Efficacy of 24 hours versus 5 days of prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of surgical site infection in outpatient elective facial plastic surgery.

Background: The discovery of penicillin marked a paradigm shift in medicine with the ability to treat previously life-threatening infections. Increasing antibiotic resistance as well as the risk of adverse reactions to antibiotics, however, creates pressures for judicious use. There continues to be debate about the role of prophylactic antibiotics in facial plastic surgery. This study explores the role of prophylactic antibiotic administration in elective outpatient facial plastic surgery by comparing 5 days versus 24 hours of antibiotic prophylaxis. Method: A retrospective cohort study of all consecutive patients undergoing cosmetic procedures at an outpatient facial plastic surgical center who received either 5 days or 24 hours of prophylactic antibiotics was performed. The primary outcome was the need for postoperative antibiotics within 6 weeks of surgery. Results: 204 patients met the inclusion criteria: 104 in the 5-day group and 100 in the 24-hour prophylaxis group. The overall infection rate was 3.4%: 3% in the 24-hour group and 3.8% in the 5-day group (p = 0.77). Subgroup analysis of clean-contaminated cases (n = 85) showed the rate of postoperative infections was 4.3%, all within the 5-day group. In clean cases (n = 119), the rate of postoperative infections was 4.2% (n = 5): 4.8% (n = 3) in the 24-hour group versus 3.5% (n = 2) in the 5-day group. Conclusions: The results show that decreasing the duration of antibiotics was not associated with an increased risk of postoperative infection. Given that antibiotics are an increasingly precious commodity with rising rates of resistance, this study supports the use of decreasing postoperative antibiotics to 24 hours.

Using a Novel Method to Quantify and Confirm the Variable Vertical Vector of the Deep Plane Facelift.

Background: In deep plane rhytidectomy, it is accepted that a more vertical vector will lead to a more natural rejuvenated look than a horizontal vector of pull. Objective: Among patients undergoing deep plane rhytidectomy, can skin angle measurements designed by the authors be used as a proxy for vector of tension to confirm a vertical vector? Methods: Case series measuring the rhytidectomy vector of pull for a series of patients performed by a single surgeon. Results were compared between the vectors of the pre- and postauricular flaps as well as comparing the vector of pull in male versus female patients, patients undergoing facelift alone versus in conjunction with other rejuvenation procedures, and between primary versus revision rhytidectomy patients. Results: Patient characteristics: Average age 64.4 (range 47-79), predominantly female (26/28, 92.9%), primary rhytidectomy (24/28, 85.7%), with concomitant brow lift (12/28, 42.9%). Results reveal a more vertical than horizontal vector of pull on both the pre- and postauricular superficial musculoaponeurotic system flaps with the vector of the anterior flap being more vertical than that of the posterior flap. Conclusion: Utilizing a novel proxy measurement, the vector of pull of the deep plane facelift was more vertical than horizontal.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Improving Nasal Form and Function after Rhinoplasty.

Objective Rhinoplasty, a surgical procedure that alters the shape or appearance of the nose while preserving or enhancing the nasal airway, ranks among the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States, with >200,000 procedures reported in 2014. While it is difficult to calculate the exact economic burden incurred by rhinoplasty patients following surgery with or without complications, the average rhinoplasty procedure typically exceeds $4000. The costs incurred due to complications, infections, or revision surgery may include the cost of long-term antibiotics, hospitalization, or lost revenue from hours/days of missed work. The resultant psychological impact of rhinoplasty can also be significant. Furthermore, the health care burden from psychological pressures of nasal deformities/aesthetic shortcomings, surgical infections, surgical pain, side effects from antibiotics, and nasal packing materials must also be considered for these patients. Prior to this guideline, limited literature existed on standard care considerations for pre- and postsurgical management and for standard surgical practice to ensure optimal outcomes for patients undergoing rhinoplasty. The impetus for this guideline is to utilize current evidence-based medicine practices and data to build unanimity regarding the peri- and postoperative strategies to maximize patient safety and to optimize surgical results for patients. Purpose The primary purpose of this guideline is to provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians who either perform rhinoplasty or are involved in the care of a rhinoplasty candidate, as well as to optimize patient care, promote effective diagnosis and therapy, and reduce harmful or unnecessary variations in care. The target audience is any clinician or individual, in any setting, involved in the management of these patients. The target patient population is all patients aged ≥15 years. The guideline is intended to focus on knowledge gaps, practice variations, and clinical concerns associated with this surgical procedure; it is not intended to be a comprehensive reference for improving nasal form and function after rhinoplasty. Recommendations in this guideline concerning education and counseling to the patient are also intended to include the caregiver if the patient is <18 years of age. Action Statements The Guideline Development Group made the following recommendations: (1) Clinicians should ask all patients seeking rhinoplasty about their motivations for surgery and their expectations for outcomes, should provide feedback on whether those expectations are a realistic goal of surgery, and should document this discussion in the medical record. (2) Clinicians should assess rhinoplasty candidates for comorbid conditions that could modify or contraindicate surgery, including obstructive sleep apnea, body dysmorphic disorder, bleeding disorders, or chronic use of topical vasoconstrictive intranasal drugs. (3) The surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, should evaluate the rhinoplasty candidate for nasal airway obstruction during the preoperative assessment. (4) The surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, should educate rhinoplasty candidates regarding what to expect after surgery, how surgery might affect the ability to breathe through the nose, potential complications of surgery, and the possible need for future nasal surgery. (5) The clinician, or the clinician's designee, should counsel rhinoplasty candidates with documented obstructive sleep apnea about the impact of surgery on nasal airway obstruction and how obstructive sleep apnea might affect perioperative management. (6) The surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, should educate rhinoplasty patients before surgery about strategies to manage discomfort after surgery. (7) Clinicians should document patients' satisfaction with their nasal appearance and with their nasal function at a minimum of 12 months after rhinoplasty. The Guideline Development Group made recommendations against certain actions: (1) When a surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, chooses to administer perioperative antibiotics for rhinoplasty, he or she should not routinely prescribe antibiotic therapy for a duration >24 hours after surgery. (2) Surgeons should not routinely place packing in the nasal cavity of rhinoplasty patients (with or without septoplasty) at the conclusion of surgery. The panel group made the following statement an option: (1) The surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, may administer perioperative systemic steroids to the rhinoplasty patient.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Improving Nasal Form and Function after Rhinoplasty Executive Summary.

Objective Rhinoplasty, a surgical procedure that alters the shape or appearance of the nose while preserving or enhancing the nasal airway, ranks among the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States, with >200,000 procedures reported in 2014. While it is difficult to calculate the exact economic burden incurred by rhinoplasty patients following surgery with or without complications, the average rhinoplasty procedure typically exceeds $4000. The costs incurred due to complications, infections, or revision surgery may include the cost of long-term antibiotics, hospitalization, or lost revenue from hours/days of missed work. The resultant psychological impact of rhinoplasty can also be significant. Furthermore, the health care burden from psychological pressures of nasal deformities/aesthetic shortcomings, surgical infections, surgical pain, side effects from antibiotics, and nasal packing materials must also be considered for these patients. Prior to this guideline, limited literature existed on standard care considerations for pre- and postsurgical management and for standard surgical practice to ensure optimal outcomes for patients undergoing rhinoplasty. The impetus for this guideline is to utilize current evidence-based medicine practices and data to build unanimity regarding the peri- and postoperative strategies to maximize patient safety and to optimize surgical results for patients. Purpose The primary purpose of this guideline executive summary is to provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians who either perform rhinoplasty or are involved in the care of a rhinoplasty candidate, as well as to optimize patient care, promote effective diagnosis and therapy, and reduce harmful or unnecessary variations in care. The target audience is any clinician or individual, in any setting, involved in the management of these patients. The target patient population is all patients aged ≥15 years. The guideline is intended to focus on knowledge gaps, practice variations, and clinical concerns associated with this surgical procedure; it is not intended to be a comprehensive reference for improving nasal form and function after rhinoplasty. Recommendations in this guideline concerning education and counseling to the patient are intended to include the caregiver if the patient is <18 years of age. Action Statements The Guideline Development Group made the following recommendations: (1) Clinicians should ask all patients seeking rhinoplasty about their motivations for surgery and their expectations for outcomes, should provide feedback on whether those expectations are a realistic goal of surgery, and should document this discussion in the medical record. (2) Clinicians should assess rhinoplasty candidates for comorbid conditions that could modify or contraindicate surgery, including obstructive sleep apnea, body dysmorphic disorder, bleeding disorders, or chronic use of topical vasoconstrictive intranasal drugs. (3) The surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, should evaluate the rhinoplasty candidate for nasal airway obstruction during the preoperative assessment. (4) The surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, should educate rhinoplasty candidates regarding what to expect after surgery, how surgery might affect the ability to breathe through the nose, potential complications of surgery, and the possible need for future nasal surgery. (5) The clinician, or the clinician's designee, should counsel rhinoplasty candidates with documented obstructive sleep apnea about the impact of surgery on nasal airway obstruction and how obstructive sleep apnea might affect perioperative management. (6) The surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, should educate rhinoplasty patients before surgery about strategies to manage discomfort after surgery. (7) Clinicians should document patient satisfaction with their nasal appearance and with their nasal function at a minimum of 12 months after rhinoplasty. The guideline development group made recommendations against certain actions: (1) When a surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, chooses to administer perioperative antibiotics for rhinoplasty, he or she should not routinely prescribe antibiotic therapy for a duration >24 hours after surgery. (2) Surgeons should not routinely place packing in the nasal cavity of rhinoplasty patients (with or without septoplasty) at the conclusion of surgery. The panel group made the following statement an option: (1) The surgeon, or the surgeon's designee, may administer perioperative systemic steroids to the rhinoplasty patient.

Cosmetic Concerns Related to the Posttraumatic Nose without Nasal Obstruction.

Because of its prominent position on the facial skeleton, the nose is commonly injured. Though significant trauma can result in nasal obstruction, there is also considerable concern for potential cosmetic deformity. Repairing traumatic deformities is complex and can involve all aspects of the nose, including the bony and cartilaginous framework as well as the soft tissue envelope. Trauma can result in deflection, asymmetry, and deformity of the bony nasal dorsum, midvault, and nasal tip. Any serious nasal trauma places patients at risk for complications that may include nasal septal hematoma, septal perforation, and possible cerebral spinal fluid leak. Unrecognized or untreated septal hematomas can result in cartilaginous septal necrosis followed by saddle nose deformity. Though damage to structural scaffolding is often the cause of cosmetic deformity following nasal trauma, the nasal soft tissue envelope is also commonly affected. This can result in lacerations, avulsions, and traumatic tattooing. The following will discuss the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of these cosmetic concerns relating to nasal trauma.

Nuances of the nasal tip: rhinoplasty of the thin-skinned nose.

Rhinoplasty in the thin-skinned patient presents a unique set of challenges to achieve desired results. Preoperative recognition of thin skin is imperative to direct the operative plan and to achieve excellent results. Once identified, meticulous care must be implemented in sculpting the underlying cartilaginous framework. The skin may also benefit from techniques to thicken the skin through the use of cartilage and fascial grafts. This article will discuss recognition of the thin-skinned nose, avoiding pitfalls, techniques to optimize structural support, camouflage grafting techniques, and options available to thicken the nasal skin.

Periocular anatomy and aging.

This article discusses the anatomy of the periocular region in terms of how the parts interact and what happens anatomically with aging. Detailed function of the anatomic area is also presented. Periocular anatomy, the lacrimal system, and orbital anatomy are first discussed, followed by characteristics of aging.

Retrospective analysis of the Farrior technique for otoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction following otoplasty for surgical correction of protruding or prominent ears using the Farrior technique. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients undergoing cosmetic otoplasty with the Farrior method at a private facial plastic surgery practice in Tampa, Fla. The study population comprised 75 subjects desiring operative correction of auricular deformities by one of the authors (E.H.F.) over the past 15 years. The subjects (40 male and 35 female) ranged in age from 5 to 68 years, with a mean age of 23.9 years. Clinical follow-up ranged from 1 day to 7 years 2 months, with a mean duration of 1 year 5 days. The Farrior otoplasty is a graduated technique that combines elements of cartilage sculpting, suturing, and conchal setback procedures, and stresses a patient-specific, anatomy-directed approach. This method was first introduced in the literature in 1959 by the senior author (R.T.F.) and is continued to the present day by his son (E.H.F.). Main outcome measures included satisfactory correction of auricular deformity, incidence of postoperative complications, and degree of patient satisfaction with the procedure. These outcomes were compared with that of other otoplasty techniques and long-term studies in the literature. RESULTS: Of the 75 patients who underwent otoplasty via the Farrior technique over the last 15 years, bilateral otoplasties were performed in 69 (92%). Of the cases, 69 (92%) were primary procedures, with revision otoplasties constituting 6 (8%) of the total. A combination of conchal cartilage reduction, cartilage scoring, and mattress suturing was the most frequently used maneuver (47 cases [63%]). Most cases were performed using local anesthesia (n = 62 [83%]), with 18 (24%) of all cases having adjunctive procedures at the time of the otoplasty. No major complications (large hematoma, tissue necrosis, gross deformity, or significant wound infection) were documented. A total of 40 minor complications was observed in 29 patients, with suture extrusion and persistent auricular protrusion being the most common (occurring in 14 [19%] and 17 [23%] cases, respectively). Overall, 11 patients required revision surgery (9 for protrusion, 1 for hypertrophic scar, and 1 for cartilaginous callus). A majority of positive responses on an anonymous patient survey reflects a high degree of patient satisfaction with the procedure and results. CONCLUSIONS: The Farrior otoplasty is a graduated technique that has met with clinical success over the years. It combines elements of cartilage shaping and suturing procedures and as such is susceptible to complications such as suture extrusion and auricular protrusion that are ascribed to similar otoplasty methods described in the literature. It allows for a directed approach to correct the causative anatomic defects, while maintaining a natural appearance. While further research and long-term analyses are encouraged, this technique remains a valuable component of a facial plastic surgeon's armamentarium.

Evaluation of endotracheal tube safety for CO2 laser resurfacing.

OBJECTIVES: The new generation carbon dioxide lasers have become popular as a result of their ease of use and consistent results. Their use is becoming widespread with both the experienced laser surgery clinician and those just venturing into the realm of laser resurfacing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of the common PVC endotracheal and one designed for laser procedures if contacted by the CO2 laser during resurfacing. In addition, the cost and efficacy of a simple covering to the PVC tube was assessed. STUDY DESIGN: Endotracheal tubes were subjected to multiple passes of the Coherent Ultrapulse laser system while recording tube effect and intraluminal temperature. METHOD: With the highest energy densities used in our practice, multiple passes were made over both PVC and Xomed Laser-Shield II endotracheal tubes with 100% intraluminal oxygen. Thermocouplers recorded both inflow and outflow temperatures. The procedure was repeated with PVC endotracheal tubes covered with saline-soaked sponges held in place with netting. RESULTS: Charring of the PVC tube occurred after 1 pass, and intraluminal smoke was present after 21.6 passes. The Laser-Shield II and the wrapped PVC tube did not show significant charring or tube lumen breach after up to 200 passes. The prepared PVC tube was $105.14 less than the commercial tube. CONCLUSIONS: Our method of PVC endotracheal tube preparation provides a safe, inexpensive, reliable airway during CO2 laser resurfacing.