Breast Reconstruction with the TRAM Flap

2019 ◽  
pp. 695-700
Author(s):  
Windy A. Olaya

Breast reconstruction with the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap offers a completely autogenous tissue reconstruction for women requesting either a delayed or immediate breast restoration. The donor site scar on the lower abdomen is hidden by most clothing styles. The flap can be harvested as a pedicle flap based on the superior epigastric vessels, including one or both rectus muscles, depending on the volume of tissue required. During immediate reconstruction, both the oncologic and reconstructive surgeons can operate simultaneously, continuously communicating during the surgical procedure about the incisions and mastectomy defect. The match between the tissue volume of the patient’s abdominal TRAM flap and her desired breast size determines the eventual aesthetic success of the reconstruction.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 2872
Author(s):  
Nur A. A. Anuar ◽  
Raflis R. Awang ◽  
Ee T. Khoo ◽  
Daphne Anthonysamy ◽  
Nor A. H. Darail ◽  
...  

Background: Breast reconstruction is traditionally performed by the plastic surgeons. In the last four years, we have embarked on autologous breast reconstruction. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the complications and cosmetic outcomes of a pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myo-cutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction.Methods: We enrolled forty-one patients who underwent a TRAM flap reconstructive surgery between January 2016 and January 2020 at the hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Thorough retrospective reviews of medical records were performed. Patient’s satisfaction on the cosmetic outcome were assessed with the breast-Q questionnaire.Results: Forty-one patients with a mean age of forty-six years old, had ipsilateral pedicled TRAM breast reconstructions for various breast pathologies including invasive carcinoma (n=31, 75.6%), ductal carcinoma in situ (n=8, 19.5%) and phylloides tumor (n=2, 4.9%). Immediate reconstruction was performed in thirty-nine patients and delayed reconstruction in two patients. Based on The American joint committee on cancer (AJCC) TNM system, the pathologic stages among those patients with breast cancer were 0 (n=8, 20.5%), I (n=3, 7.69%), II (n=9, 23.1%), III (n=18, 46.1%), and IV (n=1, 2.56%). During the mean follow-up of seventeen months, flap and donor site complications were reported in twelve patients (29.3%) and five patients (12.1%) respectively. Nineteen were very satisfied and sixteen were satisfied.Conclusions: Breast reconstruction with a TRAM flap can be safely performed by the oncoplastic breast surgeons with good aesthetic outcomes.


Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 269
Author(s):  
Kyu-Ho Yi ◽  
Hyung-Jin Lee ◽  
Ji-Hyun Lee ◽  
Kyle K. Seo ◽  
Hee-Jin Kim

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is commonly performed using transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap. Previous studies have demonstrated that botulinum neurotoxin injections in TRAM flap surgeries lower the risk of necrosis and allow further expansion of arterial cross-sectional diameters. The study was designed to determine the ideal injection points for botulinum neurotoxin injection by exploring the arborization patterns of the intramuscular nerves of the rectus abdominis muscle. A modified Sihler’s method was performed on 16 rectus abdominis muscle specimens. Arborization of the intramuscular nerves was determined based on the most prominent point of the xyphoid process to the pubic crest. All 16 rectus abdominis muscle specimens were divided into four muscle bellies by the tendinous portion. The arborized portions of the muscles were located on the 5–15%, 25–35%, 45–55%, and 70–80% sections of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th muscle bellies, respectively. The tendinous portion was located at the 15–20%, 35–40%, 55–60%, and 90–100% sections. These results suggest that botulinum neurotoxin injections into the rectus abdominis muscles should be performed in specific sections.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie K Chu ◽  
Michael DeFazio ◽  
Rene D Largo ◽  
Merrick Ross

Abstract The smaller volume of the profunda artery perforator (PAP) flap relative to that of abdominal flaps limits the size of breast reconstruction that may be achieved. Immediate implant augmentation of abdominal free flaps has been performed, but immediate implant augmentation of PAP flaps has never been described. A 54-year-old woman with BRCA2 mutation, submuscular implants, and previous abdominoplasty presented for nipple-sparing mastectomies (NSM). Autologous tissue volume was inadequate to support reconstruction to the desired size. She wished to avoid serial expansion. Skin quality was unsuitable for direct-to-implant reconstruction. The patient underwent bilateral NSM. The previous implants were removed with capsule preservation. Bilateral PAP flaps were harvested and anastomosed to the internal mammary vessels. Moderate classic profile 170-mL smooth round silicone implants were placed into the existing capsule pockets with lateral capsulorraphy. There were no flap, implant, or infectious complications. Initial mastectomy skin and nipple ischemia completely resolved without necrosis. Donor site healing was uneventful. At 8 months, the reconstruction is supple and the implants remain well-positioned without rippling. One minor revision was performed for fat grafting and to correct lateral nipple deviation. PAP flap breast reconstruction with immediate implant augmentation is technically feasible. Advantages include improved prosthetic coverage, allowing for immediate reconstruction to a larger size with reduced concern regarding mastectomy skin necrosis and threat to the device, optimal implant camouflage, and improved substrate for secondary fat grafting if necessary. Level of Evidence: 5


2020 ◽  
Vol 106 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 40-40
Author(s):  
R Amira Maher ◽  
Ahmed Gamal Eldin Osman ◽  
K Fahmy ◽  
Nouf M. Ebied ◽  
Reda Eissa

Background: The oncoplastic surgery has brought new dimensions to breast conserving surgery and added the aesthetic principles of breast surgery to breast cancer management. Recently there's a lot of volume replacement techniques without significant donor site morbidity .The anterior intercostal artery perforator (AICAP) flap is a suitable option in partial breast reconstruction for lower pole tumors in small and medium sized breasts. Objectives: The aim of this study is to report our clinical experience with anterior intercostal perforator flap in partial breast reconstruction Methodology: 25 cases were performed between April 2018 to June 2019 at in Ain shams university hospitals for selected patients with lower breast pole tumors with small and medium sized breast and other option like reduction mMDTmoplasty wasn't favorable for them. Results: A total of 25 patient were selected by the multidisplinary team at Ain shams university hospital for partial breast reconstruction with anterior intercostal artery perforator flap . The mean age of the cases was 45.68 with mean body mass index of 32.32. The mean operative time for the flap was 64 minutes while the hospital stay was ranging from 1-2 days .Follow-up for local recurrence was from 6 to 14 months. There was 1 case with wound complication (4%). The cosmetic outcome was assessed by the MDT and a giving score from 1-5 was used with 1 is the least favorable cosmetic outcome and 5 is the best result 76% of the cases scored 5, 14% scored 4, 8% scored 3. According to patient satisfaction a score from 1 to 5 was used with the score 1 is least satisfied and score 5 represents the most satisfaction level, there was 80% of the patient gave the score 5, 12% of the cases gave the score 4 and 8% of the cases gave the score 3 Conclusions: Based on our experience, partial breast reconstruction using AICAP flap is a reliable option for lower breast tumors in small-to-moderate breast size with perfect cosmetic outcome and negligible rate of complication.


2007 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 788-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott L. Spear ◽  
Ivica Ducic ◽  
Frank Cuoco ◽  
Nathan Taylor

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (07) ◽  
pp. 474-482
Author(s):  
Alberto Okada ◽  
Diego Pereira ◽  
Eduardo Montag ◽  
Marcelo Portocarrero ◽  
Carlos Felício ◽  
...  

Background Free flap breast reconstruction is a conventional procedure in many countries; however, microvascular compromise remains a devastating outcome. Given the morbidity of total necrosis, optimizing free flap salvage stands out as an important area for research, especially among surgeons to overcome the learning curve period and in resource constrained scenario such as community hospitals. To ensure free deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP)/superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap breast reconstruction, the authors present a technique involving raising a hemiabdominal flap as a free flap, and banking the remaining flap to be utilized if needed in a subsequent procedure. Methods A retrospective review was performed on all free flap breast reconstructions. In this period, 84 patients (mean age: 50.1 ± 8 years) were included. Results In this study, 65.5% patients underwent immediate reconstruction, and 51.2% received DIEP reconstruction; 9.52% patients were returned to the operating room, and salvage reconstruction using the banked flap was performed in all patients. No differences were observed regarding early complications and age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists status, diabetes, smoking history, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and type of flap used (p > 0.05). Hypertension was significantly associated with early complications (p < 0.05). Donor-site complications were associated with RT (p < 0.05). Conclusion The banked flap is a reliable method for ensuring DIEP/SIEA flap survival and should be considered in higher risk reconstructions and community hospitals. We believe that the present technique can be a good addition to the arsenal of plastic surgeons dealing with free flap breast reconstructions in selected patients.


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