Satisfaction With Expectations-Based Education in Women Undergoing Breast Reconstruction.

Women undergoing breast reconstruction sometimes have unrealistic or unformed expectations regarding the reconstructive process and outcomes. The objectives of this study were to assess preoperative expectations in women undergoing mastectomy and initial breast reconstruction, provide expectations-based education, and evaluate satisfaction with education. Fifty-one women undergoing mastectomy and breast tissue expander placement participated in this study. At a preoperative education appointment, participants completed a questionnaire to determine whether their expectations were realistic, unrealistic, or unformed. A nurse practitioner reviewed the results and provided patient-centered, expectations-based education to modify expectations from unrealistic to realistic or to set expectations from unformed to realistic. Four to 6 weeks after surgery, a second questionnaire was provided to assess perceived satisfaction with education. Unrealistic and unformed expectations were identified related to complications, pain, scarring, sensation, symmetry, and aesthetic results. After receiving patient-centered, expectations-based preoperative education, participants agreed they had received the appropriate amount of information and felt well prepared for their surgery and recovery. Most participants reported they were aware of possible complications, had effective tools to manage their pain, and had received adequate information about scarring and sensation changes. Some participants continued to have unrealistic or unformed expectations related to aesthetic results. Women undergoing breast reconstruction often have unrealistic or unformed expectations before surgery. Identifying these expectations and proving expectations-based education resulted in satisfaction with information provided.

Principles of patient-centred care and barriers to their implementation: a case study of breast reconstruction in Australia.

PURPOSE: "Patient-centred care" is widely promoted as an ideal goal of health care systems, but is often difficult to achieve in practice. This article has three aims: to develop an original set of generalisable patient-centred care principles (PCCPs); to identify barriers to the implementation of these principles in a real-world setting, using breast reconstruction (BR) services in Australia as a case study; and to document examples of successful patient-centred care in relation to BR. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews (n = 90) were conducted with 31 breast and plastic reconstructive surgeons, 37 breast cancer health professionals and 22 women who underwent mastectomy as part of their breast cancer treatment and were dissatisfied with their BR experiences. RESULTS: Ten broad PCCPs were derived from our participant interviews. These principles comprised the following: maximising patient choice, access to services, patient and family support and appropriateness of information; minimising patient costs and physical and psychosocial morbidity; and facilitating informed decision-making, interdisciplinary patient management and evidence-informed practice. While the major barriers to the implementation of these PCCPs in relation to BR were resource driven, surgeon-related factors were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: These PCCPs highlight areas of need but also provide examples of high quality patient-centred care. They may help to guide a national discussion about minimum standards of BR practice, while allowing for some necessary regional and cultural variation. They also have the potential to be applied more widely to the provision of a range of health services within Australia or internationally.

Timing between Breast Reconstruction and Oncologic Mastectomy-One Center Experience.

Background and objectives: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The immunohistochemical profile, but also the stage of the tumor determines the therapeutic management, which varies from conservative surgery to mastectomy associated with chemotherapy, hormonal and biological therapy and/or radiotherapy. Mastectomy remains one of the most radical surgical intervention for women, having great consequences on quality of life, which can be improved by realizing immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. The objective of the study was to evaluate the period of time between the mastectomy and the breast reconstruction. Material and methods: We performed a retrospective study on 57 female patients admitted to the Plastic Surgery Department of the Clinical Emergency Hospital "Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu", Bucharest, Romania. All the patients underwent immediate or delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy for confirmed breast cancer. Descriptive data analysis was realized with evaluation of type of breast reconstruction considering the staging of the tumor, the invaded lymph nodes, and the necessity of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Moreover, the median period between mastectomy and reconstruction was evaluated. Results: The immediate breast reconstruction was performed in patients with stage I, in patients with stage II, delayed reconstruction was performed after minimum six months, and the patients with stage III had the breast reconstructed with free flap (50%), 8-43 months post-mastectomy. Radiotherapy determines the type of breast reconstruction, in most of the cases the latissimus dorsi flap was used with implant (22.6%). Conclusions: Breast reconstruction is an important step in increasing the quality of life for women who underwent mastectomy after breast cancer. The proper timing for breast reconstruction must be settled by a team formed by the patient, the plastic surgeon, and the oncologist.

Submuscular and Pre-Pectoral ADM Assisted Immediate Breast Reconstruction: A Literature Review.

Background and objectives: Breast cancer treatment has deeply changed in the last fifty years. Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) were introduced for breast reconstruction, with encouraging results, but with conflicting reports too. The present paper aims to summarize the current data on breast reconstruction using acellular dermal matrices. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the literature regarding the use of ADM-assisted implant-based breast reconstruction. Results: The main techniques were analyzed and described. Conclusions: Several authors have recently reported positive results. Nevertheless, an increased complications' rate has been reported by other authors. Higher cost compared to not-ADM-assisted breast reconstruction is another concern.

The Effect of Reduction Mammaplasty on Body Posture: A Preliminary Study.

Excess breast volume can lead to changes in the postural pattern that may result in pain. This causes women to seek reduction mammaplasty, a surgical procedure that reduces breast volume and may provide relief from symptoms. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether reduction mammaplasty can influence the posture of women. The postures of women with breast hypertrophy were evaluated using postural assessment software and photographic recording performed on the day of surgery and 3 months after the procedure. After surgical breast reduction, the patients had statistically significant changes in their postural patterns related to the horizontal alignment of the anterosuperior iliac spines and the angle of the acromion and anterior superior iliac spines. The analysis of the results showed statistically significant data on postural changes in the patients 3 months after the surgical procedure.

Applying a value-based care framework to post-mastectomy reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Reconstructive breast surgeons, like all procedural care providers, face a transition from volume reimbursement (i.e., per unit of service) to value-based care. Value can be defined as the relationship between outcomes and costs, or more specifically healthcare outcomes per unit cost. Although the definition of a meaningful outcome for a particular treatment can vary, some weighted average of survival, function, complications, process measures, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) comprise the numerator, while the total cost of a complete care cycle is the denominator. We aim to construct a value-based care framework for reconstructive surgery using post-mastectomy reconstruction as an organizing element. METHODS: A preexisting value framework was applied to breast reconstruction using expert opinion and literature review. Domains and associated realization strategies were constructed based on established health economic principles. RESULTS: Seven domains were identified including: implementing an inclusive and transparent process for stakeholder engagement, practicing clear and explicit treatment goals, anchoring care delivery to the patient perspective, maximizing value across the entire continuum of care, optimizing operation efficiency, and scaling best practices with implementation science. CONCLUSIONS: In the near future, reconstructive plastic surgeons may be asked to solve clinical problems for fixed reimbursement (i.e. bundled payments). Considering breast reconstruction through a value lens provides surgeons with an opportunity to adapt and thrive in an evolving healthcare landscape. Lastly, we hope this document helps promote value assessment within the specialty.

Standardized Practice Reduces Complications in Breast Augmentation: Results with the First 290 Consecutive Cases Versus Non-standardized Comparators.

BACKGROUND: Several systematic methods for breast augmentation have been published, providing key principles and technical steps for minimizing complications and optimizing patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to compare complication rates in patients receiving a breast augmentation performed using a structured, standardized approach versus comparator patients operated on without a standardized approach. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective review of 290 consecutive breast augmentations performed between October 2016 and September 2017 based on a standardized technique (Randquist's "five P's" combined with Adams' 14-point plan), and 235 comparators who underwent breast augmentations prior to standardization between April 2014 and September 2016. All study subjects were females aged ≥ 18 years, undergoing bilateral breast augmentation, either alone or in the context of augmentation mastopexy or implant replacement. Various implant ranges were used before standardization; most (94.8%) of the standardized procedures used Natrelle® devices. Follow-up lasted for ≥ 12 months. RESULTS: Significantly fewer patients in the standardized surgery group experienced complications (14.5%, n = 42) compared with the non-standardized group [29.4%, n = 69; Chi square = 6.57; degrees of freedom (df) = 1; p = 0.01041]. Complication rates were also significantly lower in the standardized surgery group for each of the three types of breast augmentation surgery assessed separately. Reoperation rates with standardized and non-standardized surgery were 4.1% (n = 12) and 11.9% (n = 28), respectively (Chi square = 6.4; df = 1; p = 0.01145). Patient satisfaction was increased post-surgery in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a structured, standardized approach to breast augmentation reduced the risk of postoperative complications. 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 .

Reducing Length of Stay after Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction with a Standardized Postoperative Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread acceptance of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols in other surgical specialties, plastic surgery has been slow to adopt fast-track principles. Recently, however, studies have shown that patients undergoing microsurgical breast reconstruction may benefit from a comprehensive postoperative protocol. METHODS: All microsurgical breast reconstructions with abdominal free flaps performed by the senior author (A.K.) at a single institution from June 2009 to December 2013 were reviewed. Demographic information (e.g., age, body mass index, and comorbidities), operative details (e.g., laterality, type of flap), and postoperative data (e.g., complications, length of stay) were collected from patients' medical records. The authors employed a universal comprehensive protocol that dictated all postoperative care as it relates to diet, ambulation, flap monitoring, anticoagulation, analgesia, venous thromboembolism, antibiotic prophylaxis, and discharge criteria. RESULTS: During the study period, 161 patients underwent 289 free flaps. The average length of stay for all patients was 3.26 ± 1.19 days. The incidence of complications requiring return to the operating room was 4.35% (7 patients). The incidence of flap failure was 0.69% (2 of 289 flaps). Only one flap failure occurred after hospital discharge. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the presence of any complication requiring return to the operating room increased hospital course by an average of 1.37 days (p = 0.0027). CONCLUSION: The standardization of postoperative care for patients undergoing microsurgical breast reconstruction results in a short hospital length of stay without increasing the incidence of flap failure or postoperative complications requiring return to the operating room.

Breast Shape Analysis With Curvature Estimates and Principal Component Analysis for Cosmetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery.

Background: Breast shape is defined utilizing mainly qualitative assessment (full, flat, ptotic) or estimates, such as volume or distances between reference points, that cannot describe it reliably. Objectives: The authors quantitatively described breast shape with two parameters derived from a statistical methodology denominated by principal component analysis (PCA). Methods: The authors created a heterogeneous dataset of breast shapes acquired with a commercial infrared 3-dimensional scanner on which PCA was performed. The authors plotted on a Cartesian plane the two highest values of PCA for each breast (principal components 1 and 2). Testing of the methodology on a preoperative and posttreatment surgical case and test-retest was performed by two operators. Results: The first two principal components derived from PCA characterize the shape of the breast included in the dataset. The test-retest demonstrated that different operators obtain very similar values of PCA. The system is also able to identify major changes in the preoperative and posttreatment stages of a two-stage reconstruction. Even minor changes were correctly detected by the system. Conclusions: This methodology can reliably describe the shape of a breast. An expert operator and a newly trained operator can reach similar results in a test/re-testing validation. Once developed and after further validation, this methodology could be employed as a good tool for outcome evaluation, auditing, and benchmarking.

Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy (PMRT) before and after 2-Stage Expander-Implant Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review.

Background: In those undergoing treatment for breast cancer, evidence has demonstrated a significant improvement in survival, and a reduction in the risk of local recurrence in patients who undergo postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). There is uncertainty about the optimal timing of PMRT, whether it should be before or after tissue expander or permanent implant placement. This study aimed to summarize the data reported in the literature on the effect of the timing of PMRT, both preceding and following 2-stage expander-implant breast reconstruction (IBR), and to statistically analyze the impact of timing on infection rates and the need for explantation. Methods: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed/Medline, Ovid, and Cochrane databases without timeframe limitations. Articles included in the analysis were those reporting outcomes data of PMRT in IBR published from 2009 to 2017. Chi-square statistical analysis was performed to compare infection and explantation rates between the two subgroups at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria for this study. These studies reported outcomes data for 1565 total 2-stage expander-IBR procedures, where PMRT was used (1145 before, and 420 after, implant placement). There was a statistically significant higher likelihood of infection following pre-implant placement PMRT (21.03%, p = 0.000079), compared to PMRT after implant placement (9.69%). There was no difference in the rate of explantation between pre-implant placement PMRT (12.93%) and postimplant placement PMRT (11.43%). Conclusion: This study suggests that patients receiving PMRT before implant placement in 2-stage expander-implant based reconstruction may have a higher risk of developing an infection.

[Breast reconstruction after mastectomy in breast cancer patients: specialization and standardization].

In recent years, with the improvement of screening and early diagnosis, the overall prognosis of breast cancer patients has been greatly improved in China. Breast reconstruction is an option to improve cosmetic outcomes and quality of life for the patients received mastectomy, this procedure has attracted a lot of attention. The breast reconstruction surgery is recommended by the 2018 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Breast Cancer in patients with appropriate indications. Despite the high proportion of breast reconstruction after mastectomy in western countries, Chinese breast surgeon should objectively understand the differences in breast structure and cultural backgrounds between Chinese and foreign women, and conduct rigorous clinical practice on the basis of calm thinking. In particular, it should be clearly recognized that we have more local advanced and high-risk cases in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Making efforts to improve the overall survival for patients with breast cancer must be the top priority for our surgeon. Breast reconstruction for all patients without identifying the distinction of personal characters and indications should be avoided, and the pursuing of high proportion of clinical data with no consideration of the realities of clinical practice in China should also be avoided. The indication of breast reconstruction for breast cancer patients received mastectomy must be strictly determined by the surgeon.

Anatomic and terminological description and processing of breast pathologic specimens from oncoplastic large volume displacement surgeries.

Oncoplastic surgery provides breast cancer patients with greater aesthetic satisfaction without compromising disease-free survival or overall survival rate. Large volume displacement oncoplastic surgical techniques have become increasingly popular as a strategy for improving aesthetic outcomes and extending the option of breast conservation therapy. They often involve breast reduction or mastopexy reconstructive techniques to facilitate resection of large breast volumes on the side of the breast cancer and accompanied with symmetry contralateral breast reductions or mastopexies. However, dissection of large volume displacement oncoplastic surgical specimens presents unique challenges. Compared with traditional mastectomy specimens, they are relatively complicated, which requires the pathologist to understand the surgical procedure and the anatomy of the specimens. Given this, we introduce the standard anatomical and terminological description for the breast pathologic specimens of five large volume displacement oncoplastic surgical techniques commonly performed in our institution for breast cancer management. The individual surgical specimen is composed of one or several components, which include lateral wall, superior keyhole, medial wall, lateral wing, inferior pole, and medial wing. We also present specimen documentation and sectioning procedures used in our institution. The advantages for the patient provided by large volume reduction oncoplastic surgery must be supported by proper evaluation of the surgical pathology specimen. Therefore, we recommend that each section taken from the oncoplastic specimen be labeled as to its specific location in the specimen components. Standardized nomenclature and technique will assist pathologists in accurately evaluating the surgical margins.

Evaluating the Impact of Resident Participation and the July Effect on Outcomes in Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Although resident involvement in surgical procedures is critical for training, it may be associated with increased morbidity, particularly early in the academic year-a concept dubbed the "July effect." Assessments of such phenomena within the field of plastic surgery have been both limited and inconclusive. We sought to investigate the impact of resident participation and academic quarter on outcomes for autologous breast reconstruction. METHODS: All autologous breast reconstruction cases after mastectomy were gathered from the 2005-2012 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to investigate the association between resident involvement and the first academic quarter (Q1 = July-September) with 30-day morbidity (odds ratios [ORs] with 95% confidence intervals). Medical and surgical complications, median operation time, and length of stay (LOS) were also compared. RESULTS: Overall, 2527 cases were identified. Cases with residents (n = 1467) were not associated with increased 30-day morbidity (OR, 1.20; 0.95-1.52) when compared with those without (n = 1060), although complications including transfusion (OR, 2.08; 1.39-3.13) and return to the operating room (OR, 1.46; 1.11-1.93) were more frequently observed in resident cases. Operation time and LOS were greater in cases with resident involvement.In cases with residents, there was decreased morbidity in Q1 (n = 343) when compared with later quarters (n = 1124; OR, 0.67; 0.48-0.92). Specifically, transfusion (OR, 0.52; 0.29-0.95), return to operating room (OR, 0.64; 0.41-0.98), and surgical site infection (OR, 0.37; 0.18-0.75) occurred less often during Q1. No differences in median operation time or LOS were observed within this subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals that resident involvement in autologous breast reconstruction is not associated with increased morbidity and offers no evidence for a July effect. Notably, our results suggest that resident cases performed earlier in the academic year, when surgical attendings may offer more surveillance and oversight, is associated with decreased morbidity.

A step-by-step oncoplastic breast conservation surgical atlas of reproducible dissection techniques and anatomically ideal incision placement.

PURPOSE: To develop an atlas for oncoplastic surgery (OPS) with template dissection techniques via anatomically ideal incisions for breast conservation surgery. The evolution of breast conservation techniques has evolved from placing an incision directly over the lesion to the incorporation of a thoughtful decision making process utilizing oncoplastic surgical (OPS) techniques to combining OPS with incision placement in anatomically advantageous sites. The high survival rates of breast cancer and effect of breast surgery on quality of life reinforce emphasis of optimal oncologic as well as aesthetic outcome. OPS results in greater patient satisfaction, fewer surgeries, and is oncologically safe. Today's breast surgeon is tasked with optimizing both oncologic and aesthetic outcomes. METHODS: Presentation of reproducible dissection techniques and incision placement strategies to afford surgeons a step-by-step approach of OPS via anatomically ideal incisions in breast conservation surgery. RESULTS: Demonstration of reproducible techniques to facilitate the decision making process of optimal breast conservation surgery, eliminate knowledge gaps for surgeons, optimize outcome for individuals undergoing breast conservation surgery, and decrease disparity of care. CONCLUSION: Adoption of OPS techniques utilizing an anatomically ideal incision in breast conservation surgery is a feasible and reproducible practice for breast surgeons. Application of these techniques results in maintained optimal shape, size, and contour without the typical overlying skin envelope scars. OPS techniques performed under the skin envelope result in expected OPS oncologic and aesthetic outcomes with the addition of the resulting scar(s) in anatomically discrete position(s).

Quality Measures in Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The importance of providing quality care over quantity of care, and its positive effects on health care expenditure and health, has motivated a transition toward value-based payments. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and private payers are establishing programs linking financial incentives and penalties to adherence to quality measures. As payment models based on quality measures are transitioned into practice, it is beneficial to identify current quality measures that address breast reconstruction surgery as well as understand gaps to inform future quality measure development. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of quality measures for breast reconstruction surgery by searching quality measure databases, professional society clinical practice guidelines, and the literature. Measures were categorized as structure, process, or outcome according to the Donabedian domains of quality. RESULTS: We identified a total of 27 measures applicable to breast reconstruction: 5 candidate quality measures specifically for breast reconstruction surgery and 22 quality measures that relate broadly to surgery. Of the breast reconstruction candidate measures, 3 addressed processes and 2 addressed outcomes. Seventeen of the general quality measures were process measures and 5 were outcome measures. We did not identify any structural measures. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, an overrepresentation of process measures exists, which addresses breast reconstruction surgery. There is a limited number of candidate measures that specifically address breast reconstruction. Quality measure development efforts on underrepresented domains, such as structure and outcome, and stewarding the measure development process for candidate quality measures can ensure breast reconstruction surgery is appropriately evaluated in value-based payment models.

Barriers to Completing Delayed Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy: a Critical Need for Patient and Clinician Education.

Rates of breast reconstruction following mastectomy vary widely, and little is known about why women who originally express an interest in breast reconstruction do not receive it. Improved documentation of clinical decision-making is one of the potential benefits of the electronic health record (EHR), and may serve as a tool to enhance patient-centered, clinical outcomes research. The goals of this study were to explore patterns in delayed reconstruction (DR), identify barriers to follow through, and to determine the adequacy of EHR documentation in providing information about decision-making for breast reconstruction. Retrospective EHR review of women undergoing mastectomy, 2008-2012, was conducted in an academic medical center in New England. Data included patient demographics, cancer stage, co-morbidity index, post-mastectomy reconstruction status, and documented decision-making regarding reconstruction. Of 367 women who had undergone a total mastectomy, 219 did not receive immediate reconstruction. Of these, 24.6 % expressed no interest in DR, 21.9 % expressed interest but were still pending the procedure, and 5.9 % had completed DR. Of decision-making regarding breast reconstruction, 47.5 % lacked documentation. Median follow-up was 34 months. Reasons for not following through with DR included poor timing (25 %), indecision (17 %), desired method of reconstruction not available at treating facility (10 %), persistent obesity (8.3 %), continued smoking (4 %), and reason not specified (35 %). Many women do not receive breast reconstruction despite expressing an initial interest in the procedure. Reasons were multi-factorial and the extent of documentation was inconsistent. Further exploration of potential barriers to breast reconstruction as well as opportunities to enhance shared decision-making may serve to improve patient experience and satisfaction following mastectomy.

Standardization of Disposable Instruments in Microvascular Breast Reconstruction: A Case Study in Cost Reduction.

Background A key avoidable expense in the surgical setting is the wastage of disposable surgical items, which are discarded after cases even if they go unused. A major contributor to wastage of these items is the inaccuracy of surgeon preference cards, which are rarely examined or updated. The authors report the application of a novel technique called cost heatmapping to facilitate standardization of preference cards for microvascular breast reconstruction. Methods Preference card data were obtained for all surgeons performing microvascular breast reconstruction at the authors' institution. These data were visualized using the heatmap.2 function in the gplot package for R. The resulting cost heatmaps were shown to all surgeons performing microvascular breast reconstruction at our institution; each surgeon was asked to classify the items on the heatmap as "always needed," "sometimes needed," or "never needed." This feedback was used to generate a lean standardized preference card for all surgeons. This card was validated by all surgeons performing the case and by nursing leadership familiar with the supply needs of microvascular breast reconstruction before implementation. Cost savings associated with implementation were calculated. Results Implementation of the preference card changes will lead to an estimated per annum savings of $17,981.20 and a per annum reduction in individual items listed on preference cards of 1,693 items. Conclusion Cost heatmapping is a powerful tool for increasing surgeon awareness of cost and for facilitating comparison and standardization of surgeon preference cards.

Understanding and Optimizing the Patient Experience in Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Optimizing the patient experience is a central pillar in healthcare quality. Although this may be recognized as important in breast reconstruction, surgeons are often unaware of how well they and members of their team achieve this goal. The objective of our study was to evaluate patient satisfaction with the experience of care in a multicenter, prospective cohort of patients undergoing breast reconstruction. Specifically, we sought to determine which aspects of the care experience might be most amenable to quality improvement. METHODS: As part of the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium Study, 2093 patients were recruited from 11 centers in North America. Of these, 1534 (73.3%) completed the BREAST-Q Satisfaction with Care scales (satisfaction with information, surgeon, medical team, and office staff) at 3 months after reconstruction and were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Patients scored lowest on 'Satisfaction with Information' (mean = 72.8) compared to all other Satisfaction with Care scales (mean, 89.5-95.5). Patients with immediate reconstruction were less satisfied with their plastic surgeon compared to those with delayed reconstruction. The racial category, "Other" (Asians, Pacific Islanders, Hawaiians, American Indians), was the least satisfied group across all Satisfaction with Care scales. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing breast reconstruction perceive significant gaps in their knowledge and understanding of expected outcomes. Immediate reconstruction patients and minority racial groups may require additional resources and attention. As a means to improve quality of care, these findings highlight an important unmet need and suggest that improving patient education may be central to providing patient-centered care.

Implementation and Analysis of a Lean Six Sigma Program in Microsurgery to Improve Operative Throughput in Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Perforator flaps have become a preferred method of breast reconstruction but can consume considerable resources. We examined the impact of a Six Sigma program on microsurgical breast reconstruction at an academic medical center. METHODS: Using methods developed by Motorola and General Electric, we applied critical pathway planning, workflow analysis, lean manufacturing, continuous quality improvement, and defect reduction to microsurgical breast reconstruction. Primary goals were to decrease preoperative-to-cut time and total operative time, through reduced variability and improved efficiency. Secondary goals were to reduce length of stay, complications, and reoperation. The project was divided into 3 phases: (1) Pre-Six Sigma (24 months), (2) Six Sigma (10 months), (3) and Post-Six Sigma (24 months). These periods (baseline, intervention, control) were compared by Student t test and χ analysis. RESULTS: Over a 5-year period, 112 patients underwent 168 perforator flaps for breast reconstructions, by experienced microsurgeons. Total operative time decreased from 714 to 607 minutes (P < 0.01), across the study period, with the greatest drop occurring in unilateral cases, from 672 to 498 minutes (P < 0.01). Length of stay decreased from 6.3 to 5.2 days (P = 0.01). Overall complication rates (35.9% vs 30%, not significant) and take-back rates (20.5% vs 23.9%, not significant) remained similar over the 5-year period. Physician revenue/minute increased from US $6.28 to US $7.59, whereas hospital revenue/minute increased from US $21.84 to US $25.11. CONCLUSIONS: A Six Sigma program in microsurgical breast reconstruction was associated with better operational and financial outcomes. These incremental gains were maintained over the course of the study, suggesting that these benefits were due, in part, to process improvements. However, continued reductions in total operative time and length of stay, well after the intervention period, support the possibility that "learning curve" phenomenon may have contributed to the improvement in these outcomes.

The Early Years of Practice: An Assessment of Operative Efficiency and Cost of Free Flap and Implant Breast Reconstruction at an Academic Institution.

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term costs, and financial implications of improvements in operative efficiency of free flap and implant-based breast reconstruction within an academic practice. Methods The billing records of 162 patients who underwent postmastectomy implant-based or free flap breast reconstruction by two newly hired microsurgeons at an academic institution during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 fiscal years were reviewed. Actual data on professional revenue, relative value units (RVUs), and facility costs for the first stage of reconstruction as well as costs of postoperative complications were assessed. Results Free flaps consistently generated more revenue and RVUs than implants (p < 0.001). Rates of major complications and associated costs were greater for free flaps during the first 2 years of practice; however, by the 3rd year rates were similar between free flaps and implants (14.3 vs. 18.2%, p = 0.72). There was a 26% reduction in free flap operative time in 2013 as compared with 2011. Operative efficiency (hourly RVU) of first stage procedures increased each year for both modalities. At the completion of reconstruction, flaps and implants had comparable hourly reimbursement ($1,053 vs. $947, p = 0.72) and hourly RVU (22 vs. 29, p = 0.06). Conclusions Contrary to perceptions that free flap breast reconstructions are financially inefficient for the surgeon, we have found that these complex reconstructive procedures are profitable. Even in the early years of practice, hourly reimbursements from completed flap reconstructions are similar to reimbursements received from similar staged implant reconstructions.