Pure Skin Perforator Flaps: The Anatomical Vascularity of the Superthin Flap.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a superthin "pure skin perforator" flap without any subcutaneous tissue was proposed, but the vascularity is still unclear. The authors therefore investigated the vascularity of the proposed superficial circumflex iliac artery-pure skin perforator along with its clinical applications and findings on indocyanine green imaging. METHODS: The locations and dimension of 70 pure skin perforators on 40 flaps were investigated and classified into central-peripheral and mediolateral parts. Indocyanine green angiography was used to analyze the patterns of the vascular anatomy. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of 29 cases (93.1 percent) presented with pure skin perforator vessels within the area 5 cm above and 1 cm below the inguinal ligament and 4 cm medial and 2 cm lateral from the anterior superior iliac spine. The total flap size averaged 39 ± 22 cm(2) (range, 3 to 90 cm(2)). A subanalysis of the relationship between the flap size and location of pure skin perforators within the single, double, and triple pure skin perforator flap subgroups did not reveal any significance. Indocyanine green angiography revealed three interesting perfusion patterns of pure skin perforator flap: a radial diffusion pattern, direct linking vessels in the intradermal layer, and intradermal arteriovenous shunts. CONCLUSIONS: The location number of the pure skin perforators within the flap was not considered to be a crucial factor in the flap design and size in this study. This new knowledge regarding the pure skin perforator concept will allow surgeons to elevate a full-thickness skin flap safely.

The deep inferior epigastric perforator flap for breast reconstruction: Is this the ideal flap for Asian women?

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>This study aims to evaluate the outcome and safety of the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap for breast reconstruction in a group of Southeast Asian women treated in our unit and to identify risk factors for breast reconstruction using the DIEP flap in this population.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>This is a prospective study on 50 consecutive DIEP flap breast reconstructions by a single surgeon in an academic institution between July 1999 and July 2006. Data on patient demographics, diagnosis, procedure type, adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments, risk factors and complications were prospectively collected and registered in a clinical database. Outcome variables include total flap loss, partial flap loss, fat necrosis and minor complications related to the donor site or flap. Known risk factors are analysed to determine if they affect outcome in terms of complication rate in this group of patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Total flap loss, partial flap loss and fat necrosis complication rates were 6%, 4% and 10%, respectively. Flap complication rates were comparable to those quoted by previous studies done worldwide. Obesity (BMI >27) is a statistically significant factor associated with development of DIEP flap complications in our population.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Breast reconstruction with DIEP flap is a safe and reliable method when used in Southeast Asian women, offering optimal results with less donor -site morbidity. Obesity increases the incidence of flap complication in this group of patients.</p>