Surgeon Reports

Cost Savings Associated with SPY Use in Breast Reconstruction Surgery.

Michael R. Zenn, M.D. Duke University Hospital

SPY angiography is a new technology that aides the reconstructive surgeon in assessing tissue perfusion intraoperatively. The information can be valuable to the surgeon and assist in intraoperative decision-making to limit complications, which ultimately leads to cost savings for the hospital system. Most importantly, the procedure has ... Read More

Decreasing Complications in Immediate Breast Reconstruction.

Geoffrey C. Gurtner, MD, FACS Stanford University

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and over 180,000 women will be diagnosed with this disease in 2008. Although most have the option to pursue breast conservation (lumpectomy), many will opt for mastectomy (complete breast removal) and the incidence of this procedure has doubled over the past ten... Read More

The Role of SPY Technology as a Teaching Tool in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

Jayant Agarwal, MD, University of Utah.

Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction can be technically challenging and has a steep learning curve. This is in part due to the tedious and time consuming nature of perforator identification and dissection. Although complex, DIEP breast reconstruction has several advantages over other methods of breast reconstruction. By reconstructing the breast with the DIEP flap, the patient may...Read More