Breast Reconstruction: Complication Rate and Tissue Expander Type

Limited literature exists regarding complication rates among women undergoing breast reconstruction and the association of these rates with tissue expander types (anatomic, round and Becker). A historical cohort study investigated all breast reconstructions performed at Hadassah Medical Center for 140 consecutive women. Analyses were performed using both logistic and Poisson regression multivariate methods. At least one major complication occurred in each of the following groups: anatomic (41%), round (20%), and Becker (11.7%) (p = 0.015). Women reconstructed with anatomic expanders were at increased risk for at least one complication (odds ratio [OR], 3.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-13.3; p = 0.026) and an average increase of 331% (95% CI, 102-817%; p = 0.0002) in the number of major complications. The results of this study suggest that integrated-valve expanders are associated with more complications than the distant inflation port. The benefits of an anatomic shape may perhaps be better exploited using devices with a distant port.