Use of the BREAST-Q™ Survey in the Prospective Evaluation of Reduction Mammaplasty Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: BREAST-Q™ is a patient-reported outcomes survey instrument with a specific module that evaluates breast reduction surgery. It allows assessment of patient's satisfaction with received treatment and evaluates the impact of surgery on different aspects of the patient's quality of life. This article aims to assess the satisfaction and quality of life of patients who underwent reduction mammaplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged between 18 and 60 years, with a body mass index ranging from 19 to 30 kg/m2, who were already scheduled for reduction mammaplasty, were included in the study. The Brazilian version of the BREAST-Q™ Reduction/Mastopexy Module (preoperative 1.0 and postoperative 1.0 versions) was self-applied preoperatively and 1 and 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients were included in the study and completed the 6-month follow-up. The median age was 33 years, and the median preoperative body mass index was 25 kg/m2. The superomedial pedicle was used in 96.3% of the cases, and the total median weight of the resected breast was 1115 g. There was a significant improvement in the scores of the scales: Psychosocial well-being, Sexual well-being, Physical well-being, and Satisfaction with the breasts compared to the preoperative assessment (p < 0.0001). The scales Satisfaction with the NAC and Satisfaction with the outcome, available only in the postoperative version, demonstrated high satisfaction rates at the two postoperative periods evaluated. CONCLUSION: Reduction mammaplasty improved the quality of life and provided high levels of patient satisfaction with outcomes 1 and 6 months postoperatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Breast Hypertrophy, Reduction Mammaplasty, and Body Image.

BACKGROUND: Body image dissatisfaction is one of the major factors that motivate patients to undergo plastic surgery. However, few studies have associated body satisfaction with reduction mammaplasty. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of breast hypertrophy and reduction mammaplasty on body image. METHODS: Breast hypertrophy patients, with reduction mammaplasty already scheduled between June 2013 and December 2015 (mammaplasty group, MG), were prospectively evaluated through the body dysmorphic disorder examination (BDDE), body investment scale (BIS), and breast evaluation questionnaire (BEQ55) tools. Women with normal-sized breasts were also evaluated as study controls (normal-sized breast group, NSBG). All the participants were interviewed at the initial assessment and after six months. Data were analyzed before and after six months. RESULTS: Each group consisted of 103 women. The MG group had a significant improvement in BDDE, BIS, and BEQ55 scores six months postoperatively (P ≤ 0.001 for the three instruments), whereas the NSBG group showed no alteration in results over time (P = 0.876; P = 0.442; and P = 0.184, respectively). In the intergroup comparison it was observed that the MG group began to invest more in the body, similarly to the NSBG group, and surpassed the level of satisfaction and body image that the women of the NSBG group had after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction mammaplasty promoted improvement in body image of women with breast hypertrophy.

Increased Capacity for Work and Productivity After Breast Reduction.

BACKGROUND: Breast hypertrophy is a prevalent condition among women worldwide, which can affect different aspects of their quality of life. The physical and emotional impact of breast hypertrophy may harm daily activities, including work. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of reduction mammaplasty on the ability to work and productivity of women with breast hypertrophy. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with breast hypertrophy, already scheduled for breast reduction, aged 18 to 60 years and who had formal or autonomous employment were prospectively enrolled. The Brazilian versions of two validated tools, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment - General Health (WPAI-GH) and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) were self-administered at the preoperative evaluation and six months following surgery. RESULTS: The median age was 33 years, median body mass index was 24 kg/m2, and the median total weight of resected breast tissue was 617.5 g. According to the Brazilian classification of occupation, most patients (53%) had technical, scientific, artistic and similar occupations. There was a significant improvement in work capacity and productivity six months after the reduction mammaplasty, denoted by a decrease in presenteeism, absenteeism, and WLQ Productivity Loss Score (Wilcoxon analysis of variance: P < .0001 for each of these domains). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction mammaplasty increases the work capacity and productivity of Brazilian women with breast hypertrophy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.

Antibiotic prophylaxis in reduction mammaplasty: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The role of antibiotics in surgical procedures where the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) is low remains uncertain. There is, to date, no evidence to justify the routine use of antibiotics in postoperative reduction mammaplasty. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of postoperative antibiotic treatment on the occurrence of SSI after breast reduction surgery. METHODS: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial with 124 breast hypertrophy patients allocated to two treatment groups: antibiotic (n = 62) and placebo (n = 62). All patients will undergo reduction mammoplasty, performed by the same surgical team. The surgeons will raise the nipple-areola complex by the superomedial pedicle technique. The patients will receive antibiotics intravenously during anesthetic induction and every 6 hours thereafter during their 24-hour hospital stay. During discharge from the hospital, each patient will receive a numbered package containing either cephalexin or placebo capsules and will be directed to take one capsule every 6 hours for 7 days. Neither the surgery team nor the patients will know the contents of the capsules. Patients will be monitored for the occurrence of SSI once weekly during the first 30 days following hospital discharge by a single surgeon who is blinded to their treatment group. SSI will be evaluated based on the definition adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DISCUSSION: Due to the variety of risk factors for SSI and limited case studies, conclusions regarding the effect of antibiotics on the occurrence of SSIs following reduction mammaplasty are potentially biased. In recent studies, perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was effective in preventing infection and is therefore recommended in clinical practice. However, antibiotic use in the postoperative period still remains controversial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02569866 . Registered on 4 October 2015.

Dressing Wear Time after Breast Reconstruction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The evidence to support dressing standards for breast surgery wounds is empiric and scarce. OBJECTIVE: This two-arm randomized clinical trial was designed to assess the effect of dressing wear time on surgical site infection (SSI) rates, skin colonization and patient perceptions. METHODS: A total of 200 breast cancer patients undergoing breast reconstruction were prospectively enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated to group I (dressing removed on the first postoperative day, n = 100) or group II (dressing removed on the sixth postoperative day, n = 100). SSIs were defined and classified according to criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Samples collected before placing the dressing and after 1 day (group I) and 6 days (both groups) were cultured for skin colonization assessments. Patients preferences and perceptions with regard to safety, comfort and convenience were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients completed the follow-up. The global SSI rate was 4.5%. Six patients in group I and three in group II had SSI (p = 0.497). Before dressing, the groups were similar with regard to skin colonization. At the sixth day, there was a higher colonization by coagulase-negative staphylococci in group I (p<0.0001). Patients preferred to keep dressing for six days (p<0.0001), and considered this a safer choice (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Despite group I had a higher skin colonization by coagulase-negative staphylococci on the sixth postoperative day, there was no difference in SSI rates. Patients preferred keeping dressing for six days and considered it a safer choice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01148823.

Surgical treatment of skin carcinomas in the Brazilian Unified Health System: costs analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the costs of the surgical treatment of cutaneous carcinomas held in the Plastic Surgery service at a university hospital in patients of the Unified Health System (SUS). METHODS: we included seventy-one patients recorded their demographic and operation data. For analysis of direct costs we considered the period of patient hospitalization, including human and material costs. RESULTS: The average equipment cost per procedure was R$ 324.70, and the mean cost of hospital service, according to the table of SUS, was R$ 193.66. Thus, we obtained an average total cost of R$ 518.36 per procedure. However, the average amount refunded by the SUS per hospital procedure was R$ 429.19. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of cutaneous carcinomas generated for the hospital an average deficit of R$ 89.16 per procedure.

Tratamento cirúrgico de carcinomas cutâneos pelo Sistema Único de Saúde: análise de custos / Surgical treatment of skin carcinomas in the Brazilian Unified Health System: costs analysis

OBJETIVO: analisar os custos do tratamento cirúrgico de carcinomas cutâneos, realizado em serviço de Cirurgia Plástica de hospital universitário, em pacientes do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). MÉTODOS:setenta e um pacientes foram incluídos e registrados seus dados sociodemográficos e da operação. Para análise de custos diretos foi considerado o período de internação do paciente, incluindo custos materiais e humanos. RESULTADOS: o custo material médio por procedimento foi R$.324,70, e o valor médio da taxa de serviço hospitalar, segundo a tabela do SUS, foi R$.193,66. Com isso, obteve-se um custo total médio de R$.518,36 por procedimento. Entretanto, o valor médio repassado pelo SUS ao hospital por procedimento foi R$.429,19. CONCLUSÃO: o tratamento cirúrgico dos carcinomas cutâneos gerou para o hospital, um déficit médio de R$.89,16 reais por procedimento.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the costs of the surgical treatment of cutaneous carcinomas held in the Plastic Surgery service at a university hospital in patients of the Unified Health System (SUS). METHODS: we included seventy-one patients recorded their demographic and operation data. For analysis of direct costs we considered the period of patient hospitalization, including human and material costs. RESULTS: The average equipment cost per procedure was R$ 324.70, and the mean cost of hospital service, according to the table of SUS, was R$ 193.66. Thus, we obtained an average total cost of R$ 518.36 per procedure. However, the average amount refunded by the SUS per hospital procedure was R$ 429.19. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of cutaneous carcinomas generated for the hospital an average deficit of R$ 89.16 per procedure.