Post Op Infections

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ohiobecky
ohiobecky Member Posts: 56
edited August 2014 in Breast Reconstruction

Anyone else with post-op infections? I had a staph infection 9/13 after my lat flap and they had to take my tissue expander out a week later.

I swear I had another infection 2/14 after the expander was put back in. My white count in the ER was 6.2. During routine bloodwork the day before it was 2.47. ER sent me home but I had full bottle of antibiotic so I took those and it seemed to resolve. 

Exchange surgery 6/14. Another infection a month after surgery and they took the implant out. 

Eight surgeries in the last 2&1/2 years. And I'm right back where I was 2 years ago after the 2nd surgery. Very discouraged right now and I'm hoping there is someone out there that can tell me they have gone through this and ended up with a successful reconstruction. Help!

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  • songbird68
    songbird68 Member Posts: 190
    edited August 2014

    Yes to that unfortunately. My prophy side incision was infected. It made a hole that you could see the implant through. They look black! I was put on antibiotics, which got rid of the fever and swelling, then surgery for wound debridement, restitching & more antibiotics. 

    I have kept the implant, but there's always a chance that I may have to have explant. So for now I have successful recon.....

    Good luck x x

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  • ohiobecky
    ohiobecky Member Posts: 56
    edited August 2014

    It is so discouraging. I lost the expander last year. And now I thought I was nearing the end and they had to take the implant out.  My PS doesn't know what is causing thes multiple infections. I'm wondering if it is partially due to my white count still running low.

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  • kamm
    kamm Member Posts: 140
    edited August 2014

    Infection rate in general is pretty high. I think it's like 50%.  I also had an infection develop in my incision which caused me to have to heal my original right mastectomy incision open. Took six weeks. Then got my permanent implants and two weeks later the same incision for some unexplained reason blistered and peeled and I was back at square one healing it from the inside out. Strangely enough it's actually smaller now than it was originally. So far so good but we'll see. Quite a journey.

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  • ohiobecky
    ohiobecky Member Posts: 56
    edited August 2014

    The infections I have had have not affected the incision. I just end up with redness and warmth to the breast tissue. And a fever. And a lot of pain.

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  • sandra4611
    sandra4611 Member Posts: 2,913
    edited August 2014

    Nobody wants an infection but the fact is that 3%-4% of us develop an infection after breast surgery for placing tissue expanders after mastectomy or for replacing with implants. It's a little higher, 10%, for those who have mastectomies with "direct to permanent implants" like I did. I was one of the unlucky ones who acquired a serious gram-positive infection within hours after my 8 hour surgery. Something or someone was contaminated in the OR or recovery room. My fever started shortly after getting to my hospital room in spite of prophylactic IV antibiotics and spent 3 days destroying muscle, skin, and soft tissue on one side. The antibiotic was changed three times in three days until we finally hit on the right one. I'll be admitted for surgery #5 in mid-September and hope this will finish what is truly a reconstruction of my left side. I've had no more complications since the original infection but my surgeon puts me on IV vancomycin automatically now and I stay on it, with a PICC line and visiting nurse, for several weeks after each surgery. Nobody gets near me in the hospital without washing their hands and putting on gloves. You cannot be too careful.

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  • lulud471
    lulud471 Member Posts: 89
    edited August 2014

    ohiobecky, I had post-op infection after my BMX w/ immediate reconstruction -the whole ordeal lasted 13 months.  Had to remove implants, then have about 5 more surgeries due to infection (my infection was "pseudomonas a").  During that 13 months, I was on antibiotics 18 different times, never for more than two weeks.   This was not sufficient for the type of infection I had (resistant).  

    I was seeing a wound care specialist (although my PS didn't want me to see a wound care doc), who was going to put me on 6 weeks IV antibiotics.  But at the same time I went to an Infectious Disease doc at Johns Hopkins (who a family member had arranged for me) and he treated with 8 weeks oral antibiotics.  It cleared up - FINALLY.   

    I would say that my lesson learned was:  don't stay with your PS if they don't seem to be treating the infection.  I waited way too long to change from PS to wound doc / infectious disease specialist.  It was ridiculous.  If a culture had been done right away, to determine which antibiotic would work with this difficult infection, and if I had been given the right antibiotic for the right length of time, I wouldn't have gone through 13 months of hell. 

    I am having DIEP reconstruction at Univ of PA next month and am hopeful for a successful outcome!!!   Wishing you the best...

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