"Extravasation injuries requiring plastic surgery - a retrospective single center study".

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Wound Healing
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Extravasation of intravenous agents can cause severe tissue damage, including necrosis and compartment syndrome.
• Identifying predictors of poor outcomes is vital for effective management of extravasation injuries.
• This study focuses on patients with extravasation injuries requiring plastic surgery consultation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of severe complications in patients with extravasation injuries.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the subcutaneous wash-out procedure in managing these injuries.
• To guide clinical decision-making for severe extravasation cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, single-center analysis of 37 patients requiring non-conservative management for extravasation injuries (2014-2024).
• Primary outcome: development of complications requiring surgical treatment (e.g., skin necrosis, compartment syndrome).
• Bayesian logistic regression used to identify predictive factors, including subcutaneous wash-out, catheter type, and agent type.

Main Results:

• The subcutaneous wash-out procedure was strongly associated with a reduced likelihood of severe complications.
• Factors such as days from incident to referral, volume administered, and agent type were not significant predictors.
• The study highlights the protective effect of subcutaneous wash-out in selected patients.

Conclusions:

• Subcutaneous wash-out is associated with fewer severe complications in patients with extravasation injuries requiring surgical consultation.
• The procedure's protective effect and appropriate patient selection contribute to improved outcomes.
• This finding supports the use of subcutaneous wash-out as an effective management strategy for specific extravasation injuries.