Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the protective lining of various tissues (pleura, peritoneum) – the most common site of the disease is the chest cavity. Patients who develop mesothelioma have typically been exposed to asbestos fibres.
Treatment for mesothelioma is limited yet varied and includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of all three. One surgical approach, known as extended pleurectomy decortication is radical and involves the removal of the lining of the lung and chest wall – in certain instances the diaphragm is also removed. The surgical approach results in raw, exposed tissue surfaces including of the lung. One consequence is that the most common post-operative complication after surgery is prolonged parenchymal air leak, leading to a prolonged hospital stay.
Thoracic surgeons at The Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK – a specialist centre in the treatment of patients affected by mesothelioma, are currently using TissuePatch™ to control post-operative air leaks, with the aim of reducing hospital stay.
The latest developments in mesothelioma research will be discussed at the forthcoming Meeting of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group, iMig, being held at the ICC Birmingham, UK, 1-4 May 2016. Tissuemed will be exhibiting during iMig and look forward to presenting TissuePatch™ and discussing this area with the community.