Sensory preservation in reduction mammoplasty using the nipple-areola complex-carrying pedicle technique for gigantomastia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Gigantomastia is a disabling condition characterized by excess breast tissue. Historically, free nipple graft (FNG) has been preferred, prioritizing the nipple-areola complex (NAC) vascularity. The NAC-carrying pedicle technique, which is most commonly used in case of hypertrophy of the breast, has been suggested as a viable alternative for gigantomastia according to recent evidence, with reduced rates of NAC necrosis and improved outcomes. Nevertheless, a detailed outcome evaluation of the technique in terms of sensory preservation is currently lacking. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the risk of sensory loss associated with the NAC-carrying pedicle technique in cases of gigantomastia. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a literature search identified studies reporting postoperative sensitivity with the NACcarrying pedicle technique in resections exceeding 10 0 0 g of adipoglandular tissue. Then, a proportion meta-analysis was conducted to assess the pooled rate of sensation loss through the NACcarrying pedicle technique. Results: Seventeen studies (843 patients, 1685 breasts) met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed an exceptionally low risk of sensory loss with the NAC-carrying pedicle technique (1.3%; 95% confidence interval: 0.7-2.0), without significant statistical heterogeneity. Conclusion: This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of sensory preservation with the NAC-carrying pedicle technique in gigantomastia. The NAC-carrying pedicle technique emerges as the first choice, offering safety and favorable functional outcomes. Surgical caution remains crucial with the option to switch to FNG as required, ensuring patient safety and procedure success. Further research on the impact of different NAC-carrying pedicle techniques on sensory preservation is warranted. (c) 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)