Efficacy and Safety of Scarpa Fascia Preservation During Abdominoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Scarpa fascia preservation might be a promising approach to reduce seroma and other complications after abdominoplasty. However, the results remained controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of scarpa fascia preservation in patients with abdominoplasty.

METHODS: PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched. Randomized controlled trials and clinical controlled trials assessing the effect of scarpa fascia preservation versus control (without scarpa fascia) during abdominoplasty were included. Two investigators independently searched articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcomes were seroma and hematoma/bleeding. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect model.

RESULTS: Four studies involving 630 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with the control group, scarpa fascia preservation was associated with a significant reduced seroma (OR 0.16; 95% CI 0.06-0.43; P = 0.0004), time until drain removal (std. mean difference = -0.92; 95% CI -1.31 to -0.54; P<0.00001;), drain output (std. mean difference = -0.92; 95% CI -1.38 to -0.45; P = 0.0001), and hospital stay (std. mean difference = -0.93; 95% CI -1.48 to -0.39; P = 0.0008), but it failed to alter hematoma/bleeding (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.09-2.38; P = 0.36), infection (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.11-1.25; P = 0.11), and suture rupture (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.12-3.73; P = 0.65) in patients with abdominoplasty.

CONCLUSIONS: Scarpa fascia preservation was associated with a significant decreased seroma, time until drain removal, drain output, and hospital stay, but could not change hematoma/bleeding, infection and suture rupture following abdominoplasty. Scarpa fascia preservation should be recommended during abdominoplasty.

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