• Rachel L O'Connell, Tim Rattay, Rajiv V Dave, Adam Trickey, Joanna Skillman, Barnes Nicola L P NLP Nightingale Breast Unit, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Southmoor Road, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK., Matthew Gardiner, Adrian Harnett, Shelley Potter, Chris Holcombe, iBRA-2 Steering Group, and Breast Reconstruction Research Collaborative.
• Department of Breast Surgery, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5PT, UK.
• Br. J. Cancer. 2019 Apr 1; 120 (9): 883-895.

BackgroundImmediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy.MethodsConsecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July-December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored.ResultsA total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays.ConclusionsIBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients.

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