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 technique of rotating the skin flap in situ 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 the treatment time, restore body shape 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 the 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 first aid, Ms. T. was transferred to the Provincial Oncology Hospital. Faced with 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 patient's defect wound will be very difficult to heal, greatly affecting daily functions and quality of life. The team designed a skin flap rotated from the chest and abdomen area, nourished by a branch penetrating the superior epigastric artery to cover the defect for the patient. Currently, the skin flap is alive and rosy."

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

In the same room, patient Huynh Thi L. (54 years old, Ninh Hoa town) also had 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, applying the technique of transferring the autologous skin flap to cover the lesion due to the patient's lack of skin after mastectomy. The patient had breast reconstruction surgery using a skin flap from 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 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 skin flap 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. Thanks to that, the healing time is shortened, helping patients quickly move 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 progress 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/