ABSTRACT
The treatment of vesicovaginal fistula after radiotherapy is difficult. Surgical repair is challenging and the success rate is low. The gracilis flap is widely used in the repair surgery of the perineal region, while it is rarely reported for the repair of vesicovaginal fistula domestically. This article reports a case of vesicovaginal fistula after radiotherapy treated with gracilis flap tamponade. The patient was admitted to the hospital because of continuous vaginal leakage of urine for more than 3 years. Digital vaginal examination and urethroscopy showed that a fistula with a diameter of about 3 cm located at the bladder triangle leading to the vagina. The patient had history of cervical cancer surgery and 23 times of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. She underwent vesicovaginal fistula repair with gracilis muscle flap. The urethral catheter was removed 3 weeks after the operation. The patient could urinate normally without vaginal leakage. After 10 months of follow-up, there was no vaginal leakage of urine and patient remains continent.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the clinical application of combined transverse upper gracilis flap and adductor magnus perforator flap in breast reconstruction of breast cancer patients after mastectomy. Methods: Between August 2016 and February 2017, the combined transverse upper gracilis flap and adductor magnus perforator flap was used in 12 cases of breast cancer patients who received modified radical surgery for breast reconstruction. All patients were females with the age of 32 to 59 years (mean, 41.5 years). There were 7 cases in left side and 5 cases in right side. Eight cases were received breast reconstruction by one-stage operation and 4 cases by two-stage operation. In one-stage operation cases, pathological diagnosis includes invasive ductal carcinoma in 4 cases and invasive lobular carcinoma in 4 cases. The disease duration ranged from 2 to 9 months (mean, 4.5 months). In two-stage operation cases, the time interval between mastectomy and breast reconstruction ranged from 12 to 70 months (mean, 37.4 months). The length of flap was 20-28 cm, the width of flap was 5.5-7.5 cm, the thickness of flap was 2.5-4.5 cm. The length of gracilis flap pedicle was 6.5-9.2 cm, the length of adductor magnus perforator flap pedicle was 7.5-10.4 cm. The weight of flap was 295-615 g. Results: The ischemia time of flap ranged from 95 to 230 minutes (mean, 135 minutes). All flaps were successfully survived. All incisions of recipient donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 7-14 months (mean, 9.5 months). The reconstructed breasts' shape, texture, and elasticity were good and no flap contracture deformation happened. Only linear scar left in the donor sites, but the function of thighs was not affected. No local recurrence happened during follow-up. Conclusion: With appropriate patient selection and surgical technique, the combined transverse upper gracilis flap and adductor magnus perforator flap can be a valuable option as an alternative method for autologous breast reconstruction.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Due to the closed and humid condition of the perineal area, wound problems occurring at this site are sometimes complicated, especially following postoperative radiation therapy. Moreover, the anal sphincter is a very important functional structure but reconstruction of the anal sphincter after severe trauma poses a challenging problem to plastic surgeons. In this article, we demonstrate the usefulness of the pedicled gracilis flap in the reconstruction of the perineal area. METHODS: From September 2008 to November 2009, 6 patients, 4 males and 2 females, underwent surgery of the perineal area. The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 62 years (mean age was 48). The mean follow up period was 14 months. In 4 cases, the patient presented with wound problems after postoperative radiation therapy for anal cancer. In 2 cases, the patient presented with traumatic sphincter damage. Only the gracilis muscle was used in the 4 cases and a musculocutaneous flap was used in the 2 cases involving skin defects, respectively. RESULTS: Among the 6 patients, 1 patient underwent hematoma evacuation of the donor site, and 1 patient presented with prolapse of the vaginal mucosa which recovered spontaneously. There were no report of other complications and there were no wound recurrences. Minimal incontinence was observed in all patients who underwent sphincter reconstruction, but all were satisfied with the overall results. CONCLUSION: The gracilis flap is useful in the reconstruction of the perineal area, such as in cases of radiotherapy induced wound problems and sphincter damage following severe trauma, due to its easy accessibility, rich vascularity, and minimal donor site morbidity.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Anal Canal , Anus Neoplasms , Follow-Up Studies , Hematoma , Mucous Membrane , Muscles , Prolapse , Recurrence , Skin , Tissue DonorsABSTRACT
Although a variety of methods were employed for the coverage of heel defects, reconstruction of large soft tissue defects of the heel is not a simple task. Recently, free muscle flaps are frequently employed for heel reconstruction. Several muscles, such as latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, or gracilis muscle have been used for the reconstruction of large heel defects. Since 1994, 6 cases of large heel defects were reconstructed using free gracilis flaps with split-thickness skin grafts, and the results were successful. This method is suitable for moderate to large size heel defects, except for the extensive complex defects beyond the heel territory. The major advantages are (1) relatively simple free flap (2) the volume of the muscle, after denervation atrophy, is so completely fit for the heel defect that special shoe is seldom necessary (3) donor defect is minimal, aesthetically and functionally (4) long gracilis muscle with proximal pedicle provides flexibility of shaping the heel (5) the capacity to withstand shear-force is much better than that of musculocutaneous flaps. All flaps survived completely and the results were successful. Our experiences, operative procedures and the results of maximum two rears of follow-up are presented with our descriptive method for heel defects.