Use of intraperitoneal vessels in reconstructive microsurgery: an account of 117 cases

Free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap for external hemipelvectomy reconstruction

INTRODUCTION

External hemipelvectomy is one of the most extensive surgical procedures for locally advanced pelvic tumors. Stump coverage with the local tissues can be difficult in recurrent cases. Herein, we report our experience with immediate stump coverage using a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous (LDMC) flap after external hemipelvectomy for recurrent pelvic malignancies.

METHODS

Six patients underwent external hemipelvectomy and immediate reconstruction using a free LDMC flap between November 2012 and June 2017. The mean age of the patients was 65 years (range: 63-69 years). The primary tumors were myxoid liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and pleomorphic liposarcoma. A free LDMC flap was harvested from the ipsilateral back and transferred to the defect. When an intercostal nerve was found at the recipient site, the thoracodorsal nerve was coaptated with the intercostal nerve to reinnervate the muscle.

RESULTS

The mean flap size was 23 × 10 cm and the range was 20 × 8-27 × 13.5 cm. The contralateral deep inferior epigastric vessels were used as recipient vessels in all patients. Thoracodorsal-intercostal nerve coaptation was performed in 2 patients. The flap survived in all patients. Three patients had complications of abscess formation. No patient developed postoperative hernia.

CONCLUSION

Although it is challenging to do reconstruction after external hemipelvectomy, a free LDMC flap has several advantages, including a large coverage area, stability of circulation, ease of elevation, and preservation of the strength of the remaining abdominal wall. Technical tips for selecting anastomosis vessels are important and nerve coaptation could be effective.

Abdominal Wall Reconstruction with Free Flaps

This article addresses the clinical applications of free tissue transfer for abdominal wall reconstruction. Details of indications, techniques, and clinical examples for the coverage of complex abdominal wall defects are presented.

Microsurgical reconstruction of hepatic artery during living donor liver transplantation

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become a well-recognized treatment modality for patients with end-stage liver disease. Arterial reconstruction during LDLT is perhaps the most important aspect of the grafting procedure. Although microsurgical hepatic artery reconstruction has become the essential technique in LDLT, it poses significant challenges even to experienced microsurgeons. In this report, the experiences of 155 microsurgical reconstructions of the hepatic artery in 150 LDLTs were reviewed, and the problems that were encountered and the solutions are discussed. From June 1999-March 2004 150 LDLTs were performed on 148 recipients at Ege University Organ Transplantation and Research Center. Hepatic arterial thrombosis was encountered in 3 patients. Microsurgical technique has overcome the difficulties in LDLT. This has increased liver transplantations in the presence of limited cadaver grafts and has decreased the patient mortality in the waiting list.

Abdominal wall reconstruction with the free tensor fascia lata musculofasciocutaneous flap using intraperitoneal gastroepiploic recipient vessels

The authors report their experience with a method for definitive abdominal wall reconstruction using the free tensor fascia lata musculofasciocutaneous flap anastomosed to the intraperitoneal gastroepiploic vessels. This is a single-stage reconstruction capable of reconstructing reliably a full-thickness defect involving any region of the abdominal wall. The fascial component of the flap reconstructs the abdominal wall with like tissue, and the cutaneous portion of the free tensor fascia lata provides a durable and aesthetically acceptable external cover. The intraperitoneal gastroepiploic artery and vein were the first-choice recipient vessels used in all three patients. These intraperitoneal recipient vessels allow uninterrupted fascial closure, restoring structural integrity to the abdominal wall, and allow the use of free flaps with short vascular pedicles. The authors present a series of three cases of full-thickness upper and lower abdominal wall reconstruction using this method, presenting its advantages compared with other methods.