Background: A new approach for prosthesis-based breast reconstruction is the use of a titanium-coated polypropylene mesh TiLOOP® Bra. However, the safety and outcomes are currently unclear in Chinese breast cancer patients.
Methods: A retrospective study of patients undergoing prosthesis-based breast reconstruction using TiLOOP® Bra was carried out. Complications were divided into minor complications (require conservative treatment) and major complications (require surgical intervention). The influence of patient- and surgery-related characteristics on complications was analyzed.
Results: Postoperative hematoma and seroma were respectively found in one and two breasts and could be treated conservatively. In three breasts skin infection occurred immediately after surgery resulting in skin necrosis of two breasts and wound dehiscence of one breast. These three breasts were treated with mesh removal, and revisionary surgery. Increased risk of mesh removal and implant explantation were observed in case of skin infection (P = 0.011) and skin necrosis (P = 0.033). Neither patient-related characteristics including age >50 years, BMI >25 kg/m2, and postoperative radiotherapy/chemotherapy, nor surgery-related characteristics including sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary dissection alone, and curative/prophylactic surgery were significantly correlated with minor and major complications. Ultrasound evaluation showed a well-incorporated mesh into surrounding tissue.
Conclusion: This titanium-coated polypropylene mesh showed acceptable complications and could be used safely in prosthesis-based breast reconstruction by stabilizing the implant pocket. Longer follow-up data and more randomized trials are necessary to determine the clinical use of this mesh.
Keywords: Breast cancer; mesh; prosthesis; reconstruction.