title: Complications following autologous latissimus flap breast reconstruction.
abstract: Use of an autologous latissimus flap in breast reconstruction accounts for a supple and natural look of reconstructed breast. Most common postoperative complication, seroma, became more of a rule then an exception when it comes to postoperative evaluation of the patients who underwent this reconstructive procedure. A retrospective study analysing and evaluating different complication rates in 20 patients who underwent breast reconstruction by autologous latissimus flap, was conducted. All patients included in the study were operated at the Department of plastic surgery of Hôpital Civil in Strasbourg, France, between 1996 and 2008. The complication rates were noted as follows: seroma in 19 of our 20 patients (95%), late hypertrophic scarring in 3 patients (15%), postoperative surgical site hematoma in 3 patients (15%), and 2 patients (10%) presented postoperative chronic back pain. Different options used in seroma treatment and prevention (subcutaneous-fascia anchor sutures of donor site, application of corticosteroids by injection into donor site postoperatively, passive drainage) can reduce seroma formation and thus overall complication rates, leading to much faster patient's recovery time and return to normal daily activities.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Plastic-Maxillofacial surgery, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Trnovac bb, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Mufid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burgic
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bruant Rodier
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilk
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bodin
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rifatbegović
authors.forename: Emir
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halilbasic
authors.forename: Musfaha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burgic
authors.forename: Eldar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brkic
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Avdagic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D049291:Seroma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome