Does the Timing of Chemotherapy Affect Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction Complications?
In this study we evaluated how the timing of chemotherapy for breast cancer affects post-reconstruction complications to determine whether there is an optimal time for breast reconstruction after chemotherapy.



A retrospective review identified 344 breast cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy with mastectomy and autologous/prosthetic reconstruction from 2011 to 2014. A control group of 127 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy and autologous/prosthetic reconstruction without chemotherapy was also identified from the same period. The 2 groups were compared and analyzed for differences in demographic characteristics, treatment, and postoperative complication rates. The chemotherapy group was subsequently stratified into 3 subgroups on the basis of the number of days between chemotherapy treatment and reconstructive surgery (≤ 30 days, 30-60 days, > 60 days) for further analysis.



Patients who received chemotherapy were followed for an average of 803.4 days (26.4 months) from the time of initial reconstruction (mean time to complication, 43.3 ± 82.7 days), and experienced an overall greater complication rate compared with control subjects (32.8% vs. 24.4%; P = .078). When complications were divided into minor, major, and reconstructive failure categories, analysis revealed that the chemotherapy group experienced more minor complications than the control group (18% vs. 11%; P = .067). However, there were no statistically significant differences in major complication rates (10.5% vs. 9.4%) and reconstructive failure complication rates (3.8% vs. 2.4%) between the chemotherapy group and control group. Sixty-eight patients (19.8%) underwent surgery within 30 days of chemotherapy, 210 patients (61%) within 30 to 60 days, and 66 patients (19.2%) after 60 days. Of note, patients in the ≤ 30 days group underwent surgery at a mean time of 24.8 days with 2 patients who underwent surgery in < 15 days. The 3 groups did not differ with respect to demographic factors or breast reconstructive modality, and there were no significant differences in overall complication rates (33.8% for ≤ 30 days, 31.4% for 30-60 days, and 36.4% for > 60 days), time to complication, complication severity, or complication type. Whereas patients who underwent surgery 30 to 60 days from the time of chemotherapy had lower rates of skin necrosis (3.8%) and infection (15.7%) compared with the ≤ 30 days and 60 to 90 days groups, this finding was not statistically significant.



Results of this study suggest that chemotherapy does increase overall breast reconstruction complications, however, a decreased time between chemotherapy and surgical reconstruction does not predispose patients to postoperative complications. Consequently, surgery might be feasible in close temporal proximity to chemotherapy administration.
Hansjorg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.
Oriana
O
Cohen
Hansjorg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.
Gretl
G
Lam
Hansjorg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.
Mihye
M
Choi
Hansjorg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY. Electronic address: oriana.cohen@nyumc.org.
Nolan
N
Karp
Hansjorg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.
Daniel
D
Ceradini
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D061665:Time-to-Treatment
Autologous breast reconstruction; Breast implant reconstruction; Chemotherapy timing; Complications of breast reconstruction; Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction