What Could Be Causing my Severe Abdominal Pains? I've Had Inconclusive CT Scans, Ultrasounds, and Blood Work...

Question

I had breast cancer and had a double mastectomy with DIEP Flap transplant surgery in April. Essentially, they gave me a tummy tuck after taking fat and tissue from my abdomen to create the new breasts. now I am full of scar tissue and extremely distended in the abdomen. I'm having excruciating pains, much like labor pains that twist and pull along my lower abdomen. My team of surgeons and doctors are at a loss as to what could be causing these pain attacks.

Robert Whitfield, MD · Answer

Your describing pain that seems to me like muscle cramps.  It is important to localize this to one side.  It invariably is not on both sides although possible.  If isolated local anesthesia can be placed into the area to see if there is resolution of the pain.  Three
basic forms of breast reconstruction exist. You can use your own tissue,
implants or a combination of the previous two techniques. Your own tissue can
be used in the form of the DIEP flap, PAP flap, SGAP flap or fat grafting.
Implants can be done in one stage or two stage. Two stage reconstructions are
started by placing expanders at the time of mastectomy. Once they expanders are
placed they are able to be inflated as determined by wound healing. The final
time consists of combining any of the above techniques.

If
you are interested in being seen in Austin please give us a call.  I know
this is a difficult time for you.  The majority of my practice is devoted
to reconstruction for women with breast cancer or who are BRCA+

Paul Gill, MD · Answer

It is very unusual to have abdominal pain after a DIEP Flap.  The risk of hernia/bulge is 11% with traditional TRAM Flap and only 0.6% with the DIEP Flap.    If you feel abdominal distension on the side of your flap harvest, you may have a breakdown in the fascial repair which requires attention. 

	It is also possible that you could have an intercostal or cutaneous nerve which is entraped and causing pain.   I would recommend consultation with your diep surgeon and possibly a pain management doctor for correction of your concerns.  I wish you a safe recovery.

	Dr. Gill

What Could Be Causing my Severe Abdominal Pains? I've Had Inconclusive CT Scans, Ultrasounds, and Blood Work...

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Everything you need to know about Breast Reconstruction with DIEP Flap

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What Could Be Causing my Severe Abdominal Pains? I've Had Inconclusive CT Scans, Ultrasounds, and Blood Work...

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Reconstruction with DIEP Flap

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.