Breast expander ports appear to be safe after multiple perforations.
It has been suggested in the literature that inflation ports of breast tissue expanders can be a major source of leakage. An experimental study with a 23G and subsequently with a 21G injection needle into the port membrane of three inflation ports was performed. After 100 perforations with each needle per port no leakage was detected and no material from the membrane could be identified in the needle lumens. The authors conclude that multiple needle perforations into the injection port are unlikely to be the cause for deflation of breast tissue expanders due to leakage.
Schumacher
H H A
HH
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, UK. hagenschmacher@yahoo.com
Dhital
S K
SK
D018427:Breast Implants; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D009339:Needles; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices