The muscle twitch monitor: a rapid unequivocal method of monitoring free muscle transfers.
A free latissimus dorsi muscle transfer, which required anastomotic revision on two occasions within twenty-four hours of operation, illustrates how the change in response of electrically induced muscle contraction to ischaemia can be used as a rapid and sensitive method of monitoring free muscle transfers. It is a response that has the great merit of being easily recognised by untrained observers because it relies on an absolute rather than a relative change in the measured modality. Furthermore it is not influenced by the clinical condition of the patient or by changes in the flap's environment. Its potential is discussed.
D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*