Liposuction in Infants for Chemotherapy Drug Extravasation: Two Case Reports

Extravasation is a serious iatrogenic complication caused by the accidental leakage of cytotoxic drugs into surrounding tissue, potentially leading to skin necrosis. This article presents two case reports of chemotherapy drug extravasation in infants, effectively managed using a liposuction and saline washout technique. The first case involved a 12-month-old with nephroblastoma; the second, an 18-month-old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Both developed localized swelling within hours of infusion and were promptly referred to a plastic surgery department. Surgical intervention was performed within six hours: a small incision was made, saline was infiltrated, and the extravasated area was aspirated using a liposuction cannula. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and chemotherapy resumed one week later. The authors emphasize that early surgical aspiration and lavage is an effective, tissue-sparing method that should be widely adopted, especially in pediatric patients receiving vesicant or hyperosmolar agents.