title: Laparoscopically harvested omental flap for immediate breast reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer surgery and accompanying breast reconstruction have been diversified. We report our experience of immediate breast reconstruction using laparoscopically harvested omental flap (LHOF).
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 44-month period, 44 immediate breast reconstructions with LHOF were performed. Patients were followed up for complications and cosmetic results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty cases of pedicled LHOF and 4 cases of free LHOF were performed after either nipple-sparing mastectomy (n = 21) or breast-conservation treatment (n = 23). Morbidity included 1 minor vascular injury (2.3%) of the LHOF, 4 wound and graft infections (9.1%), and 1 epigastric hernia (2.3%). Cosmetic results were mostly satisfactory, with a soft breast that was natural in appearance. Donor-site scars were minimal. However, in 5 patients (12.5%), omental flap size was found to be inadequate during the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there is a limit of volume, LHOF is an attractive autologous flap, which makes a natural soft breast and minimal deformity of the donor site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Nakagami Hospital, 6-25-5 Chibana, Okinawa, 904-2195, Japan. hisamitu@nakagami.or.jp
authors.forename: Hisamitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zaha
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inamine
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nomura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009852:Omentum; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome