Breast free flap complications related to haematoma formation – do the risks of multiple antithrombotics outweigh the benefits today?

Abstract

Background Free flap reconstruction is today a common operation for many breast cancer patients, but local protocols for microsurgery still predict the use of antithrombotic agents. Reduced operation times and complication rates together with faster mobilisation, after introduction of perforator flaps, call for less comprehensive antithrombotic regimens. It was hypothesised that multiple antithrombotics was a risk factor for bleeding-related flap complications.

Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted to study the association between reoperation for haematoma and flap-related complications after free flap breast reconstruction. A combination of heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin and dextran were used as antithrombotics. A sub-analysis was performed to compare non-dextran to dextran treated patients.

Results One hundred and thirty-nine patients were identified, reconstructed with 150 consecutive perforator free flaps to the breast. Reoperation for breast haematoma (13%) was associated with concomitant re-operation for venous congestion (8.6%) (p < 0.001), but also for flap thrombosis (2.9%) (p = 0.007), highlighting haematoma as a risk factor for flap-related complications. An increased rate of haematoma re-operations of the breast was noted among the flap-related complications in the dextran (n = 79), compared to the non-dextran group (p = 0.011).

Conclusion The current study highlights the use of multiple antithrombotics as a risk factor for haematoma reoperation. Liberal use of drains and evacuation of breast haematomas are, therefore, indicated together with limitation of antithrombotic agents. The highly variable use of antithrombotic agents worldwide call for evidence-based guidelines in standardised free flap breast reconstruction.

Keywords:

• Antithrombotic treatment
• perforator flaps
• microvascular surgery
• complication
• breast reconstruction

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Dr Hans Johnsson at Karolinska University Hospital and thank him for his coagulation expertise. The manuscript has been presented at the 18th Swedish Surgical Society’s meeting, Karlstad, Sweden, 2014 and 26th Annual Meeting of European Association of Plastic Surgeons, EURAPS, Edinburgh, UK, 2015.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Funding information

Financial support was provided through Cancer Research Funds of Radiumhemmet (Grant number 111122), the Swedish Society of Medicine (Grant number SLS-248851) and the regional agreement on medical training and clinical research (ALF) between the Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet (Grant number SLL20100598).