title: Mapping the vascular anatomy of free transplanted soft tissue flaps with computed tomographic angiography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of advanced imaging technologies such as computed tomographic angiography (CTA) has opened the door to the analysis of microvascular anatomy not previously demonstrable with prior imaging techniques. While CTA has been used to evaluate the vascular anatomy of donor body regions in the planning of harvest of tissue for free flap transfer, the use of CTA to evaluate tissues after tissue transplantation has not been demonstrated. The current study aimed to explore whether vascular anatomy was able to highlight CTA within transferred flaps.
  
  
  METHODS
  The arterial and venous anatomy of a transferred deep inferior epigastric artery (DIEA) perforator (DIEP) flap was explored postoperatively with the use of CTA. Intra-flap vasculature was mapped and recorded qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative CTA is able to highlight the vascular pedicle of a transferred free flap, highlight the course of individual perforators supplying the flap, and map the zones of lesser perfusion by the source pedicle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study has demonstrated that CTA may be of value in identifying vascular anatomy within transferred tissue, as a guide to evaluate flap perfusion and planning further surgery involving the flap.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Room E533, Jack Brockhoff Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Research Unit, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia. warrenrozen@hotmail.com
authors: Warren M
authors: WM
authors: Rozen
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Chubb
authors: Mark W
authors: MW
authors: Ashton
authors: Howard R
authors: HR
authors: Webster
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D019074:Epigastric Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*