Intro: Reduction Mammoplasty is a procedure commonly performed by plastic surgeons, yet there remains controversy over the use of perioperative antibiotics. Presented here is a single surgeon's longitudinal experience with and without the routine use of perioperative antibiotics. Patients: All patients undergoing bilateral inferior pedicle reduction mammoplasty by a single surgeon from June 2001 until March 2006 are included, numbering 173 consecutive surgeries. These bookend a change in practice transitioning to the routine use of perioperative antibiotics. The standard inferior pedicle Wise pattern is used for all reductions. Methods: Retrospective chart review of office and hospital charts documenting the use of perioperative antibiotics, co morbid conditions, reduction size, operative time, wound complications and clinical wound infections which required further treatment is undertaken. Results: 173 patients were reviewed, 90 receiving perioperative antibiotics and 83 not receiving antibiotics. Patient populations, operative times and volumes removed were similar as were overall wound complications; however, there is a significant reduction in clinical infections from 32% to 17% with antibiotic use (p<0.05). Conclusions: While antibiotic use has potential morbidity, in this series, its use in routine reduction mammoplasty has reduced the clinical infection rate by one half from 32% to 17%.
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