Implications of Rheumatic Disease and Biological Response-Modifying Agents in Plastic Surgery:

Impact of connective tissue diseases on complications following aesthetic surgery: A matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

The association between connective tissue diseases (CTDs), including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and scleroderma, and complications following aesthetic surgery is under-investigated. We hypothesized that the risk of complications following aesthetic surgery was higher in patients with these connective tissue disorders compared to matched non-CTD patients.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with RA, SLE, and scleroderma who underwent aesthetic surgery at our institution from 2003-2022 were reviewed. Demographic data, comorbidities, medications, procedures, and postoperative complications were collected. Non-CTD controls were identified for each procedure and matched 1:1 based on propensity scores derived from race, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

Six hundred 38 patients were included, comprising 319 (50%) patients diagnosed with CTD and 319 (50%) controls. The average age at surgery was 56.3 years. There were 129 complications. There were no differences between the CTD and non-CTD patients in number of total complications (69 versus 60, p = 0.38), major complications (23 versus 16, p = 0.25), or minor complications (46 versus 44, p = 0.73). Complications were not significantly different between CTD patients and controls who underwent blepharoplasty (p = 0.38), breast reduction (p = 0.91), abdominoplasty (p = 0.46), or rhytidectomy (p = 0.50). CTD patients who underwent breast augmentation had significantly more complications than matched non-CTD patients in bivariate analysis (7 versus 0, p = 0.018*) and multivariable logistic regression (OR: 10.2, 95% CI: 1.21 to 93.3, p = 0.039*).

CONCLUSIONS

Most aesthetic surgeries can safely be performed in patients with CTDs. Patients seeking breast augmentation should be counseled on a potentially increased risk of postoperative complications.

Safety of esthetic procedures in rheumatic patients: single-center survey of patients

The popularity of esthetic medicine is growing every year, also among patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of esthetic medicine (AM) procedures in patients with AIRD. A semi-structured, anonymous questionnaire regarding rheumatic and concomitant diseases and AM procedures was distributed among adult patients hospitalized in the rheumatology department or attending outpatient clinic in the National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology, and Rehabilitation, Warsaw. The main outcome was the occurrence of an adverse event. A number of 512 patients took part in the survey and 15 were excluded (AM procedure preceded the diagnosis of AIRD). The study group consisted of 497 patients, of whom 47 had undergone AM procedures. The procedures performed included: tattooing (22 patients), piercing (16 patients), hyaluronic acid (7 patients), botulinum toxin (5 patients) injections, laser procedures (6 patients), plastic surgery (4 patients), mesotherapy (3 patients) and others. The vast majority of patients had these performed during remission or low disease activity. 70.2% of patients received treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during the AM procedure, with TNF-alfa inhibitors being the most common (63.6%). Adverse events occurred in 15% of patients. All were mild and transient site reactions. Most patients would like to repeat the AM procedure in the future. The use of esthetic medicine procedures in patients with AIRD, including those treated with biologic DMARDs, was associated with a risk of mild site reactions. Most of the patients expressed satisfaction with the results of the AM procedure.

Perioperative Medication Management in Elective Plastic Surgery Procedures

BACKGROUND

Perioperative medication management is vital to maintain patient safety while under anesthesia, as well as to avoid postoperative complications. Plastic surgeons make daily decisions on whether to ask a patient to stop taking medication before their surgery. These important decisions can affect bleeding risk, wound healing, and interactions with anesthetics, which can range from minor to life-threatening. Current plastic surgery literature lacks a comprehensive review of perioperative medication management, with existing reports focusing on specific procedures and specific medication classes.

METHODS

A PubMed database search was conducted for articles through July 2021. The bibliographies of included studies were also examined for articles not acquired in the initial search queries. The authors included studies on medication usage and perioperative guidance in patients undergoing elective plastic surgery procedures. The authors excluded studies unrelated to plastic surgery and studies where the medications were used as an intervention. Abstracts, animal studies, studies involving the pediatric population, and book chapters were also excluded, as well as articles not published in English.

RESULTS

A total of 801 papers were identified by our search terms. After title and abstract screening, 35 papers were selected for full-text review. After full-text review, 20 papers were selected for inclusion, with an additional 6 papers from cited references added. Of the 26 papers, 6 papers discussed psychotropic drugs, 6 papers discussed medications affecting hemostasis, 4 papers discussed hormone-containing medications, 3 papers discussed antilipid medications, 2 papers discussed antihypertensive medications, 2 papers discussed herbal supplements, 1 paper discussed both psychotropic and herbal supplements, 1 paper discussed medications affecting wound healing, and 1 paper discussed rheumatologic medications. A summary of those recommendations was then compiled together.

CONCLUSIONS

The perioperative medication management in elective plastic surgery procedures remains a complex and multidisciplinary process. It is important to manage these patients in a case-by-case manner and to consult a specialist when necessary. Careful medication reconciliation is essential to decrease the likelihood of adverse outcomes and interactions with perioperative anesthetics.

Heart-lung transplantation: A viable option for connective tissue diseases

BACKGROUND

While lung transplantation (LTx) has been effective for connective tissue disease (CTD) patients with pulmonary involvement, outcomes for heart-lung transplantation (HLTx) are less defined. The aim of this study is to evaluate HLTx in CTD patients utilizing the UNOS database.

METHODS

HLTx patients with CTD (HLTx-CTD) were compared to both LTx patients with CTD (LTx-CTD) and HLTx patients with all other indications (HLTx-OI) from 1999 to 2018. Primary outcome was 1- and 5-year graft survival. Secondary outcomes included freedom from first-year rejection and outcomes prior to transplant discharge.

RESULTS

1143/29 323 adults received first-time HLTx or LTx for CTD. Seventeen were HLTx-CTD (3.3% of total HLTx) and 1126 were LTx-CTD (3.9% of total LTx). There were 492 HLTx-OI. Transplant hemodynamic values including cardiac output, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and calculated pulmonary vascular resistance were significantly worse for HLTx-CTD vs LTx-CTD (4.2 vs 5.4 L/min, P = .005; 14 vs 10 mm Hg, P = .009; 439 vs 267 dynes, P = .007, respectively). Cardiac status 1 was more common for HLTx-CTD vs HLTx-OI (94% vs 56%, P < .001). HLTx-CTD 1 and 5-year graft survival was similar compared to LTx-CTD and HLTx-OI.

CONCLUSION

HLTx-CTD is a valid option for carefully selected patients with CTD cardiac and pulmonary involvement with similar morbidity and mortality compared to LTx-CTD and HLTx-OI.