Abstract
Background: Obesity is widely recognized as a significant risk factor for postoperative complications of breast reconstruction. Despite extensive research, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the specific complications and outcomes experienced by patients with obesity who undergo deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap reconstruction. To provide a clearer understanding of the challenges faced by patients with obesity, we present a single-center outcome analysis of individuals who underwent DIEP flap reconstruction. Methods: A cohort of 194 patients who underwent at least 1 DIEP flap was retrospectively analyzed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center utilizing electronic medical records. Patients who underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction were organized into 5 categories using World Health Organization weight status by body mass index (BMI) obtained from the day of surgery. Surgical complications within 120 days and postsurgical complication-related procedural interventions were also evaluated and compared. Comparisons of variables of interest between weight groups were assessed using Mantel–Haenszel chi-square tests or Spearman correlations. Results: Increases in patient weight category were associated with increased length of operation (P = 0.003), increased rates of breast fat necrosis (P = 0.04), breast wound dehiscence (P = 0.01), abdominal wound dehiscence (P = 0.02), numbers of abdominal complications (P = 0.001), and rates of requiring an intervention (P = 0.03). Conclusions: The findings imply that higher BMI values may lead to a higher likelihood of postoperative complications and the need for intervention. It is crucial for patients with obesity to be aware of the elevated risk associated with rising BMI values.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call