title: Lateral intercostal artery perforator flap used in salvage of exposed tissue expander of breast: case report.
abstract: Management of an exposed tissue expander in breast reconstruction patients remains a challenging problem. For large defects that cannot be repaired primarily, local flap options are limited. In this case report, we describe the use of lateral intercostal artery perforator (LICAP) flap in salvage of an exposed tissue expander of a patient who had delayed immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy. The postoperative recovery was uneventful and tissue expansion followed by radiotherapy was well tolerated by the flap. We believe this is the first article to describe the use of LICAP flap in salvage of an exposed tissue expander of the breast due to mastectomy flap necrosis in the early postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Kocaeli University Medical Faculty, Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Department, Umuttepe, Kocaeli, Turkey. cigdem_unal_75@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gercek
authors.forename: Emrah Kagan
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Yasar
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Utkan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices