ArticlePlastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open2018
The Outpatient DIEP: Safety and Viability following a Modified Recovery Protocol.
Article in Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 36 citations in OpenAlex.
- Patient Management Strategies in Perioperative, Intraoperative, and Postoperative Period in Breast Reconstruction With DIEP-Flap: Clinical Recommendations.Frontiers in surgery · 2022Pooled it
- Cosmetic Principles and Contemporary Techniques: Achieving Aesthetic Outcomes in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Pushing the DIEP Envelope: Where Are We Now?Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Moving Toward the Outpatient DIEP Flap: Factors Influencing Early Discharge.Plastic and reconstructive surgery · 2025Article
- Comparison of Iomeprol-400, Ultravist-370, and Omnipaque-350 in Preoperative Computed Tomography for Visualizing the Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforators.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025Article
- Avoiding Chest Wall Morbidity in Outpatient Microvascular Free-Flap Breast Reconstruction.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Article
- Analyzing mastectomy and reconstruction weight in immediate autologous breast reconstruction: A preliminary study.Journal of surgical oncology · 2024Article
- Decreasing length of stay in breast reconstruction patients: A national analysis of 2019-2020.Journal of surgical oncology · 2023Article
- Influence of Closed-incision Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Abdominal Site Complications in Autologous Breast Reconstruction.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2023Article
- Postoperative Day 1 Discharge in Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2023Article
- Main factors determining the use of free MS-TRAM and DIEP flaps and comparing the results of breast reconstruction.Journal of medicine and life · 2023Article
- Bilateral Outpatient Breast Reconstruction with Stacked DIEP and Vertical PAP Flaps.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2021Article
- Outpatient Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2020Article
- Use of Single-recipient Vessels for Cross-chest Abdominal Flap-based Breast Augmentation as an Outpatient.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2020Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBreast reconstruction with autologous tissue is considered the current state-of-the-art choice following mastectomies, and the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is often among the favored techniques. Commonly referred to patients as a combination between a tummy tuck and a breast augmentation, it significantly differs by the required expertise and long hospital stays. We present a series attesting to the feasibility and effectiveness of performing this type of reconstruction in an outpatient setting following our recovery protocol.
methodsPatients undergoing DIEP flap breast reconstruction followed a recovery protocol that included intraoperative local anesthesia, microfascial incision technique for DIEP harvest, double venous system drainage technique, rib and chest muscle preservation, and prophylactic anticoagulation agents.
resultsFourteen patients totaling 27 flaps underwent breast reconstruction following our protocol. All patients were discharged within the initial 23 hours, and no take-backs, partial, or total flap failures were recorded. A case of abdominal incision breakdown was seen in 1 patient during a postoperative visit, without evidence of frank infection. No further complications were observed in the 12-week average observation period.
conclusionWith the proper use of a microfascial incision, complemented by rib sparing and appropriate use of injectable anesthetics, routine breast reconstructions with the DIEP flap can be safely performed in an outpatient setting with discharge in the 23-hour window.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.