Re-Construction/Removal of Tissue Expander Complication

reach4thesky

Hello all, I am the one who had a Mastectomy on May 5th, with ongoing drainage. It was finally deteremined that my implant was infected about 1 week ago, it was removed surgically last week also and the doctor put me on Keflex, the lab had come back with a little "staph" bacteria in it. I do feel better already. However, I found out last night that while in surgery, the Port which attaches to the expander broke away and was left inside of me. He also told me that he felt that I was not a strong candidate for a successful re-construction. I feel that he is just giving up on me to return to his cosmetic patients. He recommended I seek a 2nd opinion, which I am in the works of doing. I am 33, 5 ft, 5" tall, 221, he constantly is telling me to loose weight which I know I need to....but no other doctors are telling me this, why him? It is hard for me to accept the port being left behing in me as least of my worries because it is sore and tender, just seems odd that he would not remove it...I feel that he just wants me to forget working with him and walk away, so I feel abondoned in that regard and I feel that I cannot trust him, since he did not explain to me the port was still inside me unti I came out and asked him the other night! Has anyone heard of this happening in re-constructive surgery? I called the hospital also, the Clinical Manager told me this would be a patient-doctor issue. I feel that I am on my own...with this one, until I get me 2nd opinion. Any suggestions anyone?

Future

I am so sorry to hear all the things that are happening. Definitely get a second opinion. Not all surgeons are like that. I had a post-op infection and had my expander removed. My surgeon has been great. The infection is what is called a nosocomial infection (hospital acquired) so will never know the source but......my surgeon has been following me closely. He will be running some tests to make sure there's no infection remaining before he puts in another expander. When I started to get discouraged he took the time to explain why he was waiting and emphasized he wanted "the best results for me". There are good medical people out there. It bothers me that the surgeon isn't going to remove the port - didn't he look at it when he removed the expander to make sure it was intact. Sounds like he missed the mark on some basic surgical procedures. I know I mentioned it before, but contact your insurance company -- they have patient/quality managers that should be advocating for you. Call the hospital back and ask to talk with the patient advocate, not the clinical manager. Regarding the weight, my surgeon was very open and told me the procedure he chose was because my weight was "borderline", he was nice about it but honest.
Thoughts and Prayers with you

reach4thesky

Future said:

I am so sorry to hear all the things that are happening. Definitely get a second opinion. Not all surgeons are like that. I had a post-op infection and had my expander removed. My surgeon has been great. The infection is what is called a nosocomial infection (hospital acquired) so will never know the source but......my surgeon has been following me closely. He will be running some tests to make sure there's no infection remaining before he puts in another expander. When I started to get discouraged he took the time to explain why he was waiting and emphasized he wanted "the best results for me". There are good medical people out there. It bothers me that the surgeon isn't going to remove the port - didn't he look at it when he removed the expander to make sure it was intact. Sounds like he missed the mark on some basic surgical procedures. I know I mentioned it before, but contact your insurance company -- they have patient/quality managers that should be advocating for you. Call the hospital back and ask to talk with the patient advocate, not the clinical manager. Regarding the weight, my surgeon was very open and told me the procedure he chose was because my weight was "borderline", he was nice about it but honest.
Thoughts and Prayers with you

Thanks Future. My doctor told me the tubing that connects the expander from the tubing broke. He is not giving me clear answers and I do want some closure with him and answers from him. I am taking my husband to his office on Tuesday with a typed list of questions I have. The port feels infected, it is bothersome, feels like I am beeing pinched, sore. Anyway, I want it out. I want to tell him that, I am worried that he may say let's have surgery this week and remove it, I don't entire trust his work now. My 2nd opinion appointment is not until 8/24. I am afraid to call my Insurance to tell them all this, because they may say it is malpractice and not pay my claims, I have heard of this to.