Risk Factors for Lymphedema after Thigh Sarcoma Resection and Reconstruction.

Secondary lymphedema can be a lifelong and debilitating consequence of lower extremity oncologic resection and reconstruction. The goal of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of lymphedema in patients treated for thigh sarcoma. METHODS: A retrospective review analyzed all patients who underwent thigh sarcoma resection and reconstruction by a plastic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic between 1997 and 2014. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical management, adjunctive therapies, and complications of patients who did and did not develop postoperative lymphedema were compared. RESULTS: A total of 148 patients were identified. Twelve percent of patients developed lymphedema postoperatively during an average follow-up of 26 months. Risk factors for the development of lymphedema included defect location in the medial thigh (P = 0.04), arterial resection (P = 0.001), arterial reconstruction (P = 0.027), and a history of cardiac disease (P = 0.03). Twenty-two percent of patients who developed lymphedema also experienced wound dehiscence compared with 4.6% of patients without lymphedema (P = 0.02). There were no differences in age, body mass index, smoking, history of deep venous thrombosis or venous stasis, wound dimensions, or type of reconstruction performed in patients with and without lymphedema. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphedema is common following major oncologic resection. Preexisting cardiac disease, tumor location in the medial thigh, and arterial resection and reconstruction were associated with a higher risk of postoperative lymphedema. Noninfectious wound dehiscence may be secondary to lymphedema or represent an early indicator of patients who will ultimately develop lymphedema.

Complications after thigh sarcoma resection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Standard treatment for extremity sarcoma is limb-sparing surgery often with radiation, but complications occur frequently. We sought to determine factors predictive of wound complications after thigh sarcoma resection and reconstruction while analyzing trends over time. METHODS: We reviewed all thigh defects requiring plastic surgeon reconstruction following sarcoma resection at our institution from 1997 to 2014. Patient demographics, comorbidities, operative characteristics, multi-modality therapies, and complications were analyzed. Wound complications were: infection, dehiscence, seroma, hematoma, or partial/total flap loss. RESULTS: There were 159 thigh reconstructions followed for 30 months on average. Eighty-seven percent of patients underwent radiation and 42% had chemotherapy. Almost half (49.1%) had a complication. The most common wound complication was surgical site infection (23.3%) followed by dehiscence (19.5%), and seroma (10.7%). Less common were partial (2.5%) or total flap loss (0.6%). Reoperation was required in 21 patients (13.2%). Tobacco use, older patient age, cardiac disease, and higher body mass index were independently associated with wound complications. Complications trended towards decreasing over time, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco use, cardiac disease, and higher body mass index, but not the timing of reconstruction, appear to increase the risk of wound complications after thigh soft tissue sarcomas resection and plastic surgery reconstruction.

Medial approach to the peroneal vessels as recipients for free flap reconstruction of the leg.

The anatomic variation in the branching pattern of the popliteal vessel has been well-established. Little has been written in the literature regarding recipient vessel selection for microvascular reconstruction in the lower extremity as it pertains to aberrant vascular anatomy. We present the case of a 57-year-old male patient who sustained a closed right lower extremity pilon fracture in a motor vehicle accident. The patient was initially treated with external fixation, which was followed by definitive open reduction and internal fixation 3 weeks later. Over the next 2 weeks, the patient developed skin ischemia of the anterior ankle. A free-tissue transfer was planned. A digital subtraction angiogram revealed absence of the posterior tibial (PT) vessels and an aberrant course of the peroneal (PR) artery. In the operating room, the medial distal leg was explored for the PT vessels, which were severely hypoplastic. Given the close proximity of the PR vessels, the dissection was extended proximally to assess these vessels for microvascular anastomosis. They were found to be suitable. A parascapular flap was harvested and transferred to the right leg wound without any significant stretch on the vessels for soft tissue coverage. The flap demonstrated excellent inflow and outflow, and the leg and foot remained well perfused. The patient's postoperative course was uncomplicated. The technique of exposing the peroneal vessels for microvascular anastomosis via a medial approach is described. This technique is an excellent option to have available when aberrant anatomy precludes the use more commonly utilized vessels.

A reconstructive algorithm after thigh soft tissue sarcoma resection including predictors of free flap reconstruction✰.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of defects of the thigh after oncologic resection plays a vital role in limb salvage. Our goal was to evaluate our institution's experience on thigh sarcomas to develop evidence-based recommendations to guide the reconstructive surgeon, including factors that would predict the need for free flap reconstruction. METHODS: We reviewed all thigh defects requiring plastic surgeon reconstruction following sarcoma resection at our institution from 1997 to 2014. Patient demographics, comorbidities, multimodality therapies, and operative characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 159 thigh reconstructions. Reconstruction was achieved by primary closure (15%), skin graft (13%), local fasciocutaneous flap (8%), local muscle flap (31%), regional muscle flap (28%), or free flap (4%). For the proximal third of the thigh, the most common flaps were pedicled thigh muscle and rectus abdominis flaps; for the middle third of the thigh, it was pedicled thigh muscle flaps; and for the distal third, it was pedicled gastrocnemius muscle flaps. Factors shown to be predictive of requiring a free flap included wide defects (p = 0.03) and location in the middle third of the thigh (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: There are multiple options for reconstructing defects from thigh STS. When primary closure and skin grafts are not an option, most defects can be closed with pedicled local or regional muscle or fasciocutaneous flaps. Free flap reconstruction is rarely required but can be necessary when defects are wide or located in the middle third of the thigh.

Post-mastectomy intensity modulated proton therapy after immediate breast reconstruction: Initial report of reconstruction outcomes and predictors of complications.

PURPOSE: To report reconstructive outcomes of patients treated with post-mastectomy intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) following immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive women with breast cancer who underwent implant-based IBR and post-mastectomy IMPT were included. Clinical characteristics, dosimetry, and acute toxicity were collected prospectively and reconstruction complications retrospectively. RESULTS: Fifty-one women were treated between 2015 and 2017. Forty-two had bilateral reconstruction with unilateral IMPT. The non-irradiated contralateral breasts served as controls. Conventional fractionation (median 50 Gy/25 fractions) was administered in 37 (73%) and hypofractionation (median 40.5 Gy/15 fractions) in 14 (27%) patients. Median mean heart, ipsilateral lung V20Gy, and CTV-IMN V95% were 0.6 Gy, 13.9%, and 97.4%. Maximal acute dermatitis grade was 1 in 32 (63%), 2 in 17 (33%), and 3 in 2 (4%) patients. Surgical site infection (hazard ratio [HR] 13.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67-104.03, p = 0.0012), and unplanned surgical intervention (HR 9.86, 95% CI 1.24-78.67, p = 0.0068) were more common in irradiated breasts. Eight of 51 irradiated breasts and 2 of 42 non-irradiated breasts had reconstruction failure (HR 3.59, 95% CI 0.78-16.41, p = 0.084). Among irradiated breasts, hypofractionation was significantly associated with reconstruction failure (HR 4.99, 95% CI 1.24-20.05, p = 0.024), as was older patient age (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.24, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: IMPT following IBR spared underlying organs and had low rates of acute toxicity. Reconstruction complications are more common in irradiated breasts, and reconstructive outcomes appear comparable with photon literature. Hypofractionation was associated with higher reconstruction failure rates. Further investigation of optimal dose-fractionation after IBR is needed.

Prepectoral Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction with Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Two-stage subpectoral implant-based breast reconstruction is the most common method for breast reconstruction. Recent advances in surgical techniques and technology have made prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction feasible. There are limited data on outcomes after prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction and postmastectomy radiation therapy. METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing immediate two-stage prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction with postmastectomy radiation therapy was performed. Outcomes of irradiated breasts were compared with nonirradiated breasts in bilateral cases. RESULTS: Ninety-three cases of prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction in 54 women who underwent immediate two-stage reconstruction (39 bilateral and 15 unilateral) and unilateral postmastectomy radiation therapy were identified. Mean follow-up was 19 months from mastectomy and tissue expander reconstruction and 9 months from implant placement. Crude complication rates in irradiated versus nonirradiated sides were as follows: surgical-site infection, 18.5 percent versus 7.7 percent; seroma, 5.6 percent versus 5.1 percent; mastectomy skin flap necrosis, 1.9 percent versus 2.6 percent; wound dehiscence, 1.9 percent versus 7.7 percent; capsular contracture, 1.9 percent versus 0 percent; hematoma, 1.9 percent versus 2.6 percent; and extrusion, 1.9 percent versus 0 percent. On univariate analysis, there were no risk factors associated with any complication, including radiation therapy, surgical-site infection, unplanned readmissions, and unplanned return to the operating room. To date, reconstruction has been completed in 96 percent of patients, with successful implant-based breast reconstruction in 81 breasts (45 irradiated breasts and 36 nonirradiated breasts). CONCLUSIONS: Early data of prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction in patients with postmastectomy radiation therapy show promising results. Postmastectomy radiation therapy should not be an absolute contraindication to prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Endobronchial-Guided Vascularized Tissue Flaps for a Bronchopleural Fistula.

The management of bronchopleural fistulas can be challenging. The initial treatment is usually conservative, but operative intervention with transposition of vascularized pedicled flaps may be required in refractory cases. We present the case of a 67-year-old man with stage IIIa squamous cell carcinoma of the lung who underwent a lower and middle bilobectomy after receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation. His postoperative course was complicated by empyema and a bronchopleural fistula. Because of difficulty accessing the fistula, endobronchial-guided vascularized tissue flaps were successfully used to close the fistula.