Breast Surgery: Management of Postoperative Complications Following Operations for Breast Cancer

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Key points

  • Breast cancer surgery without reconstruction postoperative complications will be reviewed in this chapter.

  • Complications from breast cancer surgery may occur within the breast, at the lumpectomy or mastectomy site, or within the axilla after axillary surgery.

  • Severity and prevalence of postoperative complications related to breast cancer surgery is variable and significantly procedure-related.

  • Management of postoperative complications may be conservative or operative depending on severity of

Postoperative complications associated with breast surgery

The reported complication rates after breast cancer surgery are low, with rates ranging from 2% to 50%, and are reportedly more common when performed in conjunction with axillary surgery and immediate breast reconstruction.8, 9, 10, 11 A breakdown by procedure type has shown morbidity rates between 5% and 50% after mastectomy and from 3% to 35% after lumpectomy with or without reconstruction.12, 13, 14

Postoperative complications associated with axillary surgery

Axillary surgery staging and management options include SLNB and ALND. The postoperative complications related to these procedures include seroma, infection, lymphedema, nerve injury, and shoulder/arm morbidity. The overall rate of complications related to axillary surgery may be confounded by the type of breast surgery performed.

Summary

Overall, morbidity associated with breast cancer surgery is low. The most common complications related to breast cancer surgery without reconstruction include infection, seroma formation, and bleeding. Complications may present in the breast or axilla, with risks varying significantly by the cancer surgery performed. Preoperative planning, mitigation of patient-related risk factors, use of prophylactic treatment, and meticulous surgical technique are critical in order to reduce complication

Clinics care points

  • Overall, morbidity associated with breast cancer surgery is low.

  • The most common complications related to breast cancer surgery without reconstruction include infection, seroma formation, and bleeding.

  • Complications may present in the breast or axilla, with risks varying significantly by the cancer surgery performed.

  • Preoperative planning, mitigation of patient-related risk factors, use of prophylactic treatment, and meticulous surgical technique are critical in order to reduce complication rates.

Disclosure

None.

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