Incidence and Risk Factors of Postoperative Complications After Rhinoplasty: A Multi-Institutional ACS-NSQIP Analysis

A nomogram for predicting outcomes following pedicled flap reconstruction of the lower extremity

INTRODUCTION

Lower extremity reconstructions with soft tissue flaps account for a significant proportion of reconstructive surgery. Pedicled flaps are a procedure of choice, particularly in multimorbid patients and those with small to medium-sized defects. Complication rates are high and should not be underestimated, with accurate preoperative risk factor assessment being imperative.

METHODS

Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database (2008-2021), we analyzed all patients who underwent pedicled flap reconstruction of the lower extremity. Demographic data, comorbidities, and perioperative data were extracted. We identified risk factors of major surgical complications within 30 days of surgery through uni- and multivariate regression analyses. On this basis, a nomogram for predicting the risk of complications was developed to allow for feasible point-of-care risk assessment.

RESULTS

A total of 6475 adult patients were identified. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (n = 3363, 51.9%) and obesity (n = 2306, 35.6%) and most common American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class was class 3 (n = 3703, 57.2%). The most common complication was bleeding/transfusion (n = 1293, 19.9%). Multivariate regression revealed longer procedures, inpatient setting, higher ASA scores, hypertension, and procedures performed by orthopedic and vascular surgeons as predictors for higher risk of post-operative complications.

CONCLUSION

Leveraging a risk- and case-mix-adjusted multi-institutional database, a nomogram for post-operative surgical complications within 30 days after pedicled flap reconstruction in the lower extremity was developed. This broadly applicable risk prediction tool can aid in decision-making when assessing patient eligibility.

Delayed Hematoma After Rhinoplasty in Young Adult With Hypertension

Rhinoplasty is one of the most commonly performed plastic surgical procedures. It has been reported that the overall incidence of complications is low, and hematoma is the most common complication. Recently, the authors experienced a young patient who developed nasal dorsal bleeding and hematoma formation 2 weeks after undergoing rhinoplasty. He had a history of hypertension and was on medication. Due to severe nasal dorsal swelling caused by bleeding and hematoma, the authors ultimately performed an open approach to control the bleeding and evacuate the hematoma. Herein, the authors report the case of a patient with delayed dorsal bleeding 2 weeks after rhinoplasty. The authors learned a lesson that although the patient was young and healthy, in patients with a history of hypertension, the possibility of delayed operative site bleeding should be considered.

Surgical Management of Breast Capsular Contracture-A Multi-institutional Data Analysis of Risk Factors for Early Complications

BACKGROUND

Capsular contracture (CC) is a common complication following implant-based breast surgery, often requiring surgical intervention. Yet, little is known about risk factors and outcomes following CC surgery.

METHODS

We reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2008-2021) to identify female patients diagnosed with CC and treated surgically. Outcomes of interest included the incidence of surgical and medical complications at 30-days, reoperations, and readmissions. Confounder-adjusted multivariable analyses were performed to establish risk factors.

RESULTS

5,057 patients with CC were identified (mean age: 55 ± 12 years and mean body mass index [BMI]: 26 ± 6 kg/m2). While 2,841 (65%) women underwent capsulectomy, capsulotomy was performed in 742 patients (15%). Implant removal and replacement were recorded in 1,160 (23%) and 315 (6.2%) cases, respectively. 319 (6.3%) patients experienced postoperative complications, with 155 (3.1%) reoperations and 99 (2.0%) readmissions. While surgical adverse events were recorded in 139 (2.7%) cases, 86 (1.7%) medical complications occurred during the 30 day follow-up. In multivariate analyses, increased BMI (OR: 1.04; p = 0.009), preoperative diagnosis of hypertension (OR: 1.48; p = 0.004), and inpatient setting (OR: 4.15; p < 0.001) were identified as risk factors of complication occurrence.

CONCLUSION

Based on 14 years of multi-institutional data, we calculated a net 30 day complication rate of 6.3% after the surgical treatment of CC. We identified higher BMI, hypertension, and inpatient setting as independent risk factors of postoperative complications. Plastic surgeons may wish to integrate these findings into their perioperative workflows, thus optimizing patient counseling and determining candidates' eligibility for CC surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

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 .

Turn Your Vision into Reality-AI-Powered Pre-operative Outcome Simulation in Rhinoplasty Surgery

BACKGROUND

The increasing demand and changing trends in rhinoplasty surgery emphasize the need for effective doctor-patient communication, for which Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be a valuable tool in managing patient expectations during pre-operative consultations.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an AI-based model to simulate realistic postoperative rhinoplasty outcomes.

METHODS

We trained a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) using 3,030 rhinoplasty patients' pre- and postoperative images. One-hundred-one study participants were presented with 30 pre-rhinoplasty patient photographs followed by an image set consisting of the real postoperative versus the GAN-generated image and asked to identify the GAN-generated image.

RESULTS

The study sample (48 males, 53 females, mean age of 31.6 ± 9.0 years) correctly identified the GAN-generated images with an accuracy of 52.5 ± 14.3%. Male study participants were more likely to identify the AI-generated images compared with female study participants (55.4% versus 49.6%; p = 0.042).

CONCLUSION

We presented a GAN-based simulator for rhinoplasty outcomes which used pre-operative patient images to predict accurate representations that were not perceived as different from real postoperative outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

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 .

Gynecomastia Surgery in 4996 Male Patients Over 14 Years: A Retrospective Analysis of Surgical Trends, Predictive Risk Factors, and Short-Term Outcomes

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of benign male breast tissue enlargement (gynecomastia) has resulted in a marked increase of gynecomastia cases. While about one third of male adults experience some form of gynecomastia, gynecomastia surgery (GS) outcome research is limited to small study populations and single-center/-surgeon databases. In this study, we aimed to access the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database to identify preoperative risk factors for complications and investigate postoperative outcomes of GS.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we queried the ACS-NSQIP database from 2008 to 2021 to identify male adult patients who underwent GS. Postoperative outcomes involved the occurrence of any, surgical and medical complications, as well as reoperation, readmission, and mortality within a 30-day postoperative time period. Univariable and multivariable assessment were performed to identify risk factors for complications while adjusting for possible confounders.

RESULTS

The study included 4,996 GS patients with a mean age of 33.7 ± 15 years and BMI of 28.2 ± 5.1 kg/m2. White patients constituted 54% (n = 2713) of the cohort, and 27% (n = 1346) were obese. Except for 2020, there was a steady increase in GS cases over the study period. Outpatient surgeries were most common at 95% (n = 4730), while general surgeons performed the majority of GS (n = 3580; 72%). Postoperatively, 91% (n = 4538) of patients were discharged home; 4.4% (n = 222) experienced any complications. Multivariable analysis identified inpatient setting (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.023), prior sepsis (p = 0.018), and bleeding disorders (p = 0.047) as independent risk factors for complications.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we analyzed 4996 male adult GS patients from the ACS-NSQIP database, revealing an increased caseload and significant general surgeon involvement. Risk factors like bleeding disorders, inpatient status, and prior sepsis were linked to postoperative complications, while BMI was crucial for predicting adverse events. Overall, our findings may aid in enhancing patient care through advanced preoperative screening and closer perioperative management.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

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 .

Racial disparities in surgical outcomes after mastectomy in 223 000 female breast cancer patients: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer mortality and treatment differ across racial groups. It remains unclear whether such disparities are also reflected in perioperative outcomes of breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy.

STUDY DESIGN

The authors reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database (2008-2021) to identify female patients who underwent mastectomy for oncological purposes. The outcomes were stratified by five racial groups (white, Black/African American, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) and included 30-day mortality, reoperation, readmission, surgical and medical complications, and non-home discharge.

RESULTS

The study population included 222 947 patients, 68% ( n =151 522) of whom were white, 11% ( n =23 987) Black/African American, 5% ( n =11 217) Asian, 0.5% ( n =1198) American Indian/Alaska Native, and 0.5% ( n =1018) Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. While 136 690 (61%) patients underwent partial mastectomy, 54 490 (24%) and 31 767 (14%) women received simple and radical mastectomy, respectively. Overall, adverse events occurred in 17 222 (7.7%) patients, the largest portion of which were surgical complications ( n =7246; 3.3%). Multivariable analysis revealed that being of Asian race was protective against perioperative complications [odds ratio (OR)=0.71; P <0.001], whereas American Indian/Alaska Native women were most vulnerable to the complication occurrence (OR=1.41; P <0.001). Black/African American patients had a significantly lower risk of medical (OR=0.59; P <0.001) and surgical complications (OR=0.60; P <0.001) after partial and radical mastectomy, respectively, their likelihood of readmission (OR=1.14; P =0.045) following partial mastectomy was significantly increased.

CONCLUSION

The authors identified American Indian/Alaska Native women as particularly vulnerable to complications following mastectomy. Asian patients experienced the lowest rate of complications in the perioperative period. The authors' analyses revealed comparable confounder-adjusted outcomes following partial and complete mastectomy between Black and white races. Their findings call for care equalization in the field of breast cancer surgery.

The significance of timing in breast reconstruction after mastectomy: An ACS-NSQIP analysis

BACKGROUND

A variety of breast reconstruction (BR) options are available. The significance of timing on outcomes remains debated. This study aims to compare complications in breast cancer patients undergoing implant-based and autologous BR immediately after mastectomy or at a delayed time point.

METHODS

We reviewed the ACS-NSQIP database (2008-2021) to identify all female patients who underwent BR for oncological purposes. Outcomes were stratified by technique (implant-based versus autologous) and timing (immediate versus delayed), and included 30-day mortality, reoperation, (unplanned) readmission, and surgical and medical complications.

RESULTS

A total of 21,560 patients were included: 11,237 (52%) implant-based (9791/87% immediate, 1446/13% delayed) and 10,323 (48%) autologous (8378/81% immediate, 1945/19% delayed). Complications occurred in 3666 (17%) patients (implant-based: n = 1112/11% immediate, n = 64/4.4% delayed cohorts; Autologous: n = 2073/25% immediate, n = 417/21% delayed cohorts). In propensity score weighting (PSW) analyses, immediate BR was associated with significantly more complications than delayed BR (p < 0.0001). This was the case for both implant-based and autologous BR, with a greater difference between the two time points noted in implant-based. Confounder-adjusted multivariable analyses confirmed these results.

CONCLUSION

At the 30-day time point, delayed BR is associated with significantly lower complication rates than immediate BR, in both the implant-based and autologous cohorts. These findings are not a blanket recommendation in favor of immediate and/or delayed BR. Instead, our insights may guide surgeons and patients in decision-making and help refine patients' eligibility in a case-by-case workup.