ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The use of perforator flaps has become more popular with improvement of surgical technique, technology, as well as understanding of microvascular anatomy. The selection of well-perfused angiosomes is critical to the successful outcome of patients undergoing free tissue transfer. The number of perforators that are needed is dependent upon the surface area of the flap being harvested; however, there have been no studies to assess the optimal surface area supplied by each perforator. We hypothesized that the smaller the surface area supplied by each perforator correlated with fewer flap-related complications in the harvesting of the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap. METHODS: All ALT flaps harvested from 2015 to 2021 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. The surface area of the flap harvested was calculated as A = πab, where a is the long radius and b is the short radius of the ellipse. The surface-perforator index (SPI) was calculated for each flap by dividing the surface area of the ALT flap by the number of perforators supplying the flap. Our primary outcomes were flap-related complications that included: partial flap loss, dehiscence, and venous congestion. RESULTS: A total of 106 patients were identified. Twenty-four patients (22.6%) developed perforator-related complications. An increasing SPI and SPI to body surface area were strongly associated with development of complications (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], adjusted p: 1.02 [1.01, 1.03], < 0.001and 1.23 [1.12, 1.42], p < 0.001). An SPI of greater than 150 cm2/perforator was associated with a higher probability of complications (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Flap-related complications are significantly related to the number of perforators supplying the flap. The smaller the surface area supplied by a single perforator correlates with significantly fewer flap-related complications. SPI is a new index that may be used as a predictive tool to aid in identifying flaps that may be more prone to complications in free tissue transfer.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: As Acute Care Surgery and shift-based models increase in popularity, there is evidence of better outcomes for many types of emergency general surgery patients. We explored the difference in outcomes for patients with acute biliary disorders, treated by either Acute Care Surgery (ACS) model or traditional call model (TRAD) during the same period. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute biliary disease 2017-2018. Demographics, clinical presentation, operative details, and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Demographics, clinical presentation, and complication rates were similar between groups. Time from surgical consult to operating room (Δ = -15.34 hours [-24.57, -6.12], P = .001), length of stay (Δ = -1.4 days [-2.45, -.35], P = .009), and total charges were significantly decreased in ACS group compared to TRAD (Δ$2797.76 [-4883.12, -712.41], P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Acute biliary disease can be managed successfully in an ACS shift-based model with reduced overall hospital charges and equivalent outcomes.
