Patients' satisfaction with immediate breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap

Immediate breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous (LDM) flap is still not much reported, particularly in studies of patients' views. The aim of this study was to assess the level of patients' satisfaction with the technique. All patients (n = 257) who had had a mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with a LDM flap at a single hospital between January 1999 and December 2005 were identified, and 196 patients free of recurrence were included. The operations were done by the same surgical team in a standard manner. Clinical data, technical details, and outcome were collected prospectively. To assess the patients' degree of satisfaction with the aesthetic results in relation to clinical characteristics and treatment, a study-specific questionnaire and a visual analogue scale were sent to 196 patients; 178 forms were completed and returned. To analyse general satisfaction and aesthetic results we used the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, chi square, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. The median reconstruction follow-up period was 34 months. Patients who were 51 years or older at the time of reconstruction were less likely to opt for immediate breast reconstruction with LDM flap than younger patients. Patients who were divorced and those who had postoperative complications were less likely to be satisfied. One hundred and sixty-four patients (92%) were satisfied, and 161 (90%) said they would recommend the reconstruction. The median satisfaction score was 9 (range 1-10, mean 8.5). The technique provided satisfactory immediate breast reconstruction according to the patients' evaluation.