PURPOSE To describe the anatomical variations of superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap as a muscle-sparing flap. METHODS A series of 40 dissections were performed on 20 preserved or fresh male cadavers. The site origin and drainage of vessels, caliber, length, and correlation between diameter and length of pedicle were identified. RESULTS The SIEA and SIEV were identified at in...

BACKGROUND Selection of a vascular pedicle for autologous breast reconstruction is time consuming and depends on visual evaluation during the surgery. Preoperative imaging of donor site for mapping the perforator artery anatomy greatly improves the efficiency of perforator selection and significantly reduces the operative time. In this article, we present our experience with magnetic resonance ...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to compare the use of an extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap (TIMF) and a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF). METHODS A total of 39 patients with advanced recurrent oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) underwent salvage surgery followed by placement of either an extended lower vertical TIMF or PMMF for reco...

BACKGROUND A great variety of flaps have been used in lower limb reconstructive surgery: random pattern flaps, axial flaps and free microsurgical transfers with many variants. After further research on the cutaneous blood supply and improvement of microsurgical techniques, perforator propeller flaps began to be studied and used. MATERIAL AND METHOD A propeller flap is defined as an insular fl...

BACKGROUND "Superthin flap" is a distinctively thin flap that is thinned primarily to the point that the subdermal vascular network can be seen through a minimal fat layer. Reconstruction of severely disfigured neck and face can be performed using the occipito-cervico-dorsal superthin flap that is harvested from the dorsal region and supercharged by the circumflex scapular vessels. We used bipe...

Background Surgical delay remains a common method for improving flap survival. However, the optimal surgical technique has not been determined. In this article, we compare flap perfusion, viable surface area, and flap contraction of 2 surgical delay techniques. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups. In the incisional surgical delay group (n = 9), a 9 × 3 cm dorsal flap w...

BACKGROUND The site, size, and depth of tissue loss, irradiation, or composite injury to adjacent cheek and lip may make local tissues inadequate or unavailable for the repair of major nasal defects. METHODS In 13 patients, a single, folded, horizontal radial forearm flap was used to line the vault and columella, with an incontinuity fasciocutaneous extension to resurface the nasal floor, wit...

The study was conducted to evaluate the viability and healing process of a pedicled latissimus dorsi muscular flap for use as an implant for herniorrhaphy in canine diaphragmatic muscle. After a three month acclimatization period, twelve clinically healthy mongrel dogs, of both sexes weighing 10 to 20 kg were induced with an iatrogenic diaphragmatic defect and divided into three groups A, B & C...

BACKGROUND Choke vessels dilate and contract to regulate blood flow between adjacent arterial angiosomes. In skin flap surgery, when arterial inflow to an angiosome is ligated, choke vessels allow blood supply from an adjacent angiosome. In muscle flap surgery, the vascular anatomy is analogous to skin flaps; however, while it is established that the choke vessels will fully dilate irreversibly...

BACKGROUND Effective postoperative monitoring of the vascular pedicle to a free flap can potentiate rapid return to the operating room in the setting of compromise, allowing for the potential to salvage the flap. The only ubiquitous method for postoperative monitoring of free flaps is clinical bedside monitoring, but although the use of clinical monitoring may be inferred in large reported seri...