Friday 27 February 2015

Comparison of postoperative pain control in autologous abdominal free flap versus inplant-based breast reconstructions

Comparison of postoperative pain control in autologous abdominal free flap versus inplant-based breast reconstructions. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Feb 2015, Vol. 135(2), p.356-67.

Gassman, A.A., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Abstract/2015/02000/Comparison_of_Postoperative_Pain_Control_in.9.aspx

Women who undergo mastectomy and breast reconstruction are shown to express more pain than those who undergo mastectomy alone. The authors evaluated postoperative pain outcomes following breast reconstruction.

Advanced age is a predictor of 30-day complications after autologous but not implant-based post-mastectomy breast reconstruction

Advanced age is a predictor of 30-day complications after autologous but not  implant-based post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Feb. 2015, Vol. 135(2), p.253e-261e

Butz, D.R., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2015/02000/Advanced_Age_Is_a_Predictor_of_30_Day.6.aspx

Older breast cancer patients undergo postmastectomy breast reconstruction infrequently, in part because of a perception of increased surgical risk. This study sought to investigate the effects of age on perioperative complications after postmastectomy breast reconstruction.

Ovarian suppression in premenopausal breast cancer

Ovarian suppression in premenopausal breast cancer [audio]. NEJM, Jan 2015

Francis, P.A., et al.

https://feedly.com/i/subscription/feed/http://podcast.nejm.org/nejm_audio_summaries.xml




Pertuzumab, Trastuzumab and Docetaxel in HER-2 positive metastatic breast cancer

Pertuzumab, Trastuzumab and Docetaxel in HER-2 positive metastatic breast cancer. NEJM, Feb 2015, 372: 724-34

Swain, S.M., et al.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1413513?af=R&rss=currentIssue

In patients with metastatic breast cancer that is positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), progression-free survival was significantly improved after first-line therapy with pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel, as compared with placebo, trastuzumab, and docetaxel. Overall survival was significantly improved with pertuzumab in an interim analysis without the median being reached. We report final prespecified overall survival results with a median follow-up of 50 months.

Breast density legislation - Practical considerations

Breast density legislation - Practical considerations. NEJM, 2015, 372: 593-595.

Slanetz, P.J.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1413728?af=R&rss=currentIssue&

Ever since Nancy Cappello, a Connecticut woman who hadn't been told that her mammograms showed dense breast tissue, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2004 and advocated for a new state law, there's been a growing movement to educate women about breast density and the potential role of supplemental screening in early cancer detection. Cappello's state was the first to pass a law requiring physicians to offer supplemental whole-breast ultrasonography to women with dense breasts — defined as containing more than 50% fibroglandular tissue — and mandating that insurers cover the additional screening. Since then, the number of breast-density laws in the United States has grown rapidly: as of January 2015, a total of 21 states had adopted such legislation. Laws vary considerably among states, with some requiring only that physicians notify women with dense breasts of their status and others stipulating that supplemental screening be offered to such women. Most state laws, however, do not mandate insurance coverage of additional screening, though the lack of such coverage could increase income-based health disparities.