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Endoscopic Bilateral Nipple-sparing Mastectomy via a Single Axillary Incision with Immediate Pre-pectoral Implant-based Breast Reconstruction
Published on: May 17, 2024
Erysipelas-like inflammation following breast surgery
A Cichowitz1, P A Stanley, W A Morrison
1Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia. agcich@melbpc.org.au
Summary
Post-surgical lymphatic dysfunction can cause inflammation mimicking infection after breast surgery. This study identifies a non-infective inflammatory process as a potential complication, distinct from bacterial infections.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Dermatology
- Lymphatic Research
Background:
- Surgery disrupting lymphatics causes lymphoedema, increasing infection risk.
- Inflammatory episodes in lymphatic dysfunction are not always infectious.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a series of patients with erysipelas-like inflammation post-breast surgery.
- To investigate the cause of this inflammation, differentiating it from infection.
Main Methods:
- Case series of five patients over five years.
- Clinical observation and response to antibiotic treatment.
Main Results:
- Four patients had reduction mammaplasty, one had breast reconstruction.
- All patients presented with erysipelas-like breast inflammation weeks post-surgery.
- Standard antibiotics were ineffective, suggesting a non-infective cause.
Conclusions:
- A previously unreported complication of breast surgery is described, occurring in 4% of reduction mammaplasty cases.
- The inflammation is likely a non-infective process linked to surgical lymphatic dysfunction.
- This highlights the need to consider non-infective causes in post-surgical breast inflammation.
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