Epirubicin extravasation: consequences of delayed management

Epirubicin is an anthracycline chemotherapy agent used for treatment of several cancers including oesophageal, breast and gastric. Extravasation is a well-recognised and serious complication of any intravenous therapies but especially chemotherapeutic agents. Signs of the injury can be subtle and wi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ case reports 2017-01, Vol.2017, p.bcr2016218012
Main Authors: Hale, Olivia, Deutsch, Peter George, Lahiri, Anindya
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aftercare
Aged
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - administration & dosage
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - adverse effects
Chemotherapy
Debridement
Drug dosages
Epirubicin - administration & dosage
Epirubicin - adverse effects
Erythema
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal Neoplasms
Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials - etiology
Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials - surgery
Female
Hand - surgery
Hospitals
Humans
Injuries
Outpatient care facilities
Plastic surgery
Reconstructive Surgical Procedures
Reminder of Important Clinical Lesson
Skin & tissue grafts
Skin Transplantation - methods
Surgical Flaps
Treatment Outcome
United Kingdom
White
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Summary:Epirubicin is an anthracycline chemotherapy agent used for treatment of several cancers including oesophageal, breast and gastric. Extravasation is a well-recognised and serious complication of any intravenous therapies but especially chemotherapeutic agents. Signs of the injury can be subtle and without prompt recognition and treatment there can be extensive tissue damage and depending on location of injury this can result in significant functional loss. In this article, a case of delayed management of epirubicin extravasation from a cannula situated at the dorsum of the hand is discussed. Successful surgical reconstruction of the resulting substantial tissue damage using a radial forearm flap 21 days following injury is described.
ISSN:1757-790X
1757-790X
DOI:10.1136/bcr-2016-218012