Multidisciplinary assessment for immediate breast reconstruction: A new approach

Abstract

AimRates of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) following a mastectomy in Canada have historically been low. To address this deficiency, our group established Canada's first multidisciplinary IBR clinic with the purpose of determining if the clinic increased our institutional rate of IBR and to evaluate the impact of IBR on quality of life in women with breast cancer.Patients and MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed to determine the percentage of clinic attendees that had IBR and the total number of IBR procedures done at our institution in the first year of the clinic. This rate was compared to a historical control to determine if the initiation of the clinic correlated with an increase in the number of women undergoing IBR. Finally, patients who underwent IBR were administered the BREAST‐Q, a validated questionnaire, which was compared to a delayed breast reconstruction control group.ResultsOur institution's overall rate of IBR increased from 15 per cent in 2009 to 37 per cent in 2011. Women who underwent delayed reconstruction were found to have significantly reduced psychosocial and sexual wellbeing preoperatively.ConclusionA high rate of IBR is obtainable with increased awareness and a process to facilitate a multidisciplinary approach to surgically treating women with breast cancer.