Bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy – surgical procedure, complications and financial benefit

Abstract

Risk-reducing mastectomy is a recognized prophylactic treatment for women at high and very high risk of breast cancer development in many countries. In surgical treatment, mastectomy with simultaneous reconstruction is preferred. The most common method is simultaneous reconstruction with the use of implants, but an equivalent method with a comparable or lower complication rate is simultaneous reconstruction with own tissues, taking into account free tissue flaps. The patient should be informed about the high risk of complications, possible deterioration of the life quality and high rate of corrective reoperations. In order for this form of the most effective and financially measurable health prophylaxis to be actually implemented, it is necessary to rationally evaluate the procedure and differentiate its costs depending on the type of reconstruction performed.