In order to meet the fertility needs of infertile patients as much as possible during the pandemic of COVID-19 Omicron strain, this expert group reviewed global and domestic literature, combined with the current epidemic situation and prevention and control policies, fully considered the service procedures and characteristics of assisted reproductive institutions and sperm banks in China, and then put forward specific recommendations on institutional prevention and control management, and treatment and surgical management of COVID-19 infected patients, so as to guide and standardize the related practices in assisted reproductive institutions and sperm banks. In the practical application process, assisted reproductive institutions and sperm banks in various provinces and cities should develop personalized institutional prevention and control measures and patient management procedures based on local prevention and control requirements and the actual situation of their own institutions.

In order to meet the fertility needs of infertile patients as much as possible during the pandemic of COVID-19 Omicron strain, this expert group reviewed global and domestic literature, combined with the current epidemic situation and prevention and control policies, fully considered the service procedures and characteristics of assisted reproductive institutions and sperm banks in China, and then put forward specific recommendations on institutional prevention and control management, and treatment and surgical management of COVID-19 infected patients, so as to guide and standardize the related practices in assisted reproductive institutions and sperm banks. In the practical application process, assisted reproductive institutions and sperm banks in various provinces and cities should develop personalized institutional prevention and control measures and patient management procedures based on local prevention and control requirements and the actual situation of their own institutions.

Purpose: Seroma formation is a common complication in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy, and it negatively affects patient recovery after surgery. The present study aimed to evaluate a simple method using fascia suture technique to fix the flap and reduce the incidence of seroma. Methods: A single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was carried out among 160 patients who had undergone mastectomy from May 2018 to September 2019. All patients were randomly divided into the fascia suture group (n = 80) or control group (n = 80) and were followed up for at least 3 months for the assessment of immediate and late complications after surgery. Results: No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups with regard to the basic characteristics. Duration of surgery in the fascia suture group was longer by about 6 minutes compared with that in the control group (114.93 ± 13.67 minutes vs. 108.81 ± 15.20 minutes, p = 0.008). The fascia suture group had a shorter duration of drain placement (10.99 ± 3.26 days vs. 13.85 ± 5.37 days, p < 0.001), a smaller volume of the total drainage (460.95 ± 242.92 mL vs. 574.83 ± 285.23 mL, p = 0.007), and the first 3-day drainage (224.96 ± 101.01 mL vs. 272.3 ± 115.47 mL, p = 0.006), compared with the control group. The incidence of seroma formation (G2 or G3) was significantly lower in the fascia suture group compared with the control group (28.8% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.033). Besides, there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in the assessment of other complications, including postoperative pain, hematoma, surgical site infections, flap necrosis, and skin dimpling (all p > 0.050). Conclusion The fascia suture technique is a simple and effective method for reducing seroma formation and should be used to prevent seroma formation after mastectomy.