Two for one: salvage of bilateral lower extremities with a single free flap.
It is thought that free muscle flaps may remain dependent on their original pedicle for more than 1-year postoperation, particularly in the lower extremity of patients with peripheral vascular disease. We present the first case report of bilateral lower extremity salvage with a single rectus abdominis myocutaneous free flap by transecting the main pedicle. The pedicle of the free flap, going to the contralateral extremity, was safely divided at 6-weeks postoperation. A tourniquet was used to compress the pedicle at the division point to assess viability of the flap distal to the point of occlusion prior to transection of the flap.
Lau
Kwan N
KN
Department of Surgery, Division of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
Park
Daniel
D
Dagum
Alexander B
AB
Bui
Duc T
DT
D000368:Aged; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D005627:Frostbite / Q000601:surgery; D005734:Gangrene / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply