Gender Considerations in Rhinoplasty.

SUMMARY: Precise nasofacial analysis ahead of rhinoplasty is imperative. Features common to the White masculine nose are reviewed in a stepwise fashion and contrasted with those of the White feminine nose. A solid understanding of the cisgender male, masculine nose enables the plastic surgeon to determine the changes required for a successful facial feminizing rhinoplasty as a part of facial gender confirmation surgery.

The association between bronchopulmonary dysplasia grade and risks of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes among preterm infants born at less than 30 weeks of gestation.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a multifactorial disease with neurodevelopmental implications. This study aims to quantify the risks of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes for each BPD grade among preterm infants born at less than 30 weeks' gestation. METHODS: We retrospectively studied infants who received care in our institution until at least 36 weeks postmenstrual age and had a formal neurodevelopmental assessment in our infant follow-up clinic using the Bayley Scales for Infant and Toddler Development (BSID). We assessed the association between BPD grade and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes using descriptive statistics and regression models. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty infants, including 89 (35.6%), 87 (34.8%), 65 (20.6%), and 9 (3.6%) with No BPD, Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 BPD, were included in the study. Small for gestational age, late pulmonary hypertension, dexamethasone administration, and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes were more common as BPD grade increased. In a logistic regression analysis, Grades 2 and 3, but not Grade 1, BPD were associated with increased odds of a composite adverse neurodevelopmental outcome by 2.7 and 7.2 folds, respectively. A BSID domain-specific analysis showed that higher grades were associated with lower scores in the cognitive, gross motor, and fine motor domains. CONCLUSIONS: Grades 2 and 3 BPD, but not Grade 1, correlate with risks of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at a grade-dependent manner in our single-center cohort retrospective study. Further validation using a multi-center large cohort is warranted.

Bolster Equalization Suture Technique (BEST) Neck: Optimization of Skin Redraping Following Necklift Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Skin laxity of the neck is a primary concern of patients seeking facial rejuvenation. Traditional methods for redraping neck skin have well-described shortcomings. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to optimize skin redraping after necklift surgery while reducing risk, and the Bolster Equalization Suture Technique (BEST). METHODS: At the conclusion of the facelift and necklift, 3 external quilting sutures are placed with protective bolsters. The first suture is placed at the midline, advancing the skin posteriorly toward the hyoid and anchoring the skin to the platysma. The second and third are placed in the cervicomandibular groove over the sternocleidomastoid muscle, advancing the skin posteriorly. Complications such as skin necrosis, skin ischemia, dimpling, hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, and scarring were documented. A control group of 20 patients who underwent the same surgery without the BEST was compared to the next 20 patients in which the BEST was applied. Preoperative and postoperative photographs were blindly reviewed by 2 plastic surgeons. The photographs were analyzed for residual central neck skin laxity and cervicomental angle improvement and surveyed according to the pertinent sections of the FACE-Q. RESULTS: In necklift patients who received the BEST, cervicomental angle improvement and decreased central skin laxity were statistically significant. Patient perceived age on a visual analog scale was 2.5 years younger in the BEST group. CONCLUSIONS: The BEST is a safe and efficient method which can be used to improve cervical skin redraping and contour. The BEST creates a more defined cervicomental angle while reducing central skin neck laxity with minimal complications.

Machine learning for prediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia-free survival among very preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is one of the most common and serious sequelae of prematurity. Prompt diagnosis using prediction tools is crucial for early intervention and prevention of further adverse effects. This study aims to develop a BPD-free survival prediction tool based on the concept of the developmental origin of BPD with machine learning. METHODS: Datasets comprising perinatal factors and early postnatal respiratory support were used for initial model development, followed by combining the two models into a final ensemble model using logistic regression. Simulation of clinical scenarios was performed. RESULTS: Data from 689 infants were included in the study. We randomly selected data from 80% of infants for model development and used the remaining 20% for validation. The performance of the final model was assessed by receiver operating characteristics which showed 0.921 (95% CI: 0.899-0.943) and 0.899 (95% CI: 0.848-0.949) for the training and the validation datasets, respectively. Simulation data suggests that extubating to CPAP is superior to NIPPV in BPD-free survival. Additionally, successful extubation may be defined as no reintubation for 9 days following initial extubation. CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning-based BPD prediction based on perinatal features and respiratory data may have clinical applicability to promote early targeted intervention in high-risk infants.

Prenatal Particulate Matter (PM) Exposure and Natriuretic Peptides in Newborns from Mexico City.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to assess associations between particulate matter (PM) exposure and natriuretic peptide concentrations in cord blood from newborns. (2) Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in Mexico City with 101 pregnant women from CIMIGEN Hospital. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) were measured in plasma from cord blood in 51 newborns by ELISA. We estimated PM exposure (PM2.5 and PM10) at first, second and third trimester of pregnancy. (3) Results: The median and interquartile range for ANP, BNP and CNP plasma concentrations were 66.71 (46.92-80.23), 98.23 (73.64-112.30) and 1129.11 (944.10-1452.02) pg/mL, respectively. PM2.5 and PM10 levels for the whole pregnancy period were 22.2 µg/m3 and 41.63 µg/m3, respectively. Employing multivariable linear regression models adjusted for maternal age, newborn sex, smoking before pregnancy, maternal occupation and newborns' length and height, we observed a 2.47 pg/mL (95%CI: -4.67, -0.27) decrease in BNP associated with PM2.5 exposure during second trimester. Adjusted for the same set of confounders, third trimester PM10 exposure was inversely associated with ANP concentrations (beta estimate: -0.90; 95% CI: -1.80, -0.03). Neither PM10 nor PM2.5 were associated with CNP at any trimester of pregnancy. (4) Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to particulate matter was associated with ANP and BNP decrease in newborns.

"Does ERAS benefit higher BMI patients? A single institutional review".

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is increasingly used in plastic surgery to optimize patient care. Mitigating the risk of postoperative complications is particularly important in patients with risk factors, such as obesity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the ERAS pathway in patients, stratified by BMI, undergoing free flap breast reconstruction on length of stay and complications. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent abdominally based free flap breast reconstruction from January 2014 to December 2017 was performed. Data collected include participation in the ERAS protocol, patient demographics, length of stay (LOS), complications (minor and major), and 30-day reoperation rates. RESULTS: A total of 123 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 36 non-ERAS and 87 ERAS patients. ERAS patients had a shorter length of stay than non-ERAS patients (4.14 vs. 4.69, p = 0.049). Higher BMI patients progressively benefited from their involvement in an ERAS pathway: class I obese patients had an LOS decrease of 0.99 days (p = 0.048) and class II+ obese patients had an LOS decrease of 1.35 days (p = 0.093). Minor complications, major complications, and reoperation rates were similar between ERAS and non-ERAS patients (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Utilization of an ERAS protocol for free flap breast reconstruction safely decreases LOS, especially with increasing BMI. Patients benefit from an ERAS protocol without increasing risk of postoperative complications, compared to non-ERAS patients of similar BMIs.

International Programs in the Education of Residents: Benefits for the Resident and the Home Program.

There is a significant need for basic surgical care worldwide. In recent years, modest improvement in fulfilling this demand has been achieved through international medical mission trips from various organizations. These humanitarian endeavors and global health experiences have generated increasing interest in participating in international missions from surgical residents. However, many academic institutions currently do not have the infrastructure or desire to support surgical residents participating in medical missions. This paper aims to illustrate that careful, planned integration of medical mission trips into the residency curriculum will develop and enhance resident education and experience by fulfilling all six Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies and by benefitting the native program.