A chemical hemostatic technique for bleeding from malignant wounds.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer, skin cancer, and head and neck cancer often develops a hemorrhagic malignant wound. Bleeding from the tumor impairs patients' quality of life and can be life threatening, while surgical or electrical hemostasis is often unsuccessful because of the tumor's friability.


METHODS
We performed a chemical hemostatic treatment for breast cancer hemorrhage with zinc chloride paste (Mohs' paste), which is usually applied as a fixative in micrographic surgery for cutaneous neoplasms. Five patients with bleeding from breast cancer under various circumstances were treated with this technique in 2008.


RESULTS
The method was successful on first application for all five patients, and hemostasis was maintained long term.


CONCLUSIONS
This simple technique is effective for bleeding from malignant wounds and should be learned by health professionals performing cancer care.
Kakimoto
Masaki
M
Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Ohtsuka Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. m-kakimot-o@ohtsuka-hospital.toshima.tokyo.jp
Tokita
Hiromi
H
Okamura
Takashi
T
Yoshino
Koji
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009824:Ointments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002712:Chlorides; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009824:Ointments; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C016837:zinc chloride