Pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap in immediate partial breast reconstruction during breast conserving surgery for breast carcinoma / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the design of pedicled thoracodorsal artery perforator flap (TDAP flap),and to evaluate the aesthetic results and donor-site complications for immediate partial breast reconstruction (IPBR) after breast conserving surgery (BCS) for breast cancer patients.Method Clinical data of 13 breast cancer cases treated with BCS + IPBR using TDAP flap from November 2004 to November 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.Perforators were identified with Doppler preoperatively in all patients.Results All perforators originated within a median distance of 8.0 cm ( range,7.5 to 9.5 cm) from axillary plica at the posterior line of axilla.Median area of the flaps was 6.0 × 8.0 cm ( range,5.0 × 7.0 cm to 8.0 × 10.0 cm).One flap was muscle-sparing,while a small muscle strip was left embedding the perforators in other twelve flaps to increase the reliability of the vascular pedicle.Postoperatively patients were followedup from 4 to 71 months.Median follow-up time was 41 months.Flap necrosis and seroma in the donor-site were not found in all patients.Aesthetic results were graded as excellent or good in 9 patients,fair in 3,and poor in one.Conclusions TDAP flap is a good choice for IPBR after BCS for breast cancer patients whether lesions in outer quadrants or inner quadrants,especially for those patients with excisional biopsy.Preoperative mini-Doppler is helpful for determining the precise location of the main perforators,and decreasing the risk of vessels injury.