Lactation Education for Surgeons: American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) Survey Demonstrates Strong Member Interest in Expanded Training.

BACKGROUND: The availability and extent of breastfeeding-specific surgical training has not been previously described. We aimed to survey breast surgeons on their lactation education and desire for additional knowledge. METHODS: Members of the American Society of Breast Surgeons were invited via email to anonymously complete an electronic survey from 27 October 2021 to 23 January 2022. The survey content included demographic information, sources of lactation education, and desired topics and methods for further training. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 2698 surveys were delivered and 542 (20.1%) completed. While nearly all respondents (99%) reported treating lactating patients at least once or twice per year, 78% reported that their training was inadequate. The most frequently cited sources of lactation information were peer-to-peer informal knowledge sharing (50%) and personal experience with breastfeeding (44%). Nearly all respondents (99%) agreed that formal lactation education would benefit breast surgeons. Specific topics of interest included management of patients with complications of lactation (48%), management of lactating patients with a new diagnosis of breast cancer (47%), and counseling patients with pregnancy-associated breast cancer who desire to breastfeed (46%). The most frequently recommended educational formats included presentation at a national conference (60%), evidence-based management guidelines (58%), webinar (55%), and workshop/course (47%). CONCLUSION: Breast surgeons self-report minimal formal training in the management of benign and malignant breast disease in lactating patients and strong desire for expanded education. Development of clinical practice guidelines and additional educational content for surgeons should be considered to meet the needs of this patient population.

The Breast: Premalignant Organ or Functional Gland?

Increasingly, young women are undergoing bilateral mastectomies before the completion of childbearing. This procedure, when performed prematurely, precludes any future lactation. However, not breastfeeding increases maternal and child morbidity and mortality, and carries an overall U.S. financial cost of $18.5 billion per year. The emotional and physical consequences of bilateral mastectomy in this patient population should be more carefully considered, and any prophylactic surgery deferred until childbearing has been completed.

Challenges in the Management of Breast Conditions During Lactation.

The lactating breast can develop a wide range of conditions that require surgical management, from abscess drainage to the evaluation of nipple-areolar complex (NAC) lesions. In addition, both benign and malignant masses can present in the lactating population. Patients should undergo routine diagnostic workup including core needle biopsy if indicated. Ultrasound, mammogram, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium contrast are safe in lactation and do not require interruption of breastfeeding.

Low incidence of milk fistula with continued breastfeeding following radiologic and surgical interventions on the lactating breast.

BACKGROUND: Milk fistula is a potential complication of radiologic and surgical procedures on the lactating breast, though its incidence is unknown. Some postulate that larger defects and/or closer proximity to the nipple increase the risk of fistula. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the incidence of milk fistula and characterize risk factors in patients who continued breastfeeding after surgical or radiological procedures. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of pregnant or lactating women treated at a multidisciplinary breast clinic from July 2016 through August 2019 was performed. Demographic and clinical variables were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson's Chi-square. RESULTS: Two pregnant and 43 lactating patients underwent 71 interventions. The incidence of milk fistula within one week of intervention was 1.4%. One fistula was diagnosed six days after retroareolar abscess drainage. The fistula closed successfully with continued breastfeeding. When categorized by the caliber of the most invasive intervention (large-caliber: mass excision, n = 7; medium-caliber: percutaneous drain insertion, n = 18; small-caliber: stab incision, aspiration, core needle biopsy, n = 20), patients were similar in age, race/ethnicity, weeks postpartum, and frequency of central versus peripheral interventions. The low incidence of fistula prevented quantitative evaluation of potential risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Milk fistula is a rare occurrence following radiologic or surgical breast interventions performed during pregnancy or lactation. Indicated procedures should not be deferred, but periareolar approaches should be avoided when possible. Cessation of lactation is not mandatory for fistula closure, and continued breastfeeding should be recommended.

Management of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis in lactation: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis (IGM) is a benign chronic inflammatory breast condition that mimics two common breast disorders: breast carcinoma and breast abscess. It can form breast masses, fistulae, and fluid collections, resulting in breast disfigurement with retraction and nipple areolar complex (NAC) inversion. IGM most often presents in women of childbearing age within a few years of pregnancy, and can significantly impact lactation. Despite the prevalence of this disease, no current literature describes an approach to managing IGM during breastfeeding. CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old G3P2 patient of Native American origin presented to her obstetrician at 7 months pregnant with worsening left breast swelling and redness. She underwent a mammogram, ultrasound and core needle biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis. During the postpartum period, she underwent intralesional triamcinolone injections of her left breast. Due to the contraindication of breastfeeding after local steroid injection, the patient stopped breastfeeding from the affected breast and continued breastfeeding unilaterally. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis is a challenging chronic inflammatory breast disease that affects women primarily in the reproductive years, with a higher incidence in patients of Hispanic, Native American, Middle Eastern, and African descent. Treatment of IGM during pregnancy and lactation has thus far not been addressed. We review the literature on the treatment of IGM in the non-lactating population, and propose considerations for treating breastfeeding women affected by this disease. Traditional treatment has included systemic immunosuppression and surgery, but newer literature demonstrates that intralesional injection of steroid can provide significant symptomatic relief to patients. A diagnosis of IGM does not preclude breastfeeding, though patients may experience challenges with milk production and latch on the affected breast. Individualized care should be provided, with considerations given to the following: side effects of systemic steroids, the need to wean a breast being treated with intralesional steroids, and augmentation of milk production on the unaffected breast to promote continued breastfeeding.

It's Not Yeast: Retrospective Cohort Study of Lactating Women with Persistent Nipple and Breast Pain.

Introduction: Health care providers treating lactating women for nipple and breast pain often attribute symptoms to Candida albicans infection. However, multiple other conditions may present with pain, erythema, and pruritis. We explored the experience of a breastfeeding medicine practice that received referrals for patients failing antifungal therapy and who desired further evaluation for alternative diagnoses. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of breastfeeding women referred for evaluation of "yeast" to a breast surgery/breastfeeding medicine practice from July 2016 to August 2019. Results: Twenty-five women met inclusion criteria. Median age was 33 (range 24-43) and median months postpartum was 4 (range 0.5-18). All 25 women reported minimal to no improvement on oral and/or topical antifungal therapy. In addition to history and examination, milk culture was obtained in four women, punch biopsy in one, and core needle biopsy in one. No woman was confirmed to have a diagnosis of Candida. Diagnoses were changed to the following: subacute mastitis/mammary dysbiosis (n = 8), nipple bleb (n = 6), dermatitis (n = 6), vasospasm (n = 2), milk crust (n = 1), hyperlactation (n = 1), and postpartum depression (n = 1). Treatment included discontinuation of antifungal medication, as well as the following per individual diagnoses: antibiotics and probiotics; 0.1% triamcinolone cream; heat therapy; discontinuation of exclusive pumping; and antidepressant medication and counseling referral. All women experienced resolution of symptoms following revision of diagnosis and change in management (range 2-42 days). Conclusion: While persistent nipple and breast pain in breastfeeding is often attributed to Candida, this cohort demonstrates that providers should consider multiple other conditions in their differential diagnosis. Accurate, timely diagnosis is crucial, as pain is a risk factor for premature cessation of breastfeeding. Symptomatic resolution occurs on appropriate therapy.

ABM Clinical Protocol #34: Breast Cancer and Breastfeeding.

A central goal of The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is the development of clinical protocols for managing common medical problems that may impact breastfeeding success. These protocols serve only as guidelines for the care of breastfeeding mothers and infants and do not delineate an exclusive course of treatment or serve as standards of medical care. Variations in treatment may be appropriate according to the needs of an individual patient.

Breast Pathology That Contributes to Dysfunction of Human Lactation: a Spotlight on Nipple Blebs.

Nipple blebs are blister-like fibrinous lesions that form on the surface of the nipple during lactation, and can result in orifice obstruction and mastitis. They likely result from superficial extension of underlying ductal plugging, and can present concurrently with hyperlactation and mammary dysbiosis. Despite their prevalence, few formal reports on nipple blebs exist. In this perspective, we review the experience of a breastfeeding medicine practice that receives referrals for patients with nipple blebs, and provide preliminary insight into etiology, management, and outcomes of these lesions.

Development and evaluation of a high-fidelity lactation simulation model for health professional breastfeeding education.

BACKGROUND: A key reason for premature cessation of breastfeeding is inadequate support from healthcare providers. Most physicians and nurses do not feel confident in their ability to support families with breastfeeding initiation or maintenance. Increasing health professional confidence in clinical lactation skills is key to improving maternal and child health outcomes. High-fidelity (realistic) simulators encourage learner engagement, resulting in increased clinical skills competency, confidence, and transfer to patient care. Lactation educators teach with low-fidelity cloth and single breast models. There are no high-fidelity breast simulators for health professional education in clinical lactation. DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A HIGH-FIDELITY LACTATION SIMULATION MODEL: In this commentary we describe the development of a high-fidelity Lactation Simulation Model (LSM) and how physician residents, nurse-midwifery students, and clinical lactation experts provided feedback on LSM prototypes. LIMITATIONS: The user-testing described in this commentary does not represent comprehensive validation of the LSM due to small sample sizes and the significant conflict of interest. CONCLUSION: For breastfeeding rates to improve, mothers need support from their nurses, midwives, pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologists, and all healthcare staff who interact with pregnant and lactating women. Clinical education with high-fidelity breastfeeding simulators could be the ideal learning modality for trainees and hospital staff to build confidence in clinical lactation skills. The ability of a high-fidelity breastfeeding simulator to increase a learner's lactation knowledge and psychomotor skills acquisition, retention, and transfer to patient care still needs to be tested.

Lactational phlegmon: A distinct clinical entity affecting breastfeeding women within the mastitis-abscess spectrum.

We aimed to describe the presentation and treatment of lactational phlegmon, a unique complication of mastitis in breastfeeding women that may require surgical management. We retrospectively analyzed medical charts of breastfeeding women treated by a single breast surgeon for lactational phlegmon or the related conditions of abscess or uncomplicated mastitis (UM) from July 2016 to October 2018. Demographic variables and treatment details were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson's Chi-square test. Ten women with lactational phlegmon (19.2%), 15 women with abscess (28.8%), and 27 women with UM (51.9%) were identified. Phlegmon presented as a tender, erythematous, and nonfluctuant mass in a ductal distribution. Ultrasonography demonstrated an ill-defined, complex fluid collection. Epidemiologically, women with phlegmon were similar to patients with abscess and UM. Women with phlegmon reported more intense deep breast massage than patients in the other two groups, but significantly lower rates of breast pump use than women with abscess (30.0% vs 80.0%, P < .05). Relative to women with UM, patients with complicated mastitis (CM, defined as phlegmon or abscess) reported greater utilization of nipple shields (36.0% vs 11.1%, P < .05). Treatment of phlegmon entailed effective milk removal, antibiotics (range 10-30 days), and close follow-up until both clinical and radiographic resolution (range 8 days to >3 months), with biopsy of persistent masses. Antibiotic duration was significantly longer for patients with phlegmon compared to those with UM (mean 15.0 days vs 9.7 days, P < .05). Two phlegmons coalesced into abscesses within 1 week of diagnosis. Lactational phlegmon is a complication of mastitis in breastfeeding women that is distinct from abscess and UM. Optimal treatment consists of an extended course of antibiotics and close follow-up to monitor for coalescence into a drainable fluid collection and/or persistence of mass requiring biopsy.

Mammary Dysbiosis and Nipple Blebs Treated With Intravenous Daptomycin and Dalbavancin.

INTRODUCTION: Mammary dysbiosis, also known as subacute mastitis, may be associated with nipple blebs. These overlapping diagnoses represent a challenging clinical scenario during lactation. Little research has been published on etiology, management strategies, and outcomes of these concurrent diagnoses. MAIN ISSUE: We document the treatment and outcome of a patient who presented with left-breast dysbiosis and nipple blebs and whose milk culture grew multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. She was treated safely and effectively with intravenous daptomycin and dalbavancin. This has not been described previously in the lactation literature. MANAGEMENT: The 35-year-old lactating gravida 3, para 3 patient presented at 6 months postpartum to a breast surgery clinic with a 1-week history of worsening deep left-breast pain, blebs, and recurrent plugging. She was afebrile and she had no erythema or induration on her breast exam. A culture of her milk grew multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and she was referred to infectious disease for assistance with intravenous antibiotic therapy. She continued to feed expressed milk throughout treatment and demonstrated complete resolution of symptoms 8 weeks later. CONCLUSIONS: We report that in patients with a multi-drug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-positive human milk culture and a clinical presentation of mammary dysbiosis and nipple blebs, intravenous daptomycin and dalbavancin may be an effective treatment.

Breast Cancer Screening During Lactation: Ensuring Optimal Surveillance for Breastfeeding Women.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among reproductive-aged women, and an increasing number of women are breastfeeding at the time of screening initiation. The literature was reviewed to identify evidence-based guidelines for breast cancer screening during lactation. Health care providers should consider routine age-related or high-risk screening; they should also discuss alternate surveillance strategies, including deferment until cessation of breastfeeding. Shared decision-making and individualized patient care should involve consideration of the limitations of current evidence. Lactation-related radiographic changes may make examination interpretation more challenging; preprocedure milk expression and use of particular supplemental imaging modalities can improve examination sensitivity. Despite these strategies, breastfeeding women may have higher rates of false-positive findings and therefore undergo more biopsies. However, given the increased risk of biologically aggressive breast cancers in postpartum women, these risks may be outweighed by the benefits of routine breast cancer screening for breastfeeding women.

Breastfeeding and Breast Cancer: Managing Lactation in Survivors and Women with a New Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Supporting breastfeeding is a global health priority, yet few clinical guidelines exist to guide surgical oncologists in managing lactation during or after breast cancer treatment. METHODS: The literature was reviewed to identify evidence-based strategies for managing lactation during multidisciplinary breast cancer treatment or among breast cancer survivors. RESULTS: The majority of the evidence is from observational studies, with some higher levels of evidence, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Several significant gaps in knowledge remain. CONCLUSIONS: This review serves as a comprehensive resource of evidence-based recommendations for managing lactation in breast cancer survivors and breastfeeding women with a new breast cancer diagnosis.

Surgical Management of Breast Cancer in Africa: A Continent-Wide Review of Intervention Practices, Barriers to Care, and Adjuvant Therapy.

Breast cancer has emerged as a leading cancer among women in Africa, necessitating improved understanding of its management across the continent. Although previous studies have described regional trends in therapy, this review aims to summarize continent-wide management and focus specifically on surgical interventions. Current literature shows that the rates of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy vary across different countries and institutions, indicating the need for greater use of standardized cancer treatment guidelines. Surgery, primarily modified radical mastectomy, is the most common form of therapy described. When chemotherapy is offered, the limited availability and cost of treatment lead to high rates of interruption and premature termination of cycles. Few patients have access to radiation or hormonal therapy because these treatments are not available in many countries. Significant delays in seeking treatment are common and contribute to patients presenting with advanced disease. Although limited infrastructure favors surgical management, interventions to improve early detection behavior, provide timely referrals to medical care, and initiate early treatment with access to clinically justified neo-adjuvant and adjuvant therapy are key to improving prognosis.

DCIS and axillary nodal evaluation: compliance with national guidelines.

BACKGROUND: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) provide guidelines regarding axillary nodal evaluation in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), but data regarding national compliance with these guidelines remains incomplete. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) analyzing all surgical approaches to axillary evaluation in patients with DCIS. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the multivariate relationship between patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and probability of axillary evaluation. RESULTS: We identified 88,083 patients diagnosed with DCIS between 1998 and 2011; 31,912 (37%) underwent total mastectomy (TM) and 55,349 (63%) had breast conserving therapy (BCT). Axillary evaluation increased from 44.4% in 1998 to 63.3% in 2011. In TM patients, axillary evaluation increased from 74.3% in 1998 to 93.4% in 2011. This correlated with an increase in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) from 24.3 to 77.1%, while ALND decreased from 50.0 to 16.3% (p <0.01). In BCT patients, evaluation increased from 20.1 to 43.9%; SLNB increased from 7.2 to 39.4% and ALND decreased from 12.9 to 4.5%. Factors associated with axillary nodal evaluation in BCT patients included practice type and facility location. Among TM patients, use of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for axillary staging was associated with earlier year of diagnosis, black race, and older age, as well as community practice setting and practice location in the Southern US. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with national guidelines regarding axillary evaluation in DCIS remains varied. Practice type and location-based differences suggest opportunities for education regarding the appropriate use of axillary nodal evaluation in patients with DCIS.

Quality Improvement-Focused Departmental Grand Rounds Reports: A Strategy to Engage General Surgery Residents.

Background Many institutions are seeking ways to enhance their surgical trainees' quality improvement (QI) skills. Objective To educate trainees about the importance of lifelong performance improvement, chief residents at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medicine are members of a multidisciplinary QI team tasked with improving surgical outcomes. We describe the process and the results of this effort. Methods Our analysis used 2 data sources to assess complication rates: the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and ECOMP, our own internal complication database. Chief residents met with a multidisciplinary QI team to review complication rates from both data sources. Chief residents performed a case-by-case analysis of complications and a literature search in areas requiring improvement. Based on this information, chief residents met with the multidisciplinary team to select interventions for implementation, and delivered QI-focused grand rounds summarizing the QI process and new interventions. Results Since 2009, chief residents have presented 16 QI-focused grand rounds. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and surgical site infections (SSIs) were the most frequently discussed. Interventions to improve UTIs and SSIs were introduced to the department of surgery through these reports in 2011 and 2012. During this time we saw improvement in outcomes as measured by NSQIP odds ratio. Conclusions Departmental grand rounds are a suitable forum to review NSQIP data and our internal, resident-collected data as a means to engage chief residents in QI improvement, and can serve as a model for other institutions to engage surgery residents in QI projects.

Predictors of Mortality Among Pediatric Burn Patients in East Africa.

Little is known about the outcomes of pediatric burn patients in resource-limited and rural locations of the developing world. In March 2013, our pediatric burn unit existing in this setting established an electronic registry of all patients. The authors analyzed the registry to determine overall mortality rates and predictors of mortality, including that of underweight status and body part burned. The secure electronic database of all admissions was reviewed for age, gender, weight, burn percentage (TBSA%), body part burned, cause/place of injury, length of stay, underweight status, surgery performed, reason for discharge, and mortality. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the variables associated with mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves were also analyzed. A total of 211 cases (59.7% male) admitted from March 2013 to June 2014 were reviewed. The median age, %TBSA, and length of stay were 2.0 years (1.3-3.3), 8.0% (5.0-13.4), and 8.5 days (4-14). The overall mortality rate was 15/211 (7.1%). Most injuries were unintentional (93.8%) scalds (85.3%) occurring in the home (98.1%). Two factors were significantly associated with mortality in the final multivariable model: %TBSA (odds ratio = 1.31 for 1% increase in %TBSA; 95% confidence interval = 1.17-1.46) and younger age (odds ratio = 0.20; 0.07-0.63). This study characterizes mortality among patients at a pediatric burn unit serving a rural population in the developing world. The majority of pediatric burns were unintentional scalds occurring in the home. %TBSA and lower age were the strongest predictors of mortality. Burn location and underweight status were not independent predictors of mortality. Overall mortality was 7.1%. These data are applicable to improving outcomes for patients in this burn unit and similar settings of its kind.

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: Treatment Update and Current Trends.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) traditionally has been managed through various combinations of surgery, radiation, and endocrine therapy. However, concern for under- or over-treatment of DCIS has led many surgeons to question historically standardized approaches and instead begin to tailor treatment based on individual prognostic indicators. Recent and ongoing clinical trials have investigated the potential for active surveillance in DCIS, the possibility of eliminating radiation therapy (RT), and ways in which adjuvant systemic therapy may be refined. This review will summarize the current trends in the treatment of DCIS, as well as highlight the most pertinent clinical trials that are shaping management today.

Simulation of Tangential Excision: A Test for Construct Validity.

A foundational skill in burn surgery is tangential excision (TE). The purpose of this study was to develop a simulation model for TE, hypothesizing that simulation could be used in surgical training. TE simulation was created using the TE knife, foam, mineral oil, and base. Subjects, surgeons, or surgeons in training, were given a pre- and post-task questionnaire about experience with TE. Subjects were divided into three TE experience groups: novice--none, intermediate--some, and expert--TE in current or past practice. The task was to excise pre-marked rectangles, generating four excisional products (EPs). Evaluators blindly assessed performance by EP analysis using a novel scoring tool and reviewed videos using a modified objective structured assessment of technical skill (OSATS) rubric. Inter-rater reliabilities and P values were obtained, comparing Novice and Intermediate with Expert scores. Forty subjects completed the study: 16 were identified as TE novices, 17 as intermediates, and seven as experts. All EPs and videos were reviewed blindly by two evaluators using the EP scoring tool and OSATS methodology, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to measure inter-rater reliabilities, which were acceptable (ICC => 0.42) for OSATS, time, and EP analysis: border and texture. Statistical differences between Novice and Expert scores were found (P < .0100, P < .0200, P < .0025, and P < .0005, respectively). Statistical differences between Intermediate and Expert scores were also found (P < .0100, P < .0200, P < .0100, and P < .0025, respectively). Post-simulation survey results showed experts 86% of the time agreeing or strongly agreeing that the simulation was similar to the clinical skin and 100% felt it would be a useful for training before clinical performance. Simulation for TE was successfully created to blindly discern level of TE experience. Participants agreed that simulation could play an essential role in burn surgical training.