BACKGROUND Current teaching suggests increased perfusion in free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flaps over pedicled TRAM flaps, broadening indications for its use in high risk patients. This study compared perfusion analysis of free muscle-sparing versus pedicle TRAM flaps in vivo in the peri-operative and late post-operative periods. METHODS The SPY-Elite system using indocy...

Breast reconstruction with a pedicled transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap can result in significant abdominal wall donor-site morbidity. Although the pedicled TRAM flap donor area reinforced with mesh results in decreased rates of postoperative abdominal bulging and hernias, the best technique to accomplish that is yet to be elucidated. We present our novel technique of posterior com...

BACKGROUND Our objective was to compare the complication rates of two common breast reconstruction techniques performed at our hospital and the cost-effectiveness for each test group. METHODS All patients who underwent deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap by the same surgeon were selected and matched according to age and mast...

BACKGROUND Breast reconstruction (BR) is an option for women who are treated with mastectomy; however, there has been concern regarding the oncologic safety of BR. In this study, we evaluated recurrences and mortality in women treated with mastectomy and compared outcomes in those treated with mastectomy alone to those with mastectomy plus transverse rectus adbominis (TRAM) flap BR. METHODS T...

Objective: Abdominal based free flaps such as the Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous (TRAM) flap and Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap are essential tools in the reconstructive armamentarium post mastectomy. These reconstructions are often prolonged, complex and associated with complications. This study aims to compare the complication rate, particularly focusing on perioper...

Recent reports of breast reconstruction with the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap indicate increased fat necrosis and venous congestion as compared with the free transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap. Although the benefits of the DIEP flap regarding the abdominal wall are well documented, its reconstructive advantage remains uncertain. The main objective of this study wa...

INTRODUCTION Many surgeons are using the ipsilateral rotation of the TRAM flap because of easier flap insetting and improved aesthetic outcomes; however studies evaluating these techniques are limited to case series without groups for comparison. Our purpose was to evaluate the safety of the ipsilateral technique through a retrospective cohort study. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated conse...

The free muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (MS-TRAM) and deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps involve transferring skin and subcutaneous tissue from the lower abdominal area and have many features that make them well suited for breast reconstruction. The robust blood supply of the free flap reduces the risk of fat necrosis and also enables aggressive shaping of...

UNLABELLED Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is primarily carried out to improve the patients' quality of life. The most commonly used autologous tissue for reconstruction is the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap (TRAM). The TRAM flap could be transferred either as pedicled or a free flap with microvascular anastomosis. The following work was carried out to evaluate the two...

One commonly expressed concern regarding transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction surgery is the return of sensation to the abdomen. Although many studies have focused on abdominal wall muscle incompetence or herniation, there is limited literature discussing postoperative abdominal sensation. The purpose of this study was to assess abdominal sensation a minimu...