Post mastectomy skin flap viability evaluation by determining the blood glucose of the wound edges

• Grant number: 14/01624-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2014
• End date: May 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Alfredo Carlos Simões Dornellas de Barros
• Grantee: Stephanie Toscano Kasabkojian
• Host Institution: Hospital Sírio-Libanês. Sociedade Beneficente de Senhoras (SBSHSL). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The immediate breast reconstruction for patients suffering from breast cancer is the gold standard treatment for women without contraindications to the procedure. Necrosis of the cutaneous segment remaining after resection of the mammary gland may compromise the final result of the reconstruction. The capilar blood glucose has been used in other areas of reconstructive plastic surgery to determine the viability of the tissues evaluated. The tissue viability evaluation and early identification of perfusion problems is an essential tool in microsurgical flap transfers. Goals: To evaluate the diagnostic validity (sensitivity and specificity) of capillary blood glucose of the wound edges for prediction of flap viability of mastectomy patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction. Methods and Casuistic: 127 patients will be included in the study. At the end of the mastectomy, the skin flap viability will be clinically assessed and reconstruction will take place. Before the final closing, the blood glucose will be measured on a drop of blood taken at the edge of the wound at 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours, and additional points among these, if the distance between two of them is longer than five (5) inches. The patient's peripheral blood glucose will be registered at the same time. The photographic register of the location of the evaluated areas allow their comparison with possible areas of skin necrosis. At the end, the statistical analysis of the results will be conducted.