Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) With Exparel in Tissue Expander-based Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been widely shown to yield positive outcomes, including in plastic surgery. Our group has previously validated ERAS in our deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction population. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated whether the ERAS protocol and addition of liposomal bupivacaine affected patient outcomes at the time of mastectomy and first-stage tissue expander reconstruction. METHODS: All patients treated between July 2021 and May 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. The ERAS protocol was implemented in December 2021. Two patient groups were compared: pre-ERAS and ERAS. The ERAS protocol included use of liposomal bupivacaine in the pectoralis nerve block 1/2 planes. Primary outcomes were observed with postoperative length of stay and hospital narcotic use. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were analyzed in this cohort. The pre-ERAS group was composed of 41 patients, the ERAS group was composed of 83 patients. Postoperative length of stay was significantly reduced in the ERAS group (1.7 pre-ERAS vs 1.1 ERAS, P = .0004). When looking at morphine equivalents during the hospital stay, the degree of narcotics in the recovery room was relatively similar. Average PACU pain morphine equivalents were 6.1 pre-ERAS vs 7.1 ERAS (P = .406). However, total hospital morphine equivalents were significantly lower in the ERAS group (65.0 pre-ERAS vs 26.2 ERAS, P = <.001). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of an enhanced recovery after surgery protocol with liposomal bupivacaine pectoralis 1/2 nerve blocks decreased postoperative opioid consumption and hospital length of stay in mastectomy patients undergoing tissue expander-based reconstruction.

Long-term Implications of Cosmetic Breast Surgeries on Subsequent Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Cosmetic breast surgeries, such as augmentation, mastopexy, and reduction, are common aesthetic medical procedures for enhancing physical appearance. Despite their popularity, the influence of these surgeries on subsequent breast reconstruction for cancer patients remains underexplored. OBJECTIVES: This study seeks to investigate the effects of previous cosmetic breast surgeries on the outcomes of breast reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 2011 to May 2023. This analysis compared patients with histories of implant augmentation, breast reduction, mastopexy, and augmentation-mastopexy against those receiving reconstruction without any cosmetic surgery history. Demographics, comorbidities, complications, revisions, and BREAST-Q surveys were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: The study included 124 patients (50 autologous, 74 implant) with a history of cosmetic breast surgery (102 implant augmentations, 17 breast reductions, five mastopexies, and nine augmentation mastopexies). They were analyzed against 1307 patients (683 autologous, 624 implant) without prior cosmetic breast surgery. Patients with prior cosmetic surgeries showed a higher incidence of hematoma with tissue expander placement. A preference for implant-based reconstruction was more common among patients with augmentation history (p<0.001), whereas autologous reconstruction was more common in those with history of breast reduction (p=0.047). Patients with history of breast augmentation had on average significantly more breast revisions (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a significantly higher hematoma rate and number of revisions compared to patients without a history of cosmetic surgery. Furthermore, it suggests that types of cosmetic breast surgery influence the decision-making process regarding implant versus autologous reconstruction.

"DIEP Flap vs PAP Flap vs LAP Flap: A Propensity Matched Analysis of Aesthetic Outcomes, Complications, and Satisfaction".

INTRODUCTION: As free breast reconstruction options evolve, a patient and body centric approach can distinguish refined aesthetic outcomes. While DIEP, PAP, and LAP flaps are all safe and effective options for breast reconstruction, a head-to-head analysis of these three flaps has not been performed. We aim to compare these three flaps based on outcomes, BREAST-Q, and aesthetic results. METHODS: After IRB approval, a retrospective review in a REDCap database guided analysis of patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral DIEP, PAP, or LAP flaps at a single academic institution. Propensity matching was performed to match 50 patients (100 flaps) in each group. Post-operative complications and BREAST-Q satisfaction survey scores were documented, and crowdsourcing was carried out to determine aesthetic preference in the general population. RESULTS: Overall patient post-operative breast satisfaction was insignificantly different across the three flap groups(p>0.05). Associations were seen with LAP flap donor site seromas, PAP flap donor site infections and wounds, and DIEP flap breast wounds and flap necrosis(p<0.05). DIEP flaps had a higher raw score average on crowdsourcing survey, although LAP flaps were rated significantly higher aesthetically than DIEP and PAP flaps when undergoing a matched head-to-head analysis(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: DIEP, PAP, and LAP flaps all have favorable outcomes with insignificantly different long-term satisfaction, with comparable complication profiles. While DIEP flaps may initially score higher, LAP flaps score higher frequently when analyzed in a head-to-head analysis. For these reasons, tailoring breast reconstruction to the patient's anatomy and morphology provides optimal outcomes.

How to Start a Microsurgery Practice: Success and Sustainability in Academic Practice.

Starting an academic microsurgery practice is a daunting task for plastic surgery graduates. Despite this, academic practice provides many advantages as a starting point for a career. Microsurgical faculty can make use of several unique benefits within an academic center. These include vast resources of clinical and basic science departments, communications and public affairs divisions, and quality improvement teams. Building a multi-disciplinary microsurgery practice with specific focus will jumpstart research questions and outcome data. Using residents and students to their full potential is both rewarding and efficient as a microsurgeon. Finally, peer faculty in an academic environment provide a stimulating resource for growth and assistance when needed. This special topic provides insight into starting a microsurgery practice for any resident considering a career in academics.