DIEP-flap failure after pedicle division three years following transfer.
Flap neovascularisation is generally believed to make free skin-containing flaps independent of their axial pedicle blood supply. A case of DIEP-flap failure 3 years after transfer is presented in a breast reconstruction patient in whom a lateral breast reduction for symmetry improvement was performed. Causative factors in this patient were the division of the flap pedicle during lateral breast reduction and smoking in the postoperative period. A review of literature is presented and highlights the uniqueness of this case.
Moolenburgh
S E
SE
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, NL-3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
van Huizum
M A
MA
Hofer
S O P
SO
D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology