TY - JOUR
T1 - Discrepancies Between Surgical Oncologists and Plastic Surgeons in Patient Information Provision and Personal Opinions Towards Immediate Breast Reconstruction
AU - van Bommel, Annelotte C.M.
AU - Schreuder, Kay
AU - Veenstra, Renske K.
AU - de Ligt, Kelly M.
AU - Vrancken Peeters-Baas, Marie Jeanne T.F.D.
AU - Maduro, John H.
AU - Siesling, Sabine
AU - Mureau, Marc A.M.
PY - 2018/10/1
Y1 - 2018/10/1
N2 - Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) may improve quality of life of patients receiving mastectomy. However, a significant hospital variation exists in the use of IBR due to various reasons. To better understand this variation, the present study investigated preoperative information provision to patients and personal opinions of surgical oncologists and plastic surgeons towards potential contra-indications for IBR.Methods: An online survey (35 questions) was developed including questions on respondent demographics, information provision to the patient about IBR and potential contra-indications by IBR technique.Results: One-hundred-eighty-nine physicians participated: 118 surgical oncologists and 71 plastic surgeons. All clinicians discussed the possibility of IBR with their patients. Complications (79% versus 100%, P < 0.001) and aesthetic outcomes (83% versus 99%, P = 0.001) were discussed less frequently by surgical oncologists than by plastic surgeons. Patient age >75 years, breast size >D-cup, BMI >40 kg/m2, smoking (for implant reconstruction), pulmonary/cardiac comorbidities (for autologous reconstruction) and radiotherapy were considered a contra-indication more frequently by plastic surgeons. In contrast, surgical oncologists reported tumor stage (≥cT3), nodal stage (≥cN2) and chemotherapy more frequently to be a contra-indication for IBR.Conclusion: We observed that all respondents discussed the possibility of IBR with their patients, whereas patient-tailored information was given more frequently by plastic surgeons. Physicians differed in their opinions towards contra-indications for IBR, with plastic surgeons reporting patient-related risk factors for wound healing problems and surgical oncologists reporting oncological contra-indications more frequently. Consensus between physicians regarding contra-indications for IBR may optimize patient counseling and shared decision-making.
AB - Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) may improve quality of life of patients receiving mastectomy. However, a significant hospital variation exists in the use of IBR due to various reasons. To better understand this variation, the present study investigated preoperative information provision to patients and personal opinions of surgical oncologists and plastic surgeons towards potential contra-indications for IBR.Methods: An online survey (35 questions) was developed including questions on respondent demographics, information provision to the patient about IBR and potential contra-indications by IBR technique.Results: One-hundred-eighty-nine physicians participated: 118 surgical oncologists and 71 plastic surgeons. All clinicians discussed the possibility of IBR with their patients. Complications (79% versus 100%, P < 0.001) and aesthetic outcomes (83% versus 99%, P = 0.001) were discussed less frequently by surgical oncologists than by plastic surgeons. Patient age >75 years, breast size >D-cup, BMI >40 kg/m2, smoking (for implant reconstruction), pulmonary/cardiac comorbidities (for autologous reconstruction) and radiotherapy were considered a contra-indication more frequently by plastic surgeons. In contrast, surgical oncologists reported tumor stage (≥cT3), nodal stage (≥cN2) and chemotherapy more frequently to be a contra-indication for IBR.Conclusion: We observed that all respondents discussed the possibility of IBR with their patients, whereas patient-tailored information was given more frequently by plastic surgeons. Physicians differed in their opinions towards contra-indications for IBR, with plastic surgeons reporting patient-related risk factors for wound healing problems and surgical oncologists reporting oncological contra-indications more frequently. Consensus between physicians regarding contra-indications for IBR may optimize patient counseling and shared decision-making.
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Clinician perspective
KW - Immediate breast reconstruction
KW - Mastectomy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053679338&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/SAP.0000000000001572
DO - 10.1097/SAP.0000000000001572
M3 - Article
VL - 81
SP - 383
EP - 388
JO - Annals of Plastic Surgery
JF - Annals of Plastic Surgery
SN - 0148-7043
IS - 4
ER -