ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Immediate breast reconstruction with silicone implants following mastectomy is a simple method, but can develop complications culminating in implant removal. The aim of this study was to analyze postoperative complications and evaluate their correlation with implant removal.
Method:
In a period of 4 years, 323 cases of immediate breast reconstruction with silicone implants following total mastectomy were retrospectively studied in the Institut Gustave-Roussy, France.
Results:
The most frequent complication was lymphocele (34.9%), followed by cutaneous necrosis (22.9%), infection (19.3%), and hematoma (13.3%). Implant removal was more frequent when a surgical complication occurred, and even more frequent when there was more than one type of complication. The most frequent complication leading to implant removal was infection (75.0%). The expander was the implant that had the highest correlation with implant removal. The use of implants with a volume greater than 300 ml was associated with a significantly higher risk of implant removal.
Conclusions:
1) The presence of postoperative complications was a risk factor for implant removal. 2) The risk of removal was higher when more than one complication was present. 3) Infection was the main type of complication associated with implant removal. 4) The expander presented a higher risk of complications and implant removal. 5) The use of implants with a volume greater than 300 ml had a greater risk of need for removal.
Keywords:
Prosthesis; Mammoplasty; Postoperative complications; Neoplasm; Reconstruction; Breast