title: Strauch's technique for epigastric free flaps in rats revisited: a simple and effective method to increase patency rates.
abstract: Described by Strauch and Murray in 1967, the rodent epigastric free flap remains a versatile tool for microsurgery research and training. We report herein three sequential phases of our quest to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the original technique, making it more accessible to more microsurgeons. Ninety-six allotransplants were performed. Surgical technique, complication rates, clinical findings, and histopathologic correlation of each phase are reported. In phase I, two experienced microsurgeons employed the original technique and succeeded in 77% of the procedures. In phase II, two junior microsurgeons achieved a patency rate of 16.6% using the same technique, as opposed to 100% in phase III, utilizing the not-yet-described simplified flow-thru technique. Although patency rate using the original method varies from 9 to 78% (according to other reports), this technical modification can increase even the less experienced microsurgeons' success rates, perpetuating the use of Strauch's epigastric flap in experimental microsurgery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine Kawano
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Horibe
authors.forename: Justin Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.forename: Ali Emre
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Aksu
authors.forename: Jignesh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Unadkat
authors.forename: Dennis Yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Lydia Masako
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feili-Hariri
authors.forename: W P Andrew
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000601:surgery; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D009336:Necrosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D049291:Seroma / Q000209:etiology; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000098:blood supply; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology