Immediate breast reconstruction surgery with expander/direct implant and use of acellular dermal matrix: Does hormone therapy increases the risk of infection?

[BACKGROUND] The use of hormone therapy (tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors) has been shown to increase venous thromboembolism. However, while estrogens play a crucial role in wound healing, no study has assessed the impact of tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors on other postoperative breast reconstruction complications, including infections, necrosis, capsular contracture and seroma. As breast cancer patients undergoing Implants-ADMs breast reconstruction are often receiving hormone therapy, it is unclear whether this increased infection risk is associated with increased infections cases.

[METHODS] A prospective study was performed on patients undergoing breast reconstruction at an academic institution from 2013 to 2016. Patients were divided by use of hormone therapy at the time of surgery. Complication rates, including infections, necrosis, seroma and hematomas, were compared and analyzed using univariate and logistic regression models.

[RESULTS] Among a total of 112 patients (183breasts), 58 patients (91 breasts) were receiving hormone therapy and 54 patients (92 breasts) were not. The hormone therapy group had a higher incidence of postoperative mastectomy skin infection (20.7% versus 7.4%; P=0.0447), we didn't find any significant differences in necrosis.

[CONCLUSIONS] Hormone therapy was associated with a higher incidence of Infections after breast reconstruction with ADMs and implants. The authors propose an individualized approach to the preoperative cessation of tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors. Immediate breast reconstruction surgery with expander/direct implant and use of acellular dermal matrix: does hormone therapy increases the risk of infection?