Nitroglycerin Ointment for Reducing the Rate of Mastectomy Flap Necrosis in Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction

What is it about?

Topical nitroglycerin ointment application to mastectomy skin flaps at 15g per breast is a cost-effective means to decrease the incidence of mastectomy flap necrosis in unilateral and bilateral immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction, with a minimal rate of side effects. This retrospective cohort study of 201 patients showed 22% decreased overall incidence of MFN in the nitroglycerin ointment cohort and a 44% reduction in full thickness MFN. On multivariate analysis, nitroglycerin application was independently associated with a decrease in MFN or need for mastectomy flap debridement.

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