Impact of Complications on Patient Satisfaction in Breast Reconstruction

Abstract

Aesthetic satisfaction after breast reconstruction is lower in patients developing a complication, older patients, and those receiving an implant reconstruction. Furthermore, patients with a prophylactic mastectomy are more likely than those with a therapeutic mastectomy to be dissatisfied when complications arise. These relationships are important, as measures to improve quality and decrease complications can directly improve patient satisfaction.

Identification of complications in mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using tissue expanders and permanent implants for breast cancer patients

“…Reconstruction failure was significantly associated with a lower general satisfaction in patients with tissue expander (TE) and permanent implant (PI) replacement [16]; moreover, a postoperative complication was a particularly important indicator of dissatisfaction in patients with reconstruction [17]. Colakoglu [18] reported that patients with breast reconstruction who developed complications had a lower esthetic satisfaction compared with patients who did not. Therefore, it is important to prevent complications from impairing the satisfaction of patients with breast reconstructions.…”

Surgical Site Infections after Free Flap Breast Reconstruction: An Analysis of 2,899 Patients from the ACS-NSQIP Datasets

“…7 In addition to the psychological burden patients face, this negative impact on patient satisfaction has consequences for the hospital. Patient satisfaction is one metric that Medicare uses in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting program, which financially incentivizes hospitals to report quality measures and makes these results public.…”

Evaluation of Aesthetic and Quality-of-Life Results after Immediate Breast Reconstruction with Definitive Form-Stable Anatomical Implants

“…Aesthetic satisfaction with implant breast reconstruction seems to decrease with time. 28,29 Clough found a significant deterioration in 46 percent of cases in 5 years. Capsular contracture was the main factor that contributed to this.…”