title: [Vascularloops in reconstructive microsurgery: A review of the literature].
abstract: The success of free tissue transfer depends on the quality of vascular micro-anastomosis and recipient vessels. Adequate recipient vessels are sometimes not available near the recipient site for they can be either destroyed or of poor quality (radiotherapy, traumatism). In such cases, good quality recipient vessels are at a distance from the reconstructed site. If this distance is important flap pedicle lengthening implies - for the artery, for the vein or for both flap artery and vein. This lengthening can be carried out in two manners - by interpositional vein grafts (VG) or by a vascular loop (VL) in one or two stages. The aim of this study was to review the utilisation of VL and their type since their introduction in the clinical practice of reconstructive microsurgery. Two main types of VL are used - BV by VG and VL "in situ". Both of them can be carried out in one or two stages. Each of these techniques has its advantages and disadvantages. The overall data from the literature shows that VL are indicated in cases where both artery and vein are damaged or destroyed. There is not enough evidence concerning the VL in one or two stages but there are some tendencies in favour of the VL in one stage. The technique of VL seems to be more avantageous over the interpositional VG but with a smaller success rate compared to free-flaps with direct anastomosis to recipient vessels. Further studies are necessary to investigate these controversial questions.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique, reconstructrice et esthétique, hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, CHU de Lyon, hospices civils de Lyon, 103, Grand-Rue de la Croix-Rousse, 69317 Lyon cedex 4, France. Electronic address: cshipkov@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shipkov
authors.affiliation: Service de radiologie et imagerie médicale, hôpital Saint-George, CHU de Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgarie.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Traikova
authors.affiliation: Unité de chirurgie plastique et cranio-faciale, hôpital Saint-George, CHU de Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgarie.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Voinov
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique, reconstructrice et esthétique, hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, CHU de Lyon, hospices civils de Lyon, 103, Grand-Rue de la Croix-Rousse, 69317 Lyon cedex 4, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique, reconstructrice et esthétique, hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, CHU de Lyon, hospices civils de Lyon, 103, Grand-Rue de la Croix-Rousse, 69317 Lyon cedex 4, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Braye
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie plastique, reconstructrice et esthétique, hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, CHU de Lyon, hospices civils de Lyon, 103, Grand-Rue de la Croix-Rousse, 69317 Lyon cedex 4, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mojallal
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014680:Veins
keywords: Arteriovenous fistula; Arteriovenous loop; Boucle artério-veineuse; Boucle vasculaire; Fistule artério-veineuse; Greffes veineuses; Vascular loop