Simple test to predict post-surgery complications

A simple test may identify which patients will experience wound-healing complications following a cancer surgery to remove soft tissue sarcomas, scientists say.
As many as 35 per cent of patients who undergo surgery to remove soft tissue sarcomas experience wound-healing complications, due to radiation they receive before surgery.
Now a study by Lukas Nystrom of Loyola University Medical Centre has suggested 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.
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 radiation is administered before surgery. But administering radiation before surgery 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 are placed on the skin; the sensors contain electrodes that can sense oxygen. The test causes no side effects or discomfort to the patient.
The study followed ten 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.
If confirmed by further study, transcutaneous oximetry potentially could become a tool to predict which patients are most at risk for wound complications, researchers said.
Extra precautions then could be taken to prevent complications, such as increasing the time interval between radiation and surgery and performing additional tissue transfers and vacuum-assisted closure, Nystrom said.