The effect of metformin on breast cancer outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Observational data suggest that metformin use decreases breast cancer (BC) incidence in women with diabetes; the impact of metformin on BC outcomes in this population is less clear. The purpose of this analysis was to explore whether metformin use influences BC outcomes in women with type 2 diabetes. Prospective institutional databases were reviewed to identify patients with diabetes who received chemotherapy for stages I-III BC from 2000 to 2005.

A Comparative Retrospective Analysis of Complications After Oncoplastic Breast Reduction and Breast Reduction for Benign Macromastia: Are These Procedures Equally Safe?

Introduction: Oncoplastic breast reduction has been shown to be an effective approach to breast conservation surgery in women with macromastia. Clear surgical margins can be achieved while simultaneously improving symptomatic macromastia and enhancing aesthetic outcomes. Little has been written about postoperative complications after this procedure, beyond the risk of locoregional recurrence.

Long-term patient-reported satisfaction after contralateral prophylactic mastectomy and implant reconstruction.

Purpose: To determine whether satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) differ between women who do and do not undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) in the setting of implant reconstruction using the BREAST-Q, a validated patient-reported outcome instrument.

Methods: From 2000 to 2007, a total of 3,874 patients with stage 0 to III unilateral breast cancer (BC) had mastectomy; 688 (18 %) pursued CPM within 1 year. Patients who completed the BREAST-Q reconstruction module as part of BREAST-Q validation studies or routine clinical care formed our study cohort.

A prospective analysis of the association between indwelling surgical drains and surgical site infection in plastic surgery.

Introduction: Many surgeons fear that closed-suction drains serve as a portal for bacterial entry into surgical spaces. Despite a lack of supporting evidence, postoperative antibiotics are often prolonged while drains remain in place.

Methods: Medical records of all patients who underwent intraoperative Jackson-Pratt drain placement and sterile removal over a 12-month period were prospectively analyzed.