Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41684545›Full record

ArticleJPRAS open2026

Optimising the unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction: A United Kingdom-Netherlands multi-centre comparative study.

Maximilian Jacobi, Petko Shtarbanov, Punn Tannirandorn, Zahra Ahmed, Stephen Hamilton, Shadi Ghali, Afshin Mosahebi, Sophie Riesmeijer, Dariush Nikkhah, Hinne Rakhorst

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JPRAS open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

10 authors.

Maximilian JacobiDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST), Enschede, The Netherlands.
Petko ShtarbanovUniversity College London, London, United Kingdom.
Punn TannirandornUniversity College London, London, United Kingdom.
Zahra AhmedUniversity College London, London, United Kingdom.
Stephen HamiltonUniversity College London, London, United Kingdom.
Shadi GhaliUniversity College London, London, United Kingdom.
Afshin MosahebiUniversity College London, London, United Kingdom.
Sophie RiesmeijerDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST), Enschede, The Netherlands.
Dariush NikkhahUniversity College London, London, United Kingdom.
Hinne RakhorstDepartment of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST), Enschede, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap represents the gold standard in autologous breast reconstruction; however, it is restricted by prolonged operative duration and substantial demands on inpatient capacity. We compared postoperative outcomes across international centres with differing surgical models and perioperative pathways. Methods: A retrospective, two-centre cohort study was undertaken of unilateral DIEP flap reconstructions performed in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands (NL). The UK cohort (2018-2022) utilised a single-surgeon model with an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway, whereas the NL cohort (2013-2019) employed a co-surgeon model and lean optimisation without ERAS protocols. Patient demographics, operative characteristics, and postoperative complications were compared. Outcomes were analysed by complication severity (Clavien-Dindo), timing (<30 vs. ≥30 days), and potential predictors. Results: The cohort included 203 patients (203 flaps): 103 from the UK and 100 from NL. Immediate reconstruction predominated in the UK (70% vs. 1%, Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that operative workflow, case-mix, and perioperative pathways may influence efficiency and complication profiles without altering flap survival. Pragmatic improvements include ERAS implementation, co-surgeon operating, lean optimisation, and tailored planning for higher-risk patients.

Indexed as

BreastComplications (Clavien-Dindo)DIEPFlapsMicrosurgeryReconstruction

Identifiers

PMID41684545
PMCPMC12891788

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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.