Complication Rates are Low After Invasive Procedures on the Lactating Breast in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Breast Surgery

Background:

• Peripartum patients undergoing breast surgery face potential risks due to anatomical and functional breast changes.
• Understanding postoperative complications in this population is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine postoperative complications in pregnant and postpartum patients undergoing oncologic breast surgery.
• To determine if lactational breast changes impact complication rates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 164 pregnant and postpartum patients from 1989-2022 undergoing oncologic breast surgery.
• Defined lactational breast changes as patients >20 weeks gestational age or postpartum.
• Analyzed 90-day complication rates using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• The overall postoperative complication rate was 12.2%, with surgical site infection being most common.
• No significant association was found between lactational breast changes and postoperative complications.
• Complication rates were similar to the general population, with no observed milk fistulae.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative complication rates are low in peripartum patients undergoing breast surgery, regardless of lactational status.
• Timely surgical intervention for pregnant and postpartum patients should follow standard care guidelines.
• Findings support the safety of proceeding with breast cancer surgery during pregnancy and postpartum.