Compromised breast flap treated with leech therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, pentoxifylline and topical nitroglycerin: A case report.

What Researchers Did

Researchers reported a case of a 34-year-old female who developed a compromised breast flap after reduction mammoplasty, which was successfully treated with a combination of leech therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, topical nitroglycerin, and pentoxifylline.

What They Found

The patient initially received topical nitroglycerin, oral pentoxifylline, and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2), showing some improvement after the first HBO2 session. Leech therapy was then added, with leeches applied three times daily for three days, alongside HBO2 twice daily for six days, leading to complete flap healing by Week 8 without further surgery.

Canadian Relevance

This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted outside of Canada.

Study Limitations

As a single case report, the findings cannot be generalized to a larger patient population and require further investigation.