Povidone-iodine Does Not Affect Acellular Dermal Matrix Integration in Patients Undergoing 2-staged, Prepectoral, Breast Reconstructive Surgery

BACKGROUND: Povidone-iodine has been traditionally used as an antimicrobial agent to irrigate the breast pocket and rinse the prosthesis before placement in the pocket. Use of povidone-iodine with breast implants was banned from 2000 to 2017. During this period, acellular dermal matrix (ADM) was introduced to breast surgery. In nonclinical studies, povidone-iodine can impair collagen synthesis and kill fibroblasts. Cellular repopulation was critical for ADM integration. Whether povidone-iodine impacts ADM integration was unknown. METHODS: Patients who underwent immediate, prepectoral, 2-staged breast reconstruction were included in this retrospective study. Study population was divided into povidone-iodine–treated patients and triple-antibiotic–treated patients. The breast pockets were rinsed with the antimicrobial agent, and the prostheses and ADMs were presoaked in the agent perioperatively. At implant exchange, the extent of ADM integration was clinically assessed. ADM integration was defined as >25% of matrix vascularization. ADM integration and postoperative complications were compared between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients (257 reconstructions) were included—58 patients (111 reconstructions) were exposed to povidone-iodine and 53 patients (97 reconstructions) to triple-antibiotic solution. ADM integration was noted in 97% of breasts in each group. Integrated matrices appeared healthy, had no signs of foreign body reaction, and demonstrated punctate bleeding. Complications did not differ between the groups, including the rate of infections, seroma, and expander loss. CONCLUSION: Irrigation of the breast pocket and presoaking of the prosthesis and ADM with povidone-iodine appear to have no adverse consequences on clinical outcomes and did not impede matrix integration.