Complications may arise following post-mastectomy breast implant reconstruction. Sun et al reported a number of risk factors associated with these complications. The authors are from Chongqing Medical University and affiliated hospitals.
Patient selection: post-mastectomy breast implant reconstruction
Breast implant reconstruction was either immediate placement of a permanent implant or immediate placement of an expander with expander-implant exchange after adjuvant radiation therapy.
Complications:
(1) postoperative bleeding
(2) incision dehiscence
(3) upper limb edema
(4) nipple areolar complex necrosis
(5) flap necrosis
(6) extrusion/exposure of the implant
(7) hematoma
(8) seroma
(9) dermatitis
Breast implant reconstruction failure is the removal of the breast prosthesis due to complications.
Risk factors for complications:
(1) radiation therapy (OR 2.0)
(2) chemotherapy (OR 2.2), adjuvant with some receiving neoadjuvant therapy
Risk factors for reconstruction failure:
(1) hypertension in the perioperative period (OR 8.2)
(2) radiation therapy (OR 2.4)
Features of the radiation therapy associated with complications:
(1) a high radiation dose
(2) a dose that exceeded the prescribed dose even by a small amount
(3) breast volume exposed to a high dose
