Project description:BackgroundPedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flaps are well-established autologous reconstructive options for breast reconstruction. Preoperative computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has since become part of the routine workup in breast reconstruction with deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flaps. CTA provides an improved understanding of perforator anatomy which can facilitate optimal choice of hemiabdominal wall, and guide sheath harvest. Despite this knowledge, the role of preoperative CTA for breast reconstruction with the pedicled TRAM flap has not yet been established.MethodsA consecutive cohort of patients undergoing breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flaps without preoperative imaging were compared to a similar cohort of consecutive patients undergoing the same procedure with the use of preoperative CTA. Both flap and donor outcomes were assessed.ResultsThirty-four consecutive patients undergoing ipsilateral breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flaps were included. There was no statistical difference in the operative times or outcomes between the two groups. There were no complete flap losses in either group.ConclusionsThe use of preoperative CTA may help to guide surgical technique and provide the surgeon with greater confidence intraoperatively, however, this study did not show significant change in operative outcomes. Further study and risk/benefit analysis may better highlight the role of CTA in pedicled TRAM flap planning.
Project description:Large and life-threatening thoracic cage defects can result from the treatment of traumatic injuries, tumors, infection, congenital anomalies, and radiation injury and require prompt reconstruction to restore respiratory function and soft tissue closure. Important factors for consideration are coverage with healthy tissue to heal a wound, the potential alteration in respiratory mechanics created by large extirpations or nonhealing thoracic wounds, and the need for immediate coverage for vital structures. The choice of technique depends on the size and extent of the defect, its location, and donor site availability with consideration to previous thoracic or abdominal operations. The focus of this article is specifically to describe the use of the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, and rectus abdominis muscle flaps for reconstruction of thoracic defects, as these are the workhorse flaps commonly used for chest wall reconstruction.
Project description:Background: The purpose of this study was to introduce a new surgical technique for pedicled TRAM flap that removes a part of the rectus abdominis muscle inserting into ribs, and to analyze this technique in comparison with classical pedicled TRAM flap. Methods: A retrospective review of patient charts from May 2006 to February 2016 was performed. The patient group that underwent the removal of the part of the rectus abdominis that inserts into the thorax (partial muscle resection; PMR group) was compared with the group that did not undergo this muscle resection (Classical group). The complications and aesthetic effects of surgery between the two groups were analyzed. Results: There were 34 patients in the classical group and 28 in the PMR group. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between these two groups. The rates of fat necrosis were 32.1% in the PMR group and 36.1% in the classical group. The postoperative aesthetic outcome of the inframammary fold showed no significant differences in outcome between the classical and PMR groups. However, all items received higher scores in the PMR group. Conclusions: The authors’ new surgical method was associated with a positive cosmetic effect of improving inframammary fold aesthetics and could thus represent a new option for pTRAM breast reconstruction.
Project description:PurposeThere is an ongoing debate on the optimal sequence of radiation and breast reconstruction. The purpose of this article was to (a) assess the impact of radiation on autologous breast reconstruction and (b) analyze the best timing for autologous breast reconstruction in the setting of radiation in a Chinese population.MethodsA retrospective review of patients undergoing breast reconstruction with autologous lower abdominal flaps between 2001 and 2014 in the Tianjin Medical University and Cancer Hospital was performed. Patients were grouped by their irradiation status (irradiated vs nonirradiated). The irradiated group was further stratified into 2 groups by the timing of irradiation (immediate breast reconstruction followed by radiation vs prior radiation and delayed breast reconstruction). The primary outcomes were early and late breast complications, secondary and revision surgeries to the reconstructed breast, whereas the secondary outcomes were aesthetic and psychological evaluations of the patients. Logistic regression was used to assess the potential association between irradiation, patient and treatment variables, and surgical outcomes.ResultsThree hundred sixty patients with 370 reconstructed breasts were included in the study. Two hundred seventy-eight cases were nonirradiated, of which 158 were immediate and 120 were delayed. Ninety-two cases were irradiated, of which 61 were immediate, and 31 were delayed. Three hundred thirty-two cases underwent pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap, 38 had deep inferior epigastric perforator flap. The irradiated group had a significant increase in secondary surgery due to fat necrosis (P < 0.001) and in late complications (P = 0.011). A significant increase in flap contracture (P = 0.043) and an increasing trend in the severity of fat necrosis were observed when radiation was performed after breast reconstruction. However, radiation and its timing did not have an adverse impact on patients' aesthetic and psychological evaluations by the Breast-Q survey.ConclusionsRadiation administered to the reconstructed breast mound increased the rate of late complications and the need for secondary surgery with increased abdominal flap shrinkage and contracture and the severity of flap fat necrosis. Irradiation on the reconstructed breast did not lead to worse aesthetic outcomes due to the generally different expectation in the Chinese female patients in that they were more focused on the breast shape when clothed. Immediate breast reconstruction followed by irradiated was a generally successful treatment sequence in the Chinese module.
Project description:BackgroundEven with patent deep inferior epigastric vein anastomoses, venous congestion can occur during free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) or deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap surgery and lead to flap compromise if not recognized and managed.ObjectivesTo identify the incidence of intraoperative venous congestion and describe the best available prevention and treatment methods.MethodsSystematic electronic searches of the PubMed database including Medline were performed to identify studies published until 2014. The following keywords were used: "DIEP" or "free TRAM" and "venous insufficiency" or "venous congestion". Supplemental searches were conducted to identify referenced studies. Statistical analysis using the χ(2) test was performed.ResultsNine studies representing 4747 free abdominal flaps cases were included and demonstrated an overall incidence of intraoperative venous congestion of 2.8%. The incidence in DIEP flaps (3.3%) was significantly higher than that in the free TRAM flaps (1.0%). All nine articles reported using the superficial inferior epigastric vein to treat venous insufficiency.ConclusionThe risk for developing intraoperative venous congestion following free abdominal flap breast reconstruction is influenced by inadequate perforator selection and persistent dominance in the superficial venous system. The solution is establishing another venous draining route using the superficial inferior epigastric vein.
Project description:A meta-analysis research was implemented to appraise the perineal wound complications (PWCs) after vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap and mesh closure (MC) following abdominoperineal surgery (AS) and pelvic exenteration (PE) of anal and rectal cancers. Inclusive literature research till April 2023 was done and 2008 interconnected researches were revised. Of the 20 picked researches, enclosed 2972 AS and PE of anal and rectal cancers persons were in the utilized researchers' starting point, 1216 of them were utilizing VRAM flap, and 1756 were primary closure (PC). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to appraise the consequence of VRAM flap in treating AS and PE of anal and rectal cancers by the dichotomous approach and a fixed or random model. VRAM flap had significantly lower PWCs (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.42-0.98, p < 0.001), and major PWCs (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.32-0.80, p = 0.004) compared to PC in AS and PE of anal and rectal cancers persons. However, VRAM flap and PC had no significant difference in minor PWCs (OR, 1; 95% CI, 0.54-1.85, p = 1.00) in AS and PE of anal and rectal cancer persons. VRAM flap had significantly lower PWCs, and major PWCs, however, no significant difference was found in minor PWCs compared to PC in AS and PE of anal and rectal cancers persons. However, caution needs to be taken when interacting with its values since there was a low sample size of most of the chosen research found for the comparisons in the meta-analysis.
Project description:High-definition (HD) liposuction has allowed surgeons to sculpt the abdomen, enhancing abdominal etching. To create a more athletic abdomen, fat grafting has been used subcutaneously, and rectus abdominis fat grafting has been performed in patients undergoing lipoabdominoplasty. With the objective of increasing muscle volume to obtain a natural-looking abdomen in patients who are not suitable for abdominoplasty, we propose the use of ultrasound-guided rectus abdominis fat grafting (UGRAFT) in association with HD liposuction.PatientsA prospective study with 10 consecutive patients undergoing UGRAFT was conducted. After HD liposuction, UGRAFT was performed from an incision in the umbilical region, using a blunt 2.5-mm cannula assisted by ultrasound. Fat injection was done closer to the anterior rectus sheath in the lower and middle muscle bellies.ResultsUGRAFT was performed in 10 patients. The mean age was 34.8 years (range, 24-51 years). The mean body mass index was 23.83 kg/m2 (range, 20.58-28.39 kg/m2). The mean volume of fat injected per "pack" was 34 cm3 (range, 20-40 cm3). UGRAFT added a mean time of 20 minutes (range, 15-30 minutes) to HD liposuction. Comparing the rectus abdominis muscle thickness pre-UGRAFT and post-UGRAFT, average muscle thickness increase was 5.1 mm (55.7% ± 37%), with P < 0.0001.ConclusionUGRAFT showed to be helpful for obtaining muscle expansion and a more natural abdominal contour, avoiding that unnatural appearance that HD liposuction may provide in patients who gain weight or have skin laxity.
Project description:ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to determine the correlation between non-technical risk factors and the perioperative flap survival rate and to evaluate the choice of skin flap for the reconstruction of foot and ankle.MethodsThis was a clinical retrospective study. Nine variables were identified. The Kaplan-Meier method coupled with a log-rank test and a Cox regression model was used to predict the risk factors that influence the perioperative flap survival rate. The relationship between postoperative wound infection and risk factors was also analyzed using a logistic regression model.ResultsThe overall flap survival rate was 85.42%. The necrosis rates of free flaps and pedicled flaps were 5.26% and 20.69%, respectively. According to the Cox regression model, flap type (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.592; 95% confidence interval [CI] (1.606, 4.184); P < 0.001) and postoperative wound infection (HR = 0.266; 95% CI (0.134, 0.529); P < 0.001) were found to be statistically significant risk factors associated with flap necrosis. Based on the logistic regression model, preoperative wound bed inflammation (odds ratio [OR] = 11.371,95% CI (3.117, 41.478), P < 0.001) was a statistically significant risk factor for postoperative wound infection.ConclusionFlap type and postoperative wound infection were both independent risk factors influencing the flap survival rate in the foot and ankle. However, postoperative wound infection was a risk factor for the pedicled flap but not for the free flap. Microvascular anastomosis is a major cause of free flap necrosis. To reconstruct complex or wide soft tissue defects of the foot or ankle, free flaps are safer and more reliable than pedicled flaps and should thus be the primary choice.
Project description:BackgroundThis systematic review compared free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps versus pedicled distally based sural artery (DBSA) flaps for reconstruction of soft tissue defects of dorsal foot and ankle in children.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed to identify cases where an ALT or DBSA was used to reconstruct the dorsal foot in children. A total of 19 articles were included in the systematic review.ResultsEighty-three patients underwent an ALT reconstruction and 138 patients underwent a DBSA reconstruction. Patients who had a DBSA were more likely to require grafting of the donor site (P<0.001). The size of ALT flaps was significantly larger than DBSA flaps (P=0.002). Subsequent flap thinning was required in 30% of patients after ALT and 12% of patients after DBSA reconstruction (P<0.001). Complications occurred in 11.6% of DBSA and 8.4% of ALT flaps (8.4%).ConclusionsBoth flaps are valid options in reconstructing pediatric foot and ankle defects. Each flap has advantages and disadvantages as discussed in this review article. In general for larger defects, an ALT flap was used. Flap choice should be based on the size of the defect.