What if, during an operation, you could see more than the surgeon’s eye can?
Following a mastectomy due to breast cancer, many women opt for breast reconstruction. It is important that the skin receives sufficient blood supply to heal properly. However, it is not always possible to tell with the naked eye whether this is the case. This can lead to problems with wound healing.
How can doctors assess this more effectively?
Jelle Steentjes is investigating this as a Reggeborgh Research Fellow at MST. Using fluorescence imaging, he makes the blood flow in the skin visible. This involves a special dye that is made visible using a specialised camera. This enables doctors to see more clearly which parts of the skin are receiving sufficient blood and where problems might arise.
Jelle is investigating how this technique can help to better predict how the skin heals following a mastectomy with reconstruction. The aim is to reduce complications and further improve care for women with breast cancer.