Abdominal and perineal hernia rates following vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap reconstruction - a supraregional experience.
Abdominoperineal resection
Donor site hernia
Exenteration
Pelvic reconstruction
Perineal hernia
VRAM
Journal
Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS
ISSN: 1878-0539
Titre abrégé: J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101264239
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
03 2022
03 2022
Historique:
received:
04
03
2021
revised:
01
08
2021
accepted:
03
11
2021
pubmed:
14
12
2021
medline:
5
4
2022
entrez:
13
12
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap has proven to be a robust reconstruction method following radical pelvic surgery. Radical pelvic surgery is associated with high morbidity due to pelvic complications and non-healing perineal wounds, as a result of non-collapsible pelvic dead space and pre-operative adjuvant radiotherapy insult. VRAM flap reconstruction addresses both issues by obliterating the dead space and introducing healthy non-radiated tissue. However, flap reconstruction complications can include donor site hernias (abdominal wall), perineal hernias, and flap-specific complications. This study aimed to evaluate the abdominal and perineal hernia rates as well as radiological evidence of flap vascularity post-operatively. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent a VRAM flap reconstruction following radical pelvic surgery at Christchurch hospital over a 10-year period. We identified the presence of donor site hernias (abdominal wall hernias), perineal hernias, and flap vascularity on post-operative radiological imaging performed within 48 months. Seventy-seven patients underwent a VRAM flap reconstruction of which 60 patients met the inclusion requirements for the study (mean age was 60.3 years [range 26-89]; 31 were male and 29 were female). Eighteen patients underwent an APR and 42 underwent a partial or a complete pelvic exenteration and the majority of them (75.0%) were for rectal cancers. Available imaging was on average 21.6 months post-operatively (IQR 11.8-31.3 months). The donor site hernia rate was 16.7%, and the perineal hernia rate was 3.3%. VRAM flap appeared to have DIEA flow in 98.3% of the patients. VRAM flap reconstruction of complex pelvic defects remains a robust method of choice in complex pelvic reconstruction with little morbidity.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap has proven to be a robust reconstruction method following radical pelvic surgery. Radical pelvic surgery is associated with high morbidity due to pelvic complications and non-healing perineal wounds, as a result of non-collapsible pelvic dead space and pre-operative adjuvant radiotherapy insult. VRAM flap reconstruction addresses both issues by obliterating the dead space and introducing healthy non-radiated tissue. However, flap reconstruction complications can include donor site hernias (abdominal wall), perineal hernias, and flap-specific complications. This study aimed to evaluate the abdominal and perineal hernia rates as well as radiological evidence of flap vascularity post-operatively.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent a VRAM flap reconstruction following radical pelvic surgery at Christchurch hospital over a 10-year period. We identified the presence of donor site hernias (abdominal wall hernias), perineal hernias, and flap vascularity on post-operative radiological imaging performed within 48 months.
RESULTS
Seventy-seven patients underwent a VRAM flap reconstruction of which 60 patients met the inclusion requirements for the study (mean age was 60.3 years [range 26-89]; 31 were male and 29 were female). Eighteen patients underwent an APR and 42 underwent a partial or a complete pelvic exenteration and the majority of them (75.0%) were for rectal cancers. Available imaging was on average 21.6 months post-operatively (IQR 11.8-31.3 months). The donor site hernia rate was 16.7%, and the perineal hernia rate was 3.3%. VRAM flap appeared to have DIEA flow in 98.3% of the patients.
CONCLUSION
VRAM flap reconstruction of complex pelvic defects remains a robust method of choice in complex pelvic reconstruction with little morbidity.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34895852
pii: S1748-6815(21)00546-5
doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2021.11.002
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1158-1163Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.