Worldwide first experiences with vacuum-assisted closure as alternative treatment method to repair defects of an extended thoracic wall recurrence of breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Loco-regional recurrences of the breast cancer are associated with a bad prognosis. Often costly autologous-tissue treatment as a surgery aiming at repairing the defects is necessary.


METHODS
Four female patients were treated with the vacuum-assisted closure (VAC)-system in context with the recurrence resection. In all cases a primary local masking was not possible.


RESULTS
In the described cases the wounds healed well during the post-operative phase. There occurred no problems either during the radiation treatment or during chemotherapy in the case of lying VAC-Systems.


CONCLUSIONS
Using vacuum-assisted wound closure one can avoid autologous-tissue treatment in the case of extensive loco-regional recurrences.
Dian
Darius
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ludwig-Maximillians-University Hospital, Munich, Germany. darius.dian@med.uni-muenchen.de
Bodungen
Vera
V
Himsl
Isabelle
I
Drinovac
Visnja
V
Mylonas
Ioannes
I
Sommer
Harald
H
Friese
Klaus
K
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000601:surgery*