1.Risk factors for overall postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries: a multicenter observational study.
Xuecai LÜ ; Yanhong LIU ; Shiyi HAN ; Haoyun ZHANG ; Aisheng HOU ; Zhikang ZHOU ; Likai SHI ; Jie GAO ; Jiangbei CAO ; Hong ZHANG ; Weidong MI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(4):736-743
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the risk factors of overall postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries.
METHODS:
This study was conducted among a total of 1388 elderly patients, who underwent elective gastrointestinal surgeries at 17 centers across China between April, 2020 and April, 2022. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative complications within 30 days, including procedure-related, neuropsychiatric, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal complications as well as acute kidney injury. Baseline characteristics, preoperative psychological and functional status, intraoperative anesthesia and surgical factors, intraoperative medication, use of nerve block, and postoperative analgesia methods were compared between the patients experiencing one or more postoperative complications and those without complications. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors for postoperative complications. The relationship between postoperative acute pain and each type of complication were explored.
RESULTS:
The incidence of overall postoperative complications was 50.8% (705/1388) in these patients. Multivariate analysis showed that age (OR: 1.026; 95% CI: 1.006-1.046), prognostic nutritional index (OR: 0.998; 95% CI: 0.997-1.000), preoperative EuroQol-5 dimensions score (OR: 0.094; 95% CI: 0.018-0.500), blood loss (OR: 1.002; 95% CI: 1.001-1.003), and acute postoperative pain (OR: 1.308; 95% CI: 1.033-1.657) were significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications. Specifically, patients experiencing severe postoperative pain had a significantly higher incidence of neuropsychiatric (27.2% vs 19.8%), procedure-related (17.3% vs 10.2%), and cardiovascular complications (3.6% vs 1.7%).
CONCLUSIONS
An advanced age, a low preoperative nutritional index, a poor quality of life score, a greater volume of intraoperative blood loss, and acute postoperative pain are independent risk factors for postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries. There is a significant association between acute postoperative pain and multi-system complications.
Humans
;
Postoperative Complications/etiology*
;
Aged
;
Risk Factors
;
Digestive System Surgical Procedures/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Female
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Pain, Postoperative/epidemiology*
;
Incidence
;
Aged, 80 and over
2.Elevated advanced glycation endproducts is a risk factor for stenosis after primary arteriovenous fistula surgery.
Tianhong LI ; Xinfang QIN ; Lili WEI ; Huixin BI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(8):1663-1671
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the effect of serum advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) on stenosis after first autologous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
METHODS:
Patients with ESRD undergoing standard native arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for the first time in the Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University from February to June 2022 were prospectively enrolled. The preoperative general data, clinical examination results and ultrasound data of the operated limbs were collected. The patients with and without stenosis within 2 months after the operation were compared for preoperative serum AGEs levels detected using ELISA and the clinical parameters. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors of AVF stenosis, and the sensitivity and specificity of AGEs for predicting postoperative stenosis were analyzed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve.
RESULTS:
Of the 94 patients enrolled, 34 had postoperative arteriovenous stenosis and 60 had no stenosis. The number of diabetic patients differed significantly between stenosis group and non-stenosis group (P<0.001). Serum AGEs levels, which were negatively correlated with serum phosphorus level (P<0.05), were significantly higher in stenosis group than in non-stenosis group (Z=-2.837, P=0.005). Serum AGE level was an independent risk factor for postoperative stenosis after AVF (OR=1.251, 95% CI:1.096-1.423, P<0.001). For predicting AVF stenosis, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of AGEs was 0.677 (P=0.007, 95% CI: 0.572-0.770), with a specificity of 90.00% and a sensitivity of 52.94% at the optimal cut-off value of 8.43 µg/mL; AGEs combined with fibrinogen had an AUC of 0.763 (P<0.001, 95% CI: 0.664-0.844), with a specificity of 73.33% and a sensitivity of 70.59% at the optimal cut-off value of 0.30.
CONCLUSIONS
Elevated serum AGEs level is an independent risk factor for postoperative AVF stenosis, and its combination with fibrinogen has a better efficacy for predicting postoperative AVF stenosis.
Humans
;
Glycation End Products, Advanced/blood*
;
Risk Factors
;
Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical/adverse effects*
;
Kidney Failure, Chronic/blood*
;
Male
;
Constriction, Pathologic/etiology*
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Postoperative Complications/etiology*
;
Renal Dialysis
;
Aged
;
Prospective Studies
;
ROC Curve
;
Adult
3.Construction of risk prediction models of hypothermia after transurethral holmium laser enucleation of the prostate based on three machine learning algorithms.
Jun JIANG ; Shuo FENG ; Yingui SUN ; Yan AN
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(9):2019-2025
OBJECTIVES:
To develop risk prediction models for postoperative hypothermia after transurethral holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) using machine learning algorithms.
METHODS:
We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 403 patients from our center (283 patients in the training set and 120in the internal validation set) and 120 patients from Weifang People's Hospital (as the external validation set). The risk prediction models were built using logistic regression, decision tree and support vector machine (SVM), and model performance was evaluated in terms of accuracy, recall, precision, F1 score and AUC.
RESULTS:
Operation duration, prostate weight, intraoperative irrigation volume, and being underweight were identified as the predictors of postoperative hypothermia following HoLEP. Among the 3 algorithms, SVM showed the best precision rate and accuracy in all the 3 data sets and the best area under the ROC (AUC) in the training set and validation set, followed by logistic regression, which had a similar AUC in the two data sets. SVM outperformed logistic regression and decision tree models in the validation set in precision, accuracy, recall, F1 score, and AUC, and performed well in the external validation set with better precision rate and accuracy than logistic regression and decision tree models but slightly lower recall rate, F1 index, and AUC value than the decision tree model. SVM outperformed logistic regression and decision tree models in precision, accuracy, F1 score, and AUC in the training set, but had slightly lower recall rate than the decision tree.
CONCLUSIONS
Among the 3 models, SVM has the best performance and generalizability for predicting post-HoLEP hypothermia risk to provide support for clinical decisions.
Humans
;
Male
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Machine Learning
;
Transurethral Resection of Prostate/adverse effects*
;
Hypothermia/etiology*
;
Prostatic Hyperplasia/surgery*
;
Algorithms
;
Lasers, Solid-State
;
Risk Assessment
;
Postoperative Complications
;
Decision Trees
;
Logistic Models
;
Aged
;
Middle Aged
;
Support Vector Machine
4.The efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation in papillary thyroid carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wei Shuen Clarissa CHEONG ; Xin Yi Joy AU ; Ming Yann LIM ; Ernest Weizhong FU ; Hao LI ; Uei PUA ; Yong Quan Alvin SOON ; Yijin Jereme GAN
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2025;54(3):170-177
INTRODUCTION:
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) avoids the complications of general anaesthesia, reduces length of hospitalisation and reduces morbidity from surgery. As such, it is a strong alternative treatment for patients with comorbidities who are not surgical candidates. However, to our knowledge, there have only been 1 systematic review and 3 combined systematic review and meta-analyses on this topic to date. This systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the efficacy and safety of RFA in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with longer follow-up durations.
METHOD:
PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant studies published from 1990 to 2021; 13 studies with a total of 1366 patients were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Sandelowski et al.'s approach1 to "negotiated consensual validation" were used to achieve consensus on the final list of articles to be included. All authors then assessed each study using a rating scheme modified from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine.
RESULTS:
Pooled volume reduction rates (VRRs) from 1 to 48 months after RFA, complete disappearance rates (CDR) and complications were assessed. Pooled mean VRRs were 96.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] 91.05-102.13, I2=0%) at 12 months2-6 and 99.31 (95% CI 93.74-104.88, I2=not applicable) at 48 months.2,5 Five studies showed an eventual CDR of 100%.2,4,7-9 No life-threatening complications were recorded. The most common complications included pain, transient voice hoarseness, fever and less commonly, first-degree burn.
CONCLUSION
RFA may be an effective and safe alternative to treating PTC. Larger clinical trials with longer follow-up are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of RFA in treating PTC.
Humans
;
Radiofrequency Ablation/methods*
;
Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/surgery*
;
Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Postoperative Complications/etiology*
5.Development and multicenter validation of machine learning models for predicting postoperative pulmonary complications after neurosurgery.
Ming XU ; Wenhao ZHU ; Siyu HOU ; Hongzhi XU ; Jingwen XIA ; Liyu LIN ; Hao FU ; Mingyu YOU ; Jiafeng WANG ; Zhi XIE ; Xiaohong WEN ; Yingwei WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(17):2170-2179
BACKGROUND:
Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are major adverse events in neurosurgical patients. This study aimed to develop and validate machine learning models predicting PPCs after neurosurgery.
METHODS:
PPCs were defined according to the European Perioperative Clinical Outcome standards as occurring within 7 postoperative days. Data of cases meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria were extracted from the anesthesia information management system to create three datasets: The development (data of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University from 2018 to 2020), temporal validation (data of Huashan Hospital, Fudan University in 2021) and external validation (data of other three hospitals in 2023) datasets. Machine learning models of six algorithms were trained using either 35 retrievable and plausible features or the 11 features selected by Lasso regression. Temporal validation was conducted for all models and the 11-feature models were also externally validated. Independent risk factors were identified and feature importance in top models was analyzed.
RESULTS:
PPCs occurred in 712 of 7533 (9.5%), 258 of 2824 (9.1%), and 207 of 2300 (9.0%) patients in the development, temporal validation and external validation datasets, respectively. During cross-validation training, all models except Bayes demonstrated good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.840. In temporal validation of full-feature models, deep neural network (DNN) performed the best with an AUC of 0.835 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.805-0.858) and a Brier score of 0.069, followed by Logistic regression (LR), random forest and XGBoost. The 11-feature models performed comparable to full-feature models with very close but statistically significantly lower AUCs, with the top models of DNN and LR in temporal and external validations. An 11-feature nomogram was drawn based on the LR algorithm and it outperformed the minimally modified Assess respiratory RIsk in Surgical patients in CATalonia (ARISCAT) and Laparoscopic Surgery Video Educational Guidelines (LAS VEGAS) scores with a higher AUC (LR: 0.824, ARISCAT: 0.672, LAS: 0.663). Independent risk factors based on multivariate LR mostly overlapped with Lasso-selected features, but lacked consistency with the important features using the Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) method of the LR model.
CONCLUSIONS:
The developed models, especially the DNN model and the nomogram, had good discrimination and calibration, and could be used for predicting PPCs in neurosurgical patients. The establishment of machine learning models and the ascertainment of risk factors might assist clinical decision support for improving surgical outcomes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ChiCTR 2100047474; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=128279 .
Adult
;
Aged
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Algorithms
;
Lung Diseases/etiology*
;
Machine Learning
;
Neurosurgical Procedures/adverse effects*
;
Postoperative Complications/diagnosis*
;
Risk Factors
;
ROC Curve
6.Risk Factors for Prolonged Postoperative Length of Stay After Hip Fracture Surgery in Very Elderly Patients.
Bo-Wen XU ; Wei-Yun CHEN ; Chen SUN ; Ling LAN ; Lu-Lu MA ; Li-Jian PEI
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2025;40(2):111-119
OBJECTIVES:
To identify risk factors contributing to prolonged postoperative length of stay (LOS) in very elderly patients following hip fracture surgery, with a focus on postoperative complications and the impact of different anesthesia approaches.
METHODS:
This retrospective single-center cohort study enrolled patients aged 90 years or older who underwent hip fracture surgery at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 31, 2013 and December 31, 2023. Relevant perioperative data were collected. The primary outcome was postoperative LOS, and the study cohort was divided into two groups: postoperative LOS ≤ 7 days and LOS > 7 days. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors related to prolonged postoperative LOS.
RESULTS:
A total of 155 patients were included. The average age was 92.7 ± 2.6 years. There were 73 (47%) patients with postoperative LOS > 7 days. Postoperative pneumonia was the only factor associated with a prolonged postoperative LOS (OR = 2.12, 95% CI [1.09, 4.16], P = 0.028). Neither the type of anesthesia (regional vs. general anesthesia, OR = 1.00, 95% CI [0.53, 1.90], P = 0.993) nor the method of airway management (laryngeal mask ventilation vs. spontaneous breathing, OR = 1.46, 95% CI [0.58, 3.76], P = 0.424; endotracheal intubation vs. spontaneous breathing, OR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.39, 1.69], P = 0.592) showed a significant association with a prolonged postoperative LOS. Preoperative chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 2.78, 95% CI [1.05, 7.65], P = 0.040) and preoperative neutrophil count (OR = 1.13, 95% CI [1.01, 1.26], P = 0.029) were both significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia, while anesthesia type and airway management method were not.
CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative pneumonia was associated with prolonged postoperative LOS in very elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, whereas anesthesia types and airway management methods show no association with prolonged postoperative LOS or postoperative pneumonia. Preoperative comorbidities, especially respiratory conditions and systemic inflammation, potentially play a substantial role in postoperative recovery.
Humans
;
Hip Fractures/surgery*
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Risk Factors
;
Length of Stay
;
Female
;
Male
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Postoperative Complications/etiology*
7.Analysis of correlation between Barthel index score and preoperative occurrence of deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty revision surgery.
Ying SHEN ; Yao YAO ; Liang QIAO ; Dengxian WU ; Xinhua LI ; Qing JIANG
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(2):158-162
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the correlation between the Barthel index score and other factors with the preoperative occurrence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) revision surgery.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 122 patients who met the inclusion criteria and underwent THA revision surgery between April 2017 and November 2020. Among them, 61 were male and 61 were female, with an age range of 32-85 years (mean, 65.3 years). The reasons for revision included prosthetic joint infection in 7 cases, periprosthetic fracture in 4 cases, prosthetic dislocation in 6 cases, and aseptic loosening in 105 cases. The Barthel index score was 76.4±17.7, with 10 cases classified as level 1, 57 as level 2, 37 as level 3, and 18 as level 4. Univariate analysis was performed on variables such as age, gender, body mass index, Barthel index score, preoperative D-dimer positivity, history of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, cerebral infarction, smoking, and thrombosis in patients with and without preoperative DVT. Furthermore, logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for preoperative DVT in THA revision surgery. The incidence of preoperative DVT was compared among different Barthel index score groups.
RESULTS:
Preoperative DVT was detected in 11 patients (9.02%), all of whom had intermuscular venous thrombosis. Among them, 1 had prosthetic joint infection, 1 had periprosthetic fracture, 1 had prosthetic dislocation, and 8 had aseptic loosening. Univariate analysis showed significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, and Barthel index score ( P<0.05). logistic regression further revealed that female, age ≥70 years, and Barthel index score<60 were independent risk factors for preoperative DVT in patients undergoing THA revision surgery ( P<0.05). The incidence of preoperative DVT in patients with Barthel index scores of levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 0 case (0%), 2 cases (3.5%), 3 cases (8.1%), and 6 cases (33.3%), respectively. A significant correlation was found between Barthel index score classification and the incidence of preoperative DVT in patients undergoing THA revision surgery ( χ 2=10.843, P=0.001).
CONCLUSION
In patients undergoing THA revision surgery, older age, female, and lower Barthel index scores are associated with higher preoperative DVT incidence. For patients with low preoperative Barthel index scores, preoperative thrombosis screening should be emphasized.
Humans
;
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Aged
;
Middle Aged
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Reoperation
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Venous Thrombosis/epidemiology*
;
Adult
;
Risk Factors
;
Postoperative Complications/etiology*
;
Preoperative Period
8.Research progress in etiology and prevention of bone cement implantation syndrome.
Guangtao HAN ; Qin WANG ; Shuo SUN ; Pengde KANG
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(2):237-242
OBJECTIVE:
To introduce the etiology and prevention of bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS).
METHODS:
The literature about BCIS at home and abroad in recent years was extensively reviewed, and the incidence, clinical manifestations, etiology, and prevention of BCIS were summarized and analyzed.
RESULTS:
The clinical manifestations of BCIS are diverse. The etiology of BCIS is not completely clarified, and it may be related to circulating methyl methacrylate-mediated model, embolus-mediated model, histamine release and hypersensitivity response, complement activation and multimodal model. BCIS prevention begins with the identification of high-risk patients in preoperative evaluation and communication between surgeon and anesthesiologist about the choice of implant type, surgical procedure, and technique to minimize the risk of cardiovascular complications in high-risk patients with multiple or severe risk factors or comorbidities. Preoperative assessment and optimization of a patient's cardiovascular reserve is also critical to prevent BCIS.
CONCLUSION
BCIS is a possible complication after hip joint arthroplasty, and its pathogenesis needs to be further research in order to provide new ideas for prevention and treatment.
Humans
;
Bone Cements/adverse effects*
;
Postoperative Complications/etiology*
;
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects*
;
Risk Factors
;
Syndrome
;
Methylmethacrylate/adverse effects*
9.Poster Fusion Cage combined with xenogeneic bone graft augmentation for bone defect management in distal radius fractures.
Yi GAO ; Xiaomeng REN ; Chuyang ZENG ; Longbo DU ; Meng LI ; Rui MA ; Wei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(6):655-661
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the effectiveness of Poster Fusion Cage combined with xenogeneic bone graft augmentation for bone defect management in distal radius fractures.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 20 patients with bone defects complicating distal radius fractures who met the selection criteria and were treated between June 2022 and June 2024. The cohort comprised 2 males and 18 females, aged 54-87 years (mean, 63.3 years). Etiologies included falls in 17 cases, traffic accidents in 2 cases, and crush injury in 1 case. According to AO classification, there were 5 cases of type A, 8 cases of type B, and 7 cases of type C. The interval from injury to operation ranged from 2 to 10 days (mean, 5.8 days). All patients underwent volar plate fixation augmented with Poster Fusion Cage and demineralized xenogeneic bone matrix grafting. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, and postoperative complications were recorded. Radiographic parameters, including radial height, volar tilt, and ulnar deviation, were measured on standardized X-ray films obtained immediately postoperatively and at last follow-up, and whether secondary reduction loss occurred was judged. At last follow-up, wrist range of motion (extension, flexion, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, pronation, and supination) and grip strength (expressed as a percentage of the contralateral side) were measured. Wrist function was assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score and Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score.
RESULTS:
The operation time was 70-200 minutes (mean, 116.4 minutes), and the intraoperative blood loss was 10-80 mL (mean, 36.5 mL). All surgical incisions healed by first intention, with no neurovascular complications documented. All patients were followed up 9-12 months (mean, 11.6 months). All fractures healed normally, with a healing time of 8-14 weeks (mean, 9.95 weeks). No significant difference was observed in radial height, volar tilt, or ulnar deviation between immediate postoperatively and last follow-up ( P>0.05). All fractures achieved satisfactory reduction, with no secondary loss of reduction or implant failure occurring during follow-up. At last follow-up, the range of motion of the affected wrist joint was 60°-65° (mean, 62.5°) in extension, 67°-75° (mean, 71.1°) in flexion, 18°-23° (mean, 20.4°) in radial deviation, 28°-33° (mean, 30.1°) in ulnar deviation, 69°-80° (mean, 74.7°) in pronation, and 69°-82° (mean, 75.6°) in supination. Grip strength recovered to 75%-85% (mean, 80%) of the contralateral side. Functional scores showed a DASH score of 5-15 (mean, 9.4) and PRWE score of 8.0-12.5 (mean, 10.2).
CONCLUSION
The combination of Poster Fusion Cage and xenogeneic bone graft augmentation provides a safe and effective treatment for bone defects in distal radius fractures.
Retrospective Studies
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Wrist Fractures/surgery*
;
Heterografts
;
Transplantation, Heterologous/methods*
;
Bone Transplantation/methods*
;
Operative Time
;
Blood Loss, Surgical
;
Radius/surgery*
;
Fracture Healing
;
Time Factors
;
Postoperative Complications/etiology*
;
Range of Motion, Articular
;
Follow-Up Studies
;
Internal Fixators
;
Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods*
;
Combined Modality Therapy
10.Single-stage treatment of upper limb lymphedema following breast cancer surgery using superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator-based vascularized lymph node transfer combined with lymphaticovenular anastomosis and liposuction.
Zongcan CHEN ; Junzhe CHEN ; Yuanyuan WANG ; Lingli JIANG ; Xiangkui WU ; Hai LI ; Shune XIAO ; Chengliang DENG
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(9):1114-1121
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the effectiveness of single-stage vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) combined with lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) and liposuction (LS) (3L) versus LVA combined with LS (2L) for the treatment of moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema following breast cancer surgery.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 16 patients with moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery, treated between June 2022 and June 2024, who met the selection criteria. Patients were divided into 3L group (n=7) and 2L group (n=9) based on the surgical approach. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in baseline data between the groups, including age, body mass index, duration of edema, volume of liposuction, International Society of Lymphology (ISL) stage, preoperative affected limb volume, preoperative circumferences of the affected limb at 12 levels (from 4 cm distal to the wrist to 42 cm proximal to the wrist), preoperative Lymphoedema Quality of Life (LYMQoL) score, and frequency of cellulitis episodes. The 2L group underwent LS on the upper arm and proximal forearm and LVA on the middle and distal forearm. The 3L group received additional VLNT in the axilla, with the groin serving as the donor site. Outcomes were assessed included the change in affected limb volume at 12 months postoperatively, and comparisons of limb circumferences, LYMQoL score, and frequency of cellulitis episodes between preoperative and 12-month postoperative. Ultrasound evaluation was performed at 12 months in the 3L group to assess lymph node viability.
RESULTS:
Both groups were followed up 12-20 months, with an average of 15.13 months. There was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the groups (t=-1.115, P=0.284). All surgical incisions healed by first intention. No adverse events, such as flap infection or necrosis, occurred in the 3L group. At 12 months after operation, ultrasound confirmed good viability of the transferred lymph nodes in the 3L group. Palpation revealed significant improvement in skin fibrosis and improved skin softness in both groups. Affected limb volume significantly decreased in both groups postoperatively (P<0.05). The reduction in limb volume significantly greater in the 3L group compared to the 2L group (P<0.05). Circumferences at all 12 measured levels significantly decreased in both groups compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). The reduction in circumference at all 12 levels was better in the 3L group than in the 2L group, with significant differences observed at 7 levels (8, 12, 16, 30, 34, 38, and 42 cm) proximal to the wrist (P<0.05). Both groups showed significant improvement in the frequency of cellulitis episodes and LYMQoL scores postoperatively (P<0.05). While the improvement in LYMQoL scores at 12 months did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05), the reduction in cellulitis episodes was significantly greater in the 3L group compared to the 2L group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The combination of VLNT+LVA+LS provides more durable and comprehensive outcomes for moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery compared to LVA+LS, offering an improved therapeutic solution for patients.
Humans
;
Female
;
Lipectomy/methods*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Anastomosis, Surgical/methods*
;
Lymphedema/etiology*
;
Middle Aged
;
Upper Extremity/surgery*
;
Breast Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Lymph Nodes/blood supply*
;
Adult
;
Lymphatic Vessels/surgery*
;
Iliac Artery/surgery*
;
Postoperative Complications/surgery*
;
Perforator Flap/blood supply*
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Mastectomy/adverse effects*
;
Quality of Life
;
Aged

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