| Reduction mammaplasty is a consistent technique for reconstruction following breast-conserving surgery
Although reduction mammaplasty (RM) is a well-described technique, there are few previous reports regarding its clinical outcome following conservative breast surgery reconstruction (CBR). In our study, with a mean time of follow-up of 22 months, we analyzed the feasibility of the technique and its outcome following CBR in a series of 74 patients with early breast cancer. Surgical margins were assessed by radiological and histological examination of frozen sections. Positive margins discovered on permanent pathology in a previous negative margins was observed in one case. All patients were followed closely in the postoperative period and at this time, no local recurrences were observed. Immediate complications occurred in 17.5 percent of patients, being skin necrosis mostly observed. Late complications represented by radiotherapy skin lesions and fat necrosis were observed in 6.7 percent. Analyzing the risk factors for complications, obese patients and smokers had a significantly higher rate of complications compared to the normal/overweight (p=0.002) and non-smokers (p=0.043). In conclusion, RM is a reliable technique and should be considered in cases of CBR, however care must be taken in obese and smoker patients. The main indication is in patients with medium/large volume breasts with small/moderate defects where there is enough breast tissue to perform the reconstruction. The success of the procedure depends on patient selection, coordinated planning and careful intra-operative management.
Bibliographical reference.
Alexandre Mendonça Munhoz Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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