Salvage of Infected Prosthetic Breast Reconstructions

Periprosthetic infection is a major complication in breast reconstruction, leading to implant loss and delayed and sometimes abandoned reconstruction. Traditional management of persistent infections requires explantation followed by secondary reconstruction after 6 months of delay. Although effective in treating the infection, this approach often leads to distortion and/or loss of tissue envelope, making secondary reconstruction very difficult. As a result, there is significant interest in salvaging infected prosthetic breast reconstructions. Recent studies reported variable success through systemic antibiotic therapy and surgical interventions. The aim of this article is to review the management of periprosthetic infection and to provide a potential salvage algorithm. 2016 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.