The stacked transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap revisited in breast reconstruction. 1994

S L Spear, and R L Travaglino-Parda, and M M Stefan
Department of Surgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007.

Since its original description, the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap has been used primarily as a single pedicle, bipedicle, or free flap procedure for breast reconstruction. A fourth option, rarely used in the past, involves using two single pedicle flaps to reconstruct only one breast by using the flaps in a "stacked" or overlapping configuration. Until now, this stacked technique has been used primarily for radical mastectomy defects. Stacked TRAM flaps are useful for four additional situations beyond the radical defect. In patients with meager abdominal donor tissues, stacked TRAM flaps may be the best way to provide the required central tissue volume in the small surface area of the reconstructed breast. In patients with a long thorax and good breast projection, overlapping or partially stacking the two flaps can best solve the problems of surface area and projection simultaneously. For patients with large projecting breasts without significant ptosis, the stacking option may best duplicate the original breast shape. Finally, for women who want their reconstruction larger than the original, the second flap can serve as an autologous augmentation. Ten patients with stacked TRAM flaps are presented, covering all of these indications. All patients achieved excellent functional and aesthetic outcomes. The stacked TRAM flap option is an effective, safe, and reliable method of achieving excellent results in difficult situations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D005260 Female Females
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000009 Abdominal Muscles Muscles forming the ABDOMINAL WALL including RECTUS ABDOMINIS; ABDOMINAL OBLIQUE MUSCLES, transversus abdominis, pyramidalis muscles and quadratus abdominis. Cremaster Muscle,Pyramidalis Muscle,Quadratus Abdominis,Transverse Abdominal,Transversus Abdominis,Abdominal Muscle,Abdominal, Transverse,Abdominals, Transverse,Abdomini, Quadratus,Abdominis, Quadratus,Cremaster Muscles,Muscle, Abdominal,Muscle, Cremaster,Muscle, Pyramidalis,Muscles, Abdominal,Muscles, Cremaster,Muscles, Pyramidalis,Pyramidalis Muscles,Quadratus Abdomini,Transverse Abdominals
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
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

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