Frequency and nature of postoperative complications of single-stage reconstructive and plastic surgeries in breast cancer patient

Introduction. Despite the popularity and advances of reconstructive plastic surgery, postoperative complications in breast cancer patients impair aesthetic outcomes and reduce quality of life.
Objective. To analyze risk factors for postoperative complications after single-stage reconstructive surgeries in patients with breast cancer.
Materials and Methods. An analysis of postoperative complications was performed in 184 women with operable breast cancer aged 29 to 66 years. Risk factors for postoperative complications after simultaneous reconstructive surgeries were  identified.
Results. In patients with breast cancer, statistically significant risk factors for postoperative complications include diabetes mellitus (7/8, р=0,002), the use of double-lumen endoprostheses (18/24, р<0,001), body mass index less than 20 (11/19, р=0,005), body mass index greater than 25 (30/65, р=0,005), external beam radiation therapy (50/87, р<0,001), use of implants with nanotexture and microtexture (24/42, р=0,008), smoking (21/38, р=0,006), axillary lymph node dissection (60/121, p<0,001) and age over 55 years (33/66, р=0,003). Radiation therapy is associated with infectious complications in patients undergoing immediate alloplastic reconstruction (8/87, p=0,029). In patients with luminal A subtype over 62 years of age, intraoperative radiation therapy helps avoid complications associated with external beam radiation therapy. Sentinel lymph node biopsy, compared with axillary lymph node dissection, reduces the risk of seroma and implant protrusion during single-stage reconstructive plastic surgeries.
Conclusion: A preliminary analysis of the risk factors for postoperative complications allows for personalized selection of the reconstruction method and reduces the incidence of complications.