Mastectomy Flap Temperature Study

Mastectomy Flap Temperature and Clinical Implications

The purpose of this research study is to measure tissue temperatures and generate a prospective database of participants undergoing mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital (WFBH) in order to enable and facilitate the evaluation of important and novel research questions - and quality improvement (QI) ideas/objectives - that may improve the care of breast surgery patients.

Primary Objective(s)

• Quantify the proportion of eligible women approached who consent to intraoperative (pre and post mastectomy) measurement of mastectomy flap temperatures in each of 4 quadrants of each relevant breast (i.e., unilateral or bilateral procedure).
• Quantify the proportion of patients upon whom the surgical team is able to obtain intraoperative flap measurements from each of 4 quadrants on each relevant breast pre- and post-mastectomy and pre-implant.

Secondary Objective: To measure mastectomy flap temperatures in 4 quadrants pre-mastectomy, following mastectomy, and pre-implant, and compare average flap temperature to average core body temperature.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Scheduled for unilateral or bilateral mastectomy with implant based breast reconstruction within the Wake Forest Baptist Health System.
• Aged 18 or older.
• Ability to understand an IRB-approved informed consent document (either directly or via a legally authorized representative).

Exclusion Criteria: Those who are male.