Patient-Reported Outcomes following Breast Conservation Therapy and Barriers to Referral for Partial Breast Reconstruction

Abstract

There is an unmet demand for partial breast reconstruction, with an opportunity to advocate and increase awareness on behalf of patients undergoing breast conservation therapy.

Satisfaction with the Aesthetic Effect and Quality of Life for Women after Breast Conserving Therapy (BCT)—Preliminary Research

“…The study by Vrouwe et al [17] of women undergoing BCT conducted within three years following the surgery shows that the average score on the SwO sub-scale in the Breast-Q questionnaire was 59.3 (SD = 21.1) points and this is slightly lower than that obtained in the present study. In turn, in a study of 200 post-BCS patients, O’Connell et al [18] determined the mean SwO score of patients to be 69.0 (SD = 20.0), which is significantly higher than in this study.…”

Trans-Vertical Mastectomy With Immediate Implant-Based Reconstruction: A Retrospective, Observational Study

“…This is higher than the complication rates typically observed in “normal”-breasted women who underwent implant- and ADM-based reconstructions, 19-25 including those performed by the same surgeon. 9 This is expected given the additional complexity and greater risk of complications during breast reconstruction in women with large and ptotic breasts, and hence the reported complication rate is acceptable and comparable to other reported series. Furthermore, the explantation (reconstruction failure) rate was only 5.0%, which is similar or lower than that observed in previous series with non-high-risk patients.…”

“…Breast weight and BMI were associated with increased complication rates in accordance with previous studies of implant-based reconstruction. 9,26-30 However, although breast weight was linked with complications in this group of patients, implant size was not. This may have been because the implants used were typically smaller than the original breast and were placed in a smaller skin envelope, utilizing an ADM to help offload the weight of the implant from the lower pole skin.…”

“…Smoking and radiation therapy were not associated with increased complication rates, which is at variance with previous data. 9,26-28 This is most likely due to 2 limitations of this study: its relatively small sample and the fact that active smokers were excluded or underwent a 2-stage procedure. Other limitations are that this is a retrospective, nonrandomized, single-center study involving 1 plastic surgeon and 5 general surgeons.…”

“…3,7 Large and ptotic breasts, often with stretched and thin skin envelopes, more commonly experience ischemia, skin-flap necrosis, and other complications following mastectomy. 3,8,9 Patients with large or ptotic breasts who undergo immediate, implant-based reconstruction are more likely to require revision surgery than small-breasted women. 10…”