title: Successful free flap transfer and salvage in sickle cell trait.
abstract: The presence of sickle cell haemoglobin is generally regarded as a contraindication to free tissue transfer. We present the case of a 42-year-old male with sickle cell trait who had free transfer of a latissimus dorsi flap to cover a gunshot wound to his thigh. His initial haemoglobin S was 36%. Early flap failure from venous thrombosis was successfully salvaged by re-anastomosis to alternative vessels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Platt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Batchelor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000150:complications*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014022:Tissue Survival / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*