Breast reconstruction with a free DIEP (TRAM) flap complicated by cardiac tamponade and arrest: a case report.
Breast reconstruction with free-tissue transfer is now well established and provides excellent aesthetic results. There has been an increasing swing in the literature in the use of internal mammary vessels as the preferred recipient vessels for this procedure. We present a case of a hitherto undocumented life-threatening complication related to the use of these vessels.
Pratt
G F
GF
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands 6009 Western Australia. georges@iinet.net.au
Faris
J G
JG
Lethbridge
M
M
Teh
L G
LG
D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008323:Mammary Arteries / Q000637:transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation