Impact of Insurance Status on Postoperative Recovery after Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction.

Background:  Persistent disparities in breast reconstruction access have been widely documented, yet a significant research gap remains in understanding the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on postoperative outcomes and complications.

Methods:  A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent abdominal-based free-flap breast reconstruction between August 2018 and December 2022 at a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse urban academic institute with a historically underserved patient population. Patients were stratified by the public (Medicare and Medicaid) versus private insurance as a proxy for SDOH.

Patterns of Marijuana Use and Nicotine Exposure in Patients Seeking Elective Aesthetic Procedures.

Background: With the increasing legalization and popularity of marijuana, it is frequently and sometimes unintentionally combined with nicotine-containing products. As a consequence, patients may fail to accurately report usage during preoperative examinations or remain unaware of the inclusion of nicotine. This poses a challenge for clinicians in identifying preoperative nicotine exposure.

Evaluating the relationship between health-related social needs, patient demographics, and access to biologics in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma in Bronx, NY.

Objectives: This study assesses the relationship between patient age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, social determinants of health (SDoH), and access to biologics (products isolated from natural sources that target specific molecules, proteins, and cells) in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma in Bronx, NY.

Methods: Cohort of 289 patients with moderate-to-severe asthma treated at Montefiore Medical Center (MMC) from 2018 to 2020 was used. Patient demographics, self-reported social needs, and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics were analyzed.

The Impact of Marijuana Use on Postoperative Outcomes in Abdominal-based Free Flap Breast Reconstruction.

Background:  There is an increasing prevalence of marijuana use in the general population yet clinical studies on marijuana's effect on surgical outcomes remain limited. Marijuana's effect on wound healing, venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to endothelial inflammation, and bleeding due to inhibited platelet function have been cited based on animal models but have not been evaluated clinically in patients undergoing microsurgical reconstruction.

Methods:  Retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction in a single institute from August 2018 to December 2022.

Postoperative Magnesium Sulfate Repletion Decreases Narcotic Use in Abdominal-Based Free Flap Breast Reconstruction.

Background:  Microsurgical breast reconstruction after mastectomy is now the standard of care for breast cancer patients. However, the costs and resources involved in free flap reconstruction can vary across different medical settings. To enhance patient outcomes in a cost-effective manner, we investigated the effect of intravenous magnesium sulfate (IV Mg) on postoperative opioid usage in this context.