Electrical Stimulation for Improving Postoperative Breast Sensation

Objective: To determine whether intraoperative electrical stimulation enhances sensory recovery following mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction

Background: There is an increasing trend towards prophylactic mastectomy with immediate implant-based reconstruction for women with genetics predisposing to breast cancer (BRCA-1 and -2). Novel techniques such as fat grafting and nipple creation/tattooing have contributing towards creating an aesthetically pleasing breast mound; however, the majority of women experience non-recoverable significant sensory loss secondary to damage and stretch of the intercostal nerves that provide sensation to the skin, areola, and nipple. Most women will recover minimal sensation around the perimeter of the breast, indicating a potential for sensory return; however, particularly the nipple usually remains numb. An insensate breast feels unnatural to the woman and predisposes her to injury and burns of the reconstruction, which can require additional surgery or cause significant scarring.

Our laboratory has previously shown that electrical stimulation (ES) is safe and significantly improves postoperative outcomes in peripheral nerve injury in animal and human models. ES has been shown to improve return of median and ulnar nerve function following carpal and cubital tunnel release respectively, with improved motor outcomes. Sensory return following digital nerve laceration repair similarly is improved with immediate postoperative ES for one hour.

Methods: Thirty patients that will be undergoing bilateral prophylactic skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate implant-based breast reconstruction will be identified from the practice of two plastic surgeons. Preoperatively, women will be undergo sensory testing to the 4 quadrants of both breasts and the nipples, including testing for tactile sensation, cool detection, 2-point discrimination, heat-pain detection threshold, and sharp-blunt discrimination. A custom-made survey to evaluate erogenous sensation will be completed by the patient, as well as the validated BREAST-Q.

The day of surgery the patient will be randomized to right or left breast for stimulation. Following the mastectomy, the breast to be stimulated will be reconstructed with an implant first in the typical fashion. A percutaneous needle will be passed into the intercostal space alongside the 4th intercostal nerve, and a second needle will be inserted into the serratus anterior muscle . These needles will be attached to the anode and cathode respectively of our electrical stimulator, and the patient will receive 1 hour of intraoperative stimulation titrated to palpable contraction of the intercostal muscle. During this hour, the second breast will undergo reconstruction with no electrical stimulation. At the completion of the hour, the skin will be closed in the normal fashion. The laterality will be blinded to the patient as well as to the investigator who will perform all sensory testing.