Immediate breast reconstruction after salvage mastectomy: Case control outcome comparisons of DIEP flap and DTI...

Cancer recurrence after breast-conserving therapy is most often managed by salvage mastectomy. Successful breast reconstruction immediately after salvage mastectomy, however, remains challenging because the reconstruction is performed on previously irradiated breast tissue.

Records of patients who underwent breast reconstruction from June 2010 to June 2019 were reviewed, including their demographic characteristics, methods of breast reconstruction, and early and late outcomes. Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps and direct-to-implant (DTI) reconstructions following salvage mastectomies were compared with reconstructions following completion or primary mastectomies. Patients who underwent reconstruction followed by postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) and patients followed up for less than 6 months were excluded.

DIEP flaps in 27 breasts that underwent salvage mastectomy were compared with DIEP flaps in 32 breasts that underwent completion and 564 that underwent primary mastectomy. Rates of early complications, including microsurgical revision and total flap loss, and of late complications (>6 months after surgery), including fat necrosis and flap volume loss, did not differ significantly. DTI reconstruction in 20 breasts that underwent salvage mastectomy was compared with DTI reconstruction in 12 breasts that underwent completion and 351 that underwent primary mastectomy. Wound healing problems, including wound dehiscence and delayed wound healing (15% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.0022), and capsular contracture (30% vs. 5.4%, P = 0.0000), were significantly more frequent in breasts that underwent salvage than primary mastectomy.

DIEP flap is a successful reconstruction option after salvage mastectomy. DTI reconstruction is associated with higher rates of wound healing problems and capsular contracture after salvage than after primary mastectomy.