Breast reconstruction with implant: creating a pocket with a reverse serratus anterior muscle flap

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Immediate breast reconstruction plays an important role in the treatment of breast cancer and relatively promotes patients’ emotional and physical recovery. It may be difficult to cover the entire prosthesis with a muscle flap in single-stage breast reconstructions based on a permanent implant. This study aimed to present a muscle pocket for the implant using a reverse anterior serratus muscle flap associated with submuscular dissection of the pectoralis major muscle.

Methods:

This was a prospective study comprising 61 patients undergoing mastectomy followed by immediate reconstruction (74 reconstructions) with implant and anterior serratus muscle reverse flap associated with submuscular pectoralis dissection between January 2017 and July 2018. In this study, age, adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies, implant volume, length of hospital stay, follow-up, and complications, including functional deficit and reconstruction failure, were analyzed.

Results:

The technique described was used to operate 74 patients with a mean age of 49.2 years. The volume of the implant varied from 200 to 500 cc, and the mean follow-up time was 14.9 months. Complications such as hematoma, suture dehiscence, skin flap necrosis, and implant extrusion were observed in 14 patients (18.9%).

Conclusion:

In most cases, breast reconstruction with an anterior serratus muscle reverse flap associated with submuscular dissection of the pectoralis major muscle allows the complete muscle coverage of the implant, reduces the occurrence of major surgical complications, and has a good aesthetic result.

Keywords:
Surgery, Plastic; Breast neoplasms; Mastectomy; Reconstruction; Breast implants