Association Between Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Short-Term Postoperative Complications Following Abdominoplasty: A...

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Abdominoplasty is common, particularly in obese patients who frequently use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
• Concerns about PPI-related complications are rising, yet data in aesthetic surgery is scarce.
• This study addresses the gap in understanding PPI effects on abdominoplasty outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between preoperative proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and short-term postoperative complications following abdominoplasty.
• To determine if PPI exposure increases the risk of adverse events after this cosmetic procedure.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter cohort study utilizing the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network.
• Propensity score matching was employed to balance demographic and clinical characteristics between PPI-exposed and non-exposed groups.
• Postoperative complications were assessed at 30, 60, and 90 days after abdominoplasty.

Main Results:

• After 1:1 propensity score matching (2031 patients per group), PPI users showed significantly higher risks of surgical-site infections (RR 2.467), wound dehiscence (RR 2), and overall surgical-site complications (RR 2.545) at 30 days.
• Increased risk of opioid prescription (RR 1.368) was also observed in the PPI group.
• These elevated complication risks persisted at 60 and 90 days post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use may be associated with an increased risk of short-term postoperative complications after abdominoplasty.
• Further investigation is warranted to establish clinical guidelines for managing PPIs perioperatively in aesthetic surgery patients.