Background: Reduction mammaplasty is a common, elective, and safe operation, usually executed in healthy patients. Nonetheless, postoperative complications like bleeding and seroma formation can occur and significantly complicate the postoperative course. Tranexamic acid (TXA), a commonly used antifibrinolytic drug, offers a novel approach to reduce these complications. This study aims to evaluate its effect on the rate of postoperative bleeding, drainage volume, length of hospital stay, and other postoperative complications in patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty. Method: A retrospective study on all patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty at the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery EOC between 2015 and 2022 was conducted. Patients were divided into the TXA group receiving systemic TXA for 48 h and the control group not receiving any TXA. All data were analyzed using nonparametric formulas. Results: A total of 209 breasts were included in the study, with 138 cases in the control group and 71 in the TXA group. Three cases requiring revision surgery due to bleeding were observed in the control group, whereas none were observed in the TXA group. Total drainage volume was significantly reduced in the TXA group compared to the control group (TXA: 41.6 mL vs. control: 53.8 mL; p = 0.012), resulting in a significant reduction in length of hospital stay (TXA: 1.6 days vs. control: 2.2 days; p = 0.0001). Conclusions: TXA is a well-tolerated drug that significantly reduces postoperative bleeding and drainage volume, resulting in earlier drain removal and reduced length of hospital stay. TXA should, therefore, be widely used in plastic surgery, especially as trends in healthcare systems necessitate more outpatient procedures and quicker postoperative recovery.

Background: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent that is successfully used in many medical fields to reduce blood loss. In plastic surgery, the systemic administration of TXA has been associated with less hematoma and seroma formation, and consequently, a reduction in the length of hospital stay (LOS). The aim of this study was to evaluate if the topical administration of TXA in patients undergoing abdominoplasty leads to a decrease in the daily drainage volume; earlier drain removal; and possibly, a shorter LOS. Methods: In this single-center, comparative study, 60 patients undergoing abdominoplasty received either topical TXA treatment (n = 30; 1 g) or no treatment (n = 30). The primary endpoints were daily drainage volume, time until drain removal, and total LOS. Variables such as sex, age, body mass index, weight of resected skin and underlying fat, and concomitant liposuction were considered in the statistical analysis as covariates. Results: In the TXA group, 54% less total drainage volume was observed (P < 0.01). The time until drain removal and LOS were reduced by 23% (P < 0.01) and 24% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared with the control group. Moreover, it was found that daily drainage volume increased with age. Conclusions: Topical TXA administration reduces daily drainage volume, time until drain removal, and LOS significantly in patients undergoing abdominoplasty. Further studies analyzing the superiority of topical TXA compared with systemic TXA, as well as studies investigating the ideal TXA dosage could deliver further valuable information.

Background: Breast cancer, irrespective of gender, stands as the most prevalent cancer globally, with an annual estimate of 2.3 million new cases. Surgical intervention, including therapeutic mastectomy (excluding prophylactic procedures), is performed on approximately 28% of patients, necessitating subsequent breast reconstruction. Although implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) is frequently employed due to its relative ease compared to autologous methods, it presents a notable risk for complications at mid-term such as peri-prosthetic infections. These complications can lead to implant loss and the eventual compromise of the mastectomy pocket. To address these complications, negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell (NPWTi-d) emerges as a promising rescue intervention, known for its capacity to significantly reduce bacterial load and potentially salvage compromised soft tissues. However, the evidence supporting its effectiveness in infected pockets after mastectomy is currently insufficient. This study aims at investigating the efficacy of NPWTi-d in the management of peri-prosthetic mastectomy pocket infection. Methods: A thorough literature search has been concluded through PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up until 18th March 2025 on evaluating NPWTi-d’s ability to manage peri-prosthetic infections and preserve mastectomy pockets for subsequent reconstruction. Furthermore, a meta-analysis on the salvage rate of the mastectomy pocket was carried out, while for other outcomes, a descriptive analysis was applied. Results: Nine studies (n = 230 patients) were included, investigating whether the us NPWTi-d was successful in treating peri-prosthetic infection and preserving the mastectomy pocket for subsequent reconstruction by expander or implant. The pooled salvage rate of the implant-based BR due to the use of NPWTi-d was 86.1% (95%CI: 80.6–91.6%). Preservation of the skin envelope avoided secondary reconstruction after a defined time interval, reducing number and complexity of surgeries and related costs. Conclusions: This innovative surgical approach should be considered in selected cases of infected implants after breast reconstruction in breast cancer centers. However, the actual low level of evidence is based on case series, and it is not possible to define generally accepted recommendations for the use of NPWTi-d to save the mastectomy pocket.

Background: Nowadays, multimodal cancer therapy results in very high survival rates of early-stage breast cancer and microsurgical flap-based breast reconstruction has become safe and reliable, with gradually increasing demand because of its durable and aesthetically pleasing results. This study aimed to explore the impact of different flap shaping and inset techniques on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) with regard to the aesthetic result in abdominal flap-based breast reconstruction. Methods: A systematic review was performed screening Pubmed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science for original articles reporting flap inset strategies, concomitantly providing PROMs on the aesthetic result. Results: Of 319 studies identified, six met the inclusion criteria. The studies described different flap rotation options according to the patient’s morphology, different inset planes, and avoidance of the monitoring skin paddle, and suggested that a higher flap-to-mastectomy mass ratio was associated with better aesthetic results. In two comparative studies, according to the PROMs (BREAST-Q, Likert scale) and independent observer judgement, both higher patient satisfaction and superior aesthetic results were observed with the newly described techniques. Conclusions: Emphasis on the aesthetic outcome in terms of breast shape and symmetry, providing an individualized approach of flap inset, considering the contralateral breast’s shape and volume, results in higher satisfaction scores.

Background: Gigantomastia is a disabling condition characterized by excess breast tissue. Historically, free nipple graft (FNG) has been preferred, prioritizing the nipple-areola complex (NAC) vascularity. The NAC-carrying pedicle technique, which is most commonly used in case of hypertrophy of the breast, has been suggested as a viable alternative for gigantomastia according to recent evidence, with reduced rates of NAC necrosis and improved outcomes. Nevertheless, a detailed outcome evaluation of the technique in terms of sensory preservation is currently lacking. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the risk of sensory loss associated with the NAC-carrying pedicle technique in cases of gigantomastia. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a literature search identified studies reporting postoperative sensitivity with the NACcarrying pedicle technique in resections exceeding 10 0 0 g of adipoglandular tissue. Then, a proportion meta-analysis was conducted to assess the pooled rate of sensation loss through the NACcarrying pedicle technique. Results: Seventeen studies (843 patients, 1685 breasts) met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed an exceptionally low risk of sensory loss with the NAC-carrying pedicle technique (1.3%; 95% confidence interval: 0.7-2.0), without significant statistical heterogeneity. Conclusion: This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of sensory preservation with the NAC-carrying pedicle technique in gigantomastia. The NAC-carrying pedicle technique emerges as the first choice, offering safety and favorable functional outcomes. Surgical caution remains crucial with the option to switch to FNG as required, ensuring patient safety and procedure success. Further research on the impact of different NAC-carrying pedicle techniques on sensory preservation is warranted. (c) 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)