• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2012

Purpose: Purpose: The free deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is a popular option for autologous breast reconstruction. However, the anatomy of the deep inferior epigastric artery(DIEA) may vary from one individual to another. Unexpected vascular anomaly can confuse the surgeon and affects on the safety of the free DIEP flap. Materials and Methods: Thirty five consecutive patients who underwent free DIEP/TRAM flap for immediate breast reconstruction between Mar. 2010 and Oct. 2010 were enrolled in this study. Computed tomography angiography (CT angiography) of abdomen was evaluated part of our standard preoperative assessment: atypical patterns of DIEA/DIEP were evaluated by preoperative CT angiography and compared with intraoperative finding. Results: Atypical patterns of DIEA/DIEP which may affect preoperative planning were noted as the following: Circummusclar/subfascial DIEA (n=1), DIEA running underneath rectus muscle (n=8), septocutaneous perforator (n=3), peritoneo-cutaneous perforator (n=1), a large branch going into peritoneum (n=1), and very early division and muscle penetration of DIEA (n=1). Conclusion: Atypical DIEA/DIEP that might change the operation plan is not rare, so the individualized planning based on the preoperative CT angiography is recommended. Preoperative CT angiography could help to select reliable and easy-to-dissect perforator in free DIEP/TRAM breast reconstruction.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

Purpose: Partial necrosis of skin flaps remains a substantial problem in reconstructive surgery. We investigated the potential use of an adenovirus vector encoding the VEGF, COMP-angiopoietin-1 gene in an attempt to promote the viability of the inferior epigastric artery flap in a rat model. Methods: Three by six cm lower abdominal transverse skin flaps, supplied only by the left inferior epigastric artery, were designed. After skin flap elevation, the adenovirus VEGF and adenovirus COMP-angiopoietin-1 were injected into the distal portion of the flap, which has a high tendency of developing flap ischemia. Control animals were injected with the same volume of normal saline. On 3, 7 and 14 days after the flap elevation, the flap survival and vascularization were assessed using Visitrak digital$^{(R)}$, CD31 immunohistochemistry in addition to evaluating the general histological characteristics. Results: There was a significant increase in the mean percentage of flap viability by 89.8%, 91.1% and 94.8% in flaps transfected with adenovirus VEGF, COMP-angiopoietin-1, coadministraion of VEGF and COMP-angiopoietin-1 at seven days, and by 95.6%, 94.8% and 96.3% at 14 days. Histological assessment revealed that there were more blood vessels formed after adenovirus with VEGF, COMP-angiopoietin-1 or VEGF plus COMP-angiopoietin-1 than with adenovirus Lac Z. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that adenovirus-mediated VEGF, COMP-angiopoietin-1 gene therapy, promote therapeutic angiogenesis in patients that undergo reconstructive procedures.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2020

Background The purpose of this study was to compare the anatomical features of the internal mammary vessels (IMVs) at the second and third intercostal spaces (ICSs) with regard to their use as recipient vessels in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction. Methods A total of 38 consecutive DIEP breast reconstructions in 36 patients were performed using IMVs as recipient vessels between March 2017 and August 2018. The intraoperative findings and postoperative complications were analyzed. Anatomical analyses were performed using intraoperative measurements and computed tomography (CT) angiographic images. Results CT angiographic analysis revealed the mean diameter of the deep inferior epigastric artery to be 2.42±0.27 mm, while that of the deep inferior epigastric vein was 2.91±0.30 mm. A larger mean vessel diameter was observed at the second than at the third ICS for both the internal mammary artery (2.26±0.32 mm vs. 1.99±0.33 mm, respectively; P=0.001) and the internal mammary vein (IMv) (2.52±0.46 mm vs. 2.05±0.42 mm, respectively; P<0.001). Similarly, the second ICS was wider than the third (18.08±3.72 mm vs. 12.32±2.96 mm, respectively; P<0.001) and the distance from the medial sternal border to the medial IMv was greater (9.49±2.28 mm vs. 7.18±2.13 mm, respectively; P<0.001). Bifurcations of the IMv were found in 18.4% of cases at the second ICS and in 63.2% of cases at the third ICS. Conclusions The IMVs at the second ICS had more favorable anatomic features for use as recipient vessels in DIEP flap breast reconstruction than those at the third ICS.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 2013

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, superior gluteal artery perforator flap, and transverse/vertical upper gracilis flap. In addition, pedicled flaps can be very successful in the right hands and the right patient, such as the pedicled TRAM flap, latissimus dorsi flap, and thoracodorsal artery perforator. Each flap comes with its own advantages and disadvantages related to tissue properties and donor-site morbidity. Currently, the problem is how to determine the most appropriate flap for a particular patient among those potential candidates. Based on a thorough review of the literature and accumulated experiences in the author's institution, this article provides a logical approach to autologous breast reconstruction. The algorithms presented here can be helpful to customize breast reconstruction to individual patient needs.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.473-477
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• 2020

Superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flaps represent a useful option in autologous breast reconstruction. However, the short-fixed pedicle can limit flap inset options. We present a challenging flap inset successfully addressed by de-epithelialization, turnover, and counterintuitive rotation. A 47-year-old woman underwent left tertiary breast reconstruction with stacked free flaps using right deep inferior epigastric perforator and left SIEA vessels. Antegrade and retrograde anastomoses to the internal mammary (IM) vessels were preferred; additionally, the thoracodorsal vessels were unavailable due to previous latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction. Optimal shaping required repositioning of the lateral ends of the flaps superiorly, which would position the ipsilateral SIEA hemi-flap pedicle lateral to and out of reach of the IM vessels. This problem was overcome by turning the SIEA flap on its long axis, allowing the pedicle to sit medially with the lateral end of the flap positioned superiorly. The de-epithelialized SIEA flap dermis was in direct contact with the chest wall, enabling its fixation. This method of flap inset provides a valuable solution for medializing the SIEA pedicle while maintaining an aesthetically satisfactory orientation. This technique could be used in ipsilateral SIEA flap breast reconstructions that do not require a skin paddle, as with stacked flaps or following nipple-sparing mastectomy.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.200-209
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• 2013

Over the past few years, a large number of perforator flaps have been revised by several microsurgeons in the USA, France, Canada and Japan. A perforator flap is a flap of skin or subcutaneous tissue that is based on the dissection of a perforating vessel, which is a perforator. In short, a perforator is a vessel that has its origin in one of the axial vessels of the human body. By reducing any muscle harvesting and trauma to a minimum, perforator flaps aim to minimize donor site morbidity, and by avoiding the transfer of dennervated muscle, the long-term bulk of the free tissue transfer becomes more predictable. There are a finite number of potential perforator flaps in the body, which are based on the named source arteries. The most commonly used perforator flaps are deep inferior epigastric perforator, superior gluteal artery perforator, thoraco dorsal artery perforator, medial sural artery perforator, and anterolateral thigh perforator flap. For a better understanding of perforators as a routine reconstructive procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery, the definition with nomenclature, classifications with special characteristics, and review points for their individual applications must be learned and memorized by the young doctors in the course regarding the special curriculum periods for the Korean national board of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Perforator flaps have been known to have many advantages, so this review article summarized their applications to the maxillofacial reconstruction in the Korean language.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1998

From January 1985 to February 1997, 96 patients had undergone the free vascularized groin flap on the upper and lower extremities with microsurgical technique at the department of orthopaedic surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine. The results were as follows: 1. Average age at the time of operation was 24.9 years. and there were 71 men and 25 women and mean follow up was 62.4 months. 2. The lesion site was 82 cases on the lower extremity: foot(40), leg(20), ankle(13), and 14 cases on the upper extremity: forearm(6), elbow(3), hand(3), wrist(2). 3. The anatomical classification of the superficial circumflex iliac artery was as follows: 1) 39.8% of common origin with superficial inferior epigastric artery, 2) 30.1% of isolated origin and absent superficial inferior epigastric artery, 3) 13.3% of separate origin, 4) 16.9% of origin from the deep femoral artery. 4. There was no statistical significance on arterial anastomosis between end to end and end to side, and on venous anastomosis(end to end) between one vein and two veins. 5. The success rate was average 84.4% in 81 of 96 cases. 6. In the 15 failed cases, the additional procedures were performed: 5 cases of free vascularized scapular flap, 6 cases of full thickness skin graft, 2 cases of cross leg flap, 1 case of latissimus dorsi flap, 1 case of split thickness skin graft. In conclusion, the free vascularized groin flap can be considered as the treatment of choice for the reconstruction of the extensive soft tissue injury on the extremities, and show the higher success rate with the experienced surgeon.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.599-602
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• 2019

We report a case of autologous breast reconstruction in which a thoracodorsal vessel was used as a recipient vessel after a hypoplastic internal mammary vessel was found on preoperative computed tomography (CT) angiography. A 46-year-old woman with no underlying disease was scheduled to undergo skin-sparing mastectomy and breast reconstruction using a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap. Preoperative CT angiography showed segmental occlusion of the right subclavian artery with severe atherosclerosis and calcification near the origin of the internal mammary artery, with distal flow maintained by collateral branches. The thoracodorsal artery was selected to be the recipient vessel because CT showed that it was of adequate size and was not affected by atherosclerosis. The patient experienced no postoperative complications, and the flap survived with no vascular complications. The breasts were symmetrical at a 6-month follow-up. This case highlights that preoperative vascular imaging modalities may help surgeons avoid using diseased vessels as recipient vessels in free flap breast reconstructions.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.171-173
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• 2014

Preoperative perforator marking for deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps is vital to the success of the procedure in breast reconstruction. Advances in imaging have facilitated accurate identification and preselection of potentially useful perforators. However, the reported imaging accuracy may be lost when preoperatively marking the patient, due to 'mapping errors', as this relies on the use of 2 reported vectors from a landmark such as the umbilicus. Observation errors have been encountered where inaccurate perforator vector measurements have been reported in relation to the umbilicus. Transcription errors have been noted where confusing and wordy reports have been typed or where incorrect units have been given (millimetres vs. centimetres). Interpretation errors have also occurred when using the report for preoperative marking. Furthermore, the marking process may be unnecessarily time-consuming. We describe a bespoke template, created using an individual computed tomography angiography image, that increases the efficiency and accuracy of preoperative marking. The template is created to scale, is individually tailored to the patient, and is particularly useful in cases where multiple potential suitable perforators exist.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.545-549
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• 2017

When foot reconstruction is performed in the pretibial area, the ankle, or the dorsum of the foot, the need for a reliable flap remains a challenge. We found that the superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) free flap can be used as an alternative tool for this purpose, as it helps to solve the problems associated with other flaps. We describe 2 cases in which we reconstructed the foot using an SIEA free flap, which was pliable enough to fit the contours of the area. Postoperatively, the flaps were intact and showed excellent aesthetic results. Thus, the SIEA free flap can be an alternative tool for patients with a low body mass index who undergo reconstructive surgery involving the pretibial area, ankle, knee, or dorsum of the foot, all of which require a soft and flexible flap.