Examination of the Odor-Eliminating Effect of a Deodorizing Spray on the Volatile Odorants of Malignant Wounds

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the odor components before and after spraying a deodorizing spray (DS) on volatile odorants in malignant wounds (MWs) in women with breast cancer; a secondary aim was to evaluate the deodorizing effect of the DS. DESIGN: This is an observational study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: We investigated 3 patients who had MWs resulting from breast cancer. Participants were recruited from outpatient clinics in the Breast Surgery Department, University Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan. METHODS: The target material was exudate-containing dressings collected from MWs. After collection, the odor components (air) were collected into a sampling bag by using a handheld pump. Then, after 5 sprays of a DS, air was collected in the same manner. All odor components were analyzed objectively by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry (GC/MS-O). The concentration in parts per million (ppm) of the main odor components in the air before and after spraying DS was compared, and the residual concentration rate (%) was calculated. Sniffing tests before and after spraying were also conducted to determine the subjective deodorizing effect of DS. RESULTS: Of the possible hundreds of volatile odorants, 3 to 11 main components of volatile odorants were detected per subject. After DS spraying, the odorants dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, and benzyl alcohol were reduced according to GC/MS-O. The residual concentration of the following main odor components was also reduced: benzyl alcohol (30%), octanal (56%), p-dichlorobenzene (56%), isovaleric acid (56%), propylene glycol (63%), and nonanal (66%). CONCLUSIONS: DS was effective against some volatile odorants in MWs, but no clear deodorizing effect was observed. Since there are individual differences in the type and number of odorants in MWs, the use of DS needs to be examined and verified in a larger number of cases.