ABSTRACT
Based on existing and repeated complications of different techniques of reduction mammaplasty, which are mostly of circulatory nature, a study of breast irrigation was made. The Service of Verification of Deaths of the Escola Paulista de Medicina supplied fresh cadavers. Ten breasts were dissected with single block removal of glandular and retromammary structures. Then, injections with latex were applied in order to better identify the arteries. In view of the anatomic findings, it was verified that breast irrigation was carried out by the internal thoracic, the lateral thoracic, and the posterior intercostal arteries and, in a great proportion, by the superior thoracic. An attempt was made to correlate such results with the different techniques of reduction mammaplasty in order to create a six group classification according to the preserved pedicles: superior, inferior, central, lateral, medial and double pedicle.
