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Facchin F, Pagani A, Perozzo FAG, Scarpa C, Bassetto F, Vindigni V. Litigation Cases After Post-Bariatric Surgery: Lesson from the Past. Aesthetic Plast Surg 2023; 47:2479-2485. [PMID: 36820862 PMCID: PMC10784373 DOI: 10.1007/s00266-023-03287-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the high demand of post-bariatric surgeries, the number of litigation cases is rapidly growing. Even if surgical mistakes still represent one of the main causes of medico-legal issues, many disputes depend on what happens in the post-operative course. In this article we analyzed the litigation cases that occurred in our Plastic Surgery Department, the current literature about medico-legal disputes and the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. PATIENTS AND METHODS The medical records of 788 post-bariatric surgeries, the post-operative complications and the related litigation cases from January 2015 to December 2019 were collected, analyzed and compared. RESULTS We performed 380 abdominoplasties, 28 torsoplasties, 65 breast reductions, 99 mastopexies, 94 brachioplasties, 52 thighplasties, 65 liposuctions and 5 facelifts between 2015 and 2019. Eight patients complained of medical issues and claimed for litigation. Despite in all cases the judges highlighted the risk of consent misinterpretation, the payout was granted only in one case. CONCLUSION Post-bariatric patients often mistake their preoperative condition and consider body contouring procedures as an aesthetic surgery treatment. Patients should be therefore clearly informed about the complexity of body contouring procedures after massive weight loss, which should never be compared to aesthetic surgery. Surgeons should always promote the communication with their patients and build a strong and trustworthy relationship. This attitude will allow to deal more easily with complications and, in the worst situations, with medico-legal litigations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Facchin
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy.
- Plastic Surgery Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, 36100, Vicenza, Italy.
| | - Andrea Pagani
- Clinic and Polyclinic of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Technical University of Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Filippo Andrea Giovanni Perozzo
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Carlotta Scarpa
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Franco Bassetto
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vindigni
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy
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Parikh UM, Mentz J, Collier I, Davis MJ, Abu-Ghname A, Colchado D, Short WD, King A, Buchanan EP, Balaji S. Strategies to Minimize Surgical Scarring: Translation of Lessons Learned from Bedside to Bench and Back. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2022; 11:311-329. [PMID: 34416825 DOI: 10.1089/wound.2021.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Significance: An understanding of the physiology of wound healing and scarring is necessary to minimize surgical scar formation. By reducing tension across the healing wound, eliminating excess inflammation and infection, and encouraging perfusion to healing areas, surgeons can support healing and minimize scarring. Recent Advances: Preoperatively, newer techniques focused on incision placement to minimize tension, skin sterilization to minimize infection and inflammation, and control of comorbid factors to promote a healing process with minimal scarring are constantly evolving. Intraoperatively, measures like layered closure, undermining, and tissue expansion can be taken to relieve tension across the healing wound. Appropriate suture technique and selection should be considered, and finally, there are new surgical technologies available to reduce tension across the closure. Postoperatively, the healing process can be supported as proliferation and remodeling take place within the wound. A balance of moisture control, tension reduction, and infection prevention can be achieved with dressings, ointments, and silicone. Vitamins and corticosteroids can also affect the scarring process by modulating the cellular factors involved in healing. Critical Issues: Healing with no or minimal scarring is the ultimate goal of wound healing research. Understanding how mechanical tension, inflammation and infection, and perfusion and hypoxia impact profibrotic pathways allows for the development of therapies that can modulate cytokine response and the wound extracellular microenvironment to reduce fibrosis and scarring. Future Directions: New tension-off loading topical treatments, laser, and dermabrasion devices are under development, and small molecule therapeutics have demonstrated scarless wound healing in animal models, providing a promising new direction for future research aimed to minimize surgical scarring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umang M. Parikh
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - James Mentz
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ian Collier
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew J. Davis
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Amjed Abu-Ghname
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel Colchado
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Walker D. Short
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Alice King
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Edward P. Buchanan
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Swathi Balaji
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Jia Y, Shao JH, Zou ML, Teng YY, Zhang KW, Yuan FL. Comment on "The Role of Portable Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (piNPWT) in Reducing Local Complications of Post-bariatric Brachioplasty: A Case-Control Study". Aesthetic Plast Surg 2022; 46:548-549. [PMID: 34159410 DOI: 10.1007/s00266-021-02424-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Facchin F, Bassetto F, Vindigni V. Invited Response on: Comment on "The Role of Portable Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (piNPWT) in Reducing Local Complications of Post-bariatric Brachioplasty: A Case-Control Study". Aesthetic Plast Surg 2022; 46:550-551. [PMID: 34241665 DOI: 10.1007/s00266-021-02453-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Facchin
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Via Nicolò Giustininani 2, Padua, 35128, Italy.
| | - Franco Bassetto
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Via Nicolò Giustininani 2, Padua, 35128, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vindigni
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Via Nicolò Giustininani 2, Padua, 35128, Italy
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Zocchi ML, Facchin F, Pagani A, Bonino C, Sbarbati A, Conti G, Vindigni V, Bassetto F. New perspectives in regenerative medicine and surgery: the bioactive composite therapies (BACTs). EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PLASTIC SURGERY 2021; 45:1-25. [PMID: 34728900 PMCID: PMC8554210 DOI: 10.1007/s00238-021-01874-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Regenerative medicine and surgery is a rapidly expanding branch of translational research in tissue engineering, cellular and molecular biology. To date, the methods to improve cell intake, survival, and isolation need to comply with a complex and still unclear regulatory frame, becoming everyday more restrictive and often limiting the effectiveness and outcome of the therapeutic choices. Thus, the authors developed a novel 360° regenerative strategy based on the synergic action of several new components called the bioactive composite therapies (BACTs) to improve grafted cells intake, and survival in total compliance with the legal and ethical limits of the current regulatory frame. The rationale at the origin of this new technology is based on the evidence that cells need supportive substrate to survive in vitro and this observation, applying the concept of translational medicine, is true also in vivo. Bioactive composite mixtures (BACMs) are tailor-made bioactive mixtures containing several bioactive components that support cells' survival and induce a regenerative response in vivo by stimulating the recipient site to act as an in situ real bioreactor. Many different tissues have been used in the past for the isolation of cells, molecules, and growth factors, but the adipose tissue and its stromal vascular fraction (SVF) remains the most valuable, abundant, safe, and reliable source of regenerative components and particularly of adipose-derived stems cells (ADSCs). The role of plastic surgeons as the historical experts in all the most advanced techniques for harvesting, manipulating, and grafting adipose tissue is fundamental in this constant process of expansion of regenerative procedures. In this article, we analyze the main causes of cell death and the strategies for preventing it, and we present all the technical steps for preparing the main components of BACMs and the different mixing modalities to obtain the most efficient regenerative action on different clinical and pathological conditions. The second section of this work is dedicated to the logical and sequential evolution from simple bioactive composite grafts (BACGs) that distinguished our initial approach to regenerative medicine, to BACTs where many other fundamental technical steps are analyzed and integrated for supporting and enhancing the most efficient regenerative activity. Level of Evidence: Not gradable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele L Zocchi
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.,Remix Institute for Regenerative Surgery, Turin, Italy
| | - Federico Facchin
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Pagani
- Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Claudia Bonino
- Department of Rheumatology and Immune Diseases, Humanitas Gradenigo Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Sbarbati
- Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giamaica Conti
- Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vindigni
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Franco Bassetto
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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