Comparative Study of Small Vessel (under 0.8 mm) Anastomosed Free Flap and Larger Vessel (over 0.8 mm) Anastomosed Free Flap: Does Supermicrosurgery Provide Sufficient Blood Flow to the Free Flap?

Hyung Bae Kim; Joon Pio Jp Hong; Hyunsuk Peter Suh

doi:10.1055/a-2205-2292

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Table of Contents

J Reconstr Microsurg 2024; 40(06): 452-457
DOI: 10.1055/a-2205-2292

Original Article

Comparative Study of Small Vessel (under 0.8 mm) Anastomosed Free Flap and Larger Vessel (over 0.8 mm) Anastomosed Free Flap: Does Supermicrosurgery Provide Sufficient Blood Flow to the Free Flap?

Hyung Bae Kim

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

,

Joon Pio Jp Hong

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

,

Hyunsuk Peter Suh

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background This study aimed to quantify the blood flow of free flaps and compare the blood flow of small vessel (<0.8 mm) and larger vessel (>0.8 mm) anastomosed free flaps.

Methods This retrospective study included patients treated successfully with a perforator free flap in the lower extremity between June 2015 and March 2017. A color duplex ultrasound system measured the flow volume through the pedicle by analyzing the mean flow peak velocity, flow volume, and flow volume per 100 g of the flap.

Results A total of 69 patients were enrolled in this study. There was no statistical difference in peak velocity between the small vessel anastomosed free flap (25.2 ± 5.6) and larger vessel anastomosed free flap (26.5 ± 5.4). Flow volume (6.8 ± 4.2 vs. 6.3 ± 3.6) and flow volume/100 g (3.6 ± 3.9 vs. 6.2 ± 6.9) also did not show significant differences.

Conclusion Small vessel (<0.8 mm) free flaps showed similar flow velocity and flow volume to larger vessel (>0.8 mm) anastomosed free flaps. Blood flow to the small vessel anastomosed free flap was sufficient despite its small vessel size.

Keywords

free flap - supermicrosurgery - color Doppler ultrasound

Full Text

References

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material