Experience with 33 epigastric rectus flaps in breast reconstruction.
The contralateral epigastric rectus flap (ERF) is a myocutaneous island flap, including epigastric skin, and the upper part of the rectus abdominis muscle with the superior epigastric artery. It measures at least 20 X 8 cm. In breast reconstruction, the ERF is transferred from the normal side to the mastectomized side on its vascular pedicle. The donor site is hidden in the submammary fold. The ERF has many advantages over the latissimus flap (larger amount of skin, skin comparable to breast skin, that can be taken without position change during surgery, no muscle dysfunction, no donor site in the back, upper abdominal lift with major addition of homolateral epigastric skin to the reconstruction), but is not so suitable in patients with thin or irradiated skin. Compared to the lower rectus flap, it is a less extensive procedure with no abdominal scar, but it brings less adipose tissue to the reconstructed breast.
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D013524:Surgical Flaps