Summary
Pedicle damage is a rare complication of latissimus dorsi (LD) flap breast reconstruction.
We report a case of accidental avulsion of the vascular pedicle of a totally autologous
(extended) LD flap during immediate breast reconstruction in a patient who had previously
undergone contralateral breast reconstruction with a pedicled TRAM flap based on the
opposite superior epigastric vessels. The intra-operative strategy to salvage the
avulsed LD flap by conversion to a free flap while not compromising the contralateral
breast reconstruction is discussed.
Keywords
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References
- Reconstruction of the breast.Acta Chir Belg. 1980; 79: 125-129
- Reconstructive surgery: principles, anatomy and technique.Churchill Livingstone Inc, New York, NY1997
- Vascular pedicle avulsion in free flap breast reconstruction: a case of diep flap salvage following early avulsion of venous anastomosis and literature review.Microsurgery. 2010; 30: 233-237
- Complications of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap breast reconstruction.Eur J Surg Oncol. 1998; 24: 162-165
- True incidence of all complications following immediate and delayed breast reconstruction.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008; 122: 19-28
Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 05, 2012
Accepted:
January 26,
2012
Received:
August 8,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
