Liposuction Complications Reporting Occurring In Ambulatory Surgery Centers: An Analysis Of The American Association For Accreditation Of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) Patient Safety Data Reporting From 2019-2021
Lauren Valentine, BS, Angelica Hernandez Alvarez, MD, Allan A. Weidman, BS, Natalie E. Hassell, BA, Nicholas Elmer, BS, Jose Foppiani, MuDr, Sumedh Kaul, MS, Samuel J. Lin, MD, MBA, FACS.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
PURPOSE: Liposuction is the fourth most common cosmetic surgical procedure performed in the United States. Despite its popularity, little has been documented regarding perioperative complications due to its outpatient nature. This study aims to analyze the most common complications that accompany liposuction-related surgical procedures and subsequently identify high-risk patient and facility-specific factors that may increase the risk of sequelae.
METHODS: Adults that experienced liposuction-related complications from 2019 through 2021 were identified in global surgery accreditation authority AAAASF's sequelae database. Patients were then divided by complication type and procedure location. Demographics and facility-specific variables were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were performed to evaluate complications and provide risk-adjusted measures.
RESULTS: 984 patients with complications were included. The median age of patients was 47 (IQR 37, 53) with a median BMI of 28.7 (IQR 25.7,32.2). The Southeast had the most complications (431) followed by West (232), Southwest (125), Midwest (106), and Northeast (90). Unplanned reoperation was the most common complication overall, representing 24% of procedures involving head and neck, 25% in the upper extremity, 18% in the trunk, and 18% in the lower extremity. There were 21 deaths. 18 (85.7%) were from procedures of the trunk and 13 (61.9%) occurred in the Southeast.
CONCLUSION: Procedures that involve liposuction have been shown to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality through a variety of medical and surgical complications. Given the high frequency and variability in how liposuction is performed, a more thorough assessment of complications is critical to improve the safety of this popular procedure.
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