitating definitive reconstructive techniques. The purpose of this study was to evaluate those patients who required CM following oncoplastic reduction and evaluate indications, technique, and outcomes. Methods: Patients who underwent a completion mastectomy at some time point following the oncoplastic reduction were identified. Factors that influenced CM and additional reconstruction were analyzed. All statistical analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 (IBM Corp.). Results: A total of 29 patients (5.3%) underwent CM during the study period with an average follow-up of 3 years since the original procedure. The most common reasons were positive margins (20/29, 69.0%) and recurrence (8/29, 27.6%). Twenty-two had reconstructive procedures (75.9%) and seven did not (24.1%). The patients who underwent CM and reconstruction were significantly younger (49.2 years) than those who had no reconstruction (64.3 years, P = 0.004). The most common type of reconstruction was transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM)/deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap (12/22, 54.5%), followed by latissimus (6/22, 27.3%) and tissue expander (3/22, 13.6%). The complication rate in the CM group was 24% (N = 7/29), which included two seromas (6.9%), followed by infection, fat necrosis, mastectomy skin necrosis, and donor site necrosis (3.4% each). Conclusions: Completion mastectomy is indicated typically for positive margins or recurrence. Reconstruction is performed more frequently in younger patients, with the TRAM/DIEP flap and latissimus dorsi reconstruction being the most common technique.