The Delay Procedure in Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction.

Background: The delay procedure in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, in which the reduced-caliber choke vessels play a major role, can provide more well-perfused tissue than a standard DIEP flap. The aim of this study was to review the authors' experience with this technique, evaluate the indications, and analyze the surgical outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of all consecutive DIEP delay procedures performed between March of 2019 and June of 2021.

Learning Sensory Nerve Coaptation in Free Flap Breast Reconstruction.

Background:  The aims of this study were to assess whether sensory nerve coaptation in free flap breast reconstruction is subject to learning, and to elucidate challenges of this technique.

Methods:  In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we reviewed consecutive free flap breast reconstructions performed between March 2015 and August 2018. Data were extracted from medical records, and missing values were imputed.

Clinical Relevance of Sensory Nerve Coaptation in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Evaluated Using the BREAST-Q.

Background: Sensory nerve coaptation in autologous breast reconstruction positively affects sensory recovery in the reconstructed breast. However, patient-reported outcomes are lacking and no conclusions on the clinical relevance of nerve coaptation could be drawn. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical relevance of nerve coaptation in deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction.

Nerve Coaptation Improves the Sensory Recovery of the Breast in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Restoring the sensation of the reconstructed breast has increasingly become a goal of autologous breast reconstruction. The aim of this study was to analyze the sensory recovery of the breast and donor site of innervated compared to noninnervated deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstructions, to assess associated factors, and to compare the differences between preoperative and postoperative sensation.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted, including patients who underwent innervated or noninnervated DIEP flap breast reconstruction between August of 2016 and August of 2018.

The difference in local, regional and distant breast cancer recurrence between the immediate and delayed DIEP flap procedure; a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: It has been hypothesized that autologous breast reconstruction can cause reactivation of dormant micro metastases by its extensive tissue trauma, influencing the risk of breast cancer recurrence. However, about the specific effect of timing on breast cancer recurrence in the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap reconstruction is not much known. In this study the rate of local, regional and distant recurrence between patients undergoing an immediate and delayed autologous DIEP flap breast reconstruction were evaluated.

Sensory Recovery of the Breast following Innervated and Noninnervated Lateral Thigh Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction.

Background: The lateral thigh perforator flap, based on the tissue of the upper lateral thigh, is an excellent option for autologous breast reconstruction. The aim of this study was to introduce the technique to perform a nerve coaptation in lateral thigh perforator flap breast reconstruction and to analyze the results by comparing the sensory recovery of the reconstructed breast and donor site between innervated and noninnervated lateral thigh perforator flaps.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted of patients who underwent an innervated or noninnervated lateral thigh perforator flap breast reconstruction between December of 2014 and August of 2018.

Improving the quality of life of patients with breast cancer-related lymphoedema by lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA): study protocol of a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Early breast cancer detection and advancements in treatment options have resulted in an increase of breast cancer survivors. An increasing number of women are living with the long-term effects of breast cancer treatment, making the quality of survivorship an increasingly important goal. Breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) is one of the most underestimated complications of breast cancer treatment with a reported incidence of 20%.

Somatotopic mapping of the human breast using 7 T functional MRI.

How are tactile sensations in the breast represented in the female and male brain? Using ultra high-field 7 T MRI in ten females and ten males, we demonstrate that the representation of tactile breast information shows a somatotopic organization, with cortical magnification of the nipple. Furthermore, we show that the core representation of the breast is organized according to the specific nerve architecture that underlies breast sensation, where the medial and lateral sides of one breast are asymmetrically represented in bilateral primary somatosensory cortex. Finally, gradual selectivity signatures allude to a somatotopic organization of the breast area with overlapping, but distinctive, cortical representations of breast segments.

Electrical stimulation promotes the angiogenic potential of adipose-derived stem cells.

Autologous fat transfer (AFT) is limited by post-operative volume loss due to ischemia-induced cell death in the fat graft. Previous studies have demonstrated that electrical stimulation (ES) promotes angiogenesis in a variety of tissues and cell types. In this study we investigated the effects of ES on the angiogenic potential of adipose-derived stem cells (ASC), important progenitor cells in fat grafts with proven angiogenic potential.

Sensory Recovery of the Breast following Innervated and Noninnervated DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction.

Background: The sensory recovery of the breast remains an undervalued aspect of autologous breast reconstruction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nerve coaptation on the sensory recovery of the breast following DIEP flap breast reconstruction and to assess the associations of length of follow-up and timing of the reconstruction.

Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted of all patients who underwent either innervated or noninnervated DIEP flap breast reconstruction and returned for follow-up between September of 2015 and July of 2017.

Standardized human bone marrow-derived stem cells infusion improves survival and recovery in a rat model of spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an incurable disorder with an unmet need of an effective treatment. Recently, autologous human bone marrow-derived stem cells have shown to promote functional improvement, due to their anti-inflammatory and regenerative/apocrine properties. In this study, the primary objective was to test whether a single intrathecal injection with a 100 μL suspension of 400,000 fresh human bone marrow-derived CD34 and an equal number of CD105 stem cells (Neuro-Cells (NC)), one day after balloon-compression of the spinal cord, improves motor function and reduces secondary damage in immunodeficient rats.

The influence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on complications of immediate DIEP flap breast reconstructions.

Purpose: The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the surgical outcomes of immediate breast reconstruction remains controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of complications of immediate deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstructions in patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared to patients without neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgery.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted of all patients who underwent immediate DIEP flap breast reconstruction between January 2010 and June 2017.

Breast sensibility after mastectomy and implant-based breast reconstruction.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to evaluate the level of sensible impairment after mastectomy or implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR). In addition, factors influencing breast sensibility were evaluated.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in Maastricht University Medical Center between July 2016 and August 2018.

Autologous Fat Transfer as a Treatment for Peripheral Neuropathic Pain without Apparent Cause.

Neuropathic pain has a far-reaching effect on the daily lives of patients. Recently, autologous fat transfer (AFT) has demonstrated promising results in patients with painful scars or after neuroma excision. However, there is a subgroup of patients who do not show any apparent cause for the pain.

Quality of Life of Patients After Immediate or Delayed Autologous Breast Reconstruction: A Multicenter Study.

Introduction: It is known that breast reconstruction improves quality of life (QoL) in women who underwent mastectomy. Previous studies showed that autologous immediate breast reconstruction is as safe as delayed breast reconstruction. However, there is not much known about the influence of the timing of the breast reconstruction on QoL.

The Stacked Hemiabdominal Extended Perforator Flap for Autologous Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Options for bilateral autologous breast reconstruction in thin women are limited. The aim of this study was to introduce a novel approach to increase abdominal flap volume with the stacked hemiabdominal extended perforator (SHAEP) flap. The authors describe the surgical technique and analyze their results.

Delay of adjuvant radiotherapy due to postoperative complications after oncoplastic breast conserving surgery.

Background: In the past a mastectomy was the first approach of treating breast cancer. Oncoplastic techniques combined with breast conserving surgery (BCS) and radiotherapy has become an alternative to mastectomy in patients with non-metastasized breast cancer. The aim of this study was to analyse the amount and types of complications occurring after oncoplastic BCS before and after adjuvant radiotherapy and the delay of adjuvant therapy due to the complications.

Correction to: Randomized Controlled Study Comparing Disposable Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Standard Care in Bilateral Breast Reduction Mammoplasty Evaluating Surgical Site Complications and Scar Quality.

The second to last sentence in the Results section of the Abstract should be corrected to, "At 180-days follow-up, there was a significant improvement in total VAS scores."

Efficacy and Safety of Autologous Fat Transfer in Facial Reconstructive Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: The use of autologous fat transfer (AFT) or lipofilling for correcting contour deformities is seen as one of the major breakthroughs in reconstructive plastic surgery. Its applications in facial reconstructive surgery have been of particular interest owing to the prospect of achieving autologous reconstruction by a minimally invasive approach. However, its unpredictability and variable degree of resorption have limited its utility and much skepticism still exists regarding its efficacy.

Randomized Controlled Study Comparing Disposable Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy with Standard Care in Bilateral Breast Reduction Mammoplasty Evaluating Surgical Site Complications and Scar Quality.

Background: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for postsurgical incision treatment has demonstrated benefits. A prospective randomized study was developed including 32 patients who underwent bilateral breast reduction mammoplasty. Patients served as their own control and received NPWT to one breast and fixation strips to the other breast.

Complications following immediate compared to delayed deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap breast reconstructions.

Purpose: As more breast cancer patients opt for immediate breast reconstruction, the incidence of complications should be evaluated. The aim of this study was to analyze the recipient-site complications and flap re-explorations of immediate compared to delayed deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstructions.

Methods: For this multicenter retrospective cohort study, the medical records of all patients who underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction in three hospitals in the Netherlands between January 2010 and June 2017 were reviewed.

Effect of Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis in Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Review of the Literature.

Background: Lymphedema affects ∼15% of all patients after breast cancer treatment. The aim of this review was to assess the clinical effects (improvement in arm circumference and quality of life) of lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) in treating breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).

Methods And Results: A systematic literature search was conducted in Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library in July 2017, to identify all studies on LVA for the treatment of BCRL.

Sensation of the autologous reconstructed breast improves quality of life: a pilot study.

Purpose: The number of breast cancer survivors continues to grow. Due to refinements in operating techniques, autologous breast reconstruction has become part of standard care. Impaired sensation remains a debilitating side effect with a significant impact on the quality of life.