Immediate surgical mesh-free implant-based breast reconstruction with fascial flap in breast cancer patients after mastectomy

Abstract

Purpose: Surgical meshes are often used in retro-pectoral implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) to improve lower pole expansion. However, using of surgical meshes is associated with increased complications and costs. To solve this problem, we have adopted a modified fascia-based IBBR technique using fasciae of pectoral major, serratus anterior, and external oblique muscles to form a sling covering the lower pole of prosthesis since 2014.

Methods: Data of 788 retro-pectoral IBBR cases, including 250 fascia-based IBBR cases (fascial group) and 538 traditional IBBR cases (control group), treated between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical outcomes of the fascial and control group were compared. The primary endpoint was the rate of post-operative complications requiring interventions. The secondary endpoint was the rate of explantation. The exploratory endpoint was the time from surgery to complication and explantation.

Results: The fascial group had significantly lower rates of developing major post-operative complications (1.2 vs. 6.1%, p = 0.002) and losing prostheses (1.2 vs. 4.3%, p = 0.025), as compared with the control group. The median time from surgery to complication and explantation were 61 (range, 35-115) days and 92 (range, 77-134) days for the fascial group and 35 (range, 6-239) days and 63 (range, 23-483) days for the control group, respectively.

Conclusion: Fascia-based IBBR technique had low rates of major post-operative complications and explantation. Fascia-based IBBR technique could be considered as an alternative reconstruction method in properly selected patients.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Breast implant; Breast reconstruction; Fascia; Treatment outcome.