Immediate breast reconstruction in breast cancer patients2018 at the University Hospital of Örebro

Abstract: Introduction: To save lives, mastectomy is an essential intervention, but it can also causephysical and psychological trauma. An important step in restoring breast cancer patient’squality of life is to offer reconstruction. Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is thealternative that provides highest patient-reported life quality post surgery. However, not allpatients are suitable for the procedure, besides surgical contraindications; both patient’s andsurgeon’s opinion on surgery may influence the frequency.Data from 2016 revealed low frequency of IBR in the County of Örebro, below nationaltargets. Since then, improvement work has been implemented to improve frequency.Aim: To investigate the current frequency of IBR in 2018 and compare with data from 2016.Method: Data on mastectomy and IBR frequency in breast cancer patients was extractedfrom casebooks. Patients with male gender, neoadjuvant radiotherapy and other purposes forsurgery than cancer were excluded. Using SPSS statistics, population characteristics wascompared between IBR and mastectomy alone patients, and with data from 2016.Results: It was evident that the frequency of IBR 2018 (12.66 %) was higher than in 2016(4.85 %), which match our hypothesis. Further, there was no significant difference incharacteristics between the mastectomy alone and IBR group except for “waiting time forsurgery”, “discussion at MDK on IBR” and “age”.Conclusion: IBR surgeries have increased since 2016. Future focus to improve frequencyshould be on shortening the waiting time and addressing patient’s opinion on surgery, asseveral patients declined.