Higher patient satisfaction after breast reconstruction using patients' own tissues

Despite complex surgery, patients are more satisfied, reports Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®

2023-09-28

(Press-News.org) September 28, 2023 – Women undergoing autologous breast reconstruction – in which the breast is reconstructed using the patient's own tissues– report higher satisfaction with their breasts at follow-up, compared to those undergoing implant-based reconstruction, reports a study in a special October supplement to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

"The findings were unexpected, since autologous breast reconstruction is a more complex procedure, with a higher rate of severe complications," comments lead author Nadia Sadok, MD, PhD, of University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands. The article appears as part of a supplement devoted to new research on Current Outcomes in Breast Reconstruction.

Higher psychological and sexual well-being after 'flap' reconstruction

The study compared quality of life (QoL) measures in women choosing different options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer. The analysis included 63 women who chose autologous reconstruction, performed using a flap of the patient's own skin and underlying tissues; and 75 women who opted for implant-based reconstruction.

Using the validated BREAST-Q questionnaire, patients rated "satisfaction with breasts" and other QoL outcomes before surgery and at six weeks and six months afterward. Before surgery, women in the autologous group had lower scores on all BREAST-Q measures. That included lower scores for satisfaction with breasts: average 49 points (on a 0-to-100 scale) compared to 59 points for women choosing implant-based reconstruction.

Women opting for autologous reconstruction had higher rates of severe complications: 27% versus 12%. That was consistent with the more extensive surgery required for flap reconstruction. Because of the differences in preoperative satisfaction and complication rate, the researchers expected that women in the autologous group would have lower QoL scores at follow-up.

However, the BREAST-Q ratings told a different story. Women undergoing autologous reconstruction had higher scores for satisfaction with breasts at both six weeks (average 62 versus 51) and six months (68 versus 57). Scores for satisfaction with breasts were higher for women who underwent immediate versus delayed reconstruction, and for those who had one-stage versus two-stage reconstruction.

Scores for psychosocial and sexual well-being were also higher in the autologous group. Most other QoL ratings, including overall satisfaction with outcomes, were similar between groups.

Supplement assembles new research on breast reconstruction options and outcomes

Why did women in the autologous group have higher satisfaction, despite lower preoperative scores and a higher complication rate? "It is possible that the differences in preoperative scores is not merely explained by the timing of reconstruction but that it is also related to body type and related to self-perceived body image and body satisfaction," Dr. Sadok and coauthors write.

The 2023 "Special Breast Edition" of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® presents seven original, non-solicited studies of complications and patient-reported outcomes in autologous and implant-based breast reconstruction. "This collection of articles celebrates some of the advances and innovations that continue to help improve the quality of care our breast cancer patients receive," comments guest editor and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® Co-Editor Amy S. Colwell, MD.

The special issue is timed to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day. Celebrated October 17 this year, "BRA Day" is designed to educate women about post-cancer breast reconstruction options and outcomes – including the federal requirement for insurance coverage for breast reconstruction surgery.

Read Article [ Short-Term Quality of Life after Autologous Compared with Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective Study ]

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students in effective decision-making and outcomes across healthcare. We support clinical effectiveness, learning and research, clinical surveillance and compliance, as well as data solutions. For more information about our solutions, visit https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/health and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.

###

About Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

For over 75 years, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® (http://www.prsjournal.com/) has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® brings subscribers up-to-the-minute reports on the latest techniques and follow-up for all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, experimental studies, maxillofacial reconstruction, hand and microsurgery, burn repair and cosmetic surgery, as well as news on medico-legal issues.

About ASPS

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 7,000 physician members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

 Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of €5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,900 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Roundtable on ensuring ethical and equitable artificial intelligence and machine learning practices

2023-09-28

The National Alliance against Disparities in Patient Health (NADPH) presents a Roundtable Discussion on the topic of embedding ethics and equity into artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) infrastructure. The expert panel discussion is published in the peer-reviewed journal Big Data. Click here to read the article now. Moderating the Roundtable Discussion is Malaika Simmons, MSHE, Chief Operating Officer of NADPH. The expert panelists include Rachele Hendricks-Sturrup, DHSc, Chief Data Governance Officer and Project Director, NADPH, Gabriella Waters, Director of Research and Operations, Center for Equitable AI and Machine Learning Systems, Director of the ...

Skin behind the ears and between the toes can host a collection of unhealthy microbes

2023-09-28

WASHINGTON (Sept. 28, 2023) — Grandmother was right: Scrubbing behind the ears and between the toes may help keep the skin in those regions healthy, or so says a new study by a team at the George Washington University. The microbiome, or the collection of microbes living on and in the human body, are known to play a role in human health and the skin is no different. A new study by a team at the George Washington University has shown that the composition of the skin microbiome varies across dry, moist and oily regions of the skin. Researchers ...

Indigenous community-first approach to more ethical microbiome research

2023-09-28

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Every person hosts trillions of microorganisms, like bacteria and viruses, on their skin and in organs including those that make up the digestive tract, like their mouth, that collectively make up their microbiome. Microbiome research can lead to medical breakthroughs to treat diseases like inflammatory bowel syndrome and diabetes. According to Laura Weyrich, associate professor of anthropology and bioethics at Penn State, microbiome samples from Indigenous communities have played an important role in furthering Western ...

How parents’ work stress affects family mealtimes and children’s development

2023-09-28

URBANA, Ill. – Family mealtimes are important for parents and children as a space to communicate, socialize, and build attachment relationships. But it can be difficult for busy parents to balance family and work life. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores how parents’ job stress influences their attendance at family mealtimes, and in turn, children’s socioemotional development. “We all struggle to maintain the balance between work life and family life. But this might ...

Walking more than five flights of stairs a day can cut risk of heart disease by 20%, study says

2023-09-28

Forget walking 10,000 steps a day. Taking at least 50 steps climbing stairs each day could significantly slash your risk of heart disease, according to a new study from Tulane University. The study, published in Atherosclerosis, found that climbing more than five flights of stairs daily could reduce risk of cardiovascular disease by 20%. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) along with coronary artery disease and stroke are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. “Short bursts of high-intensity stair climbing are a time-efficient ...

Global team recommends ethical rules for human research in commercial spaceflight

2023-09-28

The first ethical framework for conducting human research on commercial spaceflight was proposed today in an article in Science by an international team that included Hastings Center president Vardit Ravitsky. Ravitsky’s contribution focused on promoting diversity among the researchers and participants, which is essential to ensuring the research benefits society at large. Human research on commercial spaceflight is expected to expand significantly in the near future, and yet there are no rules for ...

Ultrasound may rid groundwater of toxic ‘forever chemicals’

2023-09-28

COLUMBUS, Ohio – New research suggests that ultrasound may have potential in treating a group of harmful chemicals known as PFAS to eliminate them from contaminated groundwater. Invented nearly a century ago, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals,” were once widely used to create products such as cookware, waterproof clothing and personal care items. Today, scientists understand that exposure to PFAS can cause a number of human health issues such as birth defects and cancer. But because the bonds inside these chemicals don’t break down easily, they’re notoriously ...

Intravenous immunoglobulin may prevent severe infections associated with anti-BCMA therapy for multiple myeloma

2023-09-28

Bottom Line: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) reduced the risk of severe infections by 90% in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing treatment with an anti-BCMA bispecific antibody. Journal in Which the Study was Published: Blood Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Author: Guido Lancman, MD, a clinical associate at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre of the University Health Network and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Toronto Background: Bispecific antibodies targeting the BCMA ...

Innovative double-layer polysaccharide hydrogel revolutionizes intestine-targeted oral delivery of probiotics

2023-09-28

In a groundbreaking study, a research team led by Changhu Xue and Xiangzhao Mao from the Ocean University of China has developed a remarkable double-layer polysaccharide hydrogel (DPH) that promises to revolutionize the field of intestine-targeted oral delivery of probiotics. The team’s findings, published in Engineering, demonstrate the potential of DPH to enhance the bioavailability, intestinal colonization, and overall effectiveness of probiotics in treating various diseases. The research team’s study focused on addressing the challenges posed by the harsh gastrointestinal environment and the short retention ...

Ethics rules needed for human research on commercial spaceflights, panel says

2023-09-28

New guidelines are needed to assure that research on human subjects performed on commercial spaceflights is conducted ethically, a panel of experts say in a commentary appearing in the September 28 issue of the journal Science. Their paper is titled Ethically cleared to launch? Private companies are expected to fly thousands of people into space in the coming decades. Those aboard will include workers and passengers who will have the opportunity to participate in research studies. Such research is not only essential to assure the safety of future space travelers but often also addresses critical issues of human health in general. Buț ...

Higher patient satisfaction after breast reconstruction using patients' own tissues

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: