title: Recipient vessel exposure in the axilla during microvascular breast reconstruction.
abstract: Over the years, the favored recipient vessels for microvascular breast reconstruction have changed from the thoracodorsal to the internal mammary vessels, mainly due to the deep position and poor exposure of the vessels in the axilla and all the technical difficulties this reflects. We used the simple maneuver of arm adduction during microvascular anastomoses in the axilla and compared it with the conventional method of abducted arm regarding the exposure of the vessels, the position of the operator and the assistant, and the operative time. We found that this innovation considerably improved the exposure of the vessels and the operator's position, facilitating easier and faster anastomoses.
authors.affiliation: St. Andrews Centre for Plastic Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, United Kingdom. gravvani@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gravvanis
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Caulfield
authors.forename: Venkat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.forename: Niri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Niranjan
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery; D001940:Breast / Q000098:blood supply*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures