Decreased Length of Postoperative Drain Use, Parenteral Opioids, Length of Stay, and Complication Rates in Patients Receiving Meshed versus Unmeshed Acellular Dermal Matrix in 194 Submuscular Tissue Expander-Based Breast Reconstructions: A Single-Surgeon Cohort Study

Background: Studies have cited possible complications and increased fluid accumulation in implant-based breast reconstruction using acellular dermal matrix. The authors propose a novel approach, manually meshing acellular dermal matrix using a skin graft mesher before use in expander-based breast reconstruction. The authors investigated postoperative drain time, complication rates, pain, and length of hospital stay in meshed versus unmeshed acellular dermal matrix cohorts. Methods: One hundred fourteen patients and 194 reconstructed breasts were included overall. Of these, 99 patients were included in the pain and postoperative length of hospital stay analysis. Independent t test and chi-square analyses were used for bivariate comparisons. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to further delineate impact of meshing acellular dermal matrix on drain time, postoperative parenteral narcotic requirements, and length of stay between the two cohorts. Results: The meshed acellular dermal matrix cohort had lower overall complication rates compared with the unmeshed cohort. Multiple linear regression analyses showed meshing the acellular dermal matrix alone decreased drain time by 7.3 days, and decreased postoperative parenteral narcotic requirements by 77 percent (20 mg morphine). Furthermore, it was the only significant predictor for a decrease in length of stay. Conclusions: Meshing acellular dermal matrix significantly decreased the time needed for postoperative drains. Statistical analysis showed significantly decreased overall and minor complication rates in the meshed cohort. Meshing significantly decreased parenteral narcotic requirements and, importantly, also decreased length of stay. All of these factors have important implications regarding cost and quality of care in expander-based breast reconstruction. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.