STSs are best treated in specialist centers. Early referral is highly recommended to achieve good oncologic outcomes. Our results show a clear tendency of higher wound complication rates in patients lately referred for reconstruction. We believe that early involvement of plastic surgeons in the management of STS is mandatory.

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Summary: The use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) for bilateral breast reconstruction has increased in recent years. Detection of BCRA mutation and therefore bilateral risk-reduction mastectomy is one of the main reasons for this increase. High cost of ADM is considered a major drawback for its use. The authors present a new technique which allows the use of only one unit of ADM for both breasts. After assessing the viability of the skin of mastectomy flaps, a musculofascial pocket formed superiorly by pectoralis major, laterally by serratus fascia and inferiorly by rectus fascia, is performed. Then, the ADM is divided in two halves. We propose two different ways to divide the matrix, cutting it vertically or diagonally in two. The way in which the matrix should be cut depends on the distensibility of the pocket. Afterwards, the implant is inserted and the exposed area of the implant is covered by the ADM sutured to the edges of the musculofascial pocket. Using only one ADM unit for bilateral reconstruction, the procedure becomes not only more cost-effective but also can reduce complications such as seroma, rippling, wrinkling, and visibility by means of a better coverage with lesser foreign body load. Furthermore, the lesser the matrix used, the faster the integration is achieved.

Background AQUILA (NCT03470103) was a prospective, observational, 12-month cohort study to understand treatment patterns and to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) in patients from Latin America with diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods Treatment-naïve and previously treated (switching to IVT-AFL) patients (aged ≥ 18 years) were enrolled from March 2018, with a primary completion date of September 2020, from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico. Patients received IVT-AFL in a routine clinical practice setting. Results Of 258 patients in the full analysis set, 181 were treatment-naïve and 77 had received previous treatment. The mean ± standard deviation number of IVT-AFL injections by Month 12 was 3.7 ± 1.8 (treatment-naïve) and 4.0 ± 2.2 (previously treated). The median duration from diagnosis to IVT-AFL treatment was 1.8 months (treatment-naïve) and 16.0 months (previously treated). Mean best-corrected visual acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters) improved from baseline to Month 12 by + 8.1 ± 17.7 (treatment-naïve; baseline: 54.5 ± 19.4) and + 4.6 ± 15.4 letters (previously treated; baseline: 52.9 ± 18.6). Conclusion AQUILA is the first study to assess the use of IVT-AFL in routine clinical practice in Latin America. Despite few patients being treated with the label-recommended regimen of 5 initial monthly doses or receiving ≥ 8 injections in 12 months, functional and anatomic visual outcomes improved during 12 months of treatment with IVT-AFL. Patients receiving the label-recommended number of injections had numerically greater improvements in visual acuity outcomes. Patients with DME treated regularly and more frequently with IVT-AFL therefore have the potential to achieve outcomes consistent with those observed in interventional studies. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03470103. Registered February 5, 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03470103

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