[Breast deformities caused by the operation for congenital heart disease]

Breast deformities are seen as one of the late postoperative complications in thoracotomy, but there are very few reports in the literature. We investigated causes and treatments in 5 patients who have consulted to our department after operations for congenital heart disease between April 1989 and March 2011. The injured breast bud in the cardiac operation resulted in hypoplastic deformities, and deformities became apparent during puberty with breast growth. These patients required release of the scar contracture to lead to normal breast development, and also have to been treated chest deformity. After stopping at breast growth in adolescence, some augmentations were necessary if bilateral asymmetry had been remained. Breast deformities are very important issue in the viewpoints of patients' quality of life (QOL), though not relating directly to vital prognosis. We'd like to introduce these complications and some choices about breast reconstruction to thoracic surgeons.