[Multivariable analysis for flap-related complications in autologous breast reconstruction and economic analysis of intraoperative indocyanine green angiography].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influencing factors of flap-related complications and the economic benefits of intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in the patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction.
METHODS: Between July 2013 and June 2018, the clinical data of 150 patients (152 breasts) who met the selection criteria after autologous breast reconstruction were analyzed retrospectively. Ten factors including age, body mass index, preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC), chest radiation history, diabetes, abdominal operation history, chest wall reconstruction, reconstruction timing, flap type, intraoperative ICG angiography were analyzed by univariate analysis. Significant variables found in univariate analysis were used to perform backward multivariate logistic regression of flap related complications and local necrosis. According to the above multi factor analysis results, the patients were divided into 4 groups: ICG+NC group (group A), ICG+non-NC group (group B), non-ICG+NC group (group C), non-ICG+non-NC group (group D). The average extra costs of surgical treatment (including ICG imaging cost+cost of handling flap related complications) of each group was calculated.
RESULTS: All the 152 flaps survived. There were 33 flap-related complications, including 22 regional necrosis, 9 regional infection, 5 hematoma, 5 simple fat liquefaction, and 2 anasto-motic thrombosis. Univariate analysis showed that preoperative NC, flap type, and intraoperative ICG angiography had significant influence on the incidence of flap-related complications ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative NC and non-ICG angiography were the risk factors of flap-related complications ( P<0.05), and also the risk factors of regional flap necrosis ( P<0.05). For patients who had NC, intraoperative ICG angiography could greatly save the average extra costs. The average extra costs in group A was 1 378 yuan less than that in group C. For the patients without NC, intraoperative ICG angiography would increase the average extra costs, which was 747 yuan in group B more than that in group D.
CONCLUSION: In autologous breast reconstruction, ICG angiography can reduce the incidence of flap-related complications, especially the incidence of regional flap necrosis, while NC is the opposite. For patients without NC, ICG angiography is not cost-effective but still can be used if conditions permit. However, for those with NC, ICG angiography is cost-effective and recommended.