Pregnancy after a TRAM flap procedure: principles of nursing care

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in the United States and affects more than 200,000 women annually. The incidence increases exponentially with age from the 3rd to the 5th decade of life. Many women are now choosing to have a more natural breast reconstruction concomitantly with their mastectomy. A TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous) flap is a procedure to reconstruct the breast mound using autologous tissue. Women of childbearing age who have undergone a TRAM flap may safely consider pregnancy after such a procedure. The principles of nursing care for pregnant women who have undergone a TRAM flap surgery are presented in this article. A case report of pregnancy after a TRAM flap is included.