ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the value of extended latissimus dorsi flap (ELDF) in immediate breast reconstruction in patients with breast cancer after modified radical mastectomy.Methods Thirty-six patients with breast cancer who accepted modified radical mastectomy and 12 patients with breast cancer who accepted immediate breast reconstruction after modified radical mastectomy from January 2008 to June 2009 were included.The complications,cosmetical results and quality of life of these patients were compared.The shape of breast reconstruction was also evaluated.Results All of 12 patients succeeded in proceeding immediate breast reconstruction with ELDF.The evaluation of shape of breast reconstruction was good in 6 cases,secondary in 4 cases,and bad in 2 cases,which was beyond that in patients of radical operation group (P0.05).The patients in breast reconstruction group had a better quality of life compared with the patients in radical operation group (P
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Donor site seroma is the most common complication of extended latissimus dorsi flap for breast reconstruction. One of preventive treatments is to use the fibrin sealant in donor site before closure. Experimentally, it has been used successfully in the prevention of latissimus donor site seroma, but its clinical efficacy and results were very controversial. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy and to determine the optimal dose of fibrin sealant. METHODS: A retrospective study was done of patients operated under same surgical conditions by one operator with variable doses of fibrin sealant. The study group consisted of 60 consecutive patients who underwent breast reconstruction with extended latissimus flap reconstructions from January 2005 to December 2006. Patients were divided into 4 group by applied fibrin sealant amount(group 1=0mL, group 2=1mL, group 3=2mL, group 4=4mL). Retrospective data were obtained from total postoperative drainage amount, time from surgery to drain removal, and incidence and quantity of seroma formation in matched patients group. RESULTS: Total drainage amount decreased relative to the amount of fibrin sealant. The seroma formation rate of 30% in the study group 4 was significantly less than group 1 rate of 71%(p<0.05). It was an improvement over the rates of as much as 79% described previously in the literature. Also, time from surgery to drain removal was shortened significantly in group 4 patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of fibrin sealant in the extended latissimus dorsi flap donor site appears effective in preventing seroma. However, important factors to obtain lower seroma formation rates are proper techniques and proper amounts such as the authors suggested amount: 0.01mL/cm2 with spray type fibrin sealant.