Large-to-Small End-to-Side Venous Anastomosis in Free Flap Transfer.
Deep inferior epigastric
End-to-side
Free flap
Internal mammary
Microsurgery
Size discrepancy
Journal
The Journal of surgical research
ISSN: 1095-8673
Titre abrégé: J Surg Res
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0376340
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 2020
01 2020
Historique:
received:
03
07
2018
revised:
03
06
2019
accepted:
21
07
2019
pubmed:
20
8
2019
medline:
19
2
2020
entrez:
20
8
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Vessel size discrepancy is one of the major risk factors for anastomotic failure in free flap transfer. The situation becomes challenging for reconstructive microsurgeons when the recipient vein is much smaller than the flap vein. We investigated the feasibility of large-to-small end-to-side venous anastomosis for such cases. The subjects were 16 consecutive patients who underwent a free flap transfer for oncologic defects with a large-to-small end-to-side venous anastomosis. The larger flap vein was anastomosed to the side slit of the smaller recipient vein under an operating microscope. Surgical details and postoperative outcome were investigated retrospectively. An anterolateral thigh flap was used in five patients, a superficial inferior epigastric artery flap in four, a thoracodorsal artery perforator flap in three, and a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap and a fibular osteocutaneous flap in two patients each. The internal mammary vein and the anterior tibial vein were most frequently used as a recipient vein (four patients each), followed by the deep inferior epigastric vein (three patients). The extent of vessel size discrepancy ranged from 1.3- to 3.3-fold, and the mean discrepancy was 1.9-fold. No anastomotic failure occurred postoperatively, and the flap survived in all patients. Large-to-small end-to-side venous anastomosis can be a versatile option when only a small vein is available as a recipient vein. Internal mammary, deep inferior epigastric, and anterior tibial veins are good candidates for this technique.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Vessel size discrepancy is one of the major risk factors for anastomotic failure in free flap transfer. The situation becomes challenging for reconstructive microsurgeons when the recipient vein is much smaller than the flap vein. We investigated the feasibility of large-to-small end-to-side venous anastomosis for such cases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The subjects were 16 consecutive patients who underwent a free flap transfer for oncologic defects with a large-to-small end-to-side venous anastomosis. The larger flap vein was anastomosed to the side slit of the smaller recipient vein under an operating microscope. Surgical details and postoperative outcome were investigated retrospectively.
RESULTS
An anterolateral thigh flap was used in five patients, a superficial inferior epigastric artery flap in four, a thoracodorsal artery perforator flap in three, and a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap and a fibular osteocutaneous flap in two patients each. The internal mammary vein and the anterior tibial vein were most frequently used as a recipient vein (four patients each), followed by the deep inferior epigastric vein (three patients). The extent of vessel size discrepancy ranged from 1.3- to 3.3-fold, and the mean discrepancy was 1.9-fold. No anastomotic failure occurred postoperatively, and the flap survived in all patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Large-to-small end-to-side venous anastomosis can be a versatile option when only a small vein is available as a recipient vein. Internal mammary, deep inferior epigastric, and anterior tibial veins are good candidates for this technique.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31425879
pii: S0022-4804(19)30578-5
doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.07.084
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Case Reports
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
377-382Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.