Immediate conservative breast surgery reconstruction with perforator flaps: New challenges in the era of partial mastectomy reconstruction?

Introduction: Although the use of local flaps in conservative breast surgery (CBS) reconstruction is a reliable technique, little information has been available regarding outcome following the use of perforator flaps. The purpose of this study is to analyze the feasibility, surgical planning and outcome following CBS reconstruction with intercostal artery perforator (ICAP) flap. Patients/methods: Thirteen patients underwent CBS reconstructions with an ICAP flap. These flaps were raised from adjacent tissue located on the lateral and thoracic region and based on perforators originating from the costal and muscular segment of the intercostal vessels. The technique was indicated in patients with small/moderate volume breasts. Results: Mean time of follow-up was 32 months. Flap complications were evaluated and information on patient satisfaction were collected. 61.5 percent had tumors located in the lower-outer quadrants and 69.2 percent had tumors measuring 2 cm or less (T1). Complications occurred in 3 patients (23%), including wound dehiscence in 2 patients and fat necrosis in one. All cases were treated by conservative approach with a good result. No flap loss or wound infection were reported. 90 percent were either satisfied or very satisfied with their result. Conclusion: The ICAP flap is a reliable technique for immediate CBS reconstruction. The technique is advantageous because it does not require the use of muscle transfer, with minimum donor site morbidity. Success depends on patient selection, coordinated planning with the oncological surgeon and careful intra-operative management. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Optimizing the nipple-areola sparing mastectomy with double concentric periareolar incision and biodimensional expander-implant reconstruction: Aesthetic and technical refinements

Although the biodimensional anatomical expander-implant system (BEIS) is a reliable technique, little information has been available regarding outcome following nipple-areola sparing mastectomy (NSM). To perform the resection of glandular tissue, while improving the surgical access and maintaining the nipple-areola vascularization we have developed a new approach for NSM based on the double concentric periareolar incision (DCPI). The purpose of this study is to analyze the feasibility, surgical planning and its outcome following NSM. 18 patients underwent NSM reconstructions. Mean time of follow-up was 29 months. The technique was indicated in patients with small/moderate volume breasts. Flap complications were evaluated and information on aesthetic results and patient satisfaction were collected. 83.3% had tumors measuring 2 cm or less (T1) and 72.1% were stage 0 and 1. All patients presented peripherally tumors located (at least 5 cm from the nipple). Skin complications occurred in 11.1%. One patient (5.5%) presented small skin necrosis and a wound dehiscence was observed in one patient (5.5%). The aesthetic result was good/very good in 94.4 percent and the majority of patients were very satisfied/satisfied. No local recurrences were observed. All complications except one were treated by a conservative approach. DCPI-BEIS is a simple and reliable technique for NSM reconstruction. The success depends on patient selection, coordinated planning with the oncologic surgeon and careful intra-operative and post-operative management. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Outcome Analysis of Immediate and Delayed Conservative Breast Surgery Reconstruction With Mastopexy and Reduction Mammaplasty Techniques

Background: Bilateral mammaplasty or mastopexy is frequently used for oncoplastic objectives. However, little information has been available regarding outcome following immediate and delayed reconstruction. Method: Patients were divided into Group I (immediate reconstruction) and Group II (delayed reconstruction). Retrospective review was performed to compare complications, length of hospital stay, revision surgeries, and satisfaction. The associations between the complications with potential risk factors (timing, age, body mass index, smoking, and comorbid medical conditions) were analyzed. Results: There were a total of 144 patients with a mean follow-up of 47 months. Of the 106 patients in Group I, complications occurred in 24 (22.6%), skin necrosis was observed in 7.5%, fat necrosis in 5.6%, and 6.6% patients developed local recurrence. Mean period of hospitalization was 1.89 days. Of the 38 patients of the Group II, complications occurred in 12 (31.5%), skin necrosis was observed in 7 (18.4%), fat necrosis in 4 (10.5%), and 5.2% patients developed local recurrence. Mean period of hospitalization was 1.35 days. Increased length of hospital stay greater than 1 day (P < 0.001) and the number of revision surgeries (P = 0.043) were associated with the timing of the reconstruction. In univariate analysis, no difference between groups was found with respect to complication incidence (P = 0.275); however, after adjusting for other risk factors, the probability of complications tend to be higher for Group II (OR = 2.65; 95% confidence interval - 1.01-7.00; P = 0.049). Conclusions: On the basis of the results of our study, the probability of complications tends to be higher for delayed reconstructions, and it is demonstrated that obesity and smoking are risk factors for complications. Ultimately, these data may facilitate the provision of individualized risk information for shared medical decision-making.

Immediate reconstruction following breast-conserving surgery: Management of the positive surgical margins and influence on secondary reconstruction

The efficacy of breast-conserving Surgery for the local control of early breast cancer has been repeatedly evidenced. Although immediate reconstruction following breast-conserving Surgery has been described, little information is available regarding surgical management in reoperative settings due to positive margins. We studied the influence of intraoperatively assessed and postoperatively controlled Surgical margin status on the type of breast-conserving Surgery and report our results regarding complications in a reoperative breast reconstruction scenario. All patients were seen by a multidisciplinary team who recommended breast-conserving surgery. According to the breast volume, ptosis and tumor size/location, the patients were also evaluated by a plastic Surgeon, who recommended reconstruction with the appropriate technique. Intraoperative assessment Of Surgical margins was determined by histological examination of frozen sections. The mean follow-up time was 48 months. Two hundred and eighteen patients (88.5%) underwent breast-conserving Surgery and immediate reconstruction. Twelve (5.5%) patients had a positive tumor margin after review of the permanent section. All patients underwent re-exploration. In 1.3%, a second reconstructive technique was indicated and in 2.2% a skin-sparing mastectomy with total reconstruction was performed. Our findings support the important role of the intraoperative assessment of surgical margins and its interference in the selection of reconstruction techniques and negative margins: however, it will not guarantee complete excision of the tumor. Success depends on coordinated planning with the oncologic Surgeon and careful intraoperative management, (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.