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Klinik für Plastische und Ästhetische Chirurgie Dusseldorf, Germany [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The deep inferior epigastric perforator flap has been shown to be a reliable option for autologous breast reconstruction. A further refinement in the transfer of lower abdominal tissue is the superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap that does not require any incision of the rectus abdominis fascia or muscle and is superior regarding donor-site morbidity., Objectives: We conducted a retrospective study to assess reliability and outcomes of autologous breast reconstruction using SIEA flaps., Methods: We performed autologous breast reconstruction in 1708 patients at our department between 2009 and 2018. Of those, 28 patients that underwent breast reconstruction using a SIEA flap were included for a retrospective chart review., Results: Given an overall flap loss rate of 1.8%, we observed total flap necrosis following a SIEA flap in four patients (13%). All cases were secondary to arterial thrombosis. We further recognized a significant correlation between flap failure and a history of spontaneous deep vein thrombosis (p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant relationship between flap failure and obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m 2; p = 0.9) or flap failure and a history of abdominal operations (p = 0.6)., Conclusions: The SIEA flap provides a reasonable option for autologous breast reconstruction with the great advantage of minimal donor-site morbidity. Nevertheless, its use should be preserved to selected cases with favorable anatomy. We therefore recommend proper patient selection based on preoperative computed tomography angiography, intraoperative clinical evaluation and history of hypercoagulable state., Level of Evidence Iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Background: With the development of conservative mastectomies, there are an increasing number of women seeking immediate implant based and autologous breast reconstruction. Despite the oncologic safety of the procedures, the focus will be on the timing of reconstruction., Methods: Our plastic surgery unit is focused primarily on autologous breast reconstruction and is part of an interdisciplinary breast center. We offer immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with autologous tissue for patients with positive BRCA 1 and 2, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive cancer without margin problems to the skin, as well as to correct poor oncologic and aesthetic breast conserving therapy (BCT) outcomes. In the majority of cases we prefer an Immediate-DElayed AutoLogous (IDEAL) breast reconstruction concept with a two-stage procedure., Results: Over the last 10 years we performed more than 1,600 breast reconstructions with free flaps, performing the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap as our first choice for autologous tissue. We recommend IDEAL breast reconstruction, however approximately 15% of our cases are immediate one stage conservative mastectomies and breast reconstruction with the DIEP flap., Conclusions: For immediate reconstruction, the aesthetic outcome should not take precedence over oncologic considerations. Immediate one-stage, breast reconstruction with autologous tissue can be offered to the suitable patients which is most likely a healthy women with a small-to-medium sized non ptotic breast receiving a conservative mastectomy. In all other cases, we recommend an IDEAL breast reconstruction approach in order to achieve a final result that is both satisfyingly pleasing and oncologically safe.

Background: Bilateral breast reconstruction utilising autologous free tissue transfer is a complex procedure with multiple options for donor tissue available. Autogenous breast reconstruction techniques have evolved over the last three decades to meet this goal. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of patients undergoing bilateral breast reconstruction with DIEAP, TRAM or SIEA flaps., Material and Methods: A prospective study was performed in our Interdisciplinary Breast Centre from July 2004 until December 2011 in 144 patients. Demographic information, diabetes mellitus type I status, tobacco use, tumor stage, primary/secondary reconstruction, operative technique, adjuvant therapy received, length of follow-up, and complications were evaluated. Complications were divided into donor site and recipient site. To investigate which risk factors were independently related to flap loss (complete or partial), multiple linear regression analysis was performed., Results: The study identified 144 patients who had bilateral breast reconstruction with DIEAP, TRAM or SIEA flaps. For all flaps (n=248), outcome included 98.4% survival and 0.7% vein microanastomosis revision. Recipient site complications included 1.6% complete flap loss, 0.8% fat necrosis, 2.9% partial skin loss/dehiscence flap necrosis and 2.0% haematoma rate. Donor site complications included 3.7% partial skin loss/dehiscence. There was evidence of abdominal bulges in TRAM patients (1.1%) but no hernias in any patients. BMI is a major determinant of flap loss (complete or partial) in these patients., Conclusions: The primary goal of bilateral breast reconstruction is to provide a treatment option that can create a natural, symmetric breast mounds with minimal donor-site morbidity following bilateral mastectomies. These results support weight loss therapy prior to bilateral breast reconstruction.

Background: Microsurgical free flaps are a common method of breast reconstruction. Our institutional experiences with 706 lower abdomen based free perforator flaps are reported with special interest in presenting a therapeutic algorithm for efficient decision-making., Material/methods: A retrospective chart review was performed. All patients undergoing free flap surgery for breast reconstruction between July 2004 and November 2009 were included., Results: Seven hundred and six free flaps were performed in 635 patients: 451 DIEAP-flaps, 254 fasciasparing (fs) TRAM-flaps and one SIEA flaps were performed. Five hundred sixty four women had a unilateral and 71 a bilateral reconstruction (142 flaps). The complication rate was 0.84% (6 flaps) for total flap loss, 1.27% (9 flaps) for partial flap loss and 2.40% (17 flaps) for partial flap loss less than 20%. 7 patients (1.11%) underwent microsurgical revision, where venous problems occurred. 3 of them were successful, in two cases a partial flap loss less than 30% occurred after the revision. In 2 cases a complete flap loss appeared. Other minor complications included: 23 patients (3.65%) had breast hematomas, 18 patients (2.54%) presented with delayed wound healing (9 abdominal and 9 breast delayed wound healings), and 3 patients (0.42%) with abdominal hernias, 14 patients (1.98%) complained of weakness of abdominal wall., Conclusions: Abdominally based free flaps a safe and reliable method and should therefore be offered as a standard method in a breast cancer center. The protocol and algorithm presented here can reduce complications in microsurgical breast reconstructive surgery.

Background: Abdominally based perforator free flaps are commonly used in reconstructive breast surgery. Pre-operative assessment using a variety of imaging techniques has become increasingly popular to assess the anatomy of the abdominal perforators. We hypothesize that color flow duplex ultrasonography is a reliable method for mapping the abdominal perforator anatomy and avoids the complications associated with other methods., Material/methods: A prospective study of 40 consecutive patients was performed. Pre-operative color flow duplex ultrasound evaluation was compared to intra-operative findings of the dominant epigastric perforator selected at the time of flap harvest., Results: Forty consecutive patients were evaluated prospectively. Forty six flaps were harvested from these patients (6 bilateral cases). A single perforator which was identified by both pre-operatively and at the time of intra-operative flap harvest as the dominant perforator was identified in 36 of 46 flaps (78.3%). The intra-operative perforator chosen at the time of flap harvest was identified as one of the pre-operative perforators marked by duplex ultrasonography in 45 or 46 patients (97.8%)., Conclusions: Pre-operative duplex ultrasonography is a safe and reliable tool for assessing the abdominal epigastric perforators used in autologous microvascular breast reconstruction. Advantages of this technique are: it is non-invasive, it does not require contrast agent application, no radiation, and it is inexpensive when compared to other imaging modalities.