Reconstrução mamária com implantes e tela sintética / Breast reconstruction with implants and synthetic mesh

Introdução: As mastectomias com reconstruções mamárias imediatas podem proteger a paciente de um período de estresse psicossocial, imagem corporal negativa e insatisfação sexual. O advento e utilização de novos materiais como os implantes, expansores e matrizes dérmicas acelulares também contribuíram para o sucesso das reconstruções mamárias. Porém, o uso das matrizes dérmicas acelulares é restrito no Brasil pela legislação e seu alto custo. O objetivo do estudo foi relatar a experiência do autor na reconstrução mamária com implantes e tela sintética como uma alternativa às matrizes dérmicas acelulares. Método: Foi realizada uma análise retrospectiva de 12 pacientes consecutivas (20 mamas reconstruídas) que foram submetidas à reconstrução mamária imediata ou tardia pela técnica descrita com implantes e tela sintética, entre novembro de 2015 e dezembro de 2016. Resultados: Doze pacientes (20 mamas) foram operadas pela técnica apresentada no estudo. O tempo médio de follow-up foi de 14 meses. Nesta série, 15% apresentaram complicações menores como hematoma, deiscência de sutura e rippling. O número de complicações, apesar do número restrito de casos, é compatível com a literatura. O grau de satisfação global com a cirurgia foi, em média, de 75,2 pontos em uma escala de 0-100, sendo a nota mais alta atribuída à aparência das mamas (85 pontos). Conclusão: A reconstrução mamária com implantes e tela sintética se mostrou uma técnica com baixo índice de complicações, alto grau de satisfação das pacientes com o resultado estético e com menores custos em relação ao uso de matrizes dérmicas acelulares.

Introduction: Mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction may prevent patients from experiencing a period of psychosocial stress, negative body image, and sexual dissatisfaction. The advent and implementation of novel materials such as implants, expanders, and acellular dermal matrices have also contributed to the success of breast reconstruction procedures. However, the use of acellular dermal matrices in Brazil is restricted by law and by their high cost. The objective of the present study was to report the author's experience in breast reconstruction with implants and synthetic mesh as an alternative to acellular dermal matrices. Method: This was a retrospective analysis of 12 consecutive patients (20 reconstructed breasts) who underwent immediate or delayed breast reconstruction using the described technique with implants and synthetic mesh between November 2015 and December 2016. Results: Twelve patients (20 breasts) were operated on using the technique described in this report. The mean time of follow-up was 14 months. In this series, 15% of patients had minor complications, including hematoma, suture dehiscence, and rippling. The rate of complications was similar to the rates reported in the literature, despite the limited number of cases. The average degree of overall satisfaction with the surgery was 75.2 points on a scale of 0-100, and the highest score was given to breast appearance (85 points). Conclusion: Breast reconstruction with implants and synthetic mesh was shown to be a technique with a low rate of complications, high degree of patient satisfaction with the cosmetic result, and decreased cost relative to acellular dermal matrices.

[Workhorse flaps for breast reconstruction]. / La reconstruction mammaire par lambeau.

Breast reconstruction is a crucial step in the treatment of breast cancer providing a durable solution for patients seeking to restore their physical and psychological integrity. If only part of the breast parenchyma is removed, local glandular flaps are used to restore breast shape and volume. After total mastectomy, when prosthetic reconstruction is contraindicated because of poor skin quality, distant flaps are preferred. Most of the time, two types of flaps are used: the pedicled myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap and the deep inferior epigastric perforator (D.l.E.P.) free flap. The first flap is simple to execute and reliable, but requires some breast prosthetic material to add volume to the reconstruction. The second flap allows performing autologus reconstructions, providing a high quantity of supple tissues, while remaining a significantly more complex technique.

Long-term role of external breast prostheses after total mastectomy.

After total mastectomy, many women choose to wear external breast prosthesis rather than undergo breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term satisfaction among external breast prosthesis wearers and the impact of satisfaction on prosthesis use. A questionnaire was designed to assess demographic information, prosthesis information provision, prosthesis use, and satisfaction with prosthesis. Fifty-nine women who had undergone total mastectomy without breast reconstruction completed the questionnaire. The majority of women (68%) were at least 5 years out from mastectomy. Approximately half (49%) of the women had received information about breast prostheses prior to mastectomy; 29% received information from the surgeon performing the operation. Frequent and prolonged prosthesis use was prevalent with 64% of participants reporting prosthesis use all the time, 6-7 days/week. Participants showed high rates (83%) of overall satisfaction. However, women who wore their prosthesis out in public only were less satisfied than more frequent wearers (50% versus 89%, chi(2) = 8.83, d.f. = 1, alpha = 0.05). Satisfaction increased over time, as women who were greater than 5 years out from mastectomy were more satisfied than women less that 5 years post-mastectomy (90% versus 67%, chi(2) = 4.43, d.f. = 1, alpha = 0.05). The vast majority of women are satisfied with their external breast prosthesis several years after mastectomy. Most women used their prosthesis all the time and overall satisfaction contributed to higher levels of prosthesis use. Given the long-term importance of external breast prostheses for women who have undergone mastectomy, a greater effort to inform patients about external breast prostheses prior to surgery is needed.

Stratification for the propensity score compared with linear regression techniques to assess the effect of treatment or exposure.

Stratifying and matching by the propensity score are increasingly popular approaches to deal with confounding in medical studies investigating effects of a treatment or exposure. A more traditional alternative technique is the direct adjustment for confounding in regression models. This paper discusses fundamental differences between the two approaches, with a focus on linear regression and propensity score stratification, and identifies points to be considered for an adequate comparison. The treatment estimators are examined for unbiasedness and efficiency. This is illustrated in an application to real data and supplemented by an investigation on properties of the estimators for a range of underlying linear models. We demonstrate that in specific circumstances the propensity score estimator is identical to the effect estimated from a full linear model, even if it is built on coarser covariate strata than the linear model. As a consequence the coarsening property of the propensity score-adjustment for a one-dimensional confounder instead of a high-dimensional covariate-may be viewed as a way to implement a pre-specified, richly parametrized linear model. We conclude that the propensity score estimator inherits the potential for overfitting and that care should be taken to restrict covariates to those relevant for outcome.

Comparison of postoperative wound complications and early cancer recurrence between patients undergoing mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction.

The incidence of postoperative wound complications and early cancer recurrence was studied in 289 patients who had mastectomy alone and in 113 patients who underwent immediate reconstruction following mastectomy. Patients undergoing immediate reconstruction were younger and had less advanced disease than patients who had mastectomy alone. The postoperative hospital stay was 3.8 days and 4.4 days (p < 0.05) in patients with and without reconstruction, respectively. The overall incidence of postoperative complications was similar in the two groups of patients: 31% and 28% in patients with and without reconstruction, respectively. The incidence of postoperative seroma was higher among patients with mastectomy alone (19% versus 3%, p < 0.05), whereas the incidence of other wound complications was similar in the two groups of patients. Prosthesis-specific complications occurred in 17%. Eight prostheses were removed because of complications. During the relatively short follow-up period (approximately 20 months), local recurrence was noted in 16 patients (6%) who had mastectomy alone and in 1 patient (1%) who had immediate reconstruction after mastectomy (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of distant metastases between the two groups of patients. The results suggest that immediate breast reconstruction can be performed following mastectomy for cancer without increased risk for overall postoperative complications, prolonged hospital stay, or local recurrence. However, patients who choose to have immediate reconstruction need to be informed about risks for specific complications associated with the procedure, especially if an implant is used.

Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy.

Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy can be performed safely with a low incidence of complications. There is no evidence that reconstruction with a submuscular implant interferes with subsequent oncologic care, followup, or outcome for patients.

Breast reconstruction in women treated with radiation therapy for breast cancer: cosmesis, complications, and tumor control.

The records of 55 patients who had breast cancer treated by mastectomy, irradiation, and breast reconstruction were reviewed for cosmetic outcome, complications, and tumor control. Median follow-up was 35 months. Local control rates were 95 percent in patients treated for high risk factors or breast conservation and 85 percent in patients treated for recurrent breast cancer. Acceptable cosmetic results were obtained in only 42 percent of patients. The incidence of complications was 55 percent. Transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) reconstructions gave superior cosmetic results compared with all other types of reconstructions. The timing of reconstruction in relation to mastectomy or radiation therapy did not significantly influence cosmetic outcome, although other factors suggest that delayed reconstruction may give better results. A majority of patients were satisfied with cosmetic outcome.