A Review of Reconstruction for Vulvar Cancer Surgery.

IMPORTANCE: Vulvar reconstruction may be required after vulvectomy or any vulvar surgery. Providers should be familiar with techniques for reconstruction to improve clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the different techniques for reconstruction after vulvectomy and describes the decision-making process for selection of appropriate techniques, postoperative care, and expected outcomes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A literature search was conducted, focusing on the plastic surgery and gynecologic oncology literature, using the following search terms: "vulvar reconstruction," "perineal reconstruction," "vulvectomy," and "vulvar cancer." The search was limited to English publications. RESULTS: Reconstruction after vulvectomy can be performed using a variety of techniques ranging from simple or complex closure to adjacent tissue rearrangement to skin grafting, locoregional, and free flaps. The appropriate technique is best chosen based on the characteristics of the patient and postablative defect, as well as the reconstructive goals. Postoperative complications are usually minor. CONCLUSIONS: Vulvar reconstruction techniques vary widely and offer patients improved outcomes. RELEVANCE: Knowledge of vulvar reconstruction techniques is necessary for gynecologists performing vulvar surgery to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Aesthetic Surgery in Plastic Surgery Academia.

BACKGROUND: Aesthetic surgery is a critical component of academic plastic surgery. As institutions are placing increased focus on aesthetic surgery, there is an opportunity to identify factors that facilitate the creation and maintenance of successful aesthetic plastic surgery programs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to conduct a national survey to evaluate the current state of academic aesthetic surgery and to identify factors that contribute to success. METHODS: A REDCap 122-question survey was developed and validated by members of the Academic Aesthetic Surgery Roundtable (AASR). The national survey was distributed to department chairs and division chiefs with active ACGME-approved plastic surgery programs (n = 92). Responses underwent Pearson's chi-squared, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and postselection inference analyses. AASR members convened to interpret data and identify best practices. RESULTS: Responses were received from 64 of 92 queries (69.6%). The multivariate analysis concluded traits associated with successful academic aesthetic surgery practices included the presence of aesthetic surgery-focused, full-time faculty whose overall practice includes >50% aesthetic surgery (P = 0.040) and nonphysician aesthetic practitioners who provide injection services (P = 0.025). In the univariate analysis, factors associated with strong aesthetic surgery training programs included resident participation in faculty aesthetic clinics (P = 0.034), aesthetic research (P = 0.006), and discounted resident aesthetic clinics (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The growth of academic aesthetic surgery practices represents a significant opportunity for advancement of resident training, departmental financial success, and diversification of faculty practices. By identifying and sharing best practices and strategies, academic aesthetic surgery practices can be further enhanced.

The Utility of Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System Flaps in Facelift Procedures.

Facelift techniques widely vary with known individual surgeon modifications of and preference for particular techniques. This article provides an overview of the history of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), the changes of aging related to the soft tissues of the face, and the history of facelift procedures, including techniques to address the SMAS. In addition, a description of past studies and literature analyzing techniques of facelift procedures, safety of interventions involving the SMAS, low, extended, and high SMAS techniques, and evaluations of patient satisfaction with facelift outcomes including use of the FACE-Q are discussed. After review of the existing literature, a knowledge of the process of aging, and its effect on facial soft tissues, there is data to support SMAS flaps as a safe, effective, and logical means to handle the SMAS in facelifts. There is a paucity of the literature directly comparing differing techniques, particularly regarding SMAS flaps, leading to a challenging review but significant opportunity for additional study.

Electronic Communication in Plastic Surgery: Guiding Principles from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Health Policy Committee.

BACKGROUND: With the advancement of technology, electronic communication has become an important mode of communication within plastic and reconstructive surgery. This can take the form of e-mail, text messaging, video conferencing, and social media, among others. There are currently no defined American Society of Plastic Surgeons guidelines for appropriate professional use of these technologies. METHODS: A search was performed on PubMed and the Cochrane database; terms included "telemedicine," "text messaging," "HIPAA," "metadata," "video conferencing," "photo sharing," "social media," "Facebook," "Twitter," and "Instagram." Initial screening of all identified articles was performed; the level of evidence, limitations, and recommendations were evaluated and articles were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 654 articles were identified in the level I screening process; after more comprehensive review, 41 articles fit inclusion criteria: social networking, 12; telemedicine, 11; text messaging, 10; metadata, four; video conferencing, three; and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, one. General themes were identified from these articles and guidelines proposed. CONCLUSION: Electronic communication can provide an efficient method of information exchange for professional purposes within plastic surgery but should be used thoughtfully and with all professional, legal, and ethical considerations.

Dorsal clitoral nerve injury following transobturator midurethral sling.

INTRODUCTION: Transobturator slings can be successfully used to treat stress urinary incontinence and improve quality of life through a minimally invasive vaginal approach. Persistent postoperative pain can occur and pose diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. Following a sling procedure, a patient complained of pinching clitoral and perineal pain. Her symptoms of localized clitoral pinching and pain became generalized over the ensuing years, eventually encompassing the entire left vulvovaginal region. AIM: The aim of this study was to highlight the clinical utility of conventional pain management techniques used for the evaluation and management of patients with postoperative pain following pelvic surgery. METHODS: We described a prototypical patient with persistent pain in and around the clitoral region complicating the clinical course of an otherwise successful sling procedure. We specifically discussed the utility of bedside sensory assessment techniques and selective nerve blocks in the evaluation and management of this prototypical patient. RESULTS: Neurosensory assessments and a selective nerve block enabled us to trace the source of the patient's pain to nerve entrapment along the dorsal nerve of the clitoris. We then utilized a nerve stimulator-guided hydrodissection technique to release the scar contracture. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that the dorsal nerve of the clitoris is vulnerable to injury directly and/or indirectly. Assimilation of a time-honored pain management construct for the evaluation and management of patients' pain may improve outcomes while obviating the need for invasive surgery.

Male Pectoral Implants: Radiographic Appearance of Complications.

There has been a significant surge in aesthetic chest surgery for men in the last several years. Male chest enhancement is performed with surgical placement of a solid silicone pectoral implant. In the past, male chest correction and implantation were limited to the treatment of men who had congenital absence or atrophy of the pectoralis muscle and pectus excavatum deformity. But today, the popularization of increased chest and pectoral size fostered by body builders has more men desiring chest correction with implantation for non-medical reasons. We present a case of a 44-year-old, male with a displaced left pectoral implant with near extrusion and with an associated peri-implant soft tissue mass and fluid collection. While the imaging of these patients is uncommon, our case study presents the radiographic findings of male chest enhancement with associated complications.

Clitoral Epidermal Inclusion Cyst Resection With Intraoperative Sensory Nerve Mapping Technique.

BACKGROUND: Despite the ever increasing popularity of labial and clitoral surgeries, the best practices and long-term effects of reconstructive procedures in these regions remain unknown. This is particularly noteworthy because the presentation of nerve-related symptoms may be delayed up to a year. Despite the convention that these surgical procedures are low risk, little is known about the best practices that may reduce the postoperative complications as a result of these reconstructive surgeries. We describe a preoperative sensory mapping technique in the context of a symptomatic inclusion cyst in the clitoral region. This technique delineates anatomical and functional regions innervated by the dorsal clitoral nerve while minimizing the vascular watershed area in the midline. CASE: A prototypical case of a patient with a clitoral mass is discussed with clinical history and surgical approach. Prior to surgical excision, the dorsal clitoral nerve distribution was mapped in order to avoid a surgical incision in this sensual zone. CONCLUSIONS: In our practice, preoperative sensory mapping is a clinically useful planning tool that requires minimal instrumentation and no additional operating time. Sensory mapping allows identification of the functional zone innervated by the dorsal clitoral nerve, which can aid in minimizing damage to the area.

Bilateral accessory breast tissue of the vulva: a case report introducing a novel labiaplasty technique.

INTRODUCTION: We present the case of a 23-year-old female with bilateral ectopic breast tissue of the vulva, the repair of which necessitated a novel labiaplasty technique. Labiaplasty is becoming an increasingly frequent cosmetic procedure, and the popularity of brief didactic labiaplasty courses has risen in response to consumer demand. There is a paucity of detailed anatomic description of female sensory innervation patterns to the clitoris and surrounding structures. This places patients at risk for denervation of clitoral structures during labiaplasty procedures. Our novel technique proposes a method of individualized patient neurosensory mapping preoperatively, which allows for surgical planning to avoid injury to the sensory branches of the dorsal clitoral nerve. METHODS: A 23-year-old female presented with bilateral vulvar masses that involved the clitoral complex, which had first become apparent during the second trimester of pregnancy, and failed to resolve in the postpartum period. We describe the preoperative planning and intraoperative approach and dissection to labiaplasty in this patient, which was complex given the size of the masses, and specifically designed to avoid injury to sensory branches of the dorsal clitoral nerve. DISCUSSION: As labiaplasty becomes more common, it is important to approach labiaplasty patients with a detailed understanding of the sensory innervation of the clitoris and surrounding structures, to avoid nerve injury and resultant sexual dysfunction. Traditional labiaplasty approaches may violate the sensory innervation patterns of the clitoral region, thus causing a sensory loss that affects patient sexual function. Our novel approach to preoperative clitoral nerve sensory mapping provides an alternative method of labiaplasty that may avoid denervation injury.

Evidence-based patient safety advisory: patient selection and procedures in ambulatory surgery.

Despite the many benefits of ambulatory surgery, there remain inherent risks associated with any surgical care environment that have the potential to jeopardize patient safety. This practice advisory provides an overview of the preoperative steps that should be completed to ensure appropriate patient selection for ambulatory surgery settings. In conjunction, this advisory identifies several physiologic stresses commonly associated with surgical procedures, in addition to potential postoperative recovery problems, and provides recommendations for how best to minimize these complications.

Evidence-based patient safety advisory: liposuction.

Liposuction is considered to be one of the most frequently performed plastic surgery procedures in the United States, yet despite the popularity of liposuction, there is relatively little scientific evidence available on patient safety issues. This practice advisory provides an overview of various techniques, practices, and management strategies that pertain to individuals undergoing liposuction, and recommendations are offered for each issue to ensure and enhance patient safety.

Staged sentinel lymph node biopsy before mastectomy facilitates surgical planning for breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: In patients with breast cancer who choose mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, the sentinel lymph node (SLN) status on permanent histology may complicate treatment if a metastasis is found. The purpose of this study was to determine how performing an SLN biopsy (SLNB) before the definitive operation would influence subsequent surgical procedures. METHODS: Our SLN database was searched for patients who underwent staged SLNB with subsequent mastectomy between 2001 and 2004. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients with 27 breast cancers underwent SLNB before mastectomy. Of them, 9 of 27 (33%) were node positive. All 9 patients underwent modified radical mastectomy. Three node-positive patients did not undergo immediate reconstruction. Of the remaining 6 node-positive patients, 5 underwent reconstruction with autologous tissue rather than a tissue expander. In contrast, 6 of 16 (37%) node-negative patients underwent reconstruction with a tissue expander. CONCLUSIONS: Staged SLNB assists in selecting the appropriate operation in patients who are considering immediate reconstruction.