Background

The indications for microsurgical breast reconstruction remain debated, particularly concerning the safety of deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps in elderly women. Free tissue transfer still carries a risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. We conducted this comparative study to clarify this issue.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included all unilateral DIEP breast reconstructions performed at a single institution. Patients were divided into two groups based on age: an elderly (60 years or older) and a non-elderly cohort (younger than 60 years). Demographic and comorbidity data were secondary predictor variables. The primary outcomes were complete flap loss, partial flap loss, and the need for flap re-exploration. The secondary outcomes included surgical site occurrences, such as wound healing-related complications, seroma, and others.

Results

We included 214 flaps, 177 in the non-elderly and 37 in the elderly cohort. Elderly women had slightly higher comorbidity rates than those of non-elderly women, although these differences were not statistically significant. BMI was significantly lower in elderly women than in non-elderly women. The incidence of total or partial flap loss did not differ significantly between the two cohorts (2.7% vs 1.1%, p = 0.459% and 0.0% vs 5.1%, p = 0.161), nor did the flap re-exploration (8.1% vs 10.1%, p = 0.937). Similarly, postoperative complication rates did not differ significantly between the two groups (45.9% vs 61.8%, p = 0.074). On logistic regression, being elderly was not a risk factor for complete flap loss, nor for any complications. The overall success rate for the non-elderly cohort was 98.7%, whereas that for the elderly cohort was 97.3%.

Conclusions

Microsurgical breast reconstruction using DIEP is safe in elderly patients, as it achieves outcomes and complications rates comparable to those observed in a younger population. Patients should not be denied DIEP flaps because of their age alone.