Risk Factors for Delays in Adjuvant Chemotherapy following Immediate Breast Reconstruction

Background: Concerns exist that immediate breast reconstruction may delay adjuvant chemotherapy initiation, impacting oncologic outcomes. Here, the authors determine how postoperative complications impact chemotherapy timing, and identify factors associated with greater risk for delays. Methods: Retrospective chart review identified patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction and adjuvant chemotherapy at a single institution from 2010 to 2015. Patients were analyzed based on occurrence of postoperative complications and time to chemotherapy. Results: A total of 182 patients (244 breast reconstructions) were included in the study; 210 (86 percent) reconstructions did not experience postoperative complications, and 34 (13.9 percent) did. Patients who experienced postoperative complications had an older mean age (53.6 years versus 48.1 years; p = 0.002) and higher rates of diabetes (23.5 percent versus 3.8 percent; p