Simple Test May Predict Wound Complications After Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center Study
Simple Test May Predict Wound Complications After Soft Tissue Sarcoma Surgery
MAYWOOD, Ill. (Oct. 16, 2014) - As many as 35 percent of patients who undergo surgery to remove soft tissue sarcomas experience wound-healing complications due to radiation they receive before surgery.
Now a study suggests that a simple test called transcutaneous oximetry may be able to predict which of these patients are most likely to experience wound-healing complications, potentially enabling surgeons to take extra precautions. Lukas Nystrom, MD, of Loyola University Medical Center, presented his findings during the 2014 annual meeting of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society. Dr. Nystrom received the society’s New Investigator Award for the study.
Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers that originate in the soft tissues, such as muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves and tendons. External beam radiation typically is part of the treatment regimen. Patients often do better and require less radiation when it is administered before surgery, but doing this also increases the risk of wound-healing complications.
Transcutaneous oximetry is a noninvasive test that measures the oxygen level of tissue beneath the skin. Adhesive sensors with oxygen-detecting electrodes are placed on the skin. The test causes no side effects or discomfort to the patient.
The study followed 10 patients who underwent surgery for soft tissue sarcomas after receiving radiation treatment. Patients with lower transcutaneous oxygen levels before surgery were more likely to experience wound complications. Four of the seven patients who had levels lower than 25 mm Hg just before surgery experienced wound complications, while all three patients with oxygen levels higher than 25 mm Hg healed without difficulty.
Dr. Nystrom noted that the study population is small and further work is necessary to confirm the findings. If confirmed by further study, transcutaneous oximetry potentially could become a tool to predict which patients are most at risk for wound complications. Extra precautions then could be taken to prevent complications, such as increasing the time between radiation and surgery and performing additional tissue transfers and vacuum-assisted closure, Dr. Nystrom said.
The study was performed at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, where Dr. Nystrom completed his residency. The co-author is Benjamin Miller, MD, of the University of Iowa.
“Transcutaneous oximetry represents a potential tool for decisions regarding surgical timing or potentially other medical and surgical efforts to diminish wound complications,” Drs. Nystrom and Miller concluded. “However, given this small sample size more data is needed to further assess the relationship.” Drs. Nystrom and Miller are applying for funding to conduct a prospective, multicenter study to confirm these findings. Loyola would serve as the primary study site.
Dr. Nystrom is an orthopaedic oncologist, specializing in the treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the bone and soft tissues. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
Loyola University Health System (LUHS) is a member of Trinity Health. Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, LUHS is a quaternary care system with a 61-acre main medical center campus, the 36-acre Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus and more than 30 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. The medical center campus is conveniently located in Maywood, 13 miles west of the Chicago Loop and 8 miles east of Oak Brook, Ill. The heart of the medical center campus is a 559-licensed-bed hospital that houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Burn Center and the Ronald McDonald® Children's Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center. Also on campus are the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine and Loyola Oral Health Center as well as the LUC Stritch School of Medicine, the LUC Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Loyola Center for Fitness. Loyola's Gottlieb campus in Melrose Park includes the 255-licensed-bed community hospital, the Professional Office Building housing 150 private practice clinics, the Adult Day Care, the Gottlieb Center for Fitness, Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center at Melrose Park.
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Jim Ritter
Media Relations
(708) 216-2445
jritter@lumc.edu
Anne Dillon
Media Relations
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MAYWOOD, Ill. (Oct. 16, 2014) - As many as 35 percent of patients who undergo surgery to remove soft tissue sarcomas experience wound-healing complications due to radiation they receive before surgery.
Now a study suggests that a simple test called transcutaneous oximetry may be able to predict which of these patients are most likely to experience wound-healing complications, potentially enabling surgeons to take extra precautions. Lukas Nystrom, MD, of Loyola University Medical Center, presented his findings during the 2014 annual meeting of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society. Dr. Nystrom received the society’s New Investigator Award for the study.
Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers that originate in the soft tissues, such as muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves and tendons. External beam radiation typically is part of the treatment regimen. Patients often do better and require less radiation when it is administered before surgery, but doing this also increases the risk of wound-healing complications.
Transcutaneous oximetry is a noninvasive test that measures the oxygen level of tissue beneath the skin. Adhesive sensors with oxygen-detecting electrodes are placed on the skin. The test causes no side effects or discomfort to the patient.
The study followed 10 patients who underwent surgery for soft tissue sarcomas after receiving radiation treatment. Patients with lower transcutaneous oxygen levels before surgery were more likely to experience wound complications. Four of the seven patients who had levels lower than 25 mm Hg just before surgery experienced wound complications, while all three patients with oxygen levels higher than 25 mm Hg healed without difficulty.
Dr. Nystrom noted that the study population is small and further work is necessary to confirm the findings. If confirmed by further study, transcutaneous oximetry potentially could become a tool to predict which patients are most at risk for wound complications. Extra precautions then could be taken to prevent complications, such as increasing the time between radiation and surgery and performing additional tissue transfers and vacuum-assisted closure, Dr. Nystrom said.
The study was performed at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, where Dr. Nystrom completed his residency. The co-author is Benjamin Miller, MD, of the University of Iowa.
“Transcutaneous oximetry represents a potential tool for decisions regarding surgical timing or potentially other medical and surgical efforts to diminish wound complications,” Drs. Nystrom and Miller concluded. “However, given this small sample size more data is needed to further assess the relationship.” Drs. Nystrom and Miller are applying for funding to conduct a prospective, multicenter study to confirm these findings. Loyola would serve as the primary study site.
Dr. Nystrom is an orthopaedic oncologist, specializing in the treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the bone and soft tissues. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
Loyola University Health System (LUHS) is a member of Trinity Health. Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, LUHS is a quaternary care system with a 61-acre main medical center campus, the 36-acre Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus and more than 30 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. The medical center campus is conveniently located in Maywood, 13 miles west of the Chicago Loop and 8 miles east of Oak Brook, Ill. The heart of the medical center campus is a 559-licensed-bed hospital that houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Burn Center and the Ronald McDonald® Children's Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center. Also on campus are the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine and Loyola Oral Health Center as well as the LUC Stritch School of Medicine, the LUC Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Loyola Center for Fitness. Loyola's Gottlieb campus in Melrose Park includes the 255-licensed-bed community hospital, the Professional Office Building housing 150 private practice clinics, the Adult Day Care, the Gottlieb Center for Fitness, Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center at Melrose Park.
Media Relations
Jim Ritter
Media Relations
(708) 216-2445
jritter@lumc.edu
Anne Dillon
Media Relations
(708) 216-8232
adillon@lumc.edu
More News
Hey, check out all the engineering jobs. Post your resume today!