Anterior Intercostal Artery Perforator Flap as a Simple Technique for Partial Breast Reconstruction: Our Institutional Initial Experience

Abstract

Background: The oncoplastic surgery has brought new dimensions to breast conserving surgery and added the aesthetic principles of breast surgery to breast cancer management. Recently there's a lot of volume replacement techniques without significant donor site morbidity .The anterior intercostal artery perforator (AICAP) flap is a suitable option in partial breast reconstruction for lower pole tumors in small and medium sized breasts. Objectives: The aim of this study is to report our clinical experience with anterior intercostal perforator flap in partial breast reconstruction Methodology: 25 cases were performed between April 2018 to June 2019 at in Ain shams university hospitals for selected patients with lower breast pole tumors with small and medium sized breast and other option like reduction mMDTmoplasty wasn't favorable for them. Results: A total of 25 patient were selected by the multidisplinary team at Ain shams university hospital for partial breast reconstruction with anterior intercostal artery perforator flap . The mean age of the cases was 45.68 with mean body mass index of 32.32. The mean operative time for the flap was 64 minutes while the hospital stay was ranging from 1-2 days .Follow-up for local recurrence was from 6 to 14 months. There was 1 case with wound complication (4%). The cosmetic outcome was assessed by the MDT and a giving score from 1-5 was used with 1 is the least favorable cosmetic outcome and 5 is the best result 76% of the cases scored 5, 14% scored 4, 8% scored 3. According to patient satisfaction a score from 1 to 5 was used with the score 1 is least satisfied and score 5 represents the most satisfaction level, there was 80% of the patient gave the score 5, 12% of the cases gave the score 4 and 8% of the cases gave the score 3 Conclusions: Based on our experience, partial breast reconstruction using AICAP flap is a reliable option for lower breast tumors in small-to-moderate breast size with perfect cosmetic outcome and negligible rate of complication.