Quality of life, patient satisfaction and cosmetic outcome after delayed breast reconstruction using DIEP flap: a 10 years’ follow-up survey

AbstractAutologous breast reconstruction (BR) aims to restore body image and improve health-related quality of life in women undergoing mastectomy due to breast cancer. We wanted to explore patient-reported cosmetic results and satisfaction 10 or more years post BR surgery, using deep inferior epigastric perforator flap (DIEP). This is a follow-up study based on the same patient population of 34 patients undergoing delayed DIEP-flap procedure during 2001–2004 at Oslo University Hospital investigated by our group and published in 2008; Four patients died during the 10 years’ follow-up time and four patients with total or partial flap failure were excluded. The average age for reconstruction was 51.4 years (SD 5.8). The participants answered study-specific questions based on the first study, evaluated cosmetic results using the visual analog scale (VAS) and BREAST-Q post-mastectomy reconstruction module. The response rate was 85% (22/26). A significantly reduced number of patients reported satisfaction with...