Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37507518›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2023

COVID-associated complications after reconstructive breast surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

J M Bubberman, J Claessen, M M W Feijen, M A J Meesters-Caberg, S M J Van Kuijk, R R W J Van der Hulst, S M H Tuinder

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. The Impact of COVID-19 on "Reconstructive Burnout" Following Mastectomy.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

J M BubbermanDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
J ClaessenFaculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
M M W FeijenDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.
M A J Meesters-CabergDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands.
S M J Van KuijkDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
R R W J Van der HulstDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
S M H TuinderDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands. s.tuinder@mumc.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9046-3962
Maastricht University · NLUniversity Medical Center · USZuyderland Medisch Centrum · NLMaastricht University Medical Centre · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe COVID pandemic significantly influenced reconstructive breast surgery regimens. Many surgeries were cancelled or postponed. COVID entails not only respiratory, but also coagulative symptoms. It, therefore, potentially increases the risk of postoperative complications. The incidence of perioperative COVID infection and its influence on postoperative recovery after reconstructive breast surgery is still unknown.

methodsThis dual center retrospective cohort study included patients that underwent reconstructive breast surgery between March 2020 and July 2021. Post-mastectomy autologous or implant-based breast reconstruction (ABR; IBR), as well as post-lumpectomy oncoplastic partial breast reconstruction (PBR) were eligible. Patient data were extracted from electronic medical records. Data regarding COVID-19 infection was collected through a questionnaire. The primary outcome was complication rate.

resultsThe ABR, IBR and PBR groups consisted of 113 (12 COVID-positive), 41 (2 COVID-positive) and 113 (10 COVID-positive) patients. In the ABR and PBR groups, postoperative complications occurred significantly more often in patients with perioperative COVID-infection. Especially impaired wound healing occurred significantly more often in the ABR and PBR breasts, but also at the donor site of ABR patients with perioperative COVID.

conclusionPerioperative COVID-infection increases susceptibility to complicated wound healing after reconstructive breast surgery. A possible explanation lies in the dysregulation of haemostasis by the virus, and its direct effects on microvasculature. A hypercoagulable state results. We recommend to postpone elective breast surgery for 4-6 weeks after COVID-19 infection. Also, precautionary measures remain important to minimize the risk of perioperative COVID-19 infection.

Indexed as

Breast ImplantsBreast NeoplasmsCOVID-19MammaplastyFemaleHumansMastectomyPostoperative ComplicationsRetrospective StudiesBreast cancerBreast reconstructionCOVID-19Postoperative complications

Identifiers

PMID37507518
PMCPMC10505595
OpenAlexW4385377358

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.