Patient Management Strategies in Perioperative, Intraoperative, and Postoperative Period in Breast Reconstruction With DIEP-Flap: Clinical Recommendations

Background and Objective

Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap is a tissue isolated from the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the lower abdomen or rectus muscle to foster breast reconstruction. There is limited information about DIEP-flap induced complications associated with breast reconstruction surgery.

Evidence

We conducted a systematic review of the published literature in the field of breast cancer reconstruction surgery. Information was gathered through internet resources such as PubMed, Medline, eMedicine, NLM, and ReleMed etc. The following key phrases were used for effective literature collection: “DIEP flap”, “Breast reconstruction”, “Patient management”, “Postoperative DIEP”, “Intraoperative anticoagulant therapy”, “Clinical recommendations”. A total of 106 research papers were retrieved pertaining to this systematic review.

Conclusion

A successful breast reconstruction with DIEP-flap without complications is the priority achievement for this surgical procedure. This study provides various evidence-based recommendations on patient management in the perioperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods. The clinical recommendations provided in this review can benefit surgeons to execute breast reconstruction surgery with minimal postoperative complications. These recommendations are beneficial to improve clinical outcomes when performing surgery by minimizing complications in perioperative, intraoperative, and postoperative period.

Effect of Cryo-Processing on Platelet-Rich Autoplasma Preparations

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) plays an important role in angiogenesis, affects activation of migration and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, osteoblasts; activation of migration of monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils.

The aim of the investigation was to study the effect of cryo-processing on the qualitative properties of platelet-rich autoplasma (PRP) at different time intervals.

[Masculinizing mastectomy with nipple-areola graft autotransplantation for female-to-male transsexualism]

OBJECTIVE

To develop the method of masculinizing mammoplasty with nipple grafting female-to-male transsexuals with BMI >30 kg/m², large breast volume and severe ptosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 114 mastectomies in 57 patients with nipple grafting technique. The methods of areola grafting and scar design were modified to improve aesthetic results. Inclusion criteria were BMI >30 kg/m², breast size B+ and severe ptosis (Regnault grade ≥2). Anonymous survey for evaluation of aesthetic outcome and quality of life was performed a year after surgery.

RESULTS

Postoperative complications included hematoma (5.2%), seroma (7.9%), tangential graft necrosis (9.6%), wound dehiscence (0.8%), ligature-induced inflammation (1.7%), scar hypertrophy (12.2%). Three patients (5.2%) developed nipple hypersensivity in long-term postoperative period. Three patients (5.2%) required redo urgent surgery for hematoma. Additional surgical correction of scar hypertrophy was performed in 4 patients (7%). In a year after surgery, patients rated aesthetic postoperative result as 4.45 out of 5 scores.

CONCLUSION

Masculinizing mammoplasty with areola autotransplantation is preferable for FtM transsexuals with large breast volume and severe ptosis. This surgery ensures a good aesthetic result with minimal secondary corrections and complication rate.

[Decellularization of organs and tissues]

The use of allogenic materials in reconstructive surgery is of great scientific interest due to high availability of donor tissues. The positive aspects of allogenous tissue transplantation are complicated by the histological incompatibility of donor tissue and recipient organism. This incompatibility results hypersensitivity reaction towards the allogenous transplant followed by rejection of allogenic tissue and even death in some cases. Cellular biological incompatibility may be managed by decellularization of allogenous organs and tissues prior to transplantation. The improvement of decellularization techniques will facilitate application of allogenous tissues in complex reconstructive procedures and significantly increase the capabilities of reconstructive surgery.

[Ultrasonic examination of the breast adipose grafts after mammoplasty]

AIM

To present the results of PRP-adipose grafts implanatation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 25 patients after transplantation of autologous adipose tissue. Autotransplantation was performed to correct volume defects of breast and to restore lost volume after polyacrylamide gel removal in 4 patients; after mastectomy in 6 cases; after complicated replacement using silicone endoprostheses in 11 patients; after previous reduction in 2 cases; after augmentation mammoplasty in 2 cases. Mean age of patients was 42 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included 12 patients in whom pure adipose tissue was transplanted. Group 2 consisted of 13 patients who received autologous fat with platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

RESULTS

Dynamic ultrasonic monitoring showed early resorption processes (liponecrosis foci) after autologous fat injection. Locally increased vascular pattern of breast tissue is an inflammatory sign requiring anti-inflammatory therapy. PRP-adipose grafts have improved outcomes.

[Common aspects of microsurgical tissue transplantation in reconstructive urology]

The article highlights possibilities and common aspects of microsurgical tissue transplantation in reconstructive urology. The authors share the experience of more than 2000 of microsurgical autotransplantations of revascularized and reinnervated free flaps. The method allows the new approach to such urological conditions as traumatic penis amputation, posttraumatic and inflammatory urethra strictures, inborn genital hypoplasia, impaired sexual identification, etc. The issue analyses the results of treatment of 152 patients with inborn urogenital pathology (220 autotransplantations of revascularized flaps) and 146 patients with acquired urogenital diseases (188 autotransplantations of revascularized flaps) during the period from 1991 to 2011 years.

[Study of the revascularizing properties of the greater omentum for creating prefabricated complex autografts under experimantal conditions]

The revascularizing properties of the greater omentum used as a vascular pedicle for the prefabrication of skin, skin/cartilage or skin/ bone autografts, and their viability after rotation and recipient zone infection were studied in rat experiments. The experiment showed that complexity factor did not have a significant effect on the revascularizing properties of the greater omentum, and required only an insignificant prolongation of prefabrication period. Skin/omental, skin/cartilageous, and skin/bony autografts based on the greater omentum formed by day 7, 14, and 21, respectively. After these periods prefabricated autografts remained viable upon rotation. In case of infection, the survival rate of prefabricated skin/bone autografts, revascularized with two-layer greater omentum, is lower than that of skin/cartilage ones. The technique of prefabrication of autografts including skin, cartilage, and bone, is a promising method for closure of vast multicomponent defects in complicated clinical situations.