Introduction to "Advances in Breast Reconstruction"

A Picture of Breast Reconstruction in a Public Oncology Hospital in Latin America: A Ten-Year Experience

Objective

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant tumor among women worldwide, with the sole exception of non-melanoma skin cancer. Currently, one of the most common treatments in Brazil is modified radical mastectomy, which, although effective, leads to both physical and psychological complications. In this context, breast reconstruction seeks to restore the functional and psychosocial health of women. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of breast reconstructions after mastectomy by comparing immediate and delayed reconstructions.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective observational study, which was performed by analyzing the electronic medical records of the Erasto Gaertner Hospital in Curitiba, Brazil, from between January 2007 and December 2017.

Results

After applying exclusion criteria, we analyzed a total of 268 medical records from January 2010 to December 2017. The most frequent histological type was invasive ductal carcinoma. Patients treated after 2014 had a higher number of immediate reconstructions, and the most commonly used method was alloplastic reconstruction using expanders (66.5%). There was no significant difference in the frequency of immediate or late complications between patients who opted for immediate or delayed reconstructions. The most common immediate complication was surgical wound dehiscence, and the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with a higher rate of complications in immediate reconstructions.

Conclusion

The current preference is for immediate reconstructions with breast tissue expanders in combination with chemotherapy, which follows a trend in Brazil and worldwide that has been identified in the literature. Finally, the growth in immediate reconstructions with no associated increase in complications demonstrates the effectiveness of this practice.

Immediate breast reconstruction in high-risk cases using an anatomically shaped permanent expandable implant

BACKGROUND

Anatomically shaped permanent expandable implants are dual-chambered devices, which allow their postoperative expansion for the adjustment of volume. Their use is optional when 1-stage immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) direct to permanent implant is not feasible. The aim of this study is to present one center's long-term experience with the anatomical Becker expandable implant in a large series of patients who underwent either IBR or a salvage procedure for IBR with the device.

METHODS

The records of 141 patients (a total of 161 breasts) who underwent IBR with the Becker implant were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics and surgical outcomes were analyzed. Indications for this procedure included reduced skin envelopes, compromised skin flaps, salvage procedures, and single-stage procedures in patients with major comorbidities.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-three devices (76%) involved IBR and 38 devices (24%) were salvage cases after direct-to-implant IBR. The device was used in a previously radiated breast in 36 cases (22%). Long-term follow-up demonstrated that 99 devices (61.5%) had been exchanged or removed and that only 62 devices (38.5%) remained as permanent implants. Removal of the device was associated with prior breast radiation and advanced age.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the Becker device in high-risk IBR cases had a low retention rate as a permanent implant. Favorable indications for the use of this device in IBR cases include contralateral breast augmentation and patients with major comorbidities, which demonstrated a higher retention rate. Other indications for high-risk IBR cases could probably benefit using a 2-stage tissue-expander and implant technique.