Bilateral breast reconstruction with DIEP flaps: 4 years’ experience

Abdominal Wall Stability and Flap Complications after Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction

“…Coinciding with previous series, 21,24,26,27 the current study reports a 6.5 percent incidence of seroma formation. Moreover, formation of donorsite seromas were not increased despite increasing body mass index, in contrast to previous studies following either DIEP 24,26 or TRAM flap-based 11,18 reconstruction.…”

“…Reported rates of fat necrosis following DIEP flap reconstruction are varied in the literature, ranging from 1.8 to 29 percent. 9,13,17,19,21,22,[25][26][27][28] In the current study overall, clinical fat necrosis was evident in 10.4 percent of DIEP flaps. Stratified by body mass index, rates of fat necrosis were unaffected by body habitus, as reported previously for pedicled 18 and free TRAM flaps.…”

Bilateral autologous breast reconstruction with deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps: Review of a single surgeon's early experience

“…31 In our study, two patients required emergent re-exploration in the OR for venous thrombosis, two patients had tissue expander explantation secondary to infection, and we had a 100% flap survival rate. Both Guerra et al 29 reported a 0% flap loss rate and fat necrosis in 30 (12.5%) patients and Drazan et al 30 had also reported a 0% flap loss rate and a fat necrosis rate of 12.9%. Only one patient in our series (2%) had fat necrosis, which was less than 10% volume.…”

“…Minor complications were observed in 29.3% patients. In a more recent study of 110 bilateral DIEP flaps by Drazan et al 30 in 55 patients, 10.9% patients had unplanned return to the operating room.…”

Risk Factors Influencing Transfusion Rates in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

“…8,9,11,13 In two recent studies, over 96 percent of patients who underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction were satisfied with the aesthetic results, and half found their health-related quality of life improved after the procedure. 14,15 The major disadvantage of the DIEP flap is the more technically challenging nature of the surgery, which may lead to longer operative times. 10,16,17 The long operative time, which has been reported to be approximately 6 hours for a unilateral reconstruction, corresponds with larger operative blood loss and a high risk of blood transfusions.…”