Perforator-Related Risk Factors for Perfusion-Related Complications in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

SUMMARY: Introduction: Despite the advancements in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, perfusion-related complications (PRCs) remain a concern. Such complications can negatively impact the aesthetic outcome, necessitate revisional surgery and delay adjuvant...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dernas Suhail (DS), Ryan Faderani (RF), Afshin Mosahebi (AM), Augustine Akali (AA)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:JPRAS Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587825000567
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849715176793702400
author Dernas Suhail (DS)
Ryan Faderani (RF)
Afshin Mosahebi (AM)
Augustine Akali (AA)
author_facet Dernas Suhail (DS)
Ryan Faderani (RF)
Afshin Mosahebi (AM)
Augustine Akali (AA)
author_sort Dernas Suhail (DS)
collection DOAJ
description SUMMARY: Introduction: Despite the advancements in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, perfusion-related complications (PRCs) remain a concern. Such complications can negatively impact the aesthetic outcome, necessitate revisional surgery and delay adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of perforator diameter, perforator row, and the shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge on the development of PRCs in DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Methods: This cohort study prospectively analysed the stored data for consecutive patients who underwent unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction from January 2008 to January 2023. Variables with p<0.25 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for PRCs. p<0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to identify the critical distance between the perforator and flap edge distinguishing the PRCs. Results: V Overall, 292 cases of unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction were identified, with a mean patient age of 52.6 years. PRCs occurred in 72 cases (24.7%). Multivariate logistic regression identified the shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge that has a significant impact on PRC incidence. ROC curve analysis found the critical shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge distinguishing PRCs to be 42.5 mm. Conclusions: This study showed that the shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge is a strong predictor for PRCs in DIEP flap breast reconstruction. As several perforator characteristics are considered when designing and performing DIEP flap breast reconstruction, these findings can guide surgeons in this decision-making process.
format Article
id doaj-art-3e58404241c84985ad99b0e92a2de351
institution DOAJ
issn 2352-5878
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series JPRAS Open
spelling doaj-art-3e58404241c84985ad99b0e92a2de3512025-08-20T03:13:29ZengElsevierJPRAS Open2352-58782025-06-014439040110.1016/j.jpra.2025.03.015Perforator-Related Risk Factors for Perfusion-Related Complications in DIEP Flap Breast ReconstructionDernas Suhail (DS)0Ryan Faderani (RF)1Afshin Mosahebi (AM)2Augustine Akali (AA)3Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK, SA6 6NLDepartment of Surgery and Inteventional Sciences, University College London, London, UK, NW3 2PS; Corresponding author: Dr Ryan Faderani, Department of Surgery and Interventional Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom, (+44) 7714 230 424Department of Plastic Surgery, Royal Free Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK, NW3 2QGDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull, UK, HU16 5JQSUMMARY: Introduction: Despite the advancements in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, perfusion-related complications (PRCs) remain a concern. Such complications can negatively impact the aesthetic outcome, necessitate revisional surgery and delay adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of perforator diameter, perforator row, and the shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge on the development of PRCs in DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Methods: This cohort study prospectively analysed the stored data for consecutive patients who underwent unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction from January 2008 to January 2023. Variables with p<0.25 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for PRCs. p<0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to identify the critical distance between the perforator and flap edge distinguishing the PRCs. Results: V Overall, 292 cases of unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction were identified, with a mean patient age of 52.6 years. PRCs occurred in 72 cases (24.7%). Multivariate logistic regression identified the shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge that has a significant impact on PRC incidence. ROC curve analysis found the critical shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge distinguishing PRCs to be 42.5 mm. Conclusions: This study showed that the shortest distance between the perforator and flap edge is a strong predictor for PRCs in DIEP flap breast reconstruction. As several perforator characteristics are considered when designing and performing DIEP flap breast reconstruction, these findings can guide surgeons in this decision-making process.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587825000567Perforator flapBlood supplyMammaplastyEpigastric arteriesFemale
spellingShingle Dernas Suhail (DS)
Ryan Faderani (RF)
Afshin Mosahebi (AM)
Augustine Akali (AA)
Perforator-Related Risk Factors for Perfusion-Related Complications in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
JPRAS Open
Perforator flap
Blood supply
Mammaplasty
Epigastric arteries
Female
title Perforator-Related Risk Factors for Perfusion-Related Complications in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
title_full Perforator-Related Risk Factors for Perfusion-Related Complications in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
title_fullStr Perforator-Related Risk Factors for Perfusion-Related Complications in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
title_full_unstemmed Perforator-Related Risk Factors for Perfusion-Related Complications in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
title_short Perforator-Related Risk Factors for Perfusion-Related Complications in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
title_sort perforator related risk factors for perfusion related complications in diep flap breast reconstruction
topic Perforator flap
Blood supply
Mammaplasty
Epigastric arteries
Female
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587825000567
work_keys_str_mv AT dernassuhailds perforatorrelatedriskfactorsforperfusionrelatedcomplicationsindiepflapbreastreconstruction
AT ryanfaderanirf perforatorrelatedriskfactorsforperfusionrelatedcomplicationsindiepflapbreastreconstruction
AT afshinmosahebiam perforatorrelatedriskfactorsforperfusionrelatedcomplicationsindiepflapbreastreconstruction
AT augustineakaliaa perforatorrelatedriskfactorsforperfusionrelatedcomplicationsindiepflapbreastreconstruction