DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction: Value of a Team Approach
Researching a highly skilled, board certified microsurgeon is the first and most important step in your DIEP flap breast reconstruction process. But what additional criteria might you look for? After having a detailed, shared decision-making conversation with my breast surgeon, I soon realized in DIEP flap breast reconstruction there was great value in a team approach.
There are microsurgeons who work as a team during DIEP flap breast reconstruction for a variety of reasons. After my double mastectomy I researched several plastic surgeons across the United States viewing their websites to find those who work as a team. I wanted both team members, the microsurgeons, to be highly skilled and have a high rate of success. There is other criteria I have listed on my resource page under the heading, “Board Certified Plastic Surgeons by Region”. These suggestions should also be considered.
This blog summarizes a conversation I had with my own plastic surgeon, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo and one of his colleagues and team members at PRMA, Dr. Ramon Garza III. The purpose of the blog and the video is to give the viewer vocabulary during a shared decision-making conversation with your own plastic surgeon for your DIEP flap breast reconstruction.
Dr. Garza Points out Patient Benefits: DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction: Value of a Team Approach
- Less time in the operating room (OR) for the patient.
- Less anesthesia.
- Less issues with post-operative recovery and mobilization
- Less issues with the GI (gastrointestinal) track and getting patients back on a diet.
He continues by sharing how the team approach benefits his colleagues/co-surgeons in the OR.
- It makes the day more enjoyable working with the same team you work with every day.
- Efficiency in the operating room.
- Leads to better outcomes.
Dr. Chrysopoulo Continues the Commentary: DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction: Value of a Team Approach
- Less surgical time is always better.
- Generally speaking, the more you can cut down on your anesthesia time, the lower the risk of overall complications.
- The recovery is generally easier as well as a shorter hospital stay for the patient.
- Having a consistent approach to a procedure that you do every day is a massive benefit for the patient.
He continues by sharing the procedural practice at PRMA and the responsibilities of the two surgeons. Dr. C, as his patients refer to him, explains the primary surgeon is the one who sees the patient in consultation, explains all the options, makes the best treatment decisions with the patient (part of their shared decision-making model), and who brings the patient to the operating room.
The primary surgeon dictates how things go. The secondary or co-surgeon enters the OR and helps with what is going on and what the patient needs, the plan put in place at consult. He points out someone is always ultimately in charge but the efficiency in getting the surgery done in the team approach is the model performed at their practice yielding high surgical success rates. Performing the surgery with this consistent model decreases the risk of surprises.
Cases requiring discussion, something out of the ordinary, takes place the day prior to surgery between the co-surgeons to maximize the efficiency and success of the system. This highlights the importance of communication between the two team members performing the surgery. Dr. Garza adds they have a successful system and formula they like to apply maximizing the optimal outcome for the patient. He points out this comes with performing these procedures day in and day out and having lots of patient encounters.
Dr. C lightheartedly adds, the primary surgeon picks the music. And no, I decided it was best not “to get into that”. He quickly replied, “No, let’s not, enough said.” I’ve always appreciated his ornery British humor. Enough said!
Take the information in this blog with you during the consultation with your plastic surgeon to find out if they use a team approach to DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Listen to the video here and subscribe to the YouTube channel for more topics from some great ASPS board certified plastic surgeons.
Thanks for this Terri. In all three of my major surgeries were considered emergencies in part from no prior diagnosis to misdiagnosis along with broken communications and record keeping sloppiness. I’m alive by virtue of the in-the-moment skills of my surgeons and certainly can’t complain. But it is refreshing to see how the system might work if planning and co-responsibility was actually applied.
Your blog is quite well timed for me as I’m getting very impatient with the planning that’s going into a second attempt to re-wire a pacemaker to my patchwork heart. It might be me but I’ve begun to wonder why all the planning, imaging, consultations and quiet confidence is being played out when before all I needed was to show up already broken and, zoom, with some life support and bed-rest I’m fixed.
Interesting to see how the system operates when things are not a crisis though the apparent deliberateness can also drive a person crazy.
By chance I met a person in an online discussion today who runs this great website:
The Reveal Mission
https://www.revealmission.org/
Take Care,
Scott
Hi Scott,
Health care can become more complicated when more than one physician is involved, as in your case you speak of. A coordinated team effort too often falls on the shoulders of the patient to make sure all parties are communicating. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. I appreciate your comments here. In my case, this team works closely together for the benefit of the patient and physician. I really think it’s a win-win situation.
It’s always good to hear from you.
You take care as well,
Terri