Muscle sparing latissimus dorsi flap for reconstruction of a large chemo-necrosis of the chest wall: A case report

Abstract

Extravasation of chemotherapeutic agents is a common complication in cancer centers. In severe cases involving large tissue necrosis, surgery may be needed to resect necrotic tissues and to cover the exposed areas. A 71 years old women was referred to our unit two month after extravasation of epirubicin from an implanted port-a-cath with a large chemonecrosis of the anterior chest wall. She presented an evolutive tissue necrosis extending from the upper anterior thoracic region to the right breast. Surgical debridements and negative wound pressure therapy were necessary in order to obtain clean areas. The final chest wall defect was covered using a Muscle Sparing Latissimus Dorsi pedicled flap. This surgical management have permitted a satisfying wound healing and functional recovery without any complication. Chemotherapeutics' extravasations can be a severe complication of oncologic treatment and have to be discussed between oncologists and plastic surgeons to find the most effective and suitable solution with consideration of the specificities of cancer therapy. In chest wall skin defect, the use of muscle sparing latissimus dorsi pedicled flap is a robust solution with low morbidity of the donor site.