Immediate reconstruction following mastectomy for cancer.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J B McCraw.
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Gracilis musculocutaneous flaps are useful in reconstruction of many crippling pelvic defects. They are especially beneficial for vaginal reconstruction at the time of pelvic exenteration. Twenty patients having vaginal reconstruction with musculocutaneous flaps are presented. Nineteen (95%) have vaginas adequate for sexual function.
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Breast reconstruction deserves critical consideration and discussion in each patient's case. The psychologic benefits from the procedure are enormous. Reconstructive goals are: skin coverage, contour restoration and formation of the nipple-areola. The prospect of reconstruction must have no effect on the procedure for extirpation of the cancer. Breast reconstruction is now possible even after the removal of large amounts of skin and muscle.
General surgeons are taking a more active role in the treatment of all the problems which face the patient who undergoes mastectomy. For many of these women, an important part of their adjustment is achieved by reconstruction of the breast. The number of women requesting reconstruction of the breast after mastectomy is increasing, and more women faced with mastectomy are asking their general surgeons for information about the procedure. It is hoped that as reconstruction of the breast becomes more widely appreciated, women will be encouraged to perform more frequent self-examinations and to seek earlier treatment of carcinoma of the breast. It is tempting to speculate that one ultimate benefit may be an improvement in the survival figures associated with this disease.
The medial and lateral gastrocnemius myocutaneous flaps are described. Their usefulness, as direct flaps without a delay, in reconstruction of the lower extremity is described. In our practice, this flap has supplanted the cross-leg flap for most reconstructions in the lower extremity.
The latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is a remarkably durable and versatile flap. Flap necrosis did not occur in any of our patients. One can safely carry with it skin segments as narrow as 3 cm, or as wide as 30 cm. In addition to the 5 cases presented, we have used the flap to repair axillary burn contractures, for breast reconstruction after a transverse incision, and for coverage of the upper arm and shoulder. The applications of this flap challenge the creative imagination of the surgeon and allow a simplified reconstruction, compared to other good methods. The newly described posterior advancement of a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is suggested as the preferred method to repair meningomyelocele defects.
Experimental studies were undertaken in dogs to determine whether useful island myocutaneous flaps could be based on the gracilis, sartorius, biceps femoris, trapezius, or rectus abdominis muscles. Dissection and injection studies on these muscles were also undertaken in human cadavers to determine the contributions of these muscles to the blood supply of the overlying skin. In most instances it was considerable. The use of island myocutaneous flaps seems promising in many situations. Such transfers can be done in one operation, without delay procedures, and result usually in a better blood supply with the transfer of a thicker amount of tissue. Clinical research on such flaps in patients will be described in a subsequent paper.
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We recommend routine fluorescein examination whenever a major flap is manipulated. It will depict those flaps which are dead at elevation, and it will allow us to critically evaluate the other factors which might have affected flap viability. The examination is safe when precautionary measures are taken.
Sickle cell disease presents an unusual challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. The interaction between the underlying hemoglobinopathy and the circulatory mechanics in pedicled flaps leads to a high incidence of flap necrosis in patients with this disease. We present 3 patients with sickle cell disease in whom the use of axial flaps allowed the repair of difficult reconstructive problems in one stage, without preoperative exchange transfusions. The rationale for this approach is discussed.
The use of myocutandous flaps can increase the possibilities for construction in many cases by bringing in new blood supply to avascular areas by furnishing additional bulk for filling defects or covering bone grafts or other deep repairs, and sometimes by making longer flaps viable. Also, the need for delay procedures is decreased and sometimes avoided. In this paper we define the vascular territories of 13 clinical myocutaneous flaps, and we describe possible uses of them. Three illustrative clinical cases are presented, in which repairs were done with these flaps. The future uses of these flaps challenge the imagination. Knowledge about them may significantly alter the traditional approaches to flap designs and repairs.
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The definition, history, experimental background, surgical technique, and clinical applications of compound gracilis myocutaneous flaps are presented. This flap has been our method of choice for neo-vaginal reconstruction after radical pelvic surgery.