Photo Credit: ViktoriiaNovokhatska

The following is a summary of “Evaluating the Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to Treat Mastectomy Skin Flap Ischemia in Breast Reconstruction: A Single-Institution Retrospective Analysis,” published in the November 2024 issue of Surgery by Daniel et al.    

Mastectomy skin flap ischemia is a common postoperative complication after mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has shown promise in treating this condition but is understudied.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study assessing the efficacy of HBOT in treating mastectomy skin flap ischemia.  

They involved 23 patients with skin flap ischemia after mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction, treated with HBOT (January 2018 to October 2023). Success was defined as no major complications within 6 months post-HBOT (≥1 major complication indicated HBOT failure). Logistic regression was used to model the odds of HBOT success based on patient characteristics.  

The results showed that HBOT was successful in 15 out of 23 patients (65%) and failed in 8 out of 23 (35%). Of the successes, 11 received immediate post-operative HBOT. The average age was 49, BMI 24, and number of HBOT treatments was 11. Logistic regression showed that the presence of minor complications decreased the odds of success by 92% (OR = 0.08; P<0.09), while each 1-year increase in age increased the odds of success by 15% (OR = 1.16; P<0.07).  

They concluded that HBOT was effective in treating mastectomy skin flap ischemia, with age and minor complications influencing treatment success.  

Source: americanjournalofsurgery.com/article/S0002-9610(24)00662-7/abstract