[Anatomic study of perforator neurovascular bundles of the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the anatomic characteristics of the perforator neurovascular bundles in the anterior abdominal wall for the anatomical basis of the sensate deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap.


METHODS
Abdominal wall dissection was performed on 9 embalmed female cadavers (18 sides).


RESULTS
Most of the deep inferior epigastric perforators emerged at the anterior sheath of the rectus. There were averaged 17.5 perforators on each side, with the diameter equal to or larger than 0.5 mm in 7.8 perforators. The number of skin perforators was the greatest in the supero-medial area. 56.2 percent of vascular perforators traveled with the sensory branches while 80.9 percent of larger perforators (> or = 0.5 mm in diameter) run with the sensory branches.


CONCLUSIONS
The lateral perforator neurovascular bundle was the first choice in the design of the sensate DIEP flap.
Yang
Hong-yan
HY
Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100041, China.
Xu
Jun
J
Jin
Xiao-lei
XL
Yan
Yi-ping
YP
Mu
Lan-hua
LH
Liu
Yuan-bo
YB
Yan
Xiao-qing
XQ
Li
Sen-kai
SK
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013524:Surgical Flaps