Good health-related quality-of-life and high patient-reported satisfaction after delayed breast reconstruction with pedicled flaps from the back

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Background: This paper presents the results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that focus on health-related quality-of-life (QoL) and patient-reported satisfaction following breast reconstruction with pedicled flaps from the back. Materials & Methods: We included women for unilateral delayed breast reconstruction. Patients were randomized to reconstruction by either a latissimus dorsi (LD) flap or a thoracodorsal artery perforator (TAP) flap. Assessment of QoL and patient satisfaction was made using two different patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): The EORTC QLQ-30 and the Breast-Q questionnaire for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Results: A total of 50 women were enrolled over a two-year period and allocated to reconstruction. Forty patients completed both surgery and follow-up and were included in the analysis – 18 in the LD group and 22 in the TAP group. The EORTC QLQ-30 was administered at the baseline and at one-year follow-up. There was no significant effect of introducing the TAP flap on either the summary score, the global QoL-score or the financial impact-score when compared to the LD flap. The Breast-Q questionnaire was administered only at one-year follow-up. There was no significant difference between the two groups for the scores for satisfaction with the reconstructed breast, the overall outcome and QoL related to psycho-social, sexual and physical well-being. Conclusion: Women from both groups report high satisfaction and QoL following the reconstruction. The quality of the dataset and the study design are, however, insufficient to rule out any existing difference. A larger cohort, longer follow-up and different design are warranted to assess the true clinical significance these reconstructions might have on satisfaction and QoL.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Volume74
Issue number8
Pages (from-to)1752-1757
Number of pages6
ISSN1748-6815
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020

    Research areas

  • Breast reconstruction, Breast-Q, EORTC QLQ-30, Latissimus dorsi flap, Patient-reported outcome, Thoracodorsal artery perforator flap

ID: 301357289