title: Preoperative Computed Tomographic Angiogram Measurement of Abdominal Muscles Is a Valuable Risk Assessment for Bulge Formation after Microsurgical Abdominal Free Flap Breast Reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A major shortcoming associated with abdominal tissue breast reconstruction is long-term abdominal wall morbidity. Although abdominal muscle size on computed tomographic angiography has been correlated with morbidity following many abdominal operations, it has not been studied for breast reconstruction. Therefore, the authors evaluated the association between preoperative computed tomography angiography-derived measurements of abdominal core muscles and postoperative abdominal wall morbidity after abdominal tissue breast reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective matched case-control study of women who underwent microsurgical abdominal flap breast reconstruction at one institution between January 2011 and June 2015, the authors evaluated all cases of postoperative bulge/hernia, matched by type of abdominal flap and body mass index in a ratio of 1:2 to controls without bulge/hernia. The authors obtained morphometric measurements of abdominal core muscles on preoperative computed tomographic angiographs. Using univariable and multivariable logistic regressions, the authors examined the effects of clinical risk factors and computed tomographic angiography morphometric measurements on postoperative bulge/hernia formation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 589 patients who underwent abdominal free flap breast reconstruction, symptomatic bulges/hernias were identified in 35 patients (5.9 percent). When compared to the 70 matched controls, multivariable analysis showed that decreased area of rectus abdominis muscle (OR, 0.18; p < 0.01) and increased inter-rectus abdominis distance (OR, 1.14; p < 0.01) on computed tomographic angiography were significant risk factors associated with postoperative bulge/hernia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative computed tomographic angiography allows objective measurements of the patient's abdominal muscle anatomy that provide valuable prognostic information on the risk of bulge/hernia formation following abdominally based microsurgical breast reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Risk, III.
authors.affiliation: Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Basel, Switzerland.|From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Health Network, and the William Osler Health Center, University of Toronto; and the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel.
authors.forename: Elisabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.affiliation: Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Basel, Switzerland.|From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Health Network, and the William Osler Health Center, University of Toronto; and the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaskolka
authors.affiliation: Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Basel, Switzerland.|From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Health Network, and the William Osler Health Center, University of Toronto; and the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Basel, Switzerland.|From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Health Network, and the William Osler Health Center, University of Toronto; and the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel.
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Basel, Switzerland.|From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Health Network, and the William Osler Health Center, University of Toronto; and the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel.
authors.forename: Stefan O P
authors.initials: SOP
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Basel, Switzerland.|From the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Health Network, and the William Osler Health Center, University of Toronto; and the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel.
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors