Biomaterial Database

Pedicled compared with free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps in breast reconstruction. 1994

G Gherardini, and C Arnander, and L Gylbert, and M Wickman

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Two groups of patients who had undergone breast reconstruction with the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap after modified radical or partial mastectomy were evaluated. The type of reconstruction was either pedicled (n = 27, one of which bilateral) or free flap transfer (n = 11). In both groups there were both primary and secondary reconstructions. Flap complications were more common with the pedicled TRAM flap. There were nine partial flap necroses in the pedicle group, but only one in the free flap group. The only flap loss was a pedicled flap. In the free flap group, revision of the anastomosis was required in two patients. The free TRAM flap took longer to do than the pedicled flap. In conclusion, the two procedures yield acceptable results, but the free TRAM flap seems to be safer than the pedicled flap, thanks to the better blood supply from the inferior epigastric artery. It also allows greater freedom and versatility in moulding the reconstructed breast.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008408	Mastectomy	Surgical procedure to remove one or both breasts.	Mammectomy,Mammectomies,Mastectomies
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013524	Surgical Flaps	Tongues of skin and subcutaneous tissue, sometimes including muscle, cut away from the underlying parts but often still attached at one end. They retain their own microvasculature which is also transferred to the new site. They are often used in plastic surgery for filling a defect in a neighboring region.	Island Flap,Island Flaps,Flap, Surgical,Flaps, Surgical,Pedicled Flap,Surgical Flap,Flap, Island,Flap, Pedicled,Flaps, Island,Flaps, Pedicled,Pedicled Flaps
D016462	Mammaplasty	Surgical reconstruction of the breast including both augmentation and reduction.	Breast Reconstruction,Mammoplasty,Breast Reconstructions,Mammaplasties,Mammoplasties,Reconstruction, Breast,Reconstructions, Breast