Comparative analysis of comorbidity indexes in implant-based breast reconstruction.

Introduction: Recent studies have used comorbidity indexes to stratify postsurgical complication risk across multiple surgical fields, including plastic surgery. However, such studies are lacking in implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR). Understanding how comorbidity scores affect postsurgical outcomes in IBBR can help identify patients who may require additional medical surveillance after surgery.

A New Start with HAART: Evaluating Breast Reconstruction in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy.

Background: As HIV-positive individuals utilizing highly active antiretroviral therapy live longer, the burden of breast cancer increases in the population. Breast reconstruction is an integral aspect of surgical treatment for many patients after a breast cancer diagnosis, prompting this examination of the characteristics and outcomes of breast reconstruction in this growing patient population.

Methods: Using Merative MarketScan Research Databases, a large multipayer database, HIV-positive adult patients who underwent autologous or implant-based breast reconstruction between 2007 and 2021 were identified using International Classification of Disease codes and Common Procedural Terminology codes.

Timing of autologous fat grafting in implant-based breast reconstruction: Best practices based on systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Fat grafting is commonly undertaken as a third-stage procedure in patients with staged implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR). However, fat grafting performed during second-stage expander/implant exchange provides faster results without an additional procedure and associated risks (Patel et al., 2020).

Sociodemographic Disparities in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Patients With Cervical Cancer: An Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

Background While the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are declining due to improved prevention, screening, and treatment, inequitable access to care may contribute to worse patient outcomes. Therefore, we sought to evaluate sociodemographic disparities in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with cervical cancer. Methodology The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was queried for adult women diagnosed with cervical cancer from 2010 to 2015.

Examination of the Novel National Institutes of Health-Supported Relative Citation Ratio, a Measure of Research Productivity, Among Academic Plastic Surgeons.

Background: Considerable interest has been devoted to quantifying research productivity for the purposes of academic appointment and promotion in plastic surgery. A novel bibliometric, the relative citation ratio (RCR), integrates features unavailable in prior metrics, such as the h-index, including the ability to compare researchers in distinct fields. This investigation examines the RCR in relation to established measures of academic productivity and provides the benchmark data in plastic surgery.

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Insurance Coverage for Lymphedema Treatments in the United States.

Importance: Lymphedema is a debilitating condition that affects approximately 1 in 1000 individuals in the United States. Complete decongestive therapy is currently the standard of care, and innovative surgical techniques have demonstrated potential to further improve outcomes. Despite the growing armamentarium of treatment options, a large proportion of patients with lymphedema continue to struggle because of limited access to care.

Ballistic Facial Trauma Reconstruction: Incidence and Practice Patterns in the Civilian Population.

Background: Management of nonfatal ballistic facial trauma is well described in the literature for wounds secondary to military combat. However, there is little literature describing such management in civilian practice. We aimed to describe nonmilitary patients with recent nonfatal facial injuries from ballistic trauma using the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development patient database.

Recommendations on Attaining Departmental Status: A Survey of Division Chiefs Turned Department Chairs.

In 2009, the Association of Academic Chairmen of Plastic Surgery, now known as the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons (ACAPS), published a white paper endorsing the conversion of plastic surgery divisions into autonomous departments, motioning for other national organizations to follow suit. ACAPS' rationale outlined 11 factors intended to promote the favorability of attaining departmental status within an institution. Through surveying division chiefs turned founding department chairs who successfully executed this transition, we evaluate the practicality and efficacy of these guidelines.

Characteristics of Successful Integrated Plastic Surgery Applicants from US Allopathic Medical Schools without a Home Integrated Program.

Objective: Integrated plastic surgery (PS) is one of the most competitive residency programs, but current literature lacks data specific to matched applicants from medical schools without home integrated PS residency programs (NHP). Therefore, there is a need to examine this specific demographic of applicants to identify key factors that led to a successful match.

Design: An anonymous survey was sent to PS residents who graduated from US allopathic medical schools with NHP.

Ranking United States University-Based General Surgery Programs on the Academic Achievement of Surgery Department Faculty.

Objective: Rankings of residency programs are highly influential and utilized by residency applicants. Existing ranking resources often use opaque criteria that may include bias or do not accurately represent the academic achievement of current faculty. This study aims to create an updated general surgery residency ranking list based on the academic achievements of their respective surgery department faculty members.

Morphometric roadmaps to improve accurate device delivery for fluoroscopy-free resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta.

Background: Uncontrolled hemorrhage from vessel injuries within the torso remains a significant source of prehospital trauma mortality. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta can effectively control noncompressible hemorrhage, but this minimally invasive technique relies heavily on imaging not available in the field. Our goal was to develop morphometric roadmaps to enhance the safety and accuracy of fluoroscopy-free endovascular navigation of hemorrhage control devices.