The Relationship Between Neuropsychiatric Diagnoses and Revision Surgery After Breast Reconstruction

A neuropsychiatric diagnosis (ND) has the potential to affect patient satisfaction after breast reconstruction. However, literature regarding the interplay between neuropsychiatric diagnoses and revision operations after reconstruction remains sparse. In this study, we aim to determine whether neuropsychiatric diagnoses result in increased revision operations and healthcare utilization of plastic surgery resources after alloplastic and autologous breast reconstruction.

We retrospectively reviewed 200 patients from 2010 to 2019 who underwent postmastectomy alloplastic or autologous breast reconstruction by a single surgeon at our institution. We evaluated for the presence of neuropsychiatric diagnoses, type of neuropsychiatric diagnoses, number of revisions, and number of postreconstruction plastic surgery appointments. Continuous variables were compared using independent samples t tests, and categorical variables were compared using χ 2 tests.

Of the 196 patients who met inclusion criteria, the majority underwent at least one revision (65.3%). The presence of an ND did not predict a higher number of revision operations ( P = 0.512) nor was the timing of the diagnosis (preoperative vs postoperative) significantly associated with the number of revision procedures ( P = 0.156). The patients who had a ND at any point during the reconstructive process had a significantly higher number of plastic surgery appointments and a longer duration of follow-up compared with the patients without any neuropsychiatric diagnoses ( P = 0.009 and P = 0.040, respectively). Complications did not impact the number of revision operations ( P = 0.780).

Neuropsychiatric diagnoses do not significantly influence the number of revision operations after breast reconstruction. However, neuropsychiatric diagnoses result in increased healthcare utilization of plastic surgery resources that may lead to increased healthcare costs.