title: Avulsion of vascular anastomosis in free-flap breast reconstruction.
abstract: We report a case of anastomotic avulsion following a free deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap reconstruction immediately after mastectomy for carcinoma of the breast. This occurred on the 5th postoperative day when the patient was allowed a shower and abducted her shoulders to wash her hair. The aim of this report is to make readers aware of such a possibility, and we suggest exercising caution in early mobilisation of the upper limb after free-flap breast reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Unit, Canniesburn Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gahankari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malyon
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Weiler-Mithoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012785:Shoulder Joint; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*