Publications by authors named "Albrecht Heine-Geldern"

Article Synopsis
  • - Autologous postmastectomy breast reconstruction shows better long-term clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction compared to implant-based methods, but adjuvant radiotherapy has often been seen as a barrier to immediate reconstruction.
  • - Recent advancements in postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) have reduced complications, yet plastic surgeons remain cautious about offering immediate flap-based reconstruction to patients requiring radiotherapy.
  • - At a recent workshop, experts concluded that PMRT should not be viewed as a deterrent to immediate autologous reconstruction, emphasizing goals like symmetry, softness, and skin preservation in the reconstruction process.
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Purpose: The field of Plastic Surgery is prominent on social media around the world. Board certified plastic surgeons and societies of plastic surgery play a role in providing accurate, evidence-based information to the public, patients, and colleagues. The aim of this study was to explore the use of social media by European Plastic Surgery Societies.

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Background: The choice of microsurgical anastomotic technique, end-to-end (ETE) or end-to-side (ETS), is a relevant point in free tissue transfer. The decision-making process of choosing ETE or ETS technique depends on several clinical and perioperative factors. This study evaluates the outcomes of microvascular procedures in a large single centre patient series, focusing on ETE vs ETS arterial anastomoses.

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Background: Demographic change implies that the human population is getting older and the elderly are living longer. Consequently, achieving good functional and aesthetic outcomes in microvascular procedures, especially in very old patients with higher incidence of atherosclerosis and vessel calcifications, constitutes a microsurgical challenge. This study evaluates the feasibility of microsurgical procedures in a very old patient cohort.

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 Worldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980. Given this epidemic change, surgical and medical care has become more complex as obesity is a known risk factor for complications. Consequently, one could expect a higher prevalence of medical and surgical complications in an obese patient collective in the setting of free tissue transfer.

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Introduction: Free tissue transfers are a highly reliable procedure routinely performed for reconstruction of a wide range of defects. Main complication in free flap surgery is usually venous thrombosis. Many technical controversies exist regarding the technical details of the microvascular anastomosis in order to prevent occurrence of thrombosis and optimize outcomes.

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