222 Pediatric Pulse Oximetry to Monitor the Post-Operative Integrity of Free Flaps

Abstract Introduction The post-operative monitoring of free-flaps can be a challenge, particularly for junior staff on-call and in patients with darker or mottled skin. We present case employing paediatric pulse oximetry to monitor free flap where clinical assessment was challenging, illustrating its value as an adjunct existing techniques such doppler. Case A 23-year-old patient underwent tenolysis his anterior right leg compartment due painful, tethered scar following injury. He subsequently had superficial circumflex iliac perforator (SCIP) anastomosed end-to-side posterior tibial artery. operation technically but the strong doppler remained clinically well until day 4 post-op, it became warm soft. Clinical equivocal, oximeter taped flap, consistently showing saturations >95%, providing reassurance out-of-hours facilitating decision delay haematoma evacuation day. survived did well. Conclusions use assess flaps is useful technique ambiguous cases re-exploration could compromise survival. It cheap, widely accessible easily employed by clinicians nurses who may relatively inexperienced their flaps’ condition.