Repair strategy of chest radiation ulcer after radical mastectomy for breast cancer and its clinical effect
10.3760/cma.j.cn501225-20240315-00099
- VernacularTitle:乳腺癌根治术后胸部放射性溃疡的修复策略及其临床效果
- Author:
Weili DU
1
;
Yuming SHEN
;
Lin CHENG
;
Qiang DAI
;
Kexin CHE
Author Information
1. 首都医科大学附属北京积水潭医院烧伤科，北京 100035
- Keywords:
Thorax;
Radiation injuries;
Chronic disease;
Debridement;
Surgical flaps;
Wound repair
- From:
Chinese Journal of Burns
2024;40(6):521-528
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the repair strategy of chest radiation ulcer after radical mastectomy for breast cancer and its clinical effect.Methods:The study was a retrospective observational study. From September 2020 to September 2023, 27 female patients (aged 37-83 years) with chest radiation ulcers after radical mastectomy for breast cancer who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, of which 7 patients developed significant pain in the chest region. Various examinations were completed to accurately assess the presence of tumors and depth of radiation ulcers. After tumor recurrence was ruled out, the ulcer wounds were thoroughly debrided (the wound size after debridement was 8 cm×7 cm to 18 cm×18 cm). At the same time, pathological examination of the wound tissue and bacterial culture of the wound tissue/exudate samples were performed. The wound repair surgery was performed at the same time after debridement or one week after vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) treatment. Based on the location and size of the wound, the age and overall condition of the patient, as well as the principle of minimizing damage to the donor site, the most suitable tissue flap was selected to repair the wound. The donor site wound was transplanted with a split-thickness skin graft or sutured together. The level and tissue structure of radiation injury, and the type and size of transplanted tissue flap were recorded. The results of postoperative pathological examination of wound tissue and bacterial culture of wound tissue/exudate samples, pain relief, survival of tissue flap, and wound healing were recorded. During the follow-up, the shape of the tissue flap, whether the ulcer recurred, the wound healing of the donor site, and whether the abdominal wall hernia occurred in the donor site of the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap were observed.Results:Radiation injury involved ribs and costal cartilage in 21 cases, ribs, sternum, and clavicle in 4 cases, and clavicle and subclavian artery in 2 cases. Twelve patients were transplanted with rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, eight patients with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, three patients with internal thoracic artery perforator flap, three patients with superior epigastric artery perforator flap, and one patient with free deep inferior epigastric perforator flap. The size of tissue flap was 14 cm×8 cm to 20 cm×20 cm. After surgery, no tumor component was found in the pathological examination of wound tissue; 25 patients were positive and 2 patients were negative in bacterial culture results of wound tissue/exudate samples; the pain of 7 patients was completely relieved. The tissue flaps of 25 patients survived completely after surgery, and the wounds healed. Two patients had partial necrosis at the tip of the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, which healed after debridement and tissue flap repair. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years. The appearance of the tissue flaps was good, and no ulcer recurred. The linear scar was left on the donor site, and no abdominal wall hernia occurred in the donor site of the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap.Conclusions:Thorough debridement and VSD treatment after accurate assessment of the extent of damage, and the selection of appropriate tissue flap to repair the wound based on the patient's general condition, the wound characteristics, and the principle of minimizing damage to the donor site are good repair strategies for the chest radiation ulcers after radical mastectomy for breast cancer. By using the strategies, the wounds could be closed as soon as possible, preventing ulcer recurrence and having a good prognosis.
