Does concurrent gynaecological surgery affect infectious complications rate after mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction?

Abstract

Background. Women who undergo breast cancer surgery often have an indication for gynaecological procedure. The aim of our study was to compare infectious complications rate after mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction in patients with and without concurrent gynaecological procedure.

Patients and methods. We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of 159 consecutively operated patients after mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction. The patients were divided in 2 groups: 102 patients without (group 1) and 57 with (group 2) concurrent gynaecological procedure. Infectious complications rates between the groups were compared using χ²-test. Logistic regression was performed to test for association of different variables with infectious complications.

Results. 240 breast reconstructions were performed. Median follow-up time was 297 days (10–1061 days). Mean patient age was 47.2 years (95% CI 32.8–65.9) (48.2 years (95% CI 46.1–50.3) in group 1, 45.8 years (95% CI 43.2–48.3) in group 2; p=0.002). Infectious complications rate was 17.6 % (17.6 % vs. 17.5 %, p=0.987), implant loss occurred in 5.7 % (4.9 % vs. 7.0 %, p=0.58). Obesity (BMI>30 kg/m²), age, previous breast conserving treatment (BCT) with radiotherapy (RT) were identified as risk factors for infectious complications in univariate analysis. Obesity (aOR 3.319, 95 % CI 1.085–10.157, p=0.036) and BCT with RT (aOR 7.481, 95 % CI 2.230–25.101, p=0.001) were independently associated with infectious complications in multivariate model.

Conclusions. Concurrent gynaecological procedure for patients undergoing mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction does not carry an increased risk for infectious complications.