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

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.

Keywords:

• Breast reconstruction
• complication
• BRCA mutation carriers
• patient-reported outcomes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.