TY - JOUR
T1 - Delayed-immediate breast reconstruction
T2 - Technical and timing considerations
AU - Kronowitz, Steven J.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2010/2
Y1 - 2010/2
N2 - Background: In 2002, the author implemented a new two-stage approach, "delayed-immediate breast reconstruction," for patients who desire breast reconstruction and who are at an increased risk for conditions necessitating postmastectomy radiotherapy. There is increasing acceptance of this approach in clinical practice. This report highlights important technical and timing considerations in delayed-immediate reconstruction that help ensure the best outcomes with low rates of expander loss. Methods: Stage 1 of delayed-immediate reconstruction consists of skin-sparing mastectomy with insertion of a saline-filled tissue expander to serve as an adjustable scaffold to preserve the three-dimensional shape of the breast skin envelope. Patients who do not require postmastectomy radiation therapy undergo stage 2 (definitive breast reconstruction) within 2 weeks after stage 1 to avoid delays in the start of adjuvant chemotherapy and to preserve the ptotic shape of the preserved breast skin envelope. In patients who do require radiation, the tissue expander is deflated before the therapy to create a flat chest wall surface to permit modern three-beam radiation delivery. Beginning 2 weeks after completion of radiation therapy, the expander is reinflated to the predeflation volume. Three months after the therapy, a "skin-preserving" delayed reconstruction is performed, with removal of the expander and transfer of an autologous tissue flap. Conclusions: Delayed-immediate reconstruction allows patients who do not require postmastectomy radiation therapy to receive the benefits of skin-sparing mastectomy with aesthetic outcomes similar to those of immediate reconstruction. Patients who do require radiation receive a skin-preserving delayed reconstruction, while avoiding the problems that can be associated with radiation delivery after an immediate breast reconstruction.
AB - Background: In 2002, the author implemented a new two-stage approach, "delayed-immediate breast reconstruction," for patients who desire breast reconstruction and who are at an increased risk for conditions necessitating postmastectomy radiotherapy. There is increasing acceptance of this approach in clinical practice. This report highlights important technical and timing considerations in delayed-immediate reconstruction that help ensure the best outcomes with low rates of expander loss. Methods: Stage 1 of delayed-immediate reconstruction consists of skin-sparing mastectomy with insertion of a saline-filled tissue expander to serve as an adjustable scaffold to preserve the three-dimensional shape of the breast skin envelope. Patients who do not require postmastectomy radiation therapy undergo stage 2 (definitive breast reconstruction) within 2 weeks after stage 1 to avoid delays in the start of adjuvant chemotherapy and to preserve the ptotic shape of the preserved breast skin envelope. In patients who do require radiation, the tissue expander is deflated before the therapy to create a flat chest wall surface to permit modern three-beam radiation delivery. Beginning 2 weeks after completion of radiation therapy, the expander is reinflated to the predeflation volume. Three months after the therapy, a "skin-preserving" delayed reconstruction is performed, with removal of the expander and transfer of an autologous tissue flap. Conclusions: Delayed-immediate reconstruction allows patients who do not require postmastectomy radiation therapy to receive the benefits of skin-sparing mastectomy with aesthetic outcomes similar to those of immediate reconstruction. Patients who do require radiation receive a skin-preserving delayed reconstruction, while avoiding the problems that can be associated with radiation delivery after an immediate breast reconstruction.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=76949101439&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=76949101439&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181c82d58
DO - 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181c82d58
M3 - Article
C2 - 19910850
AN - SCOPUS:76949101439
SN - 0032-1052
VL - 125
SP - 463
EP - 474
JO - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
JF - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
IS - 2
ER -