Comparison of mastectomy and breast reconstruction outcomes using low thermal dissection versus traditional electrocautery: a blinded randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION: PlasmaBlade® is a thermal dissection device that may allow for improved perfusion of the mastectomy flap by limiting thermal injury. In this study we aim to compare the mastectomy flap perfusion using PlasmaBlade® versus traditional electrocautery. METHODS: Patients undergoing bilateral mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction were recruited. The right and left breasts of each patient were randomized to dissection with PlasmaBlade® or standard electrocautery. Randomization was performed using random sequences on the day of surgery and was blinded to the plastic surgeon. Mastectomy flap perfusion was assessed following completion of the mastectomy using intra-operative fluoroscopy and plastic surgeon review. Surgical site drainage and pain score were measured. Sign tests were employed to assess differences in perfusion and Wilcoxon paired test for the secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled in the study with median age of 40.5 years and median BMI of 26 kg/m2. In 18 patients (90%), perfusion was assessed to be better on the side of the PlasmaBlade® dissection. Median daily drainage over a 7-day period was 51 cc (IQR 35-61) on the PlasmaBlade® side and 44 cc (IQR 31-61) on the control side. Median pain score on the PlasmaBlade® side was 4.0 (IQR 2.3-5.9) and 4.4 (IQR 2.9-6) on the control side. No skin necrosis was noted in either groups. CONCLUSION: Use of PlasmaBlade® appears to be a safe and reliable technique to perform mastectomy and breast reconstruction with equivalent outcomes to traditional electrocautery. Although, mastectomy skin flap perfusion was rated better intra-operatively for the PlasmaBlade® group, both cohorts had comparable outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03711916 Level of Evidence: I (Randomized trial).

Estrogen Receptor Positive and Progesterone Receptor Negative Breast Cancer: the Role of Hormone Therapy.

ER+/PR- (estrogen receptor positive and progesterone receptor negative) tumors constitute only a small portion of the breast cancer population. Patients with ER+/PR- tumors, however, are characterized by worse survival compared to patients with ER+/PR+ (estrogen receptor positive and progesterone receptor positive) tumors. Controversy exists regarding the efficacy of hormone blocking therapy for patients with ER+/PR- tumors. The NCDB was queried between 2004 and 2015, and patients with invasive ER+/PR- tumors were identified. We employed univariate Cox proportional hazards to compare outcomes among patients that did or did not receive hormone blocking therapy. We identified 138,398 patients with invasive ER+/PR- tumors, 32,044 (23%) of whom did not receive hormone blocking therapy. The reasons for not receiving hormone blocking therapy included contraindications to treatment, death, patient refusal, and unknown. There were no significant differences in race, income quartile, or education quartile between patients who did and did not receive hormone blocking therapy. Patients who did not receive hormone blocking therapy underwent surgical assessment of the axilla more frequently than those who did receive hormone therapy. Our analysis demonstrated that hormone blocking therapy administration was associated with increased overall survival for up to 10 years of follow up (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.56-0.59, p < 0.001). Hormone blocking therapy may be associated with increased survival for breast cancer patients with ER+/PR- tumors. Although this benefit may last for years after completion of the course, up to 25% of patients do not receive this treatment. Strategies to increase the utilization and adherence to hormone blocking therapy regimens may improve patient survival outcomes.

Analysis of Breast Cancer Patients with T1-2 Tumors and 1-3 Positive Lymph Nodes Treated with or without Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy.

The use of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) has been recommended for patients with 4 or more positive lymph nodes, however, its role in patients with 1-3 positive lymph nodes remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate oncological outcomes for breast cancer patients with T1-2 tumors and 1-3 positive lymph nodes after undergoing PMRT. We performed a single-institution retrospective investigation that evaluated the association between PMRT and outcomes in breast cancer patients with T1-2 tumors and 1-3 positive lymph nodes, who underwent mastectomy from 2004 to 2015. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the association of PMRT with disease-free survival and overall survival. A total of 379 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 204 (54%) received PMRT while 175 (46%) did not receive PMRT following mastectomy and were followed over a median of 5.2 years (25th-75th percentile: 2.8-8.4 years). Recurrence was similar in patients receiving PMRT compared to those that did not: locoregional (0 vs 3, P = 0.061), distant (9 vs 3, P = 0.135) and any recurrence (11 vs 7, P = 0.525). After adjustment for potential confounding variables, PMRT was not associated with a statistically significant difference in disease-free survival (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.48, 1.79) or overall survival (HR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.45, 1.85). PMRT was not associated with improved oncological outcomes in patients with T1-2 breast cancer and 1-3 positive lymph nodes at our institution.

Patient-Related Risk Factors for Worsened Abdominal Well-Being after Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported lower satisfaction with the abdomen preoperatively is a strong predictor of undergoing DIEP flap surgery. The authors evaluated physical well-being of the abdomen before and after flap-based breast reconstruction to determine potential predictors for decreased postoperative abdominal well-being. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed an institutional breast reconstruction registry, selecting patients who underwent abdominally based autologous flap breast reconstruction from 2010 to 2015. The authors' primary outcome was the Physical Well-being of the Abdomen domain from the BREAST-Q, measured preoperatively and at 6- and 12-month follow-up visits after final reconstruction. The authors classified two patient groups: those who experienced a clinically important worsening of Physical Well-being of the Abdomen score and those who did not. The authors used the chi-square test, t test, and Wilcoxon rank sum test, and multivariable logistic regression to identify potential predictors. RESULTS: Of 142 women identified, 74 (52 percent) experienced clinically important worsening of physical well-being of the abdomen, whereas 68 (48 percent) did not. The first group experienced a 25-point (95 percent CI, 22 to 28) decrease and the latter an 8-point (95 percent CI, 5 to 10) decrease in score compared to baseline. Multivariable analysis showed an association between higher baseline score and race, with higher odds of decreased score at the 12-month follow-up. A higher baseline RAND-36 general health score, bilateral reconstruction, and a lower body mass index demonstrated a trend for clinically important worsening of physical well-being of the abdomen. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of flap-based breast reconstruction patients experienced clinically important worsening of abdominal well-being after final breast reconstruction. Clinicians may use these findings to identify patients at higher risk of worsened postoperative abdominal well-being. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Pathway for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The enhanced recovery after surgery pathway was introduced in 1997 as a multimodal approach to reduce preventable postoperative harm and shorten hospital length of stay. However, there is yet no widely accepted enhanced recovery after surgery protocol for microsurgical breast reconstruction. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature on enhanced recovery after surgery for microsurgical breast reconstruction with regard to postoperative length of stay and morbidity. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for all studies published before June of 2016 containing original data on enhanced recovery after surgery in microsurgical breast reconstruction in relation to postoperative length of stay and morbidity. Studies were screened using eligibility criteria. Meta-analysis, odds ratio, and 95 percent confidence interval were used to pool acquired data. RESULTS: The initial search identified 86 studies. Two independent screeners identified four original articles with a total of 676 patients. Length of stay was significantly shorter for patients on an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway (mean difference, -1.23; 95 percent CI, -1.50 to -0.96; p < 0.001; I = 0 percent; random effects model). Enhanced recovery was not associated with changes in 30-day postoperative morbidity; specifically, no significant difference was observed in rates of partial flap loss (p = 0.44), total flap loss (p = 0.91), breast hematoma (p = 0.69), donor-site infection (p = 0.53), urinary tract infection (p = 0.29), and pneumonia (p = 0.42). CONCLUSION: The authors' review suggests that enhanced recovery after surgery in microsurgical breast reconstruction is associated with a reduced length of stay, and is not associated with increased postoperative morbidity.

Tumor Site and Breast Cancer Prognosis.

INTRODUCTION: Various factors affect breast cancer prognosis; however, little information is available regarding the role of primary tumor site. The purpose of this study was to compare the survival and clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with breast cancer by primary tumor location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed a prospectively collected single-institution breast cancer registry. Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to evaluate the association of tumor site with positive lymph node status, presence of metastasis, time to recurrence or death, and events of recurrence or death. Patients with tumors originating from the upper-outer quadrant were the reference group. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2015, 5295 patients with breast cancer were identified. Tumors originated from the upper-outer quadrant (36.2%), upper-inner quadrant (13.1%), lower-outer quadrant (9.8%), lower-inner quadrant (7.6%), nipple (1.2%), axillary tail (0.3%), or overlapping (24.7%). Tumors originated from overlapping lesions (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-1.83) had higher odds of positive axillary lymph nodes, whereas tumors from the upper-inner (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.56-0.84) and lower-inner quadrant (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.56-0.93) had lower odds. Tumors from the lower-outer quadrant were associated with lower risk of death (hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46-0.88), whereas tumors from overlapping lesions had higher risk (hazard ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.05-1.55). CONCLUSION: The site of primary tumor may be an important characteristic affecting the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.

Delayed Breast Reconstruction on Patients With Upper Extremity Lymphedema: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Pooled Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a debilitating condition with morbidity, hindered quality of life, and increased health-related costs. Experimental studies support the use of musculocutaneous flaps for managing animal models with lymphedema. Although vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) and lymphovenous anastomosis are used to surgically treat patients with lymphedema, it is not known whether musculocutaneous or adipocutaneous flaps (eg, delayed autologous breast reconstruction) are effective for treating refractory upper extremity BCRL. We conducted a systematic review and pooled analysis to assess the impact of delayed breast reconstruction on developed BCRL. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases for relevant studies published through November 11, 2016. We screened 934 unique articles. Of these, we conducted full-text and reference screening on 37 articles. We then performed a pooled and sensitivity analysis using random effects. RESULTS: Eight studies met our inclusion criteria. One study was a case report; 7 studies were case series with sample sizes ranging from 3 to 38 patients. According to our pooled analysis 58% of patients reported improvement after breast reconstruction with or without VLNT. Sensitivity analysis revealed that 84% (95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.95) of patients who underwent breast reconstruction and VLNT reported improvement, whereas only 22% (95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.32) of those who had breast reconstruction alone reported improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Our review summarizes the current evidence regarding the effect of delayed breast reconstruction on established lymphedema. The VLNT component of the autologous breast reconstruction procedures may be the largest contributing factor leading to lymphedema improvement.

Breast Pocket Irrigation with Antibiotic Solution at Implant Insertion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic irrigation is routinely used during implant insertion in augmentation mammoplasty procedures. However, the evidence for whether this reduces the incidence of infection or capsular contracture is unclear. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Five databases were used to search for all randomized control trials, retrospective cohort and prospective cohort studies containing original data related to the primary outcomes being investigated in this study. The primary outcomes were the effects of antibiotic breast pocket irrigation on clinical infection and capsular contracture. The literature search was designed to combine three concepts: implant or tissue expander-based breast surgery, antibiotic irrigation and clinical infection or capsular contracture. Studies found were screened using specific eligibility criteria. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using pooled acquired data from all included studies. RESULTS: The search identified 1256 citations. Three independent screeners identified seven studies that met the inclusion criteria with a pooled population of 4725. This included one prospective and six retrospective studies. A meta-analysis of pooled study data showed significant reductions in clinical infection (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.33-0.81) and capsular contracture (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.16-0.83) as a result of antibiotic irrigation. CONCLUSION: The meta-analyses support the use of antibiotic irrigation of the breast pocket. However, the results of this study are limited by the large proportion of retrospective studies, the small number of studies included, the lack of randomized controlled trials and the heterogeneity of the antibiotic and control regimes used. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Breast reconstruction and risk of arm lymphedema development: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema remains a significant complication following breast cancer surgery when there is axillary lymph node intervention. Previous systematic reviews have identified risk factors for breast cancer-related lymphedema, including increased BMI, number of lymph nodes dissected and radiotherapy. However, they have not examined the effect of breast reconstruction on lymphedema occurrence. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to evaluate the association between breast reconstruction (BR) and lymphedema. METHODS: We searched PubMed (1966-2016), Embase (1966-2016), Scopus (2004-2016) and Google Scholar (2004-2016) for studies involving breast reconstruction and upper-extremity lymphedema or breast cancer-related lymphedema. Our primary outcome was lymphedema occurrence. We performed a meta-analysis using random effects due to heterogeneity of the studies. RESULTS: Our search strategy identified 934 articles. After screening, 19 studies were included in our meta-analysis evaluating outcomes based on number of patients (7501) or number of breasts surgically treated (2063). Breast reconstruction was significantly associated with lower odds of lymphedema (p < 0.001) compared to mastectomy only or breast-conserving surgery. Lymphedema rates were not statistically significantly different between patients undergoing implant-based or autologous BR. CONCLUSIONS: Breast reconstruction is associated with lower rates of lymphedema compared to mastectomy only or breast conserving surgery patients. Although the study does not prove causation, we hypothesize that this association is likely due to multiple factors, including a self-selecting population and mechanisms through which BR may contribute to primary or secondary prevention of lymphedema. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify this beneficial relationship between breast reconstruction and reduced lymphedema risk.

Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction: Should All Patients be Considered?

Oncoplastic surgery of the tissue defect from partial mastectomy should be considered for all patients. It can result in in significant asymmetries from scar contraction, skin tethering, and alterations in the nipple areolar complex location. Indications, risks, and benefits are discussed. Optimal procedures are described, considering resected specimen volume, primary tumor location, tumor to breast size ratio, and the impact on the nipple areolar complex. Indications for plastic surgery consultation and joint surgery are discussed. Surgical management includes incision planning, preservation of the nipple areolar complex pedicle and position, patient positioning, incision location, and recovery.

The Effect of Resident Involvement on Postoperative Short-Term Surgical Outcomes in Immediate Breast Reconstruction: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Study of 24,005 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The association between resident involvement and surgical morbidity in immediate breast reconstruction is not fully elucidated, and prior studies have had conflicting results. The authors studied whether resident involvement in immediate breast reconstruction is associated with the most important short-term outcomes: increased 30-day surgical morbidity, readmission and reoperation rates, operative time, and length of stay. METHODS: Patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction were identified in the 2005 to 2012 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Data Files. The authors used simple and multivariable regression to assess surgical complications and secondary outcomes, stratifying by training level and reconstruction type. RESULTS: A total of 24,191 patients underwent immediate breast reconstruction; 17,840 had resident involvement. Thirty-day surgical morbidity was observed in 5.25 percent (95 percent CI, 4.92 to 5.58 percent) of cases with resident involvement and 5.12 percent (95 percent CI, 4.59 to 5.58 percent) of cases without, with no evidence of association between resident involvement and 30-day morbidity (adjusted OR, 0.97; 95 percent CI, 0.85 to 1.11; p = 0.652). Resident involvement was not associated with an increase in complications in implant-based or mixed types of reconstruction, and was associated with lower odds of complications in autologous reconstructions (OR, 0.70; 95 percent CI, 0.53 to 0.91; p = 0.008). It was associated with longer operative times (an average of 24 additional minutes for implant-based and 54 additional minutes for autologous reconstructions; p < 0.001); this was balanced by a shorter length-of-stay for patients undergoing implant-based reconstruction (adjusted OR, 0.88; 95 percent CI, 0.79 to 0.96; p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: In immediate breast reconstruction patients, resident involvement was not associated with increased postoperative surgical morbidity or complications, although operative time was significantly increased with resident involvement across all levels of training. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Matching Procedures at the Time of Immediate Breast Reconstruction: An American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Study of 24,191 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess for compounded risk of postoperative morbidity with the addition of a simultaneous contralateral breast matching procedure at the time of mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction. METHODS: 2005 to 2012 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program databases were used to identify cases of mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with and without simultaneous contralateral breast matching procedures. Matching procedures included mastopexy, reduction mammaplasty, and augmentation mammaplasty. Thirty-day postoperative morbidity was assessed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 59,766 mastectomy patients, 24,191 (40 percent) underwent immediate breast reconstruction: 903 (3.7 percent) underwent matching procedures and 23,288 (96.3 percent) did not. Univariable logistic regression demonstrated that the matching procedure group had statistically significantly higher overall morbidity (OR, 1.288; 95 percent CI, 1.022 to 1.623; p = 0.032). Although surgical and systemic morbidity did not differ significantly, the matching procedure group demonstrated higher risk for superficial surgical-site infection (OR, 1.57; 95 percent CI, 1.066 to 2.31; p = 0.022), reconstruction failure (OR, 1.69; 95 percent CI, 1.014 to 2.814; p = 0.044), and pulmonary embolism (OR, 2.54; 95 percent CI, 1.01 to 6.37; p = 0.048). Controlling for possible confounders, multivariable logistic regression rendered the relationship between matching procedure and complications insignificant (OR, 1.17; 95 percent CI, 0.92 to 1.48; p = 0.2). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that preoperative comorbidities and other patient-related factors may have a larger influence on postoperative morbidity than the addition of a contralateral matching procedure alone. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Orthopedic trauma-induced pulmonary injury in the obese Zucker rat.

OBJECTIVE: Obese subjects with orthopedic trauma exhibit increased inflammation and an increased risk of pulmonary edema. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2) ) production is elevated during inflammation and associated with increased vascular permeability. We hypothesize that pulmonary edema in obesity following orthopedic trauma is due to elevated PGE(2) and resultant increases in pulmonary permeability. METHODS: Orthopedic trauma was induced in both hindlimbs in lean (LZ) and obese Zucker rats (OZ). On the following day, plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and PGE(2) levels, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary gas exchange capability were compared between groups: LZ, OZ, LZ with trauma (LZT), and OZ with trauma (OZT). Vascular permeability in isolated lungs was measured in LZ and OZ before and after application of PGE(2) . RESULTS: As compared with the other groups, the OZT exhibited elevated plasma IL-6 and PGE(2) levels, increased lung wet/dry weight ratio and bronchoalveolar protein concentration, and an impaired pulmonary gas exchange. Indomethacin treatment normalized plasma PGE(2) levels and pulmonary edema. Basal pulmonary permeability in isolated lungs was higher in OZ than LZ, with a further increase in permeability following treatment with PGE(2) . CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that pulmonary edema in OZ following orthopedic trauma is due to an elevated PGE(2) and resultant increases in pulmonary permeability.