gms | German Medical Science

44. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen e. V. (DGPRÄC), 18. Jahrestagung der Vereinigung der Deutschen Ästhetisch-Plastischen Chirurgen e. V. (VDÄPC)

12.09. - 14.09.2013, Münster

Article

Send article

Complications in free autologous breast reconstruction – how often is surgical intervention warranted and to what degree?

Meeting Abstract

Search Medline for

  • presenting/speaker Katrin Seidenstuecker - Sana KH Düsseldorf-Gerresheim, Klinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
  • Beatrix Munder - Sana KH Düsseldorf-Gerresheim, Klinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
  • Mazen Hagouan - Sana KH Düsseldorf-Gerresheim, Klinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
  • Tobias Koeppe - Sana KH Düsseldorf-Gerresheim, Klinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland
  • Christoph Andree - Sana KH Düsseldorf-Gerresheim, Klinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie, Düsseldorf, Deutschland

Deutsche Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen. Vereinigung der Deutschen Ästhetisch-Plastischen Chirurgen. 44. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen (DGPRÄC), 17. Jahrestagung der Vereinigung der Deutschen Ästhetisch-Plastischen Chirurgen (VDÄPC). Münster, 12.-14.09.2013. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2013. DocFV 26

doi: 10.3205/13dgpraec033, urn:nbn:de:0183-13dgpraec0333

Published: September 10, 2013

© 2013 Seidenstuecker et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

Text

Introduction: In the words of Robert M. Goldwyn: “Breast reconstruction begins as reconstructive procedure but ends as aesthetic procedure.” In order to achieve this goal we need to ensure that patient satisfaction rides high and the end result is not compromised.

Methods: Over the last six years, we have retrospectively looked at the complications encountered in our patients who had undergone free autologous breast reconstruction. We have noted the operative intervention undertaken to deal with the complication and analysed the end result of the reconstruction in relation to the complication experienced.

Results: 800 patients (908 flaps – 108 bilateral) were identified in the study period. Total flap loss occurred in 6 flaps (0.7%), partial flap loss of 30-50% of the flap occurred in 13 flaps (1.4%) and marginal necrosis of

Conclusion: Every revision has a conflicting priority between flap survival and the aesthetic outcome of the breast reconstruction. In early revision surgery where the flap may only survive partially on salvage, it might be best to denounce the partially failing flap and perform a new reconstructive procedure rather than compromising on patient satisfaction in the long run.