Local flap technique for breast reconstruction: A step forward in the treatment of breast cancer patients

Khanh Hoa Provincial Oncology Hospital has successfully implemented the local flap rotation technique to reconstruct the breast for patients with breast cancer, large breast tumors with complications of necrosis, bleeding... The successful implementation of the above technique helps patients shorten treatment time, restore body contours and daily functions, and regain confidence in life.

Successful flap transfer

After more than 20 days of treatment at the Provincial Oncology Hospital, the edge of the wound where the flap was transferred to cover the defect after mastectomy to treat a tumor (20cm wide and 28cm long) on the chest of patient Thach Thi T. (34 years old, Nha Trang City) has progressed well, and is expected to be discharged home next week. Patient T. said that last year she saw a small tumor in her breast, thinking it was normal so she did not go to the hospital for examination. Since the beginning of the year, the tumor has grown larger, and recently her nipple has been leaking fluid and blood. On April 30, a lot of blood was flowing out, and her blood pressure dropped rapidly, so Ms. T. was admitted to the hospital for treatment. After being admitted to two hospitals and receiving initial first aid, Ms. T. was transferred to the Provincial Oncology Hospital. Given the patient's critical condition, the team of doctors from the Department of Head and Neck Surgery and the Department of Anesthesia and Resuscitation Surgery of the hospital performed surgery to save the patient's life. During the surgery, a very large tumor was found to have invaded part of the chest muscle. The surgical team removed the entire 3kg tumor from the patient's body. The pathological results showed a malignant borderline phyllodes tumor, a rare type of breast tumor characterized by rapid growth, reaching a very large size and strong vascular proliferation. After surgery, the removed tumor left a very large defect (28 x 20cm) on the chest wall. The hospital's medical team performed a local skin flap rotation technique to reconstruct the patient's breast. Dr. Le Ngoc Ba Thao - Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Breast Surgery said: "If this technique is not performed, the wound at the patient's defect will be very difficult to heal, greatly affecting daily functions and quality of life. The team designed a skin flap rotated from the thoracoabdominal area fed by a branch penetrating the superior epigastric artery to cover the patient's defect. Currently, the skin flap is alive and rosy."

Health examination of patient after applying local flap rotation technique for breast reconstruction.

In the same room, patient Huynh Thi L. (54 years old, Ninh Hoa town) also received the technique of rotating the skin flap in place to reconstruct the breast. According to patient L., 4 years ago, she found a tumor in her breast but did not go to the hospital for treatment but stayed home to drink and apply medicinal leaves. After a period of application, the tumor was still there, the nipple was ulcerated, and pus was flowing, so Ms. L. went to the hospital for treatment. Here, Ms. L. was diagnosed with late-stage right breast cancer, with a very large tumor. The treatment team decided to perform radical mastectomy; at the same time, the technique of transferring autologous skin flaps to cover the lesion due to the patient's lack of skin after mastectomy was applied. The patient underwent breast reconstruction surgery using a skin-muscle flap in the back of the chest. After more than 2 weeks of treatment, the patient's health improved well, the surgical wound was dry, and the skin-muscle flap was well nourished.

Many advantages

According to Master, Doctor Dang Van Dung - Head of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Breast Surgery, Provincial Oncology Hospital, the technique of rotating autologous skin flaps to reconstruct the breast for patients is a difficult technique, requiring high expertise, and is implemented at a number of central hospitals. This technique has been included in the hospital's development plan for many years. After creating conditions for a number of doctors to access the above technique at central hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, since the beginning of 2025, the hospital has successfully implemented this technique.

The team of doctors at the Provincial Oncology Hospital performed the local flap rotation technique to reconstruct the patient's breast.

Doctor Le Ngoc Ba Thao said that the advantage of this technique is that because the skin flap is taken from the body, and the blood vessels that nourish the skin are still present, the skin's ability to survive after being brought to the recipient is very high. This shortens the healing time, helping patients quickly move on to the next stages of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Previously, for patients with large defects like the above, the Provincial Oncology Hospital had to transfer the patient to a higher level. Currently, with the successful application of the above technique, the Provincial Oncology Hospital has made great strides in the treatment of patients with breast cancer. Ensuring the aesthetic aspect after breast tumor removal surgery helps patients feel confident in life.

C.DAN

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/y-te-suc-khoe/202505/ky-thuat-xoay-vat-da-tai-chotai-tao-vu-buoc-tientrong-dieu-tribenh-nhan-ung-thu-vu-3c65b7a/