Concomitant or Delayed Intra-abdominal Operation in Immediate Breast Reconstruction with TRAM Flap.

Kim, Kyu Nam; Lee, Taik Jong

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2010;37(1):22-25.
Published online January 1, 2010.

Concomitant or Delayed Intra-abdominal Operation in Immediate Breast Reconstruction with TRAM Flap.

Kyu Nam Kim, Taik Jong Lee

Department of Plastic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. psbear@empas.com

Abstract

PURPOSE
As patients who take immediate breast reconstructions with TRAM flap have increased, concomitant or delayed other elective intra-abdominal operations in these patients also have increased. There are few reports of concomitant or delayed intra-abdominal operation in TRAM flap patients. We report our experiences and outcomes of these operations which is safe and feasible. METHODS: We reviewed the charts and postoperative follow-up results of 11 patients among 471 consecutive patients who took immediate breast reconstruction with TRAM flap from December of 2002 to September of 2006. Four patients took concomitant intra-abdominal operation and 7 patients took delayed intra-abdominal operation between 1 to 52 months after TRAM flap
RESULTS
There were no significant postoperative abdominal and systemic complications. One patient who took concomitant intra-abdominal operation presented partial skin necrosis of abdomen, but recovered completely with conservative treatments. Two patients took transfusion in peri-operative periods.
CONCLUSION
Concomitant or delayed intra-abdominal operation in immediate breast reconstruction with TRAM flap could be performed safely and feasibly when it is necessary. Furthermore, it could be helpful to patients and surgeons.

Keywords: Concomitant intra-abdominal operation; Delayed intra-abdominal operation; TRAM flap operation