The increase in diaphragm thickness in preterm infants is related to birth weight: a pilot study.

Diaphragm ultrasound (DU) has been used in adult and pediatric critical patients in relation to prediction of extubation success or to detect diaphragm dysfunction, but there is a lack of evidence in neonates. Our aim is to study the evolution of diaphragm thickness in preterm infants, as well as related variables. This prospective monocentric observational study included preterm infants born before 32 weeks (PT32). We performed DU to measure right and left inspiratory and expiratory thickness (RIT, LIT, RET, and LET) and calculated the diaphragm-thickening fraction (DTF) in the first 24 h of life and then weekly until 36 weeks postmenstrual age, death, or discharge. Using multilevel mixed-effect regression, we evaluated the influence of time since birth on diaphragm measurements, as well as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), birth weight (BW), and days of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We included 107 infants, and we performed 519 DUs. All diaphragm thickness increased with time since birth, but the only additional variable that influenced this growth was BW: beta coefficients RIT = 0.00006; RET = 0.00005; LIT = 0.00005; and LET = 0.00004, p < 0.001. Right DTF values remained stable since birth but left DTF increased with time only in infants with BPD.   Conclusion: In our population we found that the higher the BW, the higher diaphragm thicknesses at birth and follow-up. Contrary to the previously published findings in adult and pediatric settings, we were unable to describe a relationship between days of IMV and diaphragm thickness in PT32. The final diagnosis of BPD does not influence this increase either, but it does increase left DTF. What is Known: • Diaphragm thickness and diaphragm thickening fraction have been related to the time on invasive mechanical ventilation in adults and pediatric patients, as well as with extubation failure. • Very few evidence is yet available on the use of diaphragmatic ultrasound in preterm infants. What is New: • Birth weight is the only variable related to diaphragm thickness in preterm infants born before 32 weeks postmenstrual age. • Days of invasive mechanical ventilation do not influence diaphragm increase in thickness in preterm infants.

Immediate Breast Reconstruction with Prosthesis and Titanized Mesh Using a Dual-Plane Approach: Complications and Risk Factors Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy has gained prominence in recent years and is considered one of the main procedures in oncoplastic surgery. In the case of reconstruction with prostheses, the use of a mesh to extend the pectoralis major muscle is often required to partially cover the implant. The main objective of this study was to determine the percentage of complications in immediate breast reconstructions with a titanized mesh using a dual-plane approach and establish risk factors for prosthesis complications and extrusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study that included women who received postmastectomy reconstructions from January 2012 to December 2019 in a secondary hospital in Spain. RESULTS: A total of 57 immediate reconstructions were performed in 47 women. There were complications in 16 mastectomies (28.1%), of which seven (12.3%) were Clavien-Dindo ≤ IIIa and nine (15.7%) were IIIb. A total of three patients presented prosthetic extrusion, and the prosthesis was removed in five. The degree of contracture according to the Baker scale was I-II in 50 mastectomies (87.7%) and III-IV in seven (12.3%). CONCLUSION: The immediate breast reconstruction with a titanized mesh using a dual-plane approach is a technique with an acceptable percentage of complications. The need for a Wise pattern and the necrosis of the nipple-areola complex in the postoperative period are risk factors for implant loss. Patients undergoing radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy and with a previous surgery are more likely to present capsular contracture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: 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.