The differential effect of BMI on prosthetic versus autogenous breast reconstruction: A multivariate analysis of 12,986 patients

BackgroundThe comparative safety of breast reconstruction in obese patients remains to be clearly defined. This study utilized multi-institutional data to characterize the effect of body mass index (BMI) on breast reconstruction outcomes.MethodsUtilizing Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, patients undergoing tissue expander, pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap, latissimus dorsi flap, and free flap breast reconstruction were identified in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Patients were stratified as obese (BMI ≥ 30) and non-obese (BMI < 30). Overall postoperative morbidity, flap complications, non-flap complications, and reoperation rates were compared among the groups.ResultsOf 12,986 patients who underwent breast reconstruction, 3636 (28.0%) were obese. Overall morbidity was significantly elevated in obese patients across all forms of reconstruction (p < 0.05). BMI was correlated with increased surgical complications for tissue expander, pedicled TRAM, and free flap reconstructions (OR = 1.09, OR = 1.05, OR = 1.10, respectively; p < 0.05). Medical complications were higher in obese patients undergoing tissue expander and pedicled TRAM reconstructions (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed in latissimus and free flap reconstruction patients. Compared with obese tissue expander recipients, obese patients reconstructed using autologous tissue had higher rates of reoperations (12.8% versus 9.1%), overall morbidity (18.0% versus 9.5%), surgical (12.7% versus 8.3%), and medical complications (9.0% versus 2.2%).ConclusionsThe NSQIP database allows for evaluation and comparison of reconstructive outcomes in the obese population. Increased BMI was associated with higher morbidity in autologous reconstruction than tissue expander reconstruction. Among autologous procedures, latissimus flaps experienced the lowest captured 30 day morbidity.     

Post-mastectomy reconstruction: A risk-stratified comparative analysis of outcomes

IntroductionAlthough breast reconstruction following mastectomy plays a role in the psychological impact of breast cancer, only one in three women undergo reconstruction. Few multi-institutional studies have compared complication profiles of reconstructive patients to non-reconstructive.MethodsUsing the National Surgical Quality Improvement database, all patients undergoing mastectomy from 2006 to 2010, with or without reconstruction, were identified and risk-stratified using propensity scored quintiles. The incidence of complications and comorbidities were compared.ResultsOf 37,723 mastectomies identified, 30% received immediate breast reconstruction. After quintile matching for comorbidities, complications rates between reconstructive and non-reconstructives were similar. This trend was echoed across all quintiles, except in the sub-group with highest comorbidities. Here, the reconstructive patients had significantly more complications than the non-reconstructive (22.8% versus 7.0%, p < 0.001).ConclusionImmediate breast reconstruction is a well-tolerated surgical procedure. However, in patients with high comorbidities, surgeons must carefully counterbalance surgical risks with psychosocial benefits to maximize patient outcomes.Level of evidenceLevel 3     

Functional outcome of patients undergoing replantation of hand at wrist level-7 year experience

Background:

Replantation is defined as reattachment of amputated limb using neurovascular and musculoskeletal structures in order to obtain recovery of limb. Re-vascularisation involves all the above steps in case of limb injuries that result in a near total amputation.

Aim and Objective:

To study the functional outcome of patients undergoing replantation of hand at wrist level.

Material and Methods:

This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent replantation of total amputation of hand at wrist level within a period of Jan 2003-June 2010. We evaluated post operative functional outcome compared to uninjured hand taking into consideration: 1. The patient''s overall satisfaction with the hand. 2. Recovery of flexor and extensor function of thumb and fingers. 3. Recovery of thumb opposition. 4. Recovery of sensations in the median and ulnar nerve distribution. 5. Ability of surviving hand to perform daily tasks.

Results:

There were total seventeen patients and age range was two years to 55 years. Out of 17 patients,16 were males. All the replantations were successful except for one.

Summary:

The results showed that, although the replanted hands were never functionally as good as the contralateral hand the patients were able to perform most of the daily activities.KEY WORDS: Replantation, wrist amputation, hand amputation     

Reliability of body size measurements obtained at autopsy: impact on the pathologic assessment of the heart

Purpose Assessment of body size at autopsy is important for interpreting organ weight measurements and in some cases body identification. The reliability of post-mortem body size measurements, the causes for perturbations in these measurements from their corresponding pre-mortem values, and the impact of such perturbations on heart weight interpretation have not been fully explored. Methods Autopsy body length and weight measurements and pre-mortem height and body weight measurements were compared in 132 autopsies. Clinical records were evaluated for peripheral edema and serum albumin levels. Causes of death, body cavity fluid collections, and heart weights were obtained from the autopsy reports. A subset of patients underwent quantitative post-mortem computed tomography assessment of anasarca. Results At autopsy, body weight differed from the pre-mortem value by 11 ± 1 %, compared with ?0.2 ± 0.3 % for body length (P < 0.0001). The percent change in body weight at autopsy correlated with the presence of peripheral edema (14 ± 2 % vs. 7 ± 2 %, P = 0.01), serum albumin < 3.0 g/dL (16 ± 2 % vs. 7 ± 2 %, P = 0.001), and the degree of anasarca (P = 0.01). In 4 % of autopsies, heart weights were abnormal based on the pre-mortem body weight, but would be classified as normal based on the elevated post-mortem body weight. Conclusions At autopsy, body weight is a less reliable parameter than body length in correlating with the corresponding pre-mortem measurement. Autopsy body weights are elevated in part due to peripheral edema/anasarca. Alterations in body weight at autopsy can confound the interpretation of organ weight measurements.     

Research letters

Patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia are expected to have an unfavorable quality of life due to multiple factors. We studied the quality of life in 72 patients (age 5-39 y) with transfusion-dependent thalassemia in the era of improved care, and assessed different parameters affecting it.     

A prospective randomized trial of endoscopic versus open saphenous vein harvesting technique for coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Purpose

The great saphenous vein harvested with a traditional open technique often results in leg wound complications. An endoscopic harvesting technique may decrease incidence of these complications.

Methods and material

Fifty consecutive patients having elective primary coronary artery bypass surgery were prospectively and randomly assigned to either endoscopic great saphenous vein harvesting (EVH—group A) or open great saphenous vein harvesting (OVH—group B). Both groups were demographically similar and received identical management. Leg wound healing was evaluated at discharge, 1 week, 1 month and 6 months for evidence of complications.

Result

The patient in endoscopic vein harvesting group had increased harvest time and an insignificant increase in vein injuries at the time of harvesting but decreased incision closure times when compared with traditional longitudinal open vein harvesting. Conversion from endoscopy to a traditional longitudinal open vein harvest occurred in 5 % of patients. Leg wound complications were significantly reduced postoperatively in the endoscopic vein harvesting group in comparison with the open vein harvesting group. Histological evaluation of structural integrity of vein samples shows that there is no significant difference between both the groups. No patient was readmitted to the hospital for leg wound complications in either group.

Conclusion

EVH is a safe, reliable method for saphenous vein harvesting. The best indication for EVH may be in patients who are in increased risk for wound infection and in whom cosmetics is a major concern.