El colgajo libre de arteria perforante sural medial: revisión sistematizada de casos publicados y experiencia en tres centros de Latinoamérica / The medial sural perforating artery free flap: systematized review of published cases and experience in three centers in Latin America

Introducción y objetivo: El colgajo libre perforante de la arteria sural medial es un colgajo versátil, que se caracteriza por ser relativamente delgado, maleable, con una anatomía vascular fiable y baja morbilidad en el sitio donador. Se popularizó en Asia como una buena alternativa en la reconstrucción de cabeza y cuello. Sorprendentemente, se usa con poca frecuencia en América. Este artículo, a través de una revisión de la literatura y nuestra experiencia en 3 centros en América Latina, pretende ayudar a los microcirujanos latinoamericanos a familiarizarse con este colgajo, presentando la técnica quirúrgica, sus aplicaciones más comunes y las posibles soluciones a los problemas más comúnmente encontrados. Material y método: Realizamos la revisión bibliográfica en cuatro plataformas; Medline, Google Scholar, PubMed Central y Embase, obteniendo después de criterios de exclusión 572 pacientes de 36 artículos. A estos agregamos nuestra serie de casos como estudio retrospectivo en los Departamento de Cirugía Plástica de 3 centros en América Latina, entre mayo de 2015 y diciembre de 2020, con un total de 34 pacientes. Resultados: En total reunimos 606 pacientes entre la revisión de casos publicados y nuestra propia serie; de ellos, 75.1% hombres y 24.9% mujeres, con edad media de 49.1 años. El colgajo se usó principalmente en reconstrucción oral. El tamaño promedio del colgajo fue de 54.5 cm2, con un grosor de 5.9 mm y una longitud del pedículo de 9.7 cm. El tiempo de disección del colgajo y de cirugía fue de 74 y 370 min. respectivamente. La tasa de complicaciones fue de 12.7%: 3% en la zona donadora, 4.3% de pérdida total del colgajo, 4.1% con pérdida parcial y 1.3% con congestión venosa transitoria. (AU)

Background and objective: The medial sural artery perforator flap is vastly versatile. It is characterized by being wide, thin, flexible, adequate pedicle length, reliable vascular anatomy, and has low donor site morbidity. It has been popular in Asia as a good alternative, especially in head and neck reconstruction. But surprisingly, it's not frequently used in America. In this article, through a review of the literature and our experience from 3 centers in Latin America, we intend to help Latin-American microsurgeons get familiarized with this flap by presenting the surgical technique, the most common applications, and possible solutions to the most common problems encountered. Methods: For the literature review, the search was performed on 4 different platforms: Medline, Google Scholar, PubMed Central, and Embase. They were gathered, after exclusion criteria, 572 patients from 36 different publications. In addition to the previous, 34 more patients were added from our own experience in 3 different Latin-American hospitals, from May 2015 to December 2020. Results: A total of 606 patients were gathered through the systematic review and our clinical series, 75.1% male and 24.9% females, average age of 49.1 years. This kind of flap is commonly used for oral reconstruction. The average flap size was 54.5 cm2, with a 5.9 mm thickness and an average pedicle length of 9.7 cm. The average time for the flap harvest and surgery was 74 and 370 min, respectively. The complications rate reported was of 12.7%: 3% from donor complications, 4.3% from total flap loss, 4.1% from partial loss and 1.3% from venous congestion. (AU)

Superficial Thinning of the DIEP Flap: A Safe Option to Achieve an Aesthetic Reconstructed Breast in the Obese Patient.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal flap-based breast reconstruction is challenging in the overweight and obese population not only because of increased donor-site complications, but also because excessive flap thickness makes inset cumbersome, requiring thinning and remodeling that frequently result in aesthetically poor outcomes. METHODS: The authors started by studying 10 deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps with angiographic computed tomography. Then, they prospectively performed 21 breast reconstructions using a superficial thinning technique reliant on a constant suprafascial vessel as the pedicle for the remaining deep fat and compared the rate of complications with their previous experience using traditional flap thinning techniques. RESULTS: All samples studied showed a suprafascial division of the main perforator. Two constant branches were identified, one coursing over the Scarpa fascia and displaying a robust network of linking vessels with the subcutaneous and subdermal plexuses. That anatomical insight was used to develop a flap-thinning technique tested on 21 consecutive high-body mass index patients. A 7-year retrospective analysis (n = 164) showed no significant correlation between body mass index and incidence of complications except for a long-term upper pole step deformity that was associated with increasing body mass index (p = 0.001). No statistically significant difference in complications was found comparing high-body mass index patients from the retrospective group (n = 72) with the superficial thinning group, but a highly suggestive difference (p = 0.061) was found regarding the avoidance of the step deformity using the superficial thinning technique. CONCLUSION: The presence of a constant suprafascial perforator branch makes superficial DIEP thinning a safe technique that facilitates inset and improves the reconstructed breast contour of obese patients. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Modificación de técnica de colgajo sural de flujo reverso: pedículo de amplitud total de la isla cutánea / Modification of reverse flow sural flap technique: pedicle of total width of the cutaneous island

Introducción y objetivo: La reconstrucción del tercio medio y distal de la pierna, lesiones del talón y hasta el tercio medio del pie, plantean un desafío constante para el cirujano reconstructivo. No obstante, el colgajo sural de flujo reverso representa una herramienta importante y muy utilizada para estos defectos. Este colgajo está basado en el flujo reverso de la arteria sural superficial media, que depende de las perforantes de la arteria peronea. Tiene como ventaja que es fácil de realizar y como desventaja la congestión venosa, por lo que nos motivamos a realizar el presente estudio. Material y método: Realizamos un total de 14 colgajos surales de flujo reverso en el Servicio de Cirugía Plástica del Hospital General Dr. Rubén Leñero (Mexico), con un pedículo que midió el 100% de la isla cutánea para cubrir defectos del 1/3 distal de la extremidad inferior y de los 2/3 proximales del pie. Resultados: Todos los colgajos sobrevivieron, sin presencia de congestión venosa, empleando una técnica segura y de fácil realización que garantiza la viabilidad del colgajo. Conclusiones: El colgajo sural de flujo reverso con pedículo de amplitud total del ancho de la isla cutánea es un colgajo seguro y de fácil realización para la cobertura de áreas cruentas del 1/3 distal de la pierna, del 1/3 medio y proximal e incluso distal del pie, ya que con la modificación propuesta eliminamos la principal complicación del colgajo sural convencional y de otras modificaciones que es la congestión venosa que evoluciona a necrosis parcial o total del colgajo. Recomendamos el colgajo sural con pedículo de amplitud total de la isla cutánea, ya que preserva mayor cantidad de conexiones capilares (vénulas-arteriolas), permitiendo que el flujo arterial cuente con una vía de drenaje equilibrada y por ende, garantizando el éxito del mismo

Background and objective: Reconstruction of the middle and distal third of the leg, heel injuries and even the middle third of the foot, suppose a constant challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. However, the reverse flow sural flap represents an important and widely used tool for these defects. This flap is based on the reverse flow of the middle superficial sural artery, which depends on the perforator of the peroneal artery. It has advantage because is easy to perform and as disadvantage, venous congestion, so this was our motivation to conduct this study. Methods: A total of 14 reverse flow sural flaps were performed in the Department of Plastic Surgery of the Dr. Rubén Leñero General Hospital (Mexico), with a pedicle that measured 100% of the cutaneous island to cover defects of the distal 1/3 of the lower limb and the proximal 2/3 of the foot. Results: All flaps survived, without the presence of venous congestion, using a safe and easily performed technique that guarantees the viability of the flap. Conclusions: The reverse flow sural flap with all-amplitude pedicle of the width of the skin island, it is a safe and easy-to-realize flap for coverage of bloody areas in the distal 1/3 of the leg, 1/3 middle and proximal and even distal of the foot, since this new technique we present eliminates the main complication of conventional sural flap and of other modifications, which is venous congestion that evolves to partial or total necrosis of the flap. We recommend to perform it with total amplitude request of the skin island, since this manages to preserve more capillary connections (venulas-arteriolas), allowing the arterial flow to have a balances pathway of drainage and therefore, guarantee the success

Colgajo submentoniano: aplicaciones clínicas y variantes en su diseño / Submental flap: clinical applications and variations in the desig

Introducción y objetivo: El colgajo submentoniano ha sido descrito como alternativa para la cobertura de defectos cutáneos en tercio medio e inferior de la cara y como colgajo microquirúrgico para tratamiento del linfedema secundaria de extremidades, al incorporar en su diseño nódulos linfáticos vascularizados. El presente estudio pretende justificar el uso del colgajo submentoniano en sus distintas variantes con la incorporación tradicional de músculo digástrico, perforante de arteria submentoniana, de flujo reverso o microquirúrgico, y con mínima morbilidad del sitio donador. Material y método: Presentamos una serie de 8 pacientes en los que realizamos un colgajo submentoniano para cobertura de defectos en tercio medio e inferior de cara y de linfedema secundario de extremidad superior. Los colgajos tuvieron dimensiones de 40 a 84 cm2 (media de 62 cm2). Los colgajos fueron pediculados con base en la arteria submentoniana en 4 casos (50%), con preservación del músculo digástrico basado en un vaso perforante de la arteria submentoniana en 2 casos, como colgajo submentoniano de flujo reverso en 1 caso, y como colgajo submental linfático vascularizado en 1 caso. Resultados: Recogimos como complicación una necrosis parcial distal de un 20% en un colgajo submentoniano de flujo reverso, que fue tratada con cicatrización dirigida a segunda intención. La zona donadora se trató en todos los casos con cierre primario. Conclusiones: En nuestra opinión, el colgajo submentoniano es una herramienta útil en la reconstrucción de tejidos blandos del tercio medio e inferior de la zona facial, con un grosor, textura y coloración similares, así como una alternativa en el tratamiento del linfedema secundaria de la extremidad superior

Background and objective: The submental flap has been previously described as an alternative for the coverage of cutaneous defects or the middle and lower thirds of the face, as well as a vascularized lymph node flap for the treatment of secondary lymphedema of the extremities. Our goal is to justify its clinical application, and the use of the variants of the components of the flap and design, either with the inclusion of the digastric muscle, submental perforator, reverse flow or microvascular flap, with minimal complications. Methods: We present a series of 8 patients in which a submental flap was performed to restore cutaneous defects of the middle and lower thirds of the face, and the treatment of secondary lymphedema of the upper extremity. Flaps dimensions were between 40 to 84 cm2 (average of 62 cm2). The flap was designed as submental pedicled flap in 4 cases (50%), with preservation of digastric muscle based on a submental perforator in 2 cases, reverse flow submental flap in 1 case, and as a vascularized submental lymph node transfer flap y 1 case. Results: Complications occurred in 1 of the cases, presented as a partial necrosis of a 30% of a submental reverse flow flap, which healed by secondary intention. Donor site was closed primarily in all the cases. Conclusions: In our opinion, the submental flap is a good choice for the coverage of cutaneous defects of the middle and lower face, providing a thickness, texture and color similar to neighboring tissues, as well as an alternative for the treatment of secondary lymphedema of the upper extremity

Buccal Fat Pad Excision: Hydrodissection Technique.

BACKGROUND: Buccal fat pad (BFP) excision is a procedure in which the fat pad is extracted in order to achieve a more youthful appearance. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe an alternative technique that utilizes hydrodissection to extract the BFP. METHODS: This is a controlled, prospective, randomized clinical study involving 2 groups. Group A (n = 27) underwent BFP excision with hydrodissection, during which 15 mL of a vasoconstricting anesthetic solution was injected into the BFP. Group B (n = 27) underwent BFP excision, during which 3 mL of lidocaine 2% with epinephrine was injected. All procedures were performed by the same surgeon. Variables analyzed were surgical time, intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative pain directly following surgery 2 hours after the procedure, as well as maximum pain within 72 hours of surgery and complications. Postoperative care was standardized, and patient follow-up extended over a 6-month period. RESULTS: Pain scores for 54 patients were recorded on a visual analog scale (0-10). Mean ± standard deviation transoperative pain scores were 0.5 ± 0.8 for Group A and 1.3 ± 1.3 for Group B (P = 0.01); 2 hours postoperation the scores were 1.2 ± 0.7 for Group A and 2.6 ± 1 for Group B (P < 0.0001). Maximum pain occurred within 72 hours, and scored 1.6 ± 0.6 for Group A and 3.1 ± 1 for Group B (P < 0.0001). Mean operative time was 8:18 ± 0:47 minutes for Group A and 14:08 ± 2:28 minutes for Group B (P < 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between operative time and pain. Overall, 5.5% of patients suffered postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: BFP excision by hydrodissection is an effective procedure that decreases surgical times by facilitating extraction of the BFP with less manipulation, thereby resulting in decreased postoperative pain and a more tolerable recovery.

Medial Arm Flap: An Unexplored Option for Autologous Breast Reconstruction in the Setting of Morbid Obesity.

Currently, deep inferior epigastric perforator flap is undoubtedly the first choice for autologous breast reconstruction for most surgeons; however, there are instances where lower abdominal tissue is unavailable for microvascular transfer. In these cases, most surgeons choose gluteal or lower-extremity territories as donor sites.In the setting of morbid obesity, there is an increased risk of flap and donor site complications, as well as increased blood loss, surgical time, and risk of deep venous thrombosis, not to mention a more challenging surgical technique. Added to these problems, Tamoxifen intake and delayed or limited ambulation due to pain or surgical wounds increases deep venous thrombosis risk even further.The use of the upper arm as donor site for microvascular transfer avoids most of these problems and allows for immediate, comfortable ambulation. On the other hand, upper arm flaps have smaller caliber vessels for microanastomosis, shorter pedicles, and a limited amount of skin which makes them a viable option for only a select group of patients with redundant upper arm skin. We provide a previously undocumented proof-of-concept case report of a delayed breast reconstruction using the medial arm free flap that resulted in an uneventful postoperatory follow-up with a naturally textured and shaped reconstructed breast.

Immediate implant replacement with DIEP flap: a single-stage salvage option in failed implant-based breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Implant-based immediate breast reconstruction after skin-sparing mastectomy has shown a significant improvement in patients' quality of life, making the procedure steadily more popular year after year. However, this technique has a high morbidity rate, including skin necrosis and implant exposure. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively held database for autologous breast reconstruction in our institution of the last 5 years found eight cases with exposed implants after nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction. A single-stage procedure consisting on implant removal and immediate replacement with a deepithelialized DIEP flap was performed in all cases (10 DIEP flaps). RESULTS: All flaps were successful. Patients' mean age was 45 years old. Three patients developed seroma (5, 7, and 14 days after surgery, respectively). No infections were detected in up to 24 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate implant-based reconstruction is considered oncologically safe. However, it has a high rate of complications that could require implant removal. Immediate free flap reconstruction is a feasible and safe option to replace the missing volume with low risk of complications that result in a soft and natural-shaped breast.

Free profunda femoris artery perforator flap as a first-line choice of reconstruction for partial glossectomy defects.

BACKGROUND: Free profunda artery perforator (PAP) flap has recently been brought back for head and neck reconstruction. During the course of 1 year, we performed this procedure for reconstruction of partial glossectomy defects with excellent results. METHODS: From January through December 2015, 21 patients underwent partial glossectomy reconstruction with PAP flaps. Demographics, surgical technique, anatomic variations, success rates, complications, and characteristics are described. Swallowing and speech results after reconstruction are evaluated. RESULTS: No donor-site complications were observed. Two cases presented complications potentially related to the flap (1 hematoma and 1 prolonged intubation) that were treated successfully. Deglutition and speech assessment resulted in fair to excellent swallowing capacity in all patients. Speech score resulted 4/5 to 5/5 in all patients at 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The PAP flap should be considered one of the first-line options for hemiglossectomy reconstruction, receiving special consideration in the high-risk population in which future complex reconstructions could be needed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 737-743, 2017.