title: A new classification system for muscle and nerve preservation in DIEP flap breast reconstruction.
abstract: The main advantage of deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction is muscle preservation. Perforating vessels, however, display anatomic variability and intraoperative decisions must balance flap perfusion with muscle or nerve sacrifice. Studies that aggregate DIEP flap reconstruction may not accurately reflect the degree of rectus preservation. At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center from 2004-2009, 446 DIEP flaps were performed for breast reconstruction. Flaps were divided into three categories: DIEP-1, no muscle or nerve sacrifice (126 flaps); DIEP-2, segmental nerve sacrifice and minimal muscle sacrifice (244 flaps); DIEP-3, perforator harvest from both the medial and lateral row, segmental nerve sacrifice and central muscle sacrifice (76 flaps). Although the rate of abdominal bulge was similar among groups, fat necrosis was significantly higher in DIEP-1 when compared with DIEP-3 flaps (19.8% vs. 9.2%, P = 0.049). We describe a DIEP flap classification system and operative techniques to minimize muscle and nerve sacrifice.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA. blee3@bidmc.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Bernard T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Minh-Doan
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tobias
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D000465:Algorithms; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000145:classification*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D016896:Treatment Outcome