Clinical outcome and patients' satisfaction after simultaneous bilateral breast reconstruction with free transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap.
In the study presented, the long-term outcome and satisfaction of 34 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral breast reconstruction with a free transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap between 1988 and 2001 were assessed. Flap complications affected 13 of 68 flaps (19.1%). Anastomosis revision was needed in 6 cases (8.8%), the salvage rate being 50%. The rates of total and partial flap loss were 4.4% and 1.5%, respectively. Bilateral flap loss did not occur. Four patients developed donor site complications (11.7%), with wound healing problems being the most common (5.8%). Most patients were satisfied with their decision to have had breast reconstruction with free TRAM, 91% would choose the same operation again, and 91% would recommend this procedure to other patients. Of the operated patients, 20.8% felt an improvement in their sexual life; more patients, however, reported an improvement concerning their social life (37.5%) and life in general (50%).
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Germany. l.kovacs@lrz.tum.de
Laszlo
L
Kovacs
Nikolaos A
NA
Papadopulos
Samir A
SA
Ammar
Markus
M
Klöppel
Peter
P
Herschbach
Garhard
G
Heinrich
Andreas
A
Baumann
Edgar
E
Biemer
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000637:transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome