Microsurgical procedures for water retention and sensory loss of the breast after treatment

Microsurgical procedures that cause two common side effects after treatment for breast cancer have a major impact on improving the quality of life. It is the treatment of lymphoedema by creating a connection between the lymph and the blood vessels (lympho-venous anastomosis) and the connection of a sensory nerve in the breast reconstruction with the own tissue abdominal (DEEP-lap). This is clear from the doctoral research of plastic surgeon Anouk Cornelissen, who works at the UMC Maastricht

Never before has any research been carried out. had been conducted on the effects of these interventions on the quality of life of women after breast cancer treatment. Cornelissen hopes the results will lead to better care: "The interventions are promising and offer opportunities for women after breast cancer treatment." Due to the social importance of research, the Dutch organization for health research and innovation (ZonMw) has granted a substantial grant for further research

Effects Secondary Breast Cancer

One in seven women is diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. As treatment has been greatly enhanced by advances in breast cancer screening, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy, more and more women are surviving breast cancer. With better screening, women are also starting to become younger with (preventive) breast cancer treatments and must live longer with their consequences. As a result, in recent years more attention has been paid to breast reconstruction and complementary quality of life treatments. This is measured on the basis of various factors such as psychological and mental functioning, breast satisfaction, social activities and sexual functioning. In her research, Cornelissen focused on two common side effects that have a major influence on this phenomenon, namely: lymphedema and loss of sensation in the breast.

Lympho-venous anastomosis (LVA)

Lymphedema is a serious chronic disease. where swelling occurs due to a buildup of moisture. Each year, approximately 15,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Of these, 7-49% develop lymphoedema. It depends on factors such as the location of the lymphatic gland, but especially the type of intervention. This is often the result of a treatment for breast cancer. Lymphedema is currently treated by massaging the arm and wearing a stocking. This reduces the complaints but does not cure them. In his research, Cornelissen examined the effect of lympho-venous anastomosis intervention on the quality of life of 20 women with lymphedema. With this new treatment, one or more connections are established through a microsurgical procedure between the lymphatic vessels and the small blood vessels to drain the fluid and relieve swelling. The results show that there was a significant improvement in the quality of life in 90% of the patients involved.

Recovery of sensation in the chest

Loss of sensation is a side effect that almost all women experience after breast cancer treatment. Although it is technically possible for plastic surgeons to nerves nerves to restore sensation, this is not a standard procedure. Indeed, in the past, priority was usually given to aesthetic results. As a result, there has been little research on restoring chest sensation, not to mention the influence on quality of life. In her research, Cornelissen focused on patients undergoing breast reconstruction via the DIEP-lap method. The entire breast is rebuilt with its own abdominal tissue. In this thesis, we have tried to improve the quality of life of these women by connecting an additional sensory nerve to microsurgery. The connection of this sensory nerve is not standard, the idea is that it improves the sensation in the reconstructed breast. The results of the first women reviewed by Cornelissen show that the quality of life of women who had undergone deep breast breast reconstruction with nerve was on average higher than that of a woman who had undergone deep breast reconstruction without sensory nerve connection.

Continued

Cornelissen and the entire Maastricht UMC + research team welcome these results and hope that the results will lead to better care: "The current treatment of lymphedema remains very debilitating for the patient and the importance of emotional recovery in the chest has long been underestimated.These results show that both interventions make a compelling contribution to the well-being of the patient. "
Cornelissen's research findings are compelling, as evidenced by the fact that the Dutch organization for health research and innovation in health (ZonMw) a grant has already been granted for further research. This is the great satisfaction of the Dutch Society of Plastic Surgery (NVPC): "Based on these findings, a large-scale study is now planned, at which several hospitals will contribute .That the government funds the further research, confirms the social importance of these results ", according to Stefania Tuinder, plastic surgeon and copromotor of this Maastricht UMC + thesis.