Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41965780›Full record

Trial reportBreast cancer research : BCR2026

Advantages of nitroglycerin application in preoperative CTA for DIEP flap breast reconstruction.

Ting Gao, Kun Li, Hao Lei, Jiankui Wang, Ming Li, Tong Su, Xiaoxing Jiang, Yiyin Tang, Zhuangqing Yang, Shaoqiang Zhou and 5 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Breast cancer research : BCR, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

15 authors.

Ting Gao *The Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital, Western Yunnan Regional Central Hospital, Dali, China.
Kun Li *The Department of Radiology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China.
Hao Lei *Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The first affiliated hospital of Dali university, Dali, China.
Jiankui WangYunnan Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Precision Medicine, The Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Centre, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China.
Ming LiYunnan Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Precision Medicine, The Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Centre, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China.
Tong SuThe Department of Radiology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China.
Xiaoxing JiangThe Department of Radiology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China.
Yiyin TangYunnan Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Precision Medicine, The Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Centre, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China.
Zhuangqing YangYunnan Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Precision Medicine, The Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Centre, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China.
Shaoqiang ZhouYunnan Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Precision Medicine, The Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Centre, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China.
Zhuang LiDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The first affiliated hospital of Dali university, Dali, China.
Dedian ChenYunnan Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Precision Medicine, The Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Centre, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China.
Hong LiuThe Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital, Western Yunnan Regional Central Hospital, Dali, China. lh@dlzyy.com.cn.
Hanqiu WuDepartment of Head, Neck, Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Northeast Yunnan Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Northeast Yunnan Central Hospital, Zhaotong, China. 3869297460@qq.com.
Sheng HuangYunnan Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Precision Medicine, The Department of Breast Surgery, Breast Cancer Centre, Yunnan Cancer Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital Yunnan, Kunming, China. sammer312@126.com.

Funding

First-Class Discipline Team of Kunming Medical University 2024XKTDYS08Innovation Team of Kunming Medical University CXTD202211National Natural Science Foundation of China 82403353
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe purpose of this study was to investigate the advantages of nitroglycerin in preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) for deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap-based breast reconstruction (BR). The aim is to provide a more reliable preoperative vascular assessment method for DIEP flap BR and expand the clinical application options of nitroglycerin.

methodsPatients scheduled for BR with DIEP flap were admitted from February 2022 to October 2025. They were randomly divided into the nitroglycerin group and the control group in a ratio of 1:1, using a random number method. The nitroglycerin group received sublingual nitroglycerin tablets 0.5 mg 5 min prior to CTA scanning, while the control group received no intervention. The two groups completed the preoperative CTA examination under the same scanning parameters. The diameter, CT value, number of perforators, and perforator branch grade of the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) were measured and compared between the two groups. Additionally, the consistency between preoperative and intraoperative selection of dominant perforators were analyzed in both groups, with assessments based on three dimensions: side (left/right), row (medial/lateral), and number of perforators. And collect the complications and satisfaction rates of patients after BR surgery, and conduct a comparative analysis.

resultsIn this study, a total of 58 patients were finally included in the analysis, including 32 in the nitroglycerin group and 26 in the control group. No statistically significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). The diameter of left IEA (2.40 mm vs. 1.95 mm, P = 0.007), the diameter of right IEA (2.44 mm vs. 2.03 mm, P = 0.020), the number of perforator (16 vs. 12, P = 0.002), the CT value of left IEA (674.00Hu vs. 343.00Hu, P < 0.001), the CT value of right IEA (718.00Hu vs. 362.50Hu, P < 0.001) and the branch grade of perforator (4 vs. 3, P = 0.011) in the nitroglycerin group were higher than the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the consistency of dominant perforator selection regarding side (left/right), row (medial/lateral), or number of perforators (all P > 0.05). The complication rate of the control group was slightly higher than the nitroglycerin group (50.0% vs. 46.9%, P = 0.813), and the difference was not statistically significant. In terms of satisfaction with BR, the nitroglycerin group was slightly higher than the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant.

conclusionsNitroglycerin can dilate the diameter of the IEA, improve the image quality of the CTA, and provide surgeons with more detailed anatomical information of the DIEP flap, which will be beneficial for the surgeon to locate the dominant perforator and design the flap prior to surgery.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsComputed Tomography AngiographyEpigastric ArteriesMammaplastyNitroglycerinPerforator FlapAdultFemaleHumansMiddle AgedPreoperative CareNitroglycerinAutologous breast reconstructionCT angiographyDIEP flapNitroglycerin

Identifiers

PMID41965780
PMCPMC13185403

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