Change of Venous Pressure of Superficial Vascular System during Free TRAM Flap Elevation

PURPOSE: Free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous(TRAM) flap is one of the most popular methods of breast reconstruction. But if fat necrosis and fatty induration occur at the reconstructed breast, they can make the breast harder and make it difficult to differentiate a tumor recurrence from them. To expect and prevent these complications, we measured the pressure change of the superficial venous system whose congestion can be the cause of them. METHODS: An intraoperative clinical study was done to compare venous pressure of superficial inferior epigastric vein(SIEV) before and after the elevation of free TRAM flap. Fourteen TRAM flaps were included and the pressures of SIEV were measured two times at the beginning of the elevation and just before the division of the inferior pedicle. RESULTS: The venous pressure in free TRAM flap was significantly higher after the flap elevation at both contralateral side and ipsilateral(p=0.005 and p=0.026 respectively). The four cases with vertical scar shower significantly greater increase at contralateral side than ipsilateral side(p=0.020). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative venous pressure recording can be an objective data for evaluating the congestion of TRAM flap and can help to prevent the complications of fat necrosis and fatty induration with venous superdrainage.

Change of Venous Pressure of Superficial Vascular System during Free TRAM Flap Elevation

PURPOSE: Free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous(TRAM) flap is one of the most popular methods of breast reconstruction. But if fat necrosis and fatty induration occur at the reconstructed breast, they can make the breast harder and make it difficult to differentiate a tumor recurrence from them. To expect and prevent these complications, we measured the pressure change of the superficial venous system whose congestion can be the cause of them. METHODS: An intraoperative clinical study was done to compare venous pressure of superficial inferior epigastric vein(SIEV) before and after the elevation of free TRAM flap. Fourteen TRAM flaps were included and the pressures of SIEV were measured two times at the beginning of the elevation and just before the division of the inferior pedicle. RESULTS: The venous pressure in free TRAM flap was significantly higher after the flap elevation at both contralateral side and ipsilateral(p=0.005 and p=0.026 respectively). The four cases with vertical scar shower significantly greater increase at contralateral side than ipsilateral side(p=0.020). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative venous pressure recording can be an objective data for evaluating the congestion of TRAM flap and can help to prevent the complications of fat necrosis and fatty induration with venous superdrainage.

Nasal Dermoid Sinus Cyst Excision with Bicoronal Approach

Nasal dermoid sinus cyst is a rare congenital lesion. It may present extracranially as a swelling or a mass on the nose, a skin pit or a sinus. Intracranial complications can be fatal including meningitis, abscess, osteomyelitis, seizures. The treatment of choice is complete surgical excision of the cyst. There are some approaches to this goal such as vertical midline incision, external rhinoplasty approach, bicoronal approach, and endoscopic approach. In this case, we could completely excise the nasal dermoid sinus cyst on the glabella without intracranial extension only with bicoronal incision.

Late Hematoma after Breast Augmentation

Late capsular hematoma is one of the rare complication of augmentation mammoplasty. Although the cause has not unfolded yet, the possible damage of capsular vessels chafed against the textured prostheses is questioned. Reviewing the literatures, we present a 23-year-old female subjects to incidental swelling of the right breast a year later after augmentation mammaplasty with saline-filled textured prostheses. An MRI study confirmed intracapsular fluid collection sparing the prostheses. The exploration was followed and serosanguinous fluids was drained out of the intracapsular space, and then the existing prostheses were replaced with the smooth surface ones. In the 9 months since the last surgery the patient remained well without any further problem. Intensive massage of the breasts might be accounted to the probable cause of late hematoma in this case.