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Original Article

Complications, risk factors, and patients-reported outcomes after skin-sparing mastectomy followed by breast reconstruction in women with BRCA mutations

, , , &
Pages 234-239 | Received 22 Jun 2017, Accepted 16 Apr 2018, Published online: 09 May 2018
 

Abstract

Background: Women with a BRCA mutation have the option of undergoing prophylactic mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction; however, the potential negative effects of reconstruction on women’s physical and psychological well-being are unclear. This study aimed to investigate complications, patient-reported pain, health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) and satisfaction following reconstructive surgery at Oslo University Hospital between 2006 and 2013.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from the records of 238 patients. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect patient-reported HRQoL and satisfaction with outcome using the Short Form-12 questionnaires and Breast-Q. The self-administered Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs was used to assess neuropathic pain.

Results: The majority of participants (89.5%) underwent implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR); the remainder underwent autologous-tissue breast reconstruction (ATBR). Overall, 28.6% had complications within 30 days of surgery and 14.6% required resurgery because of complications. Women who underwent IBBR had a later onset of complications than those undergoing ATBR. Participants in the survey (n = 175 of 219, response rate 79.9%) reported similar HRQoL to an age-matched general female population. Few (2.9%) reported neuropathic pain. Patients who underwent IBBR were significantly less satisfied with the reconstructed breast (p = .001) and overall outcome (p = .02) than those who underwent ATBR, but there were no significant differences in HRQoL scores between the two groups.

Conclusions: Overall, 28.6% of the women had complications within 30 days and 14.6% needed resurgery. Few had neuropathic pain. Women who underwent ATBR were more satisfied with the overall outcome than those who underwent IBBR.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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