Bedside monitoring of free flaps using ICG-fluorescence angiography significantly improves detection of postoperative perfusion impairment#.

After microvascular tissue transfer, free flaps require meticulous postoperative surveillance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect and applicability of indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICG-FA) in bedside monitoring of free flaps postoperatively, especially considering its role in correctly identifying vascular thromboses. Between February 2012 and October 2015, 210 free flaps used for defect reconstruction were analyzed. The flaps were monitored bedside for flap perfusion compromise by clinical examination and by ICG-FA in a standardized procedure in the first 3 postoperative days. Data were evaluated retrospectively with respect to the etiology of the perfusion compromise with special focus on vascular thromboses and revision rates. In total, 23 vascular thromboses were identified. The combination of clinical examination and ICG-FA (85%) was most successful in determining the prevalence of vascular thromboses. In 41 cases, clinical and/or ICG-FA examinations indicated revision surgery. The flap salvage rate after revision was 77% (31 cases), which results in an overall flap survival rate of 96%. The revision rates were reduced over the study time from 22% in 2012 to 12% in 2015. ICG-FA as an adjunct to clinical examination of free flaps can help in correctly identifying vascular thromboses and can help decide if revision surgery is necessary in not obvious cases of perfusion compromise.

Bold to do - bald to be? Outcomes decades after harvesting the scalp in burned children.

BACKGROUND: The scalp is the only hidden donor site for split thickness skin grafts. Nevertheless, it is underappreciated due to fear of iatrogenic scarring alopecia. Long-term data showing whether androgenetic hair loss can reveal previously hidden scarring alopecia is unavailable. We aimed to evaluate results and patient satisfaction up to 30years after skin harvest from the scalp. METHODS: Burn patients, hospitalized between 1977 and 1987 at the University Children's Hospital Zurich with scalp skin harvest and currently over 30years old, were studied. Medical records and patient satisfaction were analyzed, and a clinical scalp examination was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (18 males, 14 females) with a current age of 34.13±3.42years participated. Mean follow-up time was 27.09±3.04years. Fifty-four scalp harvests were performed with 1.69±0.96 sequential harvests. Hair growth was considered normal in 97% patients. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) type Norwood II-VI was seen in 11 patients. Scalp examination revealed 11 unknown likely harvest-related alopecias with a mean size of 0.7cm2. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term morbidity of scalp skin harvest and the risk of clinically significant alopecia is very low while patient satisfaction is high. AGA is unlikely to reveal harvest damage previously hidden by regrown hair.