Short Stay Management of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Using Immediate Local Thoracoabdominal Advancement Flap and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol

BACKGROUND

Patients with locally advanced invasive breast cancer (LABC) are often considered inoperable, because of the anticipated chest wall defect and need for complex reconstruction. We present a series of patients who underwent mastectomy with extensive skin resection and immediate chest wall reconstruction using a local thoracoabdominal advancement flap (TAAF). All patients were managed after surgery with an ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol, to decrease length of stay in hospital. We also present 1 patient who subsequently had satisfactory bilateral delayed breast reconstruction with pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps with prepectoral silicone implants.

METHODS

This is a single-surgeon, single-institution retrospective chart review of patients with LABC who underwent mastectomy with skin resection and local TAAF from May 2017 to October 2019, with minimum 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients met inclusion criteria. Twelve of 13 patients presented with stage III or IV invasive breast cancer, with skin involvement. The mean chest wall defect measured 248.7 cm2 (140-336 cm2; SD, 63.2 cm2), and all were successfully reconstructed with immediate local TAAF. There were no intraoperative complications, but 1 patient developed a postop hematoma. The mean hospital stay was 1.3 nights, with 9 patients (69.2%) staying less than 23 hours and 4 patients (30.8%) staying 2 nights. Nine patients (69.2%) underwent adjuvant therapy, beginning on average 32 days (13-55 days; SD, 13.1 days) after surgery. The mean follow-up time was 13.8 months (4.5-31.6 months; SD, 9.2 months). One patient underwent successful delayed bilateral breast reconstruction with pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps and silicone implant placement.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that reconstruction with local TAAF is an outpatient procedure that reliably provides durable, immediate chest wall coverage, after mastectomy in patients with LABC. This technique has a short operative time, low blood loss, and low complication rate, allowing timely adjuvant therapy. Using an ERAS postop protocol we were able to reduce mean hospital stay to 1.3 days. Compared with other described techniques of reconstruction, the additional scars and donor site morbidity are minimal, allowing for delayed breast reconstruction. We also present survival outcomes data on these surgically managed patients.

Quality of Life in Palliative Post-mastectomy Reconstruction: Keystone versus Rotational Flap

Background:

Late stage breast cancer presents with malignant wound causing skin infiltration, pain, bleeding, and malodour, which affect quality of life (QoL). Palliative mastectomy aims to eliminate wound symptoms and requires prolonged wound care to improve QoL. This study aimed to prospectively investigate QoL differences in 2 alternative reconstructive methods: keystone flap and rotational flap.

Methods:

Twenty-four late stage breast cancer patients with symptoms of cancer wounds were included in this study. They were divided into 2 groups: keystone flap and rotational flap. Each patient’s QoL was evaluated using EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 before and 3 weeks after surgery.

Results:

Global health post-surgery was significantly improved compared with pre-surgery in all patients (P < 0.001), across both the keystone (P = 0.018) and rotational groups (P = 0.007). Breast symptoms post-surgery were also improved compared with pre-surgery in all patients (P = 0.035). However, when analyzed per group, breast symptoms were only improved significantly in the keystone group (P = 0.013) but not in the rotational group (P = 0.575). When compared between 2 groups, future perspective post-surgery in the keystone group [100 (0–100)] was better than the rotational group [66.7 (0–100)], (P = 0.020).

Conclusions:

Reconstructive surgery after mastectomy improves QoL in late stage breast cancer patients. The keystone flap is superior to the rotational flap in improving global health and breast symptoms.

Modified External Oblique Myocutaneous Flap for Repair of Postmastectomy Defects in Locally Advanced Breast Tumors: A Cohort Series Associated with a Systematic Review of Literature

BACKGROUND

Locally advanced breast tumors (LABT) are situations of difficult resolution in clinical practice. External oblique myocutaneous flap (EOMF) is an option, but there are few studies in the literature on its use.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, cohort institutional study of patients with LABT who were undergoing mastectomy combined with the use of modified-EOMF (M-EOMF). Preoperative indications and conditions, factors associated with surgery, time to radiotherapy, local recurrence, and survival were assessed. A systematic review of the literature also was performed to evaluate the use of EOMF.

RESULTS

Over the 10-year period, 17 patients underwent M-EOMF closure. The mean duration of surgery was 251 min, and extensive skin area was resected (mean 468 ± 260 cm²). Four patients developed local recurrence. The actuarial survival at 36 months was 48.3%. Using PRISMA statement, among 115 articles evaluated from 3 databases, 8 articles were selected, in which 146 patients underwent EOMF. EOMF are associated with low postoperative complications with 8.9% skin necrosis. The M-EOMF allowed the resection of larger areas than other flaps described in the literature but is associated with skin necrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

M-EOMF has the advantages of not requiring a change in the patient's position for the closure of large areas. It is thus an acceptable option for chest wall reconstruction in tumors at the limit of resectability.

Single vertical incision thoracoabdominal flap for chest wall reconstruction following mastectomy of locally advanced breast cancer

Purpose

Skin grafts have been widely used in managing extensive chest wall defects after mastectomy for advanced breast cancer. However, their durability and tolerability to radiotherapy is still controversial. A thoracoabdominal (TA) flap with a few technical refinements can safely transfer a larger flap while minimizing complications.

Methods

From January 2007 to February 2018, a retrospective review was performed to compare 2 groups after wide breast excision: skin graft group (group 1) and lateral-based, single vertical incision rotation-advancement TA flap (group 2). Patients' demographics, operative details, complications, hospital stay, postoperative outpatient visits, cost, and start of adjuvant therapy were analyzed between the 2 groups.

Results

During the study period, 34 patients received skin graft and 41 patients received TA flap. group 2 had a shorter hospital stay (6.41 ± 2.64 days vs. 12.62 ± 4.60 days, P < 0.001) and shorter time to complete wound healing (29.27 ± 18.68 days vs. 39.24 ± 27.70 days, P = 0.03) than group 1. There was also a difference in the period from surgery to initiation of adjuvant therapy (group 1, 45.04 days ± 17.79 days; group 2, 37.07 ± 15.38 days, P = 0.073). Although limitation in shoulder motion was more frequent in group 2, limitation of motion for >1 year was observed in 4 patients in only group 1 (43.90% vs. 38.24%, P = 0.613).

Conclusion

TA flap has a simple design that minimizes concerns involving the donor site. Moreover, it does not require complicated procedures and allows for re-elevation whenever necessary. Finally, it guarantees faster wound recovery than skin graft with fewer complications.