title: Morbidity of microsurgical breast reconstruction in patients with comorbid conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although free tissue-transfer with the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is one of the best forms of autologous breast reconstruction, surgeons have remained guarded over selecting patients for the procedure in the presence of comorbid conditions. This study has investigated the relevance of these conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective review of all free flap breast reconstructions (n = 624) was performed over a 2-year period at the Department of Plastic Surgery at the Sana Kliniken Düsseldorf. Patients were placed into three groups based on comorbid conditions such as age 65 years or older, active smoking, and body mass index greater than or equal to 30. Flap and donor-site complications were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred twenty-four breast reconstructions with DIEP or muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flaps were performed in 558 patients (66 bilateral reconstructions). There were 36 patients older than 65 years at the time of surgery, 94 active smokers, and 79 patients with a body mass index of greater than or equal to 30. Flap complications such as venous congestion (n = 5), partial flap loss (n = 10), marginal necrosis (n = 15), and total flap loss (n = 5) occurred in 35 cases (5.6 percent). Donor-site complications such as delayed abdominal wound healing (n = 9), seroma (n = 8), abdominal hernia (n = 3), and bulging (n = 11) occurred in 31 cases (5 percent).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite having significantly higher complications in the form of delayed donor-site wound healing in active smokers and higher total flap loss in obese patients, the overall complication rates compared with other reconstructive procedures are low. Microsurgical reconstruction with DIEP and muscle-sparing TRAM flaps is associated with low complication rates, excellent aesthetic outcome, and high patient satisfaction, even in patients with known risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Düsseldorf, Germany From the Sana Kliniken Düsseldorf, Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Interdisciplinary Breast Center of Heinrich Heine University.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seidenstuecker
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Munder
authors.forename: Ajay L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Richrath
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Behrendt
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andree
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008866:Microsurgery; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*