What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed outcomes for eight breasts with compromised mastectomy skin flaps in seven patients who received HBOT within 24 hours of breast reconstruction surgery, using indocyanine green angiography to measure perfusion before and after.
What They Found
All patients except one achieved successful healing after an average of 10 HBOT sessions. Mean relative perfusion in the at-risk area increased from 13.8% before HBOT to 101.6% after HBOT -- a 6.8-fold increase.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Mastectomy flap loss is a devastating complication of breast reconstruction. For Canadian women undergoing mastectomy, early HBOT referral when flap viability is threatened could prevent additional surgeries and significant tissue loss.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
This was a small retrospective study of 8 breasts; no control group existed and selection bias cannot be excluded.