The purpose of this study was to perform an evaluation of the structural changes in the abdominal wall after harvesting a DIEP flap in breast reconstruction.~14 women undergoing secondary, unilateral breast reconstruction were recruited to the study and underwent a 2 year postoperative CT scan of the abdomen (without contrast).~Structural changes were assessed by comparing the abdominal CT scans performed prior to surgery with the 2 year postoperative CT scans.~The following structural changes were evaluated at four specific levels of the abdomen by two radiologists (among the authors): 1) rectus diastasis, 2) thickness and width of the rectus muscles, 3) thickness of the adipose tissue, 4) hernias (in the zone between the xiphoid process and the symphysis).~The measurement levels chosen were: 1) 7 cm below the xiphoid process, 2) umbilicus level, 3) central zone (between level 2 and 4), 4) 5 cm above the symphysis~Statistical analysis were performed to see if the structural measurements were significantly different comparing preoperative CT versus 2 year postoperative CT.
The purpose of this study was to perform an evaluation of the structural changes in the abdominal wall after harvesting a DIEP flap in breast reconstruction.~14 women undergoing secondary, unilateral breast reconstruction were recruited to the study and underwent a 2 year postoperative CT scan of the abdomen (without contrast).~Structural changes were assessed by comparing the abdominal CT scans performed prior to surgery with the 2 year postoperative CT scans.