Limiting the fascia incision length in a DIEP flap: Repercussion on abdominal wall morbidity.

BACKGROUND: The evolution from free muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap leads to less donor-site morbidity. However, rectus fascia is usually incised longitudinally from perforator(s) to iliac vessels, often exceeding 15 cm when including longitudinal muscle spreading. By using a limited fascia incisional (LFI-) technique, we try to diminish abdominal wall functional decrease. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients who underwent unilateral breast reconstructions using free DIEP-flap with limited fascia incision between December 2014 and October 2017 were included in the study. Each patient received a periumbilical electromyogram (EMG) preoperatively, at 6 and 14 weeks postoperatively. They were compared with 27 patients having unilateral breast reconstructions using classic free DIEP-flap, performed at the same department between November 2009 and May 2011. RESULTS: In our LFI-technique, one vertical (4 cm) incision is made where the pedicle exits the muscle. A second, oblique (3 cm) incision is made more distally where the pedicle runs into the iliac vessels. After release, the pedicle is tunneled through the incisions, leaving all fascia, and therefore muscle, intact. In the LFI-group small neurogenic changes were noticed in only 26% and 11% of the patients at, respectively, 6 and 14 weeks postoperatively. By contrast, in the control group, postoperative neurogenic deviations remained in 37% of the patients at 14 weeks postoperatively; significant different compared to the LFI-group. CONCLUSION: This study shows the importance of preserving anterior rectus fascia. Nerve supply and abdominal rectus muscle function are less endangered using small segmental fascia incisions. We believe that our technique diminishes donor-site morbidity significantly and improves the postoperative recovery.

Immediate versus delayed autologous breast reconstruction: A retrospective matched cohort study of irradiated patients.

BACKGROUND: The impact of radiotherapy on breast reconstructions is not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term effects of radiation therapy in relation to timing of autologous breast reconstruction. METHODS: A total of 1247 patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction at the University Hospitals of Leuven between August 1997 and October 2013 were subjected to a retrospective matched cohort study. Each patient who underwent immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) and received post mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) were matched with two patients receiving PMRT and delayed breast reconstruction (DBR), according to age and body mass index. Early and late complications were compared between both groups after a minimum follow-up of 3 years. The need for corrective procedures on the reconstructed and contralateral breast was also evaluated. Data were collected using patients' medical records. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients who underwent IR with PMRT were identified and matched to 40 patients who underwent DBR. There were two revisions in the DR group, both due to venous occlusion. Both revisions were successful and no flap failures occurred in either group. The rate of early complications did not differ significantly between the two groups. Among late complications were both the rates of fat necrosis (p < 0.001) and skin contracture (p < 0.001) higher in the IBR group than in the DBR group. Neither corrective procedures to the reconstructed breast nor symmetrizing operations in the contralateral breast, differed between the groups. CONCLUSION: The current study indicates that radiotherapy may contribute to adverse long-term flap-related outcome after IBR. We therefore recommend reconstructions to be delayed whenever possible in patients who will require PMRT.

Oncological safety of autologous breast reconstruction after mastectomy for invasive breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients requesting autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) after mastectomy for breast cancer has increased over the past decades. However, concern has been expressed about the oncological safety of ABR. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of ABR on distant relapse. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data was analysed from patients who underwent mastectomy for invasive breast cancer in University Hospitals Leuven between 2000 and 2011. In total, 2326 consecutive patients were included, 485 who underwent mastectomy with ABR and 1841 who underwent mastectomy alone. The risk of relapse in both groups was calculated using a Cox proportional hazards analysis, adjusted for established prognostic factors. ABR was considered as a time-dependent variable. Additionally, the evolution of the risk over follow-up time was calculated. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 68 months, 8% of patients in the reconstruction group developed distant metastases compared to 15% in the mastectomy alone group (univariate HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50-0.97, p = 0.0323). However, after adjustment for potential confounding factors in a Cox multivariable analysis, the risk of distant relapse was no longer significantly different between groups (multivariate HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.55-1.22, p = 0.3301). Moreover, the risk of metastasis after reconstruction was not time-dependent. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there is no effect of ABR on distant relapse rate and thus that ABR is an oncological safe procedure. The rate of local recurrence was too low to make any significant conclusions.

Fat necrosis in deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps: an ultrasound-based review of 202 cases.

BACKGROUND: In autologous breast reconstruction after mastectomy, fat necrosis is a rather common complication that may lead to secondary corrective surgery. The understanding of fat necrosis until now has been limited because previous studies were based exclusively on physical examination and used diverse definitions. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the incidence of fat necrosis and the correlation of several risk factors in 202 deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps for breast reconstruction. The incidence of fat necrosis was based on both physical examination and ultrasound imaging. The following risk factors were studied: age, smoking, body mass index, timing of reconstruction, and timing and extent of radiation therapy fields. RESULTS: Physical examination revealed a palpable mass or nodule in 14 percent of the DIEP flaps (28 of 202). Ultrasound examination added another 21 percent of DIEP flaps (42 of 202) with a firm area of scar tissue (diameter >or=5 mm). The overall ultrasound incidence of fat necrosis in this study was 35 percent (71 of 202). Although the overall ultrasound incidence of fat necrosis was very high, only 7 percent of the DIEP flaps (15 of 202) needed to undergo an extra surgical procedure for removal of this area. In contrast to previous studies, none of the risk factors studied was statistically significant for the occurrence of fat necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there is no significant association between previously suspected risk factors and fat necrosis. The overall incidence of fat necrosis, however, is much higher than previously accepted, even though the need for corrective surgery is limited.

Perforator topography of the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap in 100 cases of breast reconstruction.

The anatomic topography of the perforators within the rectus muscle and the anterior fascia largely determines the time needed to harvest the perforator free flap and the difficulty of the procedure. In 100 consecutive cases, the topographic patterns of the perforators were investigated. In 65 percent, a short intramuscular course was seen. In 16 percent, a perforator at the tendinous intersection was encountered. In 9 percent, the largest perforator was found to have a long intramuscular course. In 5 percent, a subfascial course was found, and in another 5 percent, a paramedian course was found. In 74 percent of flaps, just one perforator was used, whereas two perforators were dissected in 20 percent. Only in 6 percent of flaps were three perforators used. A long intramuscular course (>4 cm) lengthens the dissection substantially, especially when the intramuscular course is in a step-wise pattern. The subfascial course requires precarious attention at the early stage of the perforator dissection when splitting the fascia. The perforators at the tendinous intersections are the most accessible and require a short but intense dissection in the fibrotic tissue of intersection. A paramedian perforator, medial to the rectus muscle, is a septocutaneous rather than a musculocutaneous perforator. The straightforward dissection almost extends up to the midline. Therefore, dissection always is performed at one side and, if no good perforators are present, continued at the intact contralateral side. The size of these perforators and their location in the flap determine the choice. One perforator with significant flow can perfuse the whole flap. If in doubt, two perforators can be harvested, especially if they show a linear anatomy so that muscle fibers can be split. The only interference with the muscle exists in splitting the muscle fibers. A perforator that lies in the middle of the flap is preferable. For a large flap, a perforator of the medial row provides better perfusion to zone 4 than one of the lateral row because of the extra choke vessel for the lateral row perforators. The clinical appearance of the perforators is the key element in the dissection of the perforator flap. Perforator topography determines the overall length and difficulty of the procedure.