title: DIEP-flap failure after pedicle division three years following transfer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, NL-3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Moolenburgh
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Huizum
authors.forename: S O P
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Hofer
mesh_terms: 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