Nipple delay prior to nipple-sparing mastectomy: the protective effect on nipple-areola complex ischaemia

Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) has become increasingly popular over the past decade, offering perceived superior cosmetic outcomes and psychological benefits. The main concern in NSM is that of nipple-areola complex (NAC) ischaemia, occurring in up to 15% of cases. We investigate the utility of nipple delay (ND) in protecting the NAC from ischaemic complications.

A retrospective study of all NSM for a single surgeon from 2010 to 2020 was performed, with those not receiving a prior ND procedure included as a control arm. Variables were recorded, including time to mastectomy from delay, degree of breast ptosis, cup size, mastectomy weight, previous radiotherapy, and presence of ischaemic risk factors. Outcomes recorded were the development of NAC ischaemia, graded from epidermolysis to partial or full-thickness necrosis (FTN).

A total of 62 women for a total of 84 breasts were part of the delay cohort. Ten (12%) breasts in the delay group developed ischaemic complications, with only five breasts developing FTN requiring debridement. Moreover, 33 women for a total of 43 breasts were part of the non-delay cohort. A total of 14 (33%) breasts in the non-delay cohort developed ischaemic complications, with six breasts developing FTN requiring debridement. Delay was protective against ischaemic complications with an OR 0.28 (p=0.007). Mastectomy weight of >600 g and >400 g predicted the development of ischaemic complications in the delay and non-delay cohorts, respectively.

ND was shown to protect against the development of ischaemic complications prior to NSM, with the greatest protective effects shown in those with morphologically large breasts.