Safety and aesthetic outcomes of SERASYNTH(Ⓡ) MESH BR for direct-to-implant breast reconstruction: A retrospective single center analysis of 32 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND: Bilateral mastectomy for both therapeutic and prophylactic reasons is becoming increasingly important. To achieve good results after mastectomy, synthetic meshes are often used as an alternative to acellular dermal matrices (ADMs). The aim of this study is to analyze the results of subcutaneous mastectomies and direct-to-implant breast reconstruction using SERASYNTH(Ⓡ) MESH BR. METHODS: In this work, data from mastectomies (n = 32) in 22 patients without prior radiation after breast reconstruction with SERASYNTH(Ⓡ) MESH BR from a single center were retrospectively analyzed with 1 year follow-up. Complications were categorized as serious (need for revision surgery) and minor events. Statistical analysis was performed using the t-test in SPSS. Data were compared with the existing literature. RESULTS: Major complications occurred in 15.6% (n = 5). Two out of five revisions were due to hematoma. In three cases, a seroma followed by other complications (e.g., infections, necrosis) necessitated revision. Minor complications occurred in 12.5% of cases. Due to the safety aspect, implants were replaced in each revision. There was no significant difference in complication rates between prophylactic and therapeutic mastectomies (p = 0.3815, SE = 0.171). There was no statistically significant difference in esthetic outcomes (p = 0.3846). CONCLUSION: The application of the absorbable polymer poly-p-dioxanone SERASYNTH(Ⓡ) MESH BR has complication rates comparable to those reported in the existing literature. Careful patient selection is paramount in order to limit the complication rate. SERASYNTH(Ⓡ) MESH BR can be considered a safe tool to achieve esthetic results in combination with direct-to-implant breast reconstruction.