title: Flow changes in forearm arteries after elevating the radial forearm flap: prospective study using color duplex imaging.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the changes in flow patterns of forearm arteries produced by excision of the radial artery when harvesting the radial forearm flap. A prospective study using color duplex imaging for quantitative flow measurements was accomplished in 11 patients. After raising the radial flap, the forearm flow tended to increase overall, the ulnar (P = 0.04), the posterior interosseous (P = 0.003), and the anterior interosseous (P = 0.003) arteries being responsible for this tendency. Therefore, harvesting of a radial flap must not be considered as causing vascular morbidity in terms of blood supply to the hand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talegón-Meléndez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciria-Lloréns
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gómez-Cía
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayo-Iscar
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color