Episode 25: Flap Monitoring in Breast Reconstruction and the History of the Guinea Pig Club in Plastic Surgery
Release Date: 01/11/2023
Episode 54: Lymphedema Treatment and Surgery from London
DiepCJourney Podcast
I have been fortunate to have discussions with surgeons in the U.S. on lymphedema. This is a topic I feel should be discussed with international surgeons as well. As part of my work with I am fortunate to meet surgeons from around the world at various plastic and microsurgical conferences. I will be talking to one of these microsurgeons on the We need to know all we can about lymphedema, lymphedema surgery, how microsurgeons across the world are treating breast cancer patients for this condition, and so, this is our topic of discussion from a guest in London, in the United Kingdom. is a...
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Episode 53: The Value of the Co-Surgeon Model In Breast Reconstruction and Insurance Coverage Concerns
DiepCJourney Podcast
The two-surgeon model in microvascular breast reconstruction and concerns about insurance coverage is a topic we are tackling on the . I have NOT come to understand the complexities of insurance but have gained a great deal of empathy for those in the breast cancer community who deal with these complexities, and that includes patients and surgeons. I was certain I needed to invite a guest I was completely comfortable discussing this topic with. We go back a bit. I have built trust in his principles over time and his focused passion on patient education. You have heard him on the podcast...
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Episode 52: A Patient Story: Transitioning from Implants to DIEP Flap
DiepCJourney Podcast
Whether you have had a breast cancer diagnosis, have a genetic mutation placing you at high risk of getting breast cancer, have had or are facing a mastectomy due to either of these situations you will want to listen to this episode of the . The time has come to share a personal story of a woman I interviewed twice about her decision to have a prophylactic mastectomy and implant reconstruction. This is the continuation of her Journey. She came to a decision to exchange the implants she never quite felt comfortable in and transition to DIEP flap breast reconstruction and use her own tissue this...
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Episode 51: The Many Facets of Microsurgery
DiepCJourney Podcast
Have ever been you curious about the networking, conversations, and education that happens among colleagues at medical conferences? Or are there topics you see online but are not aware of the stories behind the social media posts from these conferences? I invite a returning guest to give you a behind the scenes look at one such conference, the annual conference of . We chose a few highlights and topics from the conference to share our experience so you can learn more about these rich learning events. Here to share the highpoints and a few of our favorite topics is one of the presenters at the...
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Episode 51: Lymphedema Treatment and Surgery for Breast Cancer Patients
DiepCJourney Podcast
This episode of the t is well-timed to publish on March 1, 2024, the first day of lymphedema awareness month. We hope you will share this in your community for breast cancer patients affected by lymphedema to provide them with the resources needed to treat this condition and let them know there are specialists in surgical treatment options as well. My guest is one such specialist. is Chief of Plastic Surgery and faculty surgeon at and works as a microsurgeon with , , in San Antonio. It is important for listeners to understand the function and importance of the lymphatic system. Dr. Fries...
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Episode 50: A Young Nurse and Her DIEP Flap Story
DiepCJourney Podcast
This episode of the shares a fascinating story of a young woman who graciously and professionally takes us through her Journey from being diagnosed with breast cancer, cold capping, the affect on her family and young daughters, and to the story of her DIEP flap breast reconstruction. She never felt a lump. She was enrolled in a high-risk program based on her family history. Because of this, she found the cancer early. My guest is Lacey Terpstra-Reid. She is a registered nurse residing in Guthrie Oklahoma. In November 2022 she was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer at...
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Episode 49: Fat Necrosis: What to Know and Look for in Breast Reconstruction
DiepCJourney Podcast
With any type of surgery there are risks and possible complications. We are tackling a topic on this episode of the that is frequently discussed in the community served at DiepCFoundation. I reached out to an expert in the field for our discussion on fat grafting in breast reconstruction. founded in Spokane Washington in 2010 after completing her surgical training at the prestigious University of Washington Plastic Surgery Residency. She works with a group of five other surgeons performing various aesthetic and plastic surgery procedures including like DIEP flap. Preoperative patient...
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Episode 48: NAPBC Standards in Exercise Oncology
DiepCJourney Podcast
There is hard science to support the benefits of exercise for those who are affected by cancer of any kind. We will discuss this on this episode of the . The good news is that now the introduced new standards in January of 2024 for exercise oncology. Supporting this initiative is . Nationally there are around sixty-five hospitals and locations Maple Tree Cancer Alliance is partnering with to help patients and the medical community implement these changes to improve the lives of those affected by cancer. I am speaking to the Founder and CEO of Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, , PhD, and their...
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Episode 47: BIA/ALCL Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
DiepCJourney Podcast
Millions of women across the globe have undergone breast augmentation using a medical device called a breast implant. This is done for reasons such as cosmesis, sometimes called enhancement of the breast, but also for trauma to the chest wall or for oncological reasons meaning breast cancer. Any surgery is not without risks. Using a medical device like a breast implant is not different. This is the focus of our discussion on this episode of the . My guest is a leading expert in the field. We are going to discuss the medical definition, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment BIA/ALCL. This stands...
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Episode 46: DIEP Flap and the London Breast Meeting
DiepCJourney Podcast
I feel twice fortunate to be speaking to my guest on this episode of the on two topics, her specialty of performing DIEP Flap breast reconstruction and her role as conference scientific chair for the . It was a phenomenal experience for me to meet her in person at the London Breast Meeting where I learned a great deal from the game-changers in breast surgery, oncology, and breast reconstruction. This gives me the ability to bring more in-depth information to the listeners and breast cancer community we serve at . I am speaking with , a consultant in plastic and reconstructive plastic surgery...
info_outlineSince having DIEP flap, a plastic reconstructive surgery technique performed to rebuild breasts after a mastectomy, I have been fascinated with the field of plastic surgery and topics related specifically to breast reconstruction.
I interview Rob Pupelis, CEO, of Spectros for the first episode of season three of the DiepCJourney podcast. Rob shares the story of his visit to the Queen Victory hospital (QVH) in England. He was able to visit Queen Victoria while attending the London Breast Meeting in late 2022. While at the conference, Rob demonstrated the T-Stat tissue oximetry system developed by Spectros. T-Stat is used to monitor flaps in breast reconstruction and in our conversation, we discuss the efficacy of the T-Stat system and why it improves the surgeon’s success rate of flap procedures like the DIEP flap.
We begin our conversation with the history of the Queen Victory Hospital treating burn victims during WWII. A surgeon from New Zealand, Archibald McIndoe, came to the Queen Victory hospital via a chance meeting with his cousin, Sir Harold Gillies, often considered the father of plastic surgery. Seeing the severe burn injuries sustained by pilots in WWII, McIndoe saw what his cousin, Sir Harold Gillies did using tube pedicles to rebuild the faces of WWI soldiers and expanded on this technique by treating the soldiers at Queen Victoria. He took healthy, unburnt tissue from other sites on the soldiers to reconstruct burnt tissue.
He nurtured this community, and these airmen were considered “guinea pigs” as part of his pioneering work in reconstructive burn surgery. These young airmen treated by Archibald McIndoe became known as the Guinea Pig club. He took them under his care not only during their physical healing but also treating the psychological impact of having disfigurement from these burns. There were over 600 of these airmen. Rob shared some of the photos hanging in the halls of QVH taken during his visit listing the members of The Guinea Pig Club, Archibald McIndoe, and the operating theater.
We go on to discuss modern day techniques used in microsurgery and how Rob became the CEO of Spectros. Flap monitoring is an important question many patients ask about. The T-Stat monitoring system is at the bedside of the patient after DIEP flap breast reconstruction to ensure that the blood flowing into the breast and out of the breast is monitored.
The physician performing the DIEP flap has 24-hour access to real time data provided by the monitoring system via a small sensor placed on the flap to monitor it while the patient is in hospital after surgery. We went on to discuss how T-Stat can be used regardless of the coloration of skin.
I hope this educational podcast discussion will encourage patients to ask about the type of tissue monitoring system their surgeon uses to monitor flaps during their initial consult for breast reconstruction. Many thanks to Rob for educating us about the benefits of the T-Stat system by Spectros.
