Acellular bovine pericardium matrix in immediate breast reconstruction compared with conventional implant-based breast reconstruction.

Background: Acellular Bovine Pericardium Matrix (ABPM) is a new material in implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR). Few studies have reported on its outcome and complications worldwide and most studies were without a control group. Our aim was to compare its use in IBBR with the other two conventional implant-based reconstruction methods.
Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing IBBR from January to December 2018 was performed. Patients were assigned to the ABPM-assisted IBBR (group A), latissimus dorsi-assisted IBBR (group B) and two-stage IBBR (group C). Patients' post-operative complications, cost-effectiveness and Quality of Life were compared.
Results: 100 patients with 100 breasts were included in the study. No complications occurred in group C ( n  = 11). No significant differences were noted between group A ( n  = 44) and group B ( n  = 45) in terms of overall complications (9.1% vs 11.1%, p  = 0.973). Group B had the longest operative duration (310.8 ± 62.3 min, p <0.001). The cost of hospitalization forthe three groups was $8051.3 ± 849.2, $7566.0 ± 1172.7 and $7896.5 ± 1762.2, respectively ( p  = 0.128). The postoperative Breast-Q scores  were similar across the three groups.
Conclusions: ABPM demonstrated acceptable complication rates, cost-effectiveness and quality of life outcomes when compared to LD-assisted IBBR and two-stage IBBR.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
(© 2021 The Authors.)