Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for skin flap necrosis after a mastectomy: a case study.
The rate of complications in immediate breast reconstruction is in 15% to 20% due to partial loss of the mastectomy skin flaps. In the case of skin necrosis or ischemia, a therapy that reduces skin loss could be of additional benefit. Hyperbaric oxygen has been used to treat compromised flaps and grafts, an indication recognized and reimbursed according to the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). So far, hyperbaric oxygen has not been previously reported as therapy for full-thickness breast skin flap necrosis on patients with a direct reconstruction with silicone implants after a skin-sparing mastectomy. This report presents such a case, in which a 52-year-old woman carrier of the BRCA2 mutation gene was successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands. yf.mermans@gmail.com
Joline F
JF
Mermans
Stefania
S
Tuinder
Maarten F
MF
von Meyenfeldt
Rene R W J
RR
van der Hulst
D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D018427:Breast Implants; D005260:Female; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000628:therapy; D020034:Silicone Gels; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology*
D020034:Silicone Gels