Botulinum Toxin A in Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction: A Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Subpectoral tissue expander breast reconstruction is often associated with muscle spasms, pain, and discomfort during tissue expansion. In this study, we hypothesized that an intraoperative injection of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) in the pectoralis major muscle reduces the pain associated with tissue expansion and improves women's physical well-being. METHODS: Between May 2012 and May 2017, women undergoing immediate subpectoral tissue expander breast reconstruction were randomized to administer 100 units of BTX-A or a placebo injection. A numeric pain intensity scale and the physical well-being scale of the BREAST-Q: Reconstruction Module were used to test our hypothesis. Data on postoperative oral narcotic consumption were not collected. RESULTS: Of the 131 women included in the analysis, 48% were randomized to placebo and 52% to BTX-A. The preoperative median pain intensity score was 0 [interquartile range (IQR), 0-1], and the median preoperative BREAST-Q score was 91 (IQR, 81-100). The median slopes for the change in pain intensity scores from baseline throughout tissue expansion for those randomized to placebo and BTX-A were -0.01 (IQR, -0.02 to 0.00) and -0.01 (IQR, -0.02 to 0.00), respectively (P = 0.55). The median slopes for the change in BREAST-Q scores from baseline throughout tissue expansion for those randomized to placebo and BTX-A were 0.04 (IQR, -0.17 to 0.14) and 0.02 (IQR, -0.06 to 0.13), respectively (P = 0.89). CONCLUSION: In this study, we found that an intraoperative intramuscular injection of 100 units of BTX-A in the pectoralis major muscle did not reduce postoperative pain and patient-reported physical well-being when compared with placebo.

Microbial biofilms and breast tissue expanders.

We previously developed and validated a vortexing-sonication technique for detection of biofilm bacteria on the surface of explanted prosthetic joints. Herein, we evaluated this technique for diagnosis of infected breast tissue expanders and used it to assess colonization of breast tissue expanders. From April 2008 to December 2011, we studied 328 breast tissue expanders at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Of seven clinically infected breast tissue expanders, six (85.7%) had positive cultures, one of which grew Propionibacterium species. Fifty-two of 321 breast tissue expanders (16.2%, 95% CI, 12.3-20.7%) without clinical evidence of infection also had positive cultures, 45 growing Propionibacterium species and ten coagulase-negative staphylococci. While vortexing-sonication can detect clinically infected breast tissue expanders, 16 percent of breast tissue expanders appear to be asymptomatically colonized with normal skin flora, most commonly, Propionibacterium species.

Microvascular complications of DIEP flaps.

BACKGROUND: The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap has become a popular option for breast reconstruction because of reduced donor-site morbidity. As the number of perforators per flap is reduced, vascular compromise may develop. Venous congestion can occur despite patent primary venous anastomosis. METHODS: A prospective series of 100 consecutive DIEP flaps in breast reconstruction were studied for vascular problems and outcomes. RESULTS: Ninety-nine flaps were successful. No arterial compromise occurred. Overall, venous congestion occurred in 15 flaps. Eleven flaps developed intraoperative venous congestion, but only five flaps required vascular bypass between the superficial epigastric vein and chest wall vein for additional drainage. One flap was lost because of the authors' failure to recognize and manage inadequate venous outflow by the chosen perforator vein. One flap suffered major fat necrosis because of postoperative thrombosis of the saphenous vein bypass. Overall, fat necrosis occurred in 12 flaps. CONCLUSIONS: DIEP venous congestion, despite patent primary venous anastomosis, occurs in 5 percent of these flaps and can be managed successfully by a second venous bypass between the superficial epigastric vein and any chest wall vein. Failure to recognize and manage this can cause flap loss.

Venous congestive flap salvage with subcutaneous rtPA.

Free-flap success has been the rule with technical advancements in microsurgery. Despite improvements, thrombosis and flap loss still occur occasionally. Salvaging a sick flap can be a harrowing experience, even in the most experienced hands. Thrombolysis using intravenous and intra-arterial urokinase, streptokinase, and/or tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) administered through the flap vascular pedicle has been reported in free-flap salvages. In such situations, success depends on early diagnosis and emergent exploration. Recently, we successfully used rtPA subcutaneously to salvage a venous congested free transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous (TRAM) flap. Here, we report on that case.