title: Preoperative color Doppler ultrasound assessment in planning of SCIP flaps.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap is based on the perforator of superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA) system, and is a highly useful surgical tool with a wide variety of clinical applications. The SCIA system is associated with considerable anatomical variation, however, rendering transfer of a SCIP flap technically difficult.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using preoperative color Doppler ultrasound (US), we examined a total of 11 flaps of 11 patients who had undergone reconstruction with SCIP flap from April to August of 2014. The origin of SCIA from femoral artery and the bifurcation of its superficial branch and deep branch were easily identifiable in all patients. Perforator courses and their penetration points were marked to guide dissection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although one patient required secondary revision and skin grafting because of partial necrosis, there were no serious postoperative complications such as total necrosis or resulting absorption of the transferred adiposal flap. In all cases, findings from the preoperative color Doppler US were useful in delineating the dominant vessel within the groin lesion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the technique described above, difficulties arising from the anatomical variation within the SCIA system are easily overcome, simplifying SCIP flap harvest. In addition to being relatively easy, the technique is also quick to administer and safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan. Electronic address: tashirox@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tashiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsunobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harima
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsunaga
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narushima
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koshima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Color Doppler ultrasound; Microsurgery; Perforator flap; Preoperative imaging; SCIP flap; Supermicrosurgery