Extended transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap.
Blood circulation within the conventional TRAM flap is not generous, and the contralateral random portion of the flap may result in fat or skin necrosis. However, this random portion can be extended safely and used for reconstruction by including the superficial epigastric vessels and the superficial circumflex iliac vessels and by anastomosing either of these to the recipient vessels. We have experienced this extended TRAM flap in two patients without any complications.
Takayanagi
S
S
Division of Plastic Surgery, Kokura Memorial Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Ohtsuka
M
M
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D013524:Surgical Flaps