Is Immediate Breast Reconstruction With a Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous Flap Safe for Starting Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Breast Cancer?

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy reduces perceptions of mutilation and femininity issues in oncological patients, but surgical complications should not delay chemotherapy. This study evaluated postsurgical complications in patients who underwent radical breast surgery followed by immediate reconstruction with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps and silicone implants, along with resulting impacts in delaying chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study utilized a prospectively maintained database. Clinical, surgical, and oncological data from 196 women were collected according to the operated side. Patients were grouped according to the time elapsed between surgery and the first cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy ≤ 60 days (group 1), 61 to 90 days (group 2), or > 90 days (group 3). RESULTS: A total of 198 immediate reconstructions were performed on 196 patients between August 1, 2010 and March 31, 2020; after surgery, 47.4% had minor complications and 7.1% had major complications. Ninety-six patients (48.5%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. The mean time elapsed between surgery and the first chemotherapy cycle was 65.4 days (median 59), with 52.7% of the patients assigned to group 1, 37.4% to group 2, and 9.9% to group 3. The occurrence of major postoperative complications significantly affected the start of chemotherapy (64.0 vs. 94.5 days; P = .044). Additionally, patients with 2 or more comorbidities were more likely to experience major complications (OR 3.35; 95% CI 1.03-10.95; P = .045) than those with 1 or 0. CONCLUSION: Major postoperative complications significantly delayed initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy in oncological patients who underwent radical breast surgery followed by immediate reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and silicone implants.