Outcomes of DIEP flap reconstruction after pelvic cancer surgery: A retrospective multicenter case series

Abstract

Flap reconstruction is often required after pelvic tumor resection to reduce wound complications. The use of perforator flaps has been shown to reduce donor site morbidity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator (pDIEP) flap reconstruction. This was a retrospective multicenter study of patients who underwent immediate pDIEP flap reconstruction for a pelvic or perineal defect after tumor resection between November 2012 and June 2022. The primary outcome was abdominal donor site morbidity, and the secondary outcome was perineal morbidity. Thirty-four patients (median age, 57.5 years) who underwent pelvic exenteration (n=31), extralevator abdominoperineal excision (n=2), or extended vaginal hysterectomy (n=1) were included. The most common indications were recurrent cervical (n=19) and anal (n=4) squamous cell carcinoma. Twenty-nine patients (85%) had a history of radiotherapy. Only one patient (3%) had major (Clavien-Dindo ≥ III) donor site complications (surgical site infection due to tumor recurrence). Eleven patients (32%) had at least one major recipient site complication (surgical site infection [n=1], total [n=2] or partial [n=1] flap loss, perineal dehiscence [n=2], hematoma [n=1], fistula [n=5]). No incisional or perineal hernias were observed during follow-up. Ninety-day survival was 100%. Pedicled DIEP flap reconstructions performed by experienced surgical teams had good outcomes for perineal or vaginal reconstruction, with low abdominal morbidity, in patients with advanced pelvic malignancies who had undergone median laparotomy. The risks and benefits of this procedure should be carefully evaluated preoperatively using clinical and imaging data.