Breast reconstruction after mastectomy: A ten-year analysis of trends and immediate postoperative outcomes

The landscape of breast reconstruction has changed significantly. This study assesses trends in type of reconstruction performed after mastectomy and impact on immediate postoperative complications.

Data for 67,450 patients undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer were analyzed using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for years 2005-2014. Primary outcomes were wound, nonwound related infections, and bleeding complications. Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.

The percentage of patients that underwent reconstruction after breast cancer increased from 26.94% in 2005 to 43.30% in 2014 (p < 0.01). There was increased wound (5.59%), bleeding (6.82%), and infection (1.80%) complications after flap-based reconstruction (p < 0.01). There was no difference in wound, infection, and bleeding complications between immediate implant reconstruction and tissue expander (TE) at 4.38 vs. 3.89% (p = 0.18), 0.82 vs. 0.7%, p = 0.46), and 0.76 vs. 0.64% (p = 0.45), respectively. Several independent factors were associated with increased wound complications in patients undergoing all or any forms of reconstruction after mastectomy such as being overweight (OR 1.38, CI 1.23-1.55), obese (OR 2.11, CI 1.89-2.35), morbidly obese (OR 3.84, CI 3.34-4.43), ASA Class III (OR 1.35, CI 1.08-1.69), ASA Class IV (OR 1.49, 1.06-2.10), diabetic (OR 1.28 , CI 1.14-1.43), and smokers (OR 1.76, CI 1.59-1.94). TRAM flap was associated with increased risk of wound complication (OR 1.87, CI 1.28-2.75).

More women are undergoing reconstruction as utilization of TE increases drastically. Immediate implant placement has only seen moderate increase likely due to surgeon preference.