The Impact of COVID-19 on “Reconstructive Burnout” Following Mastectomy

Background:. Achieving successful breast reconstructive outcomes following mastectomy oftentimes coincides with the completion of a multistep surgical sequence. We hypothesize that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent postponement of elective procedures added an additional layer of complexity to thi...

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Main Authors: Victoria A. Hodkiewicz, BS, Christopher Kujalowicz, BSA, BA, Bianca A. Di Chiaro, MD, MPH, Jeewon Chon, MA, Marina Feffer, MPH, Eleanor Bucholz, MD, Timothy W. King, MD, PhD, MBA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer 2025-04-01
Series:Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
Online Access:http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006697
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author Victoria A. Hodkiewicz, BS
Christopher Kujalowicz, BSA, BA
Bianca A. Di Chiaro, MD, MPH
Jeewon Chon, MA
Marina Feffer, MPH
Eleanor Bucholz, MD
Timothy W. King, MD, PhD, MBA
author_facet Victoria A. Hodkiewicz, BS
Christopher Kujalowicz, BSA, BA
Bianca A. Di Chiaro, MD, MPH
Jeewon Chon, MA
Marina Feffer, MPH
Eleanor Bucholz, MD
Timothy W. King, MD, PhD, MBA
author_sort Victoria A. Hodkiewicz, BS
collection DOAJ
description Background:. Achieving successful breast reconstructive outcomes following mastectomy oftentimes coincides with the completion of a multistep surgical sequence. We hypothesize that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent postponement of elective procedures added an additional layer of complexity to this process, contributing to failure to achieve complete reconstruction. Methods:. From January 2018 to January 2022, a retrospective review of all included patients undergoing mastectomy at a single institution, Loyola University Medical Center, was conducted. Reconstructive burnout, a term coined by Halani et al, is defined as either “...no breast mound creation or completion of the breast mound without completion of all major revisions.” Results:. Of the 194 included patients, among univariable models, post-COVID patients were 2.37 times more likely to experience burnout (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–4.98; P = 0.022). Postoperative radiation (P < 0.001), wound dehiscence (P = 0.007), infection (P < 0.001), and complications leading to implant removal and/or autologous flap failure (P < 0.001) were all significantly associated with experiencing burnout. In multivariable models, patients who had postoperative radiation and complications leading to explantation and/or flap failure were 2.88 times (95% CI: 1.33–6.24; P = 0.008) and 5.74 times (95% CI: 2.47–12.12; P < 0.001) more likely to experience burnout, respectively. Conclusions:. Patients who underwent mastectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly more likely to experience reconstructive burnout, but this was explained by procedural characteristics. Our study further reinforces the increased risk of not completing breast reconstruction in patients who undergo postoperative radiation and/or complications leading to implant explantation and/or autologous flap failure.
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spelling doaj-art-c2cdf05e81c84db3aac3d4b54135f5082025-08-20T03:53:27ZengWolters KluwerPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open2169-75742025-04-01134e669710.1097/GOX.0000000000006697202504000-00032The Impact of COVID-19 on “Reconstructive Burnout” Following MastectomyVictoria A. Hodkiewicz, BS0Christopher Kujalowicz, BSA, BA1Bianca A. Di Chiaro, MD, MPH2Jeewon Chon, MA3Marina Feffer, MPH4Eleanor Bucholz, MD5Timothy W. King, MD, PhD, MBA6From the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, ILFrom the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL† Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, ILFrom the * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL‡ Biostatistics Collaborative Core, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL† Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL† Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, ILBackground:. Achieving successful breast reconstructive outcomes following mastectomy oftentimes coincides with the completion of a multistep surgical sequence. We hypothesize that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent postponement of elective procedures added an additional layer of complexity to this process, contributing to failure to achieve complete reconstruction. Methods:. From January 2018 to January 2022, a retrospective review of all included patients undergoing mastectomy at a single institution, Loyola University Medical Center, was conducted. Reconstructive burnout, a term coined by Halani et al, is defined as either “...no breast mound creation or completion of the breast mound without completion of all major revisions.” Results:. Of the 194 included patients, among univariable models, post-COVID patients were 2.37 times more likely to experience burnout (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–4.98; P = 0.022). Postoperative radiation (P < 0.001), wound dehiscence (P = 0.007), infection (P < 0.001), and complications leading to implant removal and/or autologous flap failure (P < 0.001) were all significantly associated with experiencing burnout. In multivariable models, patients who had postoperative radiation and complications leading to explantation and/or flap failure were 2.88 times (95% CI: 1.33–6.24; P = 0.008) and 5.74 times (95% CI: 2.47–12.12; P < 0.001) more likely to experience burnout, respectively. Conclusions:. Patients who underwent mastectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly more likely to experience reconstructive burnout, but this was explained by procedural characteristics. Our study further reinforces the increased risk of not completing breast reconstruction in patients who undergo postoperative radiation and/or complications leading to implant explantation and/or autologous flap failure.http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006697
spellingShingle Victoria A. Hodkiewicz, BS
Christopher Kujalowicz, BSA, BA
Bianca A. Di Chiaro, MD, MPH
Jeewon Chon, MA
Marina Feffer, MPH
Eleanor Bucholz, MD
Timothy W. King, MD, PhD, MBA
The Impact of COVID-19 on “Reconstructive Burnout” Following Mastectomy
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
title The Impact of COVID-19 on “Reconstructive Burnout” Following Mastectomy
title_full The Impact of COVID-19 on “Reconstructive Burnout” Following Mastectomy
title_fullStr The Impact of COVID-19 on “Reconstructive Burnout” Following Mastectomy
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of COVID-19 on “Reconstructive Burnout” Following Mastectomy
title_short The Impact of COVID-19 on “Reconstructive Burnout” Following Mastectomy
title_sort impact of covid 19 on reconstructive burnout following mastectomy
url http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000006697
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