As microvascular techniques continue to improve, perforator flap free tissue transfer is now the gold standard for autologous breast reconstruction. Various options are available for breast reconstruction with autologous tissue. These include the free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap, deep inferior epigastric perforator flap, superficial inferior epigastric artery flap, supe...

This paper shows results of the static thermography for intraoperative and postoperative imaging of TRAM flap perfusion. The results were compared with the clinical examination of flap perfusion. The study was conducted on a group of 38 female patients who underwent breast reconstruction.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To assess pain and activity limitations and to determine realistic goals for recovery after a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction in a standard rehabilitation and recovery program. Assessing patient satisfaction with educational information is a secondary objective. DESIGN Before and after comparison. SETTING A National Cancer Instit...

Background: The use of a bipedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap in breast reconstructions has required the prophylactic use of mesh in the lower seg ment of the hypogastrium, because of the frequency of bulging and herniations in the middle to long term. This study aims to record a technical procedure routinely used in breast recons­ tructions: bipedicled TRAM flap with...

MateRials and Methods: 35 male Sprauge Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups; each group consisted of 7 rats. Reverse abdominoplasty model was used in all groups except group 1(Only TRAM flap). Right inferior epigastric artery pedicled, 5x2.5 cm sized TRAM flap was performed 2 weeks after abdominoplasty in groups 2 and 4 and 4 weeks after in groups 3 and 5. ASVF cells were injected locally dur...

PURPOSE To investigate the experimental model for obtaining adipose tissue, isolation, characterization of mesenchymal stem cells and evaluation of their distribution in the tram flap in rats. METHODS Five rats of Wistar were randomly assigned to two groups. In group I, three animals underwent removal of adipose tissue in the groin procedure to establish the experimental model and obtain a ce...

BACKGROUND As the U.S. population becomes increasingly overweight, a growing number of patients with body mass indexes greater than 30 are seeking mastectomy reconstruction. The authors' purpose was to prospectively evaluate the effect of body mass index on patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction. METHODS Women undergoing first-time breast reconstruction at one of 12 centers in the Un...

BACKGROUND Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has presented good results in the healing of chronic wounds. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of LIPUS on the viability of transverse rectus abdominal muscle (TRAM) flap in different regions (central and epigastric) in rats. METHODS Twenty-one Wistar male rats were homogeneously distributed into three groups as follows: g...

This study compared the use of the internal mammary and thoracodorsal recipient vessels in a uniform group of patients who underwent delayed TRAM flap reconstruction after radiotherapy, focusing on usability rates and outcomes. The authors identified 123 delayed TRAM flap patients who had undergone postmastectomy radiotherapy from a prospective database (1990 to 2001). Recipient vessel unusabil...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the recurrence pattern after skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) using transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap in patients with invasive breast cancer. METHODS From 1995 to 2010, patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent SSM followed by IBR using TRAM flap were retrospectively review...