Management, morbidity, and oncologic aspects in 100 consecutive patients with immediate breast reconstruction

Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is indicated when breast-conserving surgery is inappropriate and the patient refuses mastectomy as the sole procedure.

Management, morbidity, and oncologic aspects were studied in 100 consecutive patients treated between 1990 and 1994 with a minimum follow-up time of 2 years. Indications for mastectomy and IBR always were discussed within a multidisciplinary group. Eighty-four patients had primary breast cancer, 12 patients underwent salvage mastectomy for an ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence, two patients had benign breast disease, and two patients underwent prophylactic mastectomy because of familial breast cancer.

Saline and silicone gel-filled implants were used predominantly (88%), but free and pedicled TRAM flaps were performed in 12 patients (12%). The overall complication rate was 16%. Seven patients lost their implants, three of whom had been irradiated to the chest wall. Sixty-five patients completed breast reconstruction (nipple and areola) within a median time of 418 days (range 40 to 1471 days). At follow-up, eight patients had locoregional recurrences after a median time of 7.2 months (range 1 to 23 months), and nine patients had died from disseminated breast cancer.

IBR is time-consuming, but it is well tolerated and does not interfere with oncologic adjuvant treatment. IBR can be performed with low morbidity by a dedicated multidisciplinary team.