Clinical tests to monitor free flaps, such as inspection of colour, capillary refill
and handheld Doppler, are still judged by many as the ‘gold’ standard.
1
However, there are clear indications that other monitoring methods available today
can detect a compromised blood flow earlier compared to these conventional methods
and are easier in use as well. The search for an optimal monitoring method therefore
continues.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic SurgeryAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Variations in the postoperative management of free tissue transfers to the head and neck in the United Kingdom.Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2007; 45: 16-18
- The implantable Cook-Swartz doppler probe for postoperative monitoring in head and neck free flap reconstruction.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008; 134: 729-734
- Post operative monitoring of microvascular breast reconstructions using the implantable Cook-Swartz doppler system: a study of 145 probes & technical discussion.J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009; 62: 1286-1292
- Introduction of the implantable doppler system did not lead to an increased salvage rate of compromised flaps: a multivariate analysis.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010; 125: 1710-1717
- Implantable venous doppler microvascular monitoring: laboratory investigation and clinical results.Plast Reconstr Surg. 1994; 93: 152-163
Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 03, 2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
