Two-stage delayed breast reconstruction with an expander and free abdominal tissue transfer: outcomes of 65 consecutive cases by a single surgeon.

BACKGROUND: Traditional single-stage breast reconstruction with autologous tissue leaves an obvious skin island. Alternatively, a staged reconstruction with the creation of a skin envelope with a tissue expander which is then replaced with a de-epithelialised flap, leaves a breast with the original mastectomy scar and no skin island.
METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent the two-stage reconstruction between 2004 and 2010 were included in the study. Data were collected retrospectively on patient demographics, adjuvant treatments, surgical procedures and outcomes.
RESULTS: A total of 65 patients who initially had a non-skin sparing mastectomy underwent two-stage breast reconstruction, of which the majority were delayed (n = 63, 95%) and unilateral (n = 64, 98.5%). Each patient was individually assessed for their suitability for the two-stage reconstruction. In 89% (n = 58) of cases, the expander was inserted in a subcutaneous pocket, while in the remaining a subpectoral pocket was elected. After the first stage, seven complications were recorded (10.7%), notably three expander extrusions, three seromas and one implant infection. Of the 65 patients, 63 proceeded to the second stage of reconstruction with 38 transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) (60%), 12 superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) (19%), and 13 deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) (21%) flaps. Mean follow-up time since the completion of the second stage was 42 months (range 6-80 months), with complete flap loss recorded in 4.6% and minor fat necrosis in 9.5% of cases.
CONCLUSIONS: The two-stage breast reconstruction using skin expansion and autologous tissue transfer eliminates the need for a visible skin paddle and produces a sensate breast with a more natural-looking breast mound.