ObjectiveTo explore the clinical application of combined transverse upper gracilis flap and adductor magnus perforator flap in breast reconstruction of breast cancer patients after mastectomy.MethodsBetween August 2016 and February 2017, the combined transverse upper gracilis flap and adductor magnus perforator flap was used in 12 cases of breast cancer patients who received modified radical surgery for breast reconstruction. All patients were females with the age of 32 to 59 years (mean, 41.5 years). There were 7 cases in left side and 5 cases in right side. Eight cases were received breast reconstruction by one-stage operation and 4 cases by two-stage operation. In one-stage operation cases, pathological diagnosis includes invasive ductal carcinoma in 4 cases and invasive lobular carcinoma in 4 cases. The disease duration ranged from 2 to 9 months (mean, 4.5 months). In two-stage operation cases, the time interval between mastectomy and breast reconstruction ranged from 12 to 70 months (mean, 37.4 months). The length of flap was 20-28 cm, the width of flap was 5.5-7.5 cm, the thickness of flap was 2.5-4.5 cm. The length of gracilis flap pedicle was 6.5-9.2 cm, the length of adductor magnus perforator flap pedicle was 7.5-10.4 cm. The weight of flap was 295-615 g.ResultsThe ischemia time of flap ranged from 95 to 230 minutes (mean, 135 minutes). All flaps were successfully survived. All incisions of recipient donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 7-14 months (mean, 9.5 months). The reconstructed breasts’ shape, texture, and elasticity were good and no flap contracture deformation happened. Only linear scar left in the donor sites, but the function of thighs was not affected. No local recurrence happened during follow-up.ConclusionWith appropriate patient selection and surgical technique, the combined transverse upper gracilis flap and adductor magnus perforator flap can be a valuable option as an alternative method for autologous breast reconstruction.
ObjectiveTo explore the surgical technique and preliminary results of endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy (E-NSM) and immediate pre-pectoral implant-based breast reconstruction (BR) with titanium-coated polypropylene mesh (TiLoop Bra) via single axillary incision for breast cancer patients.MethodsThe clinical data of 9 consecutive female patients who underwent E-NSM and immediate pre-pectoral implant-based BR with TiLoop Bra from March to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age of patients was 40.6 (22-60) years. The operation time, early complications were collected, and the patients' social and mental health, breast satisfaction and chest function before and after the operation were assessed with the BREAST-Q questionnaire.ResultsAll the patients had unicentric tumor with a mean diameter of 2.4 (0.6-4.7) cm. The mean distance from the tumor to the nipple was 2.5 (2-4) cm. There were 2 patients with tumor stage 0 and 7 patients with stageⅠ. The mean operation time was 161.1 (125-201) min, the mean blood loss was 41.1 mL and the hospital stay time was 1.5 d. There were 5 patients in the day-care unit. All the patients were successfully followed up with a median follow-up time of 1 (1-2) month. One (11.1%) patient with depigmentation of the nipple-areola complex caused by mild ischemia. None of the patients had incision complications, subcutaneous emphysema, hematoma, infection, nipple-areola or skin flaps necrosis, implant loss. During the follow-up period, no local/regional recurrence or distant metastasis was found. Chest well-being was decreased in the first month after the surgery compared with preoperative status, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.001). There was no statistical difference in the breast satisfaction or psychosocial function scores between pre- and post-operation (P>0.05).ConclusionE-NSM and immediate pre-pectoral implant-based BR with TiLoop Bra via single axillary incision has minimal trauma, rapid postoperative recovery, short operation time, few early complications and good early cosmetic effect, and the short-term result is satisfactory.
Endoscopic technology can reduce the surgical incision, and on the basis of ensuring tumor safety, effectively improve aesthetic outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction. Endoscopic breast-conserving surgery can offer benefits to scar appearance for patients with early breast cancer; however, for patients with tumors in the lower quadrant, the trauma of surgery should be carefully considered. Endoscopic breast reconstruction provides a preferred option for the patients underwent total mastectomy by reshaping a scarless breast. The choice of surgery should be considered by oncological safety, postoperative aesthetic effects, patient’s willingness, and medical conditions. The more high-quality clinical studies are needed to provide reference for decision-making. The development of endoscopic technology will provide better treatment options for patients with breast cancer.
ObjectiveTo analyze the value of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging in the evaluation of blood flown of ipple-areola complex (NAC) and implant selection during single-port endoscopic breast reconstruction. Methods From November 2018 to March 2020, 19 patients who underwent single-port inflatable endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy combined with breast reconstruction in Beijing Friendship Hospital were retrospectively collected. ICG fluorescence imaging technology was used to evaluate the blood supply pattern and the risk of ischemic necrosis of NAC, so as to guide the selection of implant. At the same time, 14 patients who underwent single-port inflatable endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy combined with breast reconstruction in Beijing Friendship Hospital from February 2017 to October 2018 were selected as the historical control group (control group). NAC ischemic necrosis, breast satisfaction and implant removal were compared between the two groups. Results In the ICG group, there were3 cases of V1 pattern and 2 cases of NAC ischemic necrosis (1 case of grade 1, 1 case of grade 2). There was no NAC ischemic necrosis in 16 patients with V2 mode and V3 mode. No implant loss occurred in any of the patients. In the control group, 5 cases had NAC ischemic necrosis (all were severe ischemic necrosis), and 2 cases had implant loss. The rate of severe NAC ischemic necrosis in the ICG group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in implant loss rate between the two groups (P=0.17). The breast satisfaction score of the ICG group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.01), but there were no significant difference in satisfaction scores of chestwell-being, psychological well-being and sexual well-being between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions ICG imaging can be used to evaluate the blood supply pattern during the operation of prosthetic body mass reconstruction, guide the choice of implant in immediate breast reconstruction, so as to further improve postoperative breast satisfaction.
Objective
To review the application progress of non-biological meshes for breast reconstruction (BR).
Methods
The related home and abroad researches in BR were reviewed and summarized.
Results
Non-biological meshes can be divided into degradable and nondegradable. The former has many types, whether its degradation rate can match with the grow rate of repair tissue will significantly affect the wound healing and tissue intergradation. TiLOOP, on behalf of the latter, has a good postoperative performance due to its nano TiO2 layer, lightness and flexibility. Non-biological meshes have been gradually used to cover and fix implant in BR. Compared with biological meshes, non-biological meshes are cheaper and have a more positive postoperative performance generally, but definite comparison can’t be concluded due to the limited data.
Conclusion
As non-biological meshes are applied to BR preliminarily, their effectiveness are still needed to be observed further.
Objective
To explore the value of the application of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in the breast reconstruction.
Methods
The clinical data of the 36 patients with breast tumor who had undergone breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap from January 2012 to December 2016 were collected retrospectively. The postoperative complications and cosmetic results were analyzed.
Results
Thirty-six patients with breast tumor who underwent breast reconstruction with latissmus dorsi myocutaneous flap, including 32 patients with immediate breast reconstruction and 4 patients with delayed breast reconstruction respectively. The operative time of the patients who undertwent immediate breast reconstruction was 235–490 min (mean of 325 min), the intraoperative blood loss was 200–260 mL (mean of 220 mL), and the hospitalization time was 18–33 d (mean of 23.6 d). The total operative time of patients who underwent delayed breast reconstruction was 325–550 min (mean of 355 min), the total intraoperative blood loss was 200–250 mL (mean of 220 mL), and the total hospitalization time was 27–45 d (mean of 32.5 d). The cosmetic results was excellent in 22 patients, good in 8 patients, fair in 6 patients, respectively, and fine rate was 83.3% (30/36). There was no flap loss, but donor site seroma occurred in 21 patients, partial necrosis of the surgical margin of back skin occurred in 1 patient, partial necrosis of the nipple and areola skin occurred in 2 patients. All the patients were followed-up for 3–60 months, and the mean follow-up time was 37 months. During the follow-up period, no patient occurred metastasis or recurrence. After undergoing radiotherapy, reconstructive breast volume of 2 patients significantly contracted. None of the patients had significant limb function.
Conclusion
The breast reconstruction with the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is a simple, easy, and effective surgical procedure.
ObjectiveTo understand the current research status of conservative mastectomy with breast reconstruction for breast cancer, so as to provide a reference for surgeons and patients with breast cancer to choose surgical method. MethodThe recently domestic and foreign literature on the research of conservative mastectomy with breast reconstruction for breast cancer was reviewed and summarized. ResultsAt present, conservative mastectomy mainly included nipple sparing mastectomy, skin sparing mastectomy, and skin reduction mastectomy. All three surgical methods were safe and effective in the treatment of breast cancer, and the complications could be controlled. When combined with breast reconstruction, the better cosmetic effect could be obtained, and the postoperative satisfaction and quality of life of patients were markedly improved. ConclusionsAfter comprehensively preoperative evaluation for patients with breast cancer, conservative mastectomy provides a treatment choice for them. After conservative mastectomy, individualized reconstruction scheme is formulated according to size and sagging degree of breast, as well as individual expectations of patients, which can obtain a higher quality of life while treating diseases for patients with breast cancer.
Endoscopic technique is one of the important development directions of modern surgical techniques. Compared with the laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery, the development of endoscopic technology in breast surgery is generally slow due to the limitation of the physiological structure of this organ. The characteristics of endoscopic technology such as micro-incision trauma and remote operation are especially suitable for breast (cancer) surgery, which desires flawless skin surface and perfect remodeling. In the meantime, however, the obstacles of breast (cancer) endoscopic surgery include the establishment and maintenance of a satisfactory surgical field, the endoscopic exposure of large and heavy glands, the obstruction by the slope of the skeletal thorax, the remote operation that is difficult to accomplish with conventional endoscopic instruments, and the complete removal of large and tough glands and so on. By studying and pondering the experience of the pioneers of endoscopy, the endoscopic team of West China Hospital took five years to develop this novel one axillary-incision, single-port and liposuction-free endoscopic surgical approach which is low costing and only requires one-port operation platform. The original “inverse sequence method”, “Huaxi hole no. 1, 2, 3” and other endoscopy-assisted approach overcome the aforesaid obstacles. It has significantly reduced the technical threshold and operational difficulty of breast (cancer) endoscopic surgery and contributed our own wisdom to the vigorous development of breast endoscopic technology in China. The author shared her observations and thoughts on the technical details of breast endoscopic surgery based on her nearly 20 years of experience in endoscopic operation.
ObjectiveTo explore the method of preventing heat steam induced skin damage in robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (R-NSM-IBR) using Da Vinci Robots. Methods A clinical data of 128 female patients with breast cancer, who were treated with R-NSM-IBR between September 2022 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was retrospectively analyzed. During robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy, the breasts were covered with gauze cooled by ice water to reduce skin temperature in 99 cases (group A) and were not treated in 29 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in the age, affected side, body mass index, pathological type of breast cancer, and constituent ratios of adjuvant chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy between the two groups (P>0.05). Intraoperative breast skin temperature, unilateral robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy time, and the incidence of complications of breast heat steam induced skin damage were recorded. Results The time for unilateral robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy was (77.18±9.23) minutes in group A and (76.38±12.88) minutes in group B, with significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The intraoperative breast skin temperature was significantly lower in group A than in group B [(25.61±0.91)℃ vs (33.38±1.14)℃; P<0.05]. Seven cases of heat steam skin damage occurred during operation, including 2 cases (2.0%) in group A and 5 cases (17.2%) in group B, with a significant difference in incidence between the two groups (P<0.05). Among them, 1 patient in group B had a vesication rupture and infection, which eventually led to the removal of the implant; the rest of the patients were treated with postoperative interventions for skin recovery. Conclusion The use of breast covered with gauze cooled by ice water during R-NSM-IBR can effectively reduce the risk of heat steam induced skin damage.
Objective
To summarize types of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction and present situation.
Method
The relevant literatures about post-mastectomy breast reconstruction in recent years were reviewed.
Results
With the increasing incidence of the breast cancer and the progressing of the treatment methods, it has become a trend for the post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. If the patient’s condition is allowed, the post-mastectomy breast reconstruction can be performed. At present, the post-mastectomy breast reconstruction mainly include the implant based reconstruction, autologous tissue reconstruction, autologous fat transplantation, etc.. There are different options for the breast reconstruction according the indicators and it had the corresponding complications. So the selection of reconstruction technique depend on the individual requirements, determining by the patient choice, advice of the reconstructive surgeon, and anticipated post-mastectomy therapy, particularly the needs for the radiotherapy and chemotherapy, etc..
Conclusions
Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction is common abroad, corresponding research has been carried out in our country, experiences in learning are shairing. With deepening of domestic and foreign exchanges and progressing of technology, it is believed that post-mastectomy breast reconstruction might become one of conventional reconstruction options in future.
