Table 2. Postoperative complications after implant and DIEP flap BR.
| Implant BR | DIEP flap BR | P-value* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| N = 69 | N = 75 | ||
| N (%) | N (%) | ||
| One or more complications | 31 (44.9) | 30 (40.0) | 0.67 |
| Additional surgery for complications | 28 (40.6) | 22 (29.3) | 0.22 |
| More than one additional operation | 14 (20.3) | 8 (10.7) | 0.17 |
| Total reconstruction failure | 9 (13.0) | 1 (1.3) | 0.01 |
| Type of complications | |||
| Wound healing complications | |||
| Wound dehiscence | 1 (1.4) | 0 | 0.97 |
| Wound infection | 16 (23.2) | 2 (2.7) | 0.001 |
| Hemorrhage leading to surgery | 3 (4.3) | 2 (2.7) | 0.92 |
| Hematoma | 2 (2.9) | 7 (9.3) | 0.21 |
| Partial mastectomy skin flap necrosis | 1 (1.4) | 3 (4.0) | 0.67 |
| Seroma | 0 | 2 (2.7) | 0.51 |
| Abscess | 1 (1.4) | 1 (1.3) | 1.00 |
| Implant-related complications | |||
| Prosthesis malposition | 2 (2.9) | ||
| Implant or tissue expander perforation | 2 (2.9) | ||
| Capsular contracture | 4 (5.7) | ||
| Definite loss of implant/expander | 9 (13.0) | ||
| DIEP Flap-related complications | |||
| Fat necrosis | 7 (9.3) | ||
| Venous congestion | 1 (1.3) | ||
| Partial flap necrosis | 2 (2.7) | ||
| Total flap loss | 1 (1.3) | ||
| Abdominal wound healing problems | 4 (5.3) | ||
| Abdominal herniation | 1 (1.3) | ||
| General complications | |||
| Radiodermatitis | 1 (1.4) | 0 | 0.97 |
| Pneumothorax | 1 (1.4) | 0 | 0.97 |
| Symptomatic pulmonary embolism | 0 | 1 (1.3) | 1.00 |
| Subcutaneous extravasation i.v. line | 0 | 2 (2.7) | 0.51 |
DIEP: Deep Inferior Epigastric artery Perforator; BR: breast reconstruction.
* Chi2 test with correction for continuity.