The deep inferior epigastric artery: anatomy and applicability as a source of microvascular arterial grafts.
BACKGROUND
Arterial grafts are superior to venous grafts when used for microvascular grafting procedures. Advantages of arterial grafts include anatomical taper, improved size match, improved handling characteristics, and superior patency rates. The deep inferior epigastric artery may be used as a source of microvascular graft to replace damaged or diseased arterial segments. By studying cadaver dissections, it is possible to estimate the clinically usable length and caliber of the deep inferior epigastric artery.


METHODS
Thirty-four preserved cadavers were dissected and 63 deep inferior epigastric arterial systems were removed and measured. The deep inferior epigastric artery was used as an arterial conduit to bypass across nine wrists in eight patients.


RESULTS
The mean length from the external iliac artery to the point at which the vessel displayed an external diameter of 1 mm was 14.06 +/- 2.54 cm. The deep inferior epigastric artery has been used in nine clinical cases as an arterial conduit to bypass distal to the wrist. All nine bypasses were patent 1 year postoperatively, without donor-site complication.


CONCLUSIONS
The deep inferior epigastric artery is a morphologically reliable and clinically useful source of arterial grafts.
Rockwell
W Bradford
WB
Salt Lake City, Utah From the Division of Plastic Surgery and Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah School of Medicine.
Hurst
Craig A
CA
Morton
David A
DA
Kwok
Alvin
A
Foreman
K Bo
KB
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001158:Arteries / Q000637:transplantation*; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D019074:Epigastric Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017535:Ulnar Artery / Q000601:surgery; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*