Povidone-iodine combined with antibiotic topical irrigation to reduce capsular contracture in cosmetic breast...

Antibacterial lavage with topical antibiotics may reduce the occurrence of capsular contracture (CC) in breast augmentation.

The authors investigate the efficacy of povidone-iodine combined with antibiotic irrigation in reducing the CC rate.

The charts of 330 consecutive women who underwent cosmetic breast augmentation during 2 different periods (group A: 2004-2009, n = 165; group B: 2009-2010, n = 165) were retrospectively reviewed. All patients in the series underwent augmentation with the same surgeon (A.S.) via the inframammary approach and dual-plane pocket. In group A, patients received a single perioperative dose of 1.5 g of intravenous cephalothin and 750 mg of oral cephalexin twice a day for 7 days after discharge. In group B, patients perioperatively received 750 mg of intravenous cefuroxime, and each implant and pocket were irrigated with 25 mL of a 10% povidone-iodine solution mixed with 750 mg of cefuroxime and 80 mg of gentamicin diluted in 15 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. After discharge, patients received 500 mg of oral levofloxacin once a day for 5 days. Postoperative complications included occurrence of infection, hematoma, seroma, and CC.

Mean (SD) postoperative follow-up in groups A and B was 24 (+/- 13) months and 22 (+/- 3) months, respectively. The postoperative superficial wound infection rate was 1.8% and 1.2%, the seroma rate was 1.8% and 1.2%, and the hematoma rate was 0.6% and 1.2% in groups A and B, respectively. Ten CC cases (Baker grade 3 or 4) in group A and 1 in group B were reported (6% vs 0.6%; P = .006).

Povidone-iodine and antibiotic irrigation in cosmetic breast augmentation yielded a lower CC rate than standard perioperative antibiotics in this series of patients.