Clinical trial NCT01945463: The Effect of Breast Augmentation on the Quality of Echocardiography Test
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Breast Augmentation
Lead sponsor: Hadassah Medical Organization
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2013-09-18
Enrollment: 4
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 75
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Women undergoing breast augmentation

Brief summary: Breast augmentation surgery is currently the most common elective plastic surgery performed in the US. With regards to the surgical technique, there are 4 incisional sites available for breast augmentation, each with its advantages and disadvantages: Axillary, Periareolar, inframammary, and umbilical. The implant is inserted in either a subglandular (beneath breast tissue), submuscular (underneath the Pectoralis Major), or "dual-plane" (combination of both) manner.

Echocardiography is the most commonly used diagnostic test in cardiology for the evaluation of cardiac structure and function. Its use has increased dramatically in the last decades. We have encountered three women with congenital heart disease who have undergone breast augmentation, and their echocardiographic images were significantly limited after the implantation. There is only one case report in the medical literature suggesting that breast implants interfere with echocardiographic views .

The underlying physical property of the silicone breast implants that causes interference with the ultrasound beam during echocardiographic examination is not known and has not been studied. Similar to air in the lung but to a lesser degree, silicone breast implants appear to prevent penetration of ultrasound beams. The poor penetration appears to be persistent and unrevealing despite increase in gain or change in the ultrasound wave's frequency.

Many women elect breast augmentation for cosmetic reasons. Women with congenital heart disease who have undergone cardiac surgery may have breast asymmetry or distortion and desire augmentation accordingly.

Knowledge of the extent of impairment of breast implants to the echocardiographic examination is important for few reasons:

1. Women with heart disease who need echocardiographic follow up and wish to undergo breast augmentation should be consulted as to the limitation of the echocardiographic examination following the procedure.
2. Women without heart disease considering breast augmentation should be informed of potential echocardiographic interference, if echocardiography be needed in the future,
3. Different surgical techniques may cause different masking effect.
4. Different implants size and shape may cause different masking effect.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. 1. Women with heart disease who need echocardiographic follow up and wish to undergo breast augmentation

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unwillingness to participate.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Proportion of women in which the breast implant will affect the quality of the Echo test.
timeFrame: one month
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
References: