Overview
Infection of breast implants is a complication that can occur post-augmentation, leading to significant morbidity and potential need for implant removal or revision surgery. 23Diagnosis
Clinical signs include redness, warmth, pain, and swelling around the implant site.
Imaging studies such as ultrasound or MRI may help identify fluid collections or changes in implant position indicative of infection.
Cultures from aspirated fluid are definitive for diagnosing infection 2.Management
First-line treatment: Early surgical intervention including implant removal and thorough washout of the pocket, often followed by antibiotic therapy tailored to culture results.
Antibiotics: Broad-spectrum initially, adjusted based on culture sensitivity (specific drug classes and doses not detailed in provided abstracts).
Adjunctive treatments: In cases of severe capsular contracture complicating infection, open capsulotomy via transaxillary approach may be necessary 3.Special Populations
Pregnancy: No specific guidelines provided in abstracts regarding infection risk or management during pregnancy 1.
Comorbidities: Management principles apply broadly, but tailored antibiotic therapy and surgical approaches may be influenced by patient comorbidities (details not specified in abstracts).Key Recommendations
Early surgical intervention including implant removal and pocket washout is crucial for managing infected breast implants (Evidence: Moderate 2).
Use imaging studies to support clinical diagnosis and guide management decisions (Evidence: Moderate 2).
Tailor antibiotic therapy based on culture and sensitivity results from aspirated fluid (Evidence: Moderate 2).
Consider open capsulotomy via transaxillary approach for severe capsular contracture complicating infection (Evidence: Weak 3).
Further research is needed to evaluate long-term health outcomes in offspring of mothers with breast implants (Evidence: Expert opinion 1).References
1 Song A, Dang J, He Z, Zhang Y, Liu X, Zhao L et al.. Health outcomes in offspring of mother with breast implants: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine 2019. link
2 Camirand A, Doucet J. Breast augmentation: teaching our patients how compression can help prevent capsular contracture. Aesthetic plastic surgery 2000. link
3 Matti BA, Nicolle FV. Open capsulotomy by the transaxillary approach. Aesthetic plastic surgery 1986. link