title: Epirubicin extravasation: consequences of delayed management.
abstract: Epirubicin is an anthracycline chemotherapy agent used for treatment of several cancers including oesophageal, breast and gastric. Extravasation is a well-recognised and serious complication of any intravenous therapies but especially chemotherapeutic agents. Signs of the injury can be subtle and without prompt recognition and treatment there can be extensive tissue damage and depending on location of injury this can result in significant functional loss. In this article, a case of delayed management of epirubicin extravasation from a cannula situated at the dorsum of the hand is discussed. Successful surgical reconstruction of the resulting substantial tissue damage using a radial forearm flap 21 days following injury is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, West Bromwich, UK.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, West Bromwich, UK.
authors.forename: Peter George
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, West Bromwich, UK.
authors.forename: Anindya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lahiri
mesh_terms: D000359:Aftercare; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015251:Epirubicin