Immediate postmastectomy breast reconstruction may be a safe, effective option

In the postmastectomy radiation setting, immediate autologous breast reconstruction yielded similar complication and satisfaction rates as delayed reconstruction.

The researchers gathered prospective data for 175 patients. They evaluated patients using the BREAST-Q questionnaire in the pre-operative stage as well as at 1 and 2 years after surgery.

The data set included 108 patients who underwent immediate reconstruction and 67 who underwent delayed reconstruction. The majority of immediate reconstructions (93.5%) were performed at a single center, according to the results.

Overall complication rates occurred in 25.9% of those undergoing immediate procedures and 26.9% of those who delayed for one year (P = .54). Delayed reconstruction was associated with significantly lower satisfaction rates in terms of breast, psychosocial and sexual well-being compared with immediate reconstruction (P < .0001). Findings recorded at 1 and 2 years after the procedure indicated comparable satisfaction levels in the BREAST-Q questionnaire for both the immediate and delayed groups. – by Rob Volansky

Disclosure: One of the authors reports associations with Breast-Q.

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Source:

Billig J, et al. Plast Reconstruct Surg. 2017;doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000003331.