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The Patient Jul 2022The aims of this review were (i) to evaluate whether patient-reported outcome measures used in clinical studies for assessing sensation after mastectomy and breast...
AIMS
The aims of this review were (i) to evaluate whether patient-reported outcome measures used in clinical studies for assessing sensation after mastectomy and breast reconstruction are suitable for this purpose, and (ii) to explore whether any measures used for assessing sensation after non-oncologic breast surgery are worth modifying for use in post-mastectomy patients.
METHODS
PRISMA guidelines were followed (PROSPERO number CRD42020178066). We searched six databases for studies of oncologic (i.e., therapeutic, prophylactic, and reconstructive) and non-oncologic breast surgery (e.g., breast reduction) in which sensation was assessed with a patient-reported outcome measure. From the selected studies, we extracted eligible measures, evaluated their fitness for purpose, and summarized the content of sensation-specific items.
RESULTS
Of 6728 articles identified, we selected 135 studies that used 124 eligible patient-reported outcome measures. For 97% of these measures, details regarding development and measurement properties were unavailable. Four (3%) validated measures-the Sensory Disturbances subscale of the Breast Cancer Sequelae Cause Scales, the Discomfort subscale of the Breast Sensation Assessment Scale (BSAS), Didier et al.'s questionnaire for "Assessment of the patients' satisfaction with cosmetic results, physical and emotional impact of mastectomy", and the Breast Specific Pain subscale of the Breast Cancer Treatment Outcomes Scale (BCTOS)-each contain at least one item pertaining to breast sensation, but target different concepts of interest. In total, the measures feature 215 sensation-specific items, most of which concern symptom severity (97%) as opposed to impact on daily functioning (3%).
CONCLUSION
Patient-reported outcome measures used in clinical studies for assessing sensation after mastectomy and breast reconstruction are unsuitable for this purpose: they are either non-validated or non-specific. We failed to identify any measures for use in non-oncologic breast surgery populations worth modifying. To collect meaningful, patient-relevant data regarding sensation after mastectomy, it is pertinent that future clinical trials adopt psychometrically robust, specific patient-reported outcome measures.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Patient Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Sensation
PubMed: 35040096
DOI: 10.1007/s40271-021-00565-5 -
The British Journal of Surgery Sep 2023Oncoplastic procedures allow excision of larger breast tumours, or unfavourable tumour/breast ratio lesions while achieving a good cosmetic outcome. This increases the...
BACKGROUND
Oncoplastic procedures allow excision of larger breast tumours, or unfavourable tumour/breast ratio lesions while achieving a good cosmetic outcome. This increases the pool of patients eligible for breast conservation over mastectomy, reducing the need for more extensive surgery in older women and potentially improving their quality of life. Nonetheless, studies to date suggest a poor uptake of oncoplastic breast surgery in the older group. This review aimed to establish whether a disparity in uptake of oncoplastic breast surgery exists between older and younger women, and to explore the underlying reasons for this.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted on 17 January 2022 using MEDLINE and Embase. Eligible studies comprised full-text articles of patients who underwent oncoplastic breast surgery for primary invasive breast cancer, and included those aged at least 65 years.
RESULTS
Ten published studies were identified. One study was ranked as providing level 2 evidence, and the remainder were level 3. A total of 567 women underwent oncoplastic breast surgery for primary breast cancer, of whom only 61 (10.8 per cent) were aged 65 years or older. None of the studies directly compared younger with older women, or explored the underlying factors contributing to this discrepancy in uptake.
CONCLUSION
This review has demonstrated a lower uptake of oncoplastic breast surgery in older compared with younger women. Given the increasing number of older women living with breast cancer who may be eligible for breast-conserving surgery, further research into this area is required.
Topics: Female; Humans; Aged; Mastectomy; Breast Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Treatment Outcome; Mastectomy, Segmental; Mammaplasty
PubMed: 37310128
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znad161 -
Journal of the American College of... Jul 2009
Review
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Esthetics; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Patient Satisfaction; Postoperative Complications; Quality of Life
PubMed: 19651073
DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2009.02.061 -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery May 2021Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a significant public health concern for women with breast implants. The increase in incidence...
BACKGROUND
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a significant public health concern for women with breast implants. The increase in incidence rates underscores the need for improved methods for risk reduction and risk management. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review to assess surgical risk reduction techniques and analyze communication/informed consent practices in patients with textured implants.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature was conducted in PubMed (legacy), Embase (Embase.com), and Scopus with four search strategies including key terms centered around breast reconstruction and BIA-ALCL.
RESULTS
A total of 571 articles were identified, of which 276 were included in the final review after duplicates were removed. After review, no articles were determined to fit the inclusion criteria of demonstrating data-driven evidence of BIA-ALCL risk reduction through surgical measures, demonstrating a significant lack of data on risk reduction for BIA-ALCL.
CONCLUSIONS
Risk management for BIA-ALCL is an evolving area requiring additional investigation. Although removal of textured devices in asymptomatic patients is not currently recommended by the Food and Drug Administration, variability in estimates of risk has led many patients to electively replace these implants in an effort to decrease their risk of developing BIA-ALCL. To date, however, there is no evidence supporting the concept that replacing textured implants with smooth implants reduces risk for this disease. This information should be used to aid in the informed consent process for patients presenting to discuss management of textured breast implants.
Topics: Asymptomatic Diseases; Breast Implants; Breast Neoplasms; Decision Making, Shared; Device Removal; Elective Surgical Procedures; Esthetics; Female; Humans; Incidence; Informed Consent; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Population Surveillance; Postoperative Complications; Prophylactic Mastectomy; Risk; Risk Management; Risk Reduction Behavior; Surface Properties
PubMed: 33890875
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008040 -
Medicine Aug 2020Pulsed electromagnetic fields shows some potential in alleviating pain after mammaplasty. This systematic review and meta-analysis is conducted to investigate the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Pulsed electromagnetic fields shows some potential in alleviating pain after mammaplasty. This systematic review and meta-analysis is conducted to investigate the analgesic efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic fields for pain control after mammaplasty.
METHODS
The databases including PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases are systematically searched for collecting the randomized controlled trials regarding the impact of pulsed electromagnetic fields on pain intensity after mammaplasty.
RESULTS
This meta-analysis has included 4 randomized controlled trials. Compared with control group after mammaplasty, pulsed electromagnetic fields results in remarkably reduced pain scores on 1 day (MD = -1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.23 to -0.45; P = .003) and 3 days (MD = -1.86; 95% CI = -3.23 to -0.49; P = .008), as well as analgesic consumption (Std. MD = -5.64; 95% CI = -7.26 to -4.02; P < .00001).
CONCLUSIONS
Pulsed electromagnetic fields is associated with substantially reduced pain intensity after mammaplasty.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analgesics; Breast; Case-Control Studies; Electromagnetic Fields; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Middle Aged; Pain Management; Pain, Postoperative; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Young Adult
PubMed: 32871867
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000021449 -
BJS Open Apr 2020Effects of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) on autologous breast reconstruction (BRR) are controversial regarding surgical complications, cosmetic appearance and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Immediate and delayed autologous abdominal microvascular flap breast reconstruction in patients receiving adjuvant, neoadjuvant or no radiotherapy: a meta-analysis of clinical and quality-of-life outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Effects of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) on autologous breast reconstruction (BRR) are controversial regarding surgical complications, cosmetic appearance and quality of life (QOL). This systematic review evaluated these outcomes after abdominal free flap reconstruction in patients undergoing postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (PMRT), preoperative radiotherapy (neoadjuvant radiotherapy) and no radiotherapy, aiming to establish evidence-based optimal timings for radiotherapy and BRR to guide contemporary management.
METHODS
The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42017077945). Embase, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, CENTRAL, Science Citation Index and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched (January 2000 to August 2018). Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using GRADE and Cochrane's ROBINS-I respectively.
RESULTS
Some 12 studies were identified, involving 1756 patients (350 PMRT, 683 no radiotherapy and 723 neoadjuvant radiotherapy), with a mean follow-up of 27·1 (range 12·0-54·0) months for those having PMRT, 16·8 (1·0-50·3) months for neoadjuvant radiotherapy, and 18·3 (1·0-48·7) months for no radiotherapy. Three prospective and nine retrospective cohorts were included. There were no randomized studies. Five comparative radiotherapy studies evaluated PMRT and four assessed neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Studies were of low quality, with moderate to serious risk of bias. Severe complications were similar between the groups: PMRT versus no radiotherapy (92 versus 141 patients respectively; odds ratio (OR) 2·35, 95 per cent c.i. 0·63 to 8·81, P = 0·200); neoadjuvant radiotherapy versus no radiotherapy (180 versus 392 patients; OR 1·24, 0·76 to 2·04, P = 0·390); and combined PMRT plus neoadjuvant radiotherapy versus no radiotherapy (272 versus 453 patients; OR 1·38, 0·83 to 2·32, P = 0·220). QOL and cosmetic studies used inconsistent methodologies.
CONCLUSION
Evidence is conflicting and study quality was poor, limiting recommendations for the timing of autologous BRR and radiotherapy. The impact of PMRT and neoadjuvant radiotherapy appeared to be similar.
Topics: Abdomen; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Patient Satisfaction; Postoperative Complications; Quality of Life; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Surgical Flaps; Time Factors; Transplantation, Autologous; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 32207573
DOI: 10.1002/bjs5.50245 -
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.) Apr 2024Post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS), characterized by persistent pain lasting at least three months following mastectomy, affects 20-50% of breast surgery patients,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS), characterized by persistent pain lasting at least three months following mastectomy, affects 20-50% of breast surgery patients, lacking effective treatment options. A review was conducted utilizing EMBASE, MEDLINE, and all evidence-based medicine reviews to evaluate the effect of fat grafting as a treatment option for PMPS from database inception to 29 April 2023 (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023422627). Nine studies and 812 patients in total were included in the review. The overall mean change in visual analog scale (VAS) was -3.6 in 285 patients following fat grafting and 0.5 in 147 control group patients. There was a significant reduction in VAS from baseline in the fat grafting group compared to the control group, = 395, mean difference = -2.17 (95% CI, -2.95 to -1.39). This significant improvement was also noted in patients who underwent mastectomy without reconstruction. Common complications related to fat grafting include capsular contracture, seroma, hematoma, and infection. Surgeons should consider fat grafting as a treatment option for PMPS. However, future research is needed to substantiate this evidence and to identify timing, volume of fat grafting, and which patient cohort will benefit the most.
Topics: Female; Humans; Adipose Tissue; Breast Neoplasms; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Pain, Postoperative; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38668055
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31040152 -
Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand... May 2024For preference sensitive treatments, such as breast reconstructions, there are barriers to conducting randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The primary aims of this...
BACKGROUND
For preference sensitive treatments, such as breast reconstructions, there are barriers to conducting randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The primary aims of this systematic review were to investigate what type of research questions are explored by RCTs in breast reconstruction, where have they been performed and where have they been published, and to thematise the research questions and thus create an overview of the state of the research field.
METHODS
Randomised controlled trials investigating any aspect of breast reconstructions were included. The PubMed database was searched with a pre-defined search string. Inclusion and data abstraction was performed in a pre-defined standardised fashion. For the purpose of this study, we defined key issues as comparison of categories of breast reconstruction and comparison of immediate and delayed breast reconstruction, when the thematisation was done.
RESULTS
A total of 419 abstracts were retrieved from the search. Of the 419, 310 were excluded as they were not RCTs concerning some aspect of breast reconstruction, which left us with 110 abstracts to be included in the study. The research questions of the included studies could more or less be divided into seven different themes inclusive of 2 key issues: Other issues - comparison of different categories of breast reconstruction, comparison of immediate and delayed breast reconstruction, surgical details within a category of breast reconstruction, surgical details valid for several categories of breast reconstruction, donor site management, anaesthetics, and non-surgical details. Only five studies compared key issues, and they all illustrate the challenges with RCTs in breast reconstruction.
CONCLUSIONS
A total of 110 publications based on RCTs in breast reconstruction have been published. Seven themes of research questions could be identified. Only five studies have explored the key issues. Better scientific evidence is needed for the key issues in breast reconstruction, for example by implementing a new study design in the field.
Topics: Humans; Mammaplasty; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Female; Research Design
PubMed: 38751090
DOI: 10.2340/jphs.v59.40087 -
Immediate breast reconstruction uptake in older women with primary breast cancer: systematic review.The British Journal of Surgery Oct 2022Postmastectomy immediate breast reconstruction (PMIBR) may improve the quality of life of patients with breast cancer, of whom older women (aged 65 years or more) are a...
BACKGROUND
Postmastectomy immediate breast reconstruction (PMIBR) may improve the quality of life of patients with breast cancer, of whom older women (aged 65 years or more) are a growing proportion. This study aimed to assess PMIBR in older women with regard to underlying impediments (if any).
METHODS
MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed were searched by two independent researchers up to June 2022. Eligible studies compared PMIBR rates between younger and older women with invasive primary breast cancer.
RESULTS
A total of 10 studies (2012-2020) including 466 134 women were appraised, of whom two-thirds (313 298) were younger and one-third (152 836) older. Only 10.0 per cent of older women underwent PMIBR in contrast to 45.0 per cent of younger women. Two studies explored factors affecting uptake of PMIBR in older women; surgeon-associated (usual practice), patient-associated (socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and co-morbidities), and system-associated (insurance status and hospital location) factors were identified.
CONCLUSION
Uptake of PMIBR in older women is low with definable (and some correctable) barriers.
Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35909248
DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znac251 -
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive &... Mar 2024Flap neurotisation is a promising solution to restore the diminished or complete loss of sensation following mastectomy. This systematic review compared sensory outcomes... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Flap neurotisation is a promising solution to restore the diminished or complete loss of sensation following mastectomy. This systematic review compared sensory outcomes in neurotised versus non-neurotised abdominal-based autologous breast reconstructions to establish its benefit in routine clinical practice.
METHODS
A literature search was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were queried for relevant studies. Pressure sensitivity, measured using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments (SWM) or the pressure-specified sensory device (PSSD), was the primary outcome measure.
RESULTS
A total of 12 studies comprising 367 neurotised and 295 non-neurotised flap reconstructions were included, with 8 studies included in the meta-analysis. Neurotised flaps demonstrated superior sensory outcomes over non-neurotised flaps, with significant differences in SWM scores (mean difference [MD], -1.552 95% CI, -2.351 to -0.7535; p = 0.0001) and PSSD (MD -13.36; 95% CI, -26.41 to -0.3117; p = 0.0448) at follow-up (range 8 to 77 months). The differences in total skin sensation (native and flap skin combined) were statistically significant in the SWM group (p = 0.0010) but not in the PSSD group (p = 0.0649). Investigation on the factors impacting sensation recovery in neurotised flaps yielded inconclusive outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Neurotised flaps consistently demonstrated superior sensation outcomes compared with non-neurotised flaps, irrespective of flap type or neurotisation technique. However, further research is essential to elucidate the factors that impact sensory recovery and standardise neurotisation practices for more optimal post-mastectomy reconstruction outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Female; Mastectomy; Breast Neoplasms; Mammaplasty; Sensation; Surgical Flaps
PubMed: 38401199
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2024.01.045