Effect of introduction of elastic compression bandages on quality of life in patients with lower extremity vascular skin ulcers: a prospective study correlating WOUND-Q patient-reported outcome measures and evidence-based medicine.

Background: Evidence-based medicine and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are helpful tools in the wound care field, but few studies correlating quality of life (QoL) changes with objective changes exist.

Objective: To investigate the QoL changes following the shift from primary dressings alone to elastic compression bandages in patients with a new diagnosis of vascular skin ulcer, and to evaluate a possible correlation between objective and subjective changes.

Materials And Methods: This study included 122 patients with a new diagnosis of vascular skin ulcer, who had previously used only primary dressings alone.

From Angiosomal to Bi-Angiosomal and Extra-Angiosomal Pedicled Perforator Flaps: Optimizing the Use of Local Tissues in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.

Introduction: The use of free-style and propeller perforator-based flaps has been popularized for the reconstruction of moderate size defects in the trunk and extremities, while their application in the field of abdominal reconstruction is seldom reported. The purpose of this report is to describe the authors experience with the use of pedicled perforator-based flaps in abdominal wall reconstruction, presenting the innovative concept of transition from angiosomal to bi-angiosomal and extra-angiosomal perforator flaps and showing applications of the different flap designs according to the multiple clinical scenarios.

Patients And Methods: A total of 15 patients underwent abdominal wall reconstruction with angiosomal, bi-angiosomal, and extra-angiosomal pedicled perforator-based flaps harvested from the surrounding abdominal subunits for superficial or full thickness defects of the abdominal wall of moderate and large dimensions.

Innovative Application of GalaFLEX Poly-4-Hydroxybutyrate Scaffold in Breast Reduction/Mastopexy with Inferiorly Based Dermo-adipose Flap.

Breast reduction is one of the most required plastic surgery procedures worldwide, improving significantly the quality of life for patients with macromastia and gigantomachia. Despite various proposed approaches aiming to yield more stable results postreduction, no single technique has demonstrated unequivocal superiority. Recurrence ptosis at 6-12 months postoperative remains a challenging concern.

Main Factors Influencing Patient Satisfaction After Primary Breast Augmentation: A Prospective Study Based on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

Background: Primary breast augmentation is one of the most sought-after procedures in cosmetic surgery. It is generally related to a high degree of patient satisfaction, but it is not always obvious which factors have greater influence on patient satisfaction.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate how anthropometric, psychological, and social parameters, in association with the main surgical variables, influenced patients' satisfaction with their breasts after surgery.

Impact of Incisional Access Site in Primary Breast Augmentation: Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction with SCAR-Q.

Background: Scarring at the incision site represents one of the most impactful outcomes in breast augmentation surgery for both the patient and the surgeon. Few studies exist with the aim of assessing patient perception of scarring outcomes in primary breast augmentation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact on quality of life of scars by submitting the SCAR-Q in patients who underwent primary augmentation mammoplasty.

Cathelicidin LL-37 Expression in Human Breast Implant Capsules.

Background: Capsular contracture is the most common complication following breast implant placement. Cathelicidin LL-37 is a cationic peptide involved in innate immunity. Initially investigated for its antimicrobial role, it was found to have pleiotropic activities, such as immunomodulation, angiogenesis stimulation, and tissue healing.

Prepectoral Versus Subpectoral Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction: Evaluation of Patient's Quality of Life and Satisfaction with BREAST-Q.

Background: Over the years, plastic surgery has acquired a central role in the integrated treatment of breast cancer. Direct-to-implant (DTI) reconstruction using the prepectoral approach has emerged as an alternative to reconstruction using the subpectoral technique to overcome the complications arising from this type of surgery resulting as a consequence of muscle elevation. The satisfaction and quality of life of patients undergoing DTI breast reconstruction were evaluated using the BREAST-Q questionnaire, comparing the prepectoral and the subpectoral technique.

The Correlation Between the Improvement in Patient's Quality of Life and Surgeon's Satisfaction Following Primary Breast Augmentation: A Prospective Study.

Background: Patient satisfaction is the primary goal in breast augmentation, but in a few cases patient satisfaction and surgeon satisfaction are in disagreement.

Objectives: The authors try to explain the reasons associated with disparity between patient and surgeon satisfaction.

Methods: Seventy-one patients who underwent primary breast augmentation with dual-plane technique, with inframammary or inferior hemi-periareolar incision, were enrolled in this prospective study.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on breast surgery in Italy: a multi-centric retrospective observational study.

COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on surgical activities. The aim of this multi-centric, retrospective study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast surgery. The patients who operated during the pre-pandemic year 2019 were compared to those operated in 2020.

Histologic and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Human Breast Capsules Formed around Five Different Expander Surfaces.

Background: Polyurethane (PU) coating and implant texturization were designed to reduce the incidence of capsular contracture (CC), even if the link between surface type and CC remains unclear. To date, the etiopathogenetic aspects have not been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate capsules formed around five different breast expanders.

Total autologous breast reconstruction with the Kiss Latissimus Dorsi Flap.

Introduction: Patients presenting breast actinic damage or implant-related complications require an autologous approach to breast reconstruction. However, when they are not good candidates for microsurgical procedures, alternative solutions must be sought. Latissimus dorsi (LD) is a workhorse flap in breast reconstruction, but often the amount of skin and volume achievable are insufficient.

Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction After Unilateral and Bilateral Mastectomy: Cross-Sectional Study of Patient Satisfaction and Quality of Life with BREAST-Q.

Introduction: Immediate single stage breast reconstruction is a challenging procedure with the goal of improving the quality of life of patients with breast cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate using the BREAST-Q patient satisfaction, body perception and quality of life after direct-to-implant breast reconstruction comparing unilateral and bilateral reconstructions.

Methods: In this study we enrolled 56 women who underwent mastectomy and immediate single-stage direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction at Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome between 2013 and 2020.

Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy in the Setting of Two-Stage Retropectoral Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: Should It be Delivered Before or After Implant Exchange? A Retrospective Analysis on 183 Patients.

Introduction: Postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) has a primary role in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer; however, the most appropriate timing of irradiation in immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction (ITEBR) still remains unknown.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on all women undergoing mastectomy and retropectoral ITEBR at Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital in Rome, Italy, between 2010 and 2019. The patients were categorized into three cohorts: patients undergoing PMRT with the tissue expander (TE) in situ, patients with PMRT delivered to the permanent implant (PI), patients who were not administered RT.

Delayed Mastopexy Following Breast-Conserving Surgery and Radiation Therapy: A Case-Control Study to Evaluate Safety and Versatility of the Central Mound Technique.

Introduction: Breast remodeling following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and radiation therapy (RT) is challenging and often burdened by complications due to irradiated tissue atrophy. The authors present a case-control study to compare the central mound mastopexy (CMM) to more conventional techniques, applying it to different patterns of skin excision.

Methods: A variation of the original central mound technique is presented separately addressing glandular and cutaneous deformities.

Quantitative Analysis of Nipple to Inframammary Fold Distance Variation in Tuberous Breast Augmentation: Is there a Progressive Lower Pole Expansion?

Introduction: In patients with short nipple to inframammary fold (N-IMF) distance, as in tuberous breast, the cohesivity and gel distribution of shaped implants work as a controlled tissue expander, progressively adapting the tissues to the implant's shape. This phenomenon translates into a gradual increase of the N-IMF distance over time, but the true extent to which this occurs has not been quantified to date. This study aims to quantify the postoperative variation of the N-IMF distance in tuberous breast treated with shaped cohesive silicone breast implants.

Clinical Outcomes Among Major Breast Cancer Subtypes After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Impact on Breast Cancer Recurrence and Survival.

Background/aim: Prior studies have underlined the prognostic relevance of pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer. However, an accurate demonstration of treatment efficacy is dependent on its potential to predict long-term outcomes of recurrence and death, and this issue remains somewhat controversial.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and sixty-nine patients with breast cancer (BC) treated with NAC followed by surgery were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Effects of latissimus dorsi (LD) flap harvest on shoulder function in delayed breast reconstruction. A long-term analysis considering the acromiohumeral interval (AHI), the WOSI, and BREAST-Q questionnaires.

Background: The latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is reliable and versatile with many indications and low donor site morbidity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term effects of LD flap on the shoulder function in patients undergoing delayed breast reconstruction.

Methods: This case-control study enrolled women who underwent implant-based (IB) breast reconstruction, radical lymphadenectomy, and radiotherapy between 2006 and 2016.

Feasibility study on equine acellular pericardium matrix (APM): A new tool for breast reconstruction.

The advent of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) for lower pole coverage allows immediate reconstructions with improved aesthetic outcomes and faster recovery. This study describes for the first time, the use of a new acellular pericardium matrix (APM) in implant-based breast reconstruction and characterises its safety profile. Equity is a membrane with a natural cross-linked structure with many of the properties of ADMs, but improved resistance and reduced thickness.

Bleeding in Plastic-Aesthetic Surgery: A Prognostic Pathway with Clinical Application.

One of the potential complications of aesthetic surgery is bleeding. Given the high surgical activity carried out in our center and the variety of interventions performed, the risk of bleeding is not negligible: A clinical practice that could reduce this postsurgical complication is necessary. The goal of this article is to value effectiveness of a bleeding score obtained through the evaluation of anamnestic data.