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PubMed1997

Efficacy of subfascial endoscopy in eradicating perforating veins of the lower leg and its relation with venous ulcer healing.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of subfascial endoscopy by use of a mediastinoscope in the identification and ligation of incompetent perforating veins in patients with venous ulceration of the lower leg. METHODS: All patients who underwent subfascial endoscopy for venous ulceration between Jan. 1, 1994, and Mar. 1, 1995, at the Sint Franciscus Gasthuis in Rotterdam underwent duplex ultrasound scans of the lower leg before and 6 weeks after operation. The number and localization of the perforating veins on the mediodorsal side were compared with the findings during subfascial endoscopy. RESULTS: In 20 patients, preoperative duplex examination showed 46 incompetent and six competent perforating veins. During operation the site of 43 incompetent and all competent perforating veins was confirmed. Five additional perforating veins were found at operation (false-negatives). Postoperative duplex ultrasound scans showed six incompetent perforating veins (four persisting and two recurring perforating veins) in four patients, of which the ulcers did not heal in three. The ulcers of the other 17 patients healed. CONCLUSIONS: Subfascial endoscopy is an efficient technique in identifying incompetent perforating veins in patients with chronic ulceration of the lower leg. The persistence of incompetent perforating veins is related to failure of ulcer healing.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Treatment of pulp floor and stripping perforation by mineral trioxide aggregate.

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has been widely used to repair various kinds of tooth perforations, but its use for obturation of the entire root canal has not been reported. We report two cases of tooth perforation successfully repaired with MTA. The first patient was a 78-year-old male with calcified canal and pulp floor perforation in the left maxillary first premolar. After bypass of the calcified palatal canal, both buccal and palatal canals were filled with gutta percha, and the pulp floor perforation was repaired with MTA. Clinical success with no evident radicular lesion was found at the 18-month follow-up. The second patient was a 51-year-old female with a stripping perforation in a C-shaped root canal of the right mandibular second molar detected after removal of a post. Following root canal debridement and calcium hydroxide therapy to control inflammation at the stripping perforation site, apical and furcation bone healing were observed by radiographic examination. The stripping perforation was repaired by obturation of the entire C-shaped root canal with MTA. Observation at the 9-month follow-up revealed bone healing without any clinical symptoms and signs. These cases suggest that MTA is an alternative root canal obturation material for treatment of stripping perforation in a C-shaped root canal and for repair of pulp floor perforation.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Determination of location of root perforations by electronic apex locators.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of two electronic apex locators, the Sono Explorer Mark 2 Junior (Hakusui, Osaka, Japan) and Apit 2 (Osada, Tokyo, Japan) in detecting root perforations. The adequacy of radiographs for identifying root perforations was also assessed. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-two extracted human teeth were perforated in the middle third of the root and embedded in alginate. Determination of all perforations were carried out with K-files no. 25 attached to the apex locators tested. Two radiographs were taken at two angulations after each electronic measurement. The actual location of the file tip in relation to the perforation was determined with a stereomicroscope. A total of 512 radiographs were evaluated to attempt to identify root perforations. RESULTS: The mean distance of the file tip from the external outline of the root surface was short for both instruments. A statistical difference (p < 0.05) was found between the two apex locators in dry canals or if saline solution was present. There was no significant difference between the two instruments in the presence of sodium hypochlorite. Evaluators radiographically identified 45% of the root perforations when located in buccal-lingual directions. CONCLUSION: Under the in vitro conditions of this study, both devices determined the location of the perforations in an acceptable clinical range short of the root surface. Radiographs were found to be less reliable in identification of perforation locations.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1997

Multilumen central venous catheters in children: relative potential to perforate vessels. An in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: Because cardiovascular perforation by a central venous catheter (CVC) is a serious complication of catheterization in pediatric patients, we conducted an in vitro study of the relative potential for perforation of a standard material by the tips of multilumen pediatric catheters. Since we could not simulate vessel tissue, we hypothesized that testing catheters on a standard material would show whether catheters varied in tendency to perforate such a material and thus indicate a "relative potential for perforation." METHODS: Each CVC protruding from a support tube was suspended in a water-filled Plexiglas chamber at a 90 degrees incident angle to a polyethylene film, which was made to bulge 6 mm into the CVC tip 120 times per minute by hydropressure. Perforation of the polyetheylene film was documented on a time-based, strip-chart recording of pressure change on the opposite side of the film. We recorded the number of pulsations required for the following catheters to perforate the polyethylene: Arrow flex tip, Cook polyurethane, Viggo hydrocath polyurethane, and Cook silicone CVCs of 4- and 5-Fr size with 2 or 3 lumens (n = 5 catheters of each type, each catheter being tested 5 times). RESULTS: The number of pulsations to perforation ranged from 1 +/- 0.4 SD to > 7000. CONCLUSIONS: This in vitro study of the worst-case condition (90 degrees incident angle between CVC tip and polyethylene film) indicates that pediatric multilumen CVCs vary significantly in their relative potential to perforate a standard material. We suggest that, when central venous catheterization is contemplated in children, in addition to insertion site, catheter length, and depth of insertion, the type of catheter is another variable to consider in order to minimize the chance of cardiovascular perforation by the CVC tip.

Blood Vessels↗
PubMed2002

Expression of the 67-kDa elastin receptor in perforating skin disorders.

BACKGROUND: Perforating skin dermatoses include elastosis perforans serpiginosa (EPS), reactive perforating collagenosis, Kyrle's disease and perforating folliculitis. In addition to these four diseases, an acquired form of perforating dermatosis associated with diabetes mellitus and/or chronic renal failure has been reported for which the term acquired perforating dermatosis (APD) was proposed. The molecular mechanism of transepidermal elimination of dermal components in perforating skin dermatoses remains unclear. We recently demonstrated that the 67-kDa elastin receptor can be detected in the epidermis eliminating altered elastic fibres in EPS, suggesting that the elastin-keratinocyte interaction may play a role in transepidermal elimination in EPS. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the 67-kDa elastin receptor is involved in other perforating diseases. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded skin specimens from new cases of EPS (n = 2), APD (n = 15) and perforating granuloma annulare (PGA; n = 2) were studied immunohistochemically using a specific antibody to the 67-kDa elastin receptor. In one case of EPS, two different sites from a single lesion, a central atrophic area and a peripheral keratotic area, were studied. RESULTS: Expression of the elastin receptor was detected in the epidermis surrounding the elastic materials in both cases of EPS. The elastin receptor was not detected in the central inactive area, whereas it was expressed strongly in the peripheral keratotic active area. The elastin receptor was also detected in three of 15 cases of APD in which a few elastic fibres were found in the eliminated dermal materials. In one case of APD, the elastin receptor was not detected in spite of the presence of a few elastic fibres in the eliminated materials. The elastin receptor was not detected in either case of PGA. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of the elastin receptor in EPS was seen in both cases studied and was dependent on the stage of the lesion. Expression of the elastin receptor in APD appeared to be related to the amount of elastic fibres in the eliminated materials. Thus, expression of the elastin receptor in perforating skin disorders may depend on the stage of the lesion and/or the content of elastic fibres in the dermal materials being eliminated.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Surgical management of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-related perforations.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective review was carried out of consecutive cases of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related perforation to identify risk factors and technique affecting surgical outcome. METHODS: Eighteen patients (0.45%) out of 4030 ERCP performed were operated on for ERCP-related perforation at Singapore General Hospital. RESULTS: The group's median age was 72.5 years and 14 patients had ductal stone disease. Five perforations were discovered at ERCP while 10 required computed tomography for diagnosis. Eight patients were operated on within 24 h whereas 10 patients had surgery after 24 h. Five of six with type I (lateral duodenal) perforations had early surgery versus one of seven with type II (peri-Vaterian; P = 0.03). There were four type III (bile duct) perforations and one type IV (retroperitoneal air). Five of six patients with type I perforation had simple repair compared with five of seven type II requiring the complex duodenal diversion procedure (P = 0.10). Three patients (16.7%) succumbed after surgery due to sepsis and myocardial infarction. Advanced age>70 years resulted in higher mortality of 30% versus none in patients <70 years (P = 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis is important but difficult especially for the type II perforations. Duodenal diversion is used more frequently in patients with type II perforations and those operated on late. Advanced age contributes to poorer outcome in surgical treatment of ERCP perforations.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[The infragluteal perforator flap].

PURPOSE: Pressure sores of the ischial tuberosities are mostly covered with fascio- or myocutaneous flaps of the posterior thigh. In doing so, vascular territories of adjacent flaps are violated, which are not available any more in case of ulcer recurrences. In consideration of the high recurrence rates of pressure sores in paraplegics, we developed an infragluteal perforator flap that spares adjacent vascular territories. PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHOD: Infragluteal perforator flaps were dissected in five fresh human cadavers to investigate the anatomic relations of the cutaneous branches of the inferior gluteal artery and the inferior clunial nerves and to define the anatomic landmarks for clinical application of an innervated flap. In six paraplegic patients with primary (5/6) and secondary (1/6) pressure sores of the ischial tuberosity, infragluteal perforator flaps were used for wound coverage. The donor defect was closed primarily and postoperative care and patient mobilisation followed a standardised protocol. RESULTS: In eleven infragluteal perforator flaps that were dissected in cadavers and patients, we found one or two cutaneous branches of the descending branch of the inferior gluteal artery at the lower border of the gluteus maximus muscle that supplied the infragluteal skin. Infragluteal perforator flaps could be harvested on these perforator vessels and transferred to the ischial defects without tension due to the excellent mobility of the skin island. The descending branch of the inferior gluteal artery could be spared in all cases for future flaps. In one patient with multiple recurrences of an ischial pressure sore flap necrosis occurred due to venous congestion. The other five infragluteal perforator flaps healed without complications. CONCLUSION: The infragluteal perforator flap is suitable for the closure of pressure sores of the ischial tuberosities and can be used as a sensitised flap by inclusion of the inferior clunial nerves. Compared to traditional pedicled flaps of the posterior thigh, the infragluteal perforator flap reduces donor site morbidity and spares the vascular territories of adjacent flaps for future recurrent ulcers.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Spontaneous perforation of choledochal cyst: a study of 13 cases.

Of the 187 cases of infantile choledochal cyst treated at our hospitals, we encountered 13 with spontaneous perforation. All cases were under 4 years old. Eight cases were found to have biliary peritonitis and 5 had a sealed perforation. The shape of the extrahepatic bile duct was cystic in 8 and fusiform in 5. The cyst wall around the perforation was filmy and bile was found to be oozing through the thinned wall. Nine perforations were single while 4 cases had multiple perforations. Four of 17 perforations occurred in the posterior part of the cyst wall. Only 1 case of perforation was associated with protein plugs in a common channel, while 7 of the 10 cases of choledochal cyst requiring percutaneous biliary drainage due to signs of raised intrabiliary pressure were found to have protein plugs. We consider that spontaneous perforation of a choledochal cyst is not rare in infancy. The etiology of a perforation must be epithelial irritation of the biliary tract due to refluxed pancreatic juice caused by pancreatico-biliary malunion associated with mural immaturity due to infancy, rather than an abnormal rise in ductal pressure or congenital mural weakness at a certain point.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1982

Perforated postsynaptic densities: probable intermediates in synapse turnover.

The molecular layer of the dentate gyrus of normal rats shows a large incidence of perforated postsynaptic densities (PSDs). The perforations or discontinuities occur almost exclusively in PSDs located in spines showing a U- or W-shaped junctional profile (complex PSDs). Perforated PSDs account for 16-25% of the total complex PSD profiles in young adult rats and 12-29% of those in aged animals. The frequency of perforations in the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus undergoes significant changes during a cycle of nondegenerative synapse turnover induced by ipsilateral ablation of the entorhinal cortex. During the first 2 days postlesion nonperforated PSDs (simple PSDs) decrease sharply, whereas perforated PSDs change little. However, at later times (4-10 days) there is a significant increase in the number of perforated PSDs that balances the number of simple PSDs lost. Beyond 10 days postlesion the proportion of both types of PSD is restored slowly to normal--i.e., nonperforated PSDs increase in number and perforated PSDs decrease, returning to the values in unoperated animals by 120 days postlesion. This inverse relationship between small nonperforated PSDs and large perforated PSDs suggests a precursor-product relationship between them. We propose that perforated PSDs are intermediates in an ongoing cycle of synapse turnover that is a part of the normal maintenance and adaptation of the nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The epidemic of cocaine-related juxtapyloric perforations: with a comment on the importance of testing for Helicobacter pylori.

OBJECTIVE: This is a report of 50 consecutive patients with juxtapyloric perforations after smoking "crack" cocaine (cocaine base) at one urban public hospital. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Although the exact causal relation between smoking crack cocaine and a subsequent juxtapyloric perforation has not been defined, surgical services in urban public hospitals now treat significant numbers of male addicts with such perforations. This report describes the patient set, presentation, and surgical management and suggests a possible role for Helicobacter pylori in contributing to these perforations. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed, supplemented by data from the patient log in the department of surgery. RESULTS: From 1994 to 1998, 50 consecutive patients (48 men, 2 women) with a mean age of 37 had epigastric pain and signs of peritonitis a median of 2 to 4 hours (but up to 48 hours) after smoking crack cocaine. A history of chronic smoking of crack as well as chronic alcohol abuse was noted in all patients; four had a prior history of presumed ulcer disease in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Free air was present on an upright abdominal x-ray in 84% of patients, and all underwent operative management. A 3- to 5-mm juxtapyloric perforation, usually in the prepyloric area, was found in all patients. Omental patch closure was used in 49 patients and falciform ligament closure in 1. Two patients underwent parietal cell vagotomy as well. In the later period of the review, antral mucosal biopsies were performed through the juxtapyloric perforation in five patients. Urease testing was positive for infection with H. pyonri in four, and these patients were prescribed appropriate antimicrobial drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Juxtapyloric perforations after the smoking of crack cocaine occur in a largely male population of drug addicts who are 8 to 10 years younger than the patient group that historically has perforations in the pyloroduodenal area. These perforations are usually 3 to 5 mm in diameter, and an antral mucosal biopsy for subsequent urease testing should be performed if the location and size of the ulcer allow this to be done safely. Omental patch closure is appropriate therapy for patients without a history of prior ulcer disease; antimicrobial therapy and omeprazole are prescribed when H. pylori is present.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Perforations of cortical bone allografts improve their incorporation.

The incorporation of perforated cortical bone allografts was compared with non-perforated allografts. A 5-cm circumferential defect in the middiaphysis at the tibia was created in adult sheep. A frozen tibial allograft was implanted and fixed with a locked nail for 6 months. There was no postoperative immobilization. Group I consisted of eight sheep with non-perforated allografts, whereas Group II was comprised of 10 sheep with perforated allografts. Union was evaluated radiographically, whereas the central part of the allograft had a densitometric evaluation. Creeping substitution was assessed on microradiographs from cross-sections of the central 3 cm of graft by measurement of porosity and percentage of new and old bone area within the confines of the graft. The width of periosteal and endosteal callus also was determined. There was no statistical difference between both groups for the union score and bone density. However, the cortical bone graft porosity and the amount of new bone within the cortical bone differed significantly between the perforated allografts and the non-perforated ones. Periosteal callus was similar in both groups, whereas endosteal callus was significantly more wide and extended in the perforated allografts. Perforation of a cortical bone substantially improved the amount of newly formed bone by the host when compared with a non-perforated bone. The creation of channels seemed to increase the interface between living soft tissues of the host and the allografted bone with a resulting enhanced incorporation.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cost-based comparison between perforator flaps and TRAM flaps for breast reconstruction.

More women than ever before are undergoing mastectomies secondary to increased awareness and screening. This increase has also caused a corresponding increase in the number of breast reconstructions requested each year. The increased demand for reconstruction has fueled recent advances in new techniques. Aside from foreign-body reconstruction such as implants, the methods now being used are related to autogenous donations and reconstruction. Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flaps and perforator flaps are currently being used for autogenous breast reconstruction. This study will compare these two techniques on the basis of cost and length of stay. A retrospective study of 49 patients undergoing a total of 64 perforator flap breast reconstructions at Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, during the 1997 calendar year was used. There were 59 deep inferior epigastric perforator and five gluteal artery perforator breast reconstructions. All patients underwent some form of breast reconstruction and differed only in respect to whether a mastectomy was performed and whether the reconstruction was unilateral or bilateral. Those patients who underwent a mastectomy with immediate perforator flap reconstruction (n = 26) were then compared with patients undergoing mastectomy with immediate TRAM flap reconstruction (n = 154) at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The data from the Anderson Study were obtained from material published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 1996. Comparison of patients was limited to those who underwent mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction because this was the design of the M. D. Anderson study. This approach allowed a cost and length of stay comparison while keeping other variables relatively similar. Patients in the perforator flap series enjoyed a marginally shorter operating time and a much shorter length of stay. On average, the operative time for all perforator flap reconstructions was approximately 2 hours shorter than for all TRAM flaps. As for length of stay, perforator flap patients were discharged, on average, 3 days after the initial reconstruction. In contrast, TRAM flap patients remained in the hospital for an average of approximately 7 days after the initial reconstruction. The overall total, average cost for the perforator flap reconstruction in this study is $9625, whereas the average cost of all TRAM flaps performed in the Anderson study is $18,070.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed2005

Does the management of bladder perforation during transurethral resection of superficial bladder tumors predispose to extravesical tumor recurrence?

PURPOSE: We evaluated the impact of a bladder perforation during transurethral resection of superficial bladder tumor on extravesical tumor recurrence and patient prognosis. We also defined potential risk factors for extravesical recurrence prospectively giving emphasis to the management of the perforation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 3,410 patients were reviewed. Parameters recorded included patient age and sex, tumor stage, grade, number, size and location at the time of perforation, the type of bladder perforation (extraperitoneal vs intraperitoneal) and the way the perforation was managed (open surgical repair vs conservative treatment). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for extravesical recurrence. Cox regression analysis was used to compare cancer specific survival. RESULTS: A total of 34 cases of bladder perforation were recorded, 4 patients were treated with open surgery and 30 treated conservatively. The 4 patients who underwent open surgery presented with extravesical recurrence after a mean followup of 7.5 months. The remaining 30 patients had no evidence of extravesical recurrence after a mean followup of 60 months (p <0.001). Of the patients with extravesical relapse 3 died of disease. The surgical management of bladder perforation was the best predictor of extravesical recurrence (p <0.001, r = 1.13), followed by an intraperitoneal localization of the perforation (p =0.0003, r = 0.67) and tumor size (p =0.01, r = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical repair of a bladder perforation during transurethral resection of bladder tumor increases the risk of extravesical tumor cell recurrence and negatively affects patient prognosis.

Administration, Intravesical↗
PubMed2006

Usefulness of autologous cartilage and fibrin glue for the prevention of septal perforation during septal surgery: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVES: Septal surgery is one of the most common causes of nasal septal perforation. In cases in which a septal mucosal defect at the corresponding area has occurred, autologous cartilage is usually inserted between the injured mucosal flaps. In addition, we applied fibrin glue to the margins of injured mucosal surface to fix the inserted cartilage and to promote mucosal regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of this method in the prevention of nasal septal perforation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of medical records. METHODS: A total of 463 septal surgeries were performed between March 2003 and August 2005. Septal mucosal defect at the corresponding area occurred in 34 patients. In group 1 (23 patients), septal or auricular cartilage was inserted between the injured mucosal flaps. In group 2 (11 patients), septal or auricular cartilage was inserted, and fibrin glue was applied on the mucosal margins of cartilage insertion site. We compared the perforation rate between the two groups. RESULTS: In group 1, nasal septal perforation occurred 8 of 23 (34.8%) patients, and in group 2, 1 of 11 (9.1%) patients experienced perforation. Although the occurrence rate of perforation was significantly lower in group 2, statistical significance between the two groups could not be established because of the small number of patients who experienced septal perforation. CONCLUSION: The application of fibrin glue at the bilaterally injured mucosal surface after cartilage insertion is thought to be very useful as a preventive measure of nasal septal perforation. We report these results as preliminary data for further study to determine the usefulness of fibrin glue in the prevention of nasal septal perforation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The vascular basis of perforator flaps based on the source arteries of the lateral lumbar region.

BACKGROUND: Perforator flaps based on the integument of the trunk have been well described in the literature; however, the anatomy of many donor sites has yet to be adequately documented. The integument of the lateral lumbar region of the trunk is supplied by a number of source arteries (lower posterior intercostal, lumbar, superior epigastric, deep inferior epigastric, superficial inferior epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac, deep circumflex iliac) whose large perforators may be suitable for perforator flap harvest. The purpose of the current study was to describe the vascular anatomy of these perforators in the lateral lumbar region. METHODS: A series of five fresh human cadavers were studied using a lead oxide-gelatin injection technique. The integument of the trunk (10 sides or hemitrunk specimens) was dissected, and the perforating vessels (diameter > or =0.5 mm) were identified, noting vascular origin, diameter, and pedicle length. Radiographs of tissue specimens were digitally analyzed using the software Scion Image for Windows (Scion Corp., Frederick, Md.) to determine vascular territories. RESULTS: The source vessels contributed a summed mean of 33 perforators per hemitrunk, with a mean emerging vessel diameter of 0.7 +/- 0.2 mm and a corresponding mean superficial pedicle length of 31 +/- 24 mm. The total area of skin supplied directly by these 33 perforators was 1200 cm2, equating to a mean area of 37 cm2 per perforator. CONCLUSION: The authors have comprehensively described the anatomy of perforators of the lateral lumbar region of the trunk.

Angiography↗
PubMed2005

Free perforator flaps in children.

BACKGROUND: Raising perforator flaps is said to be a tedious procedure. The benefits, however, are great. In adults, perforator flaps have proved their usefulness and reliability in various clinical situations. In children, donor sites for free flaps are particularly scarce because of the need for a long and reliable vascular pedicle of sufficient size. There is also the need to minimize donor-site morbidity from aesthetic, functional, and psychological perspectives. METHODS: The authors present a series of 23 consecutive free perforator flaps performed by the first author in 20 children; ages at the time of operation ranged from premature (born at 28 weeks) to 16 years (mean age, 7 years 5 months). Three children presented with upper limb defects; the remaining 17 children sustained major soft-tissue defects of the lower limb. All the lesions necessitated extensive coverage with a free flap. Flaps used in this series included nine deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps, seven thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps, and seven compound ("chimera") thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps. RESULTS: All flaps but one were successful. With a follow-up of up to 7 years, the results in this series compare favorably with those of perforator flaps in adults or pediatric free flaps in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: In children, as in adults, perforator flaps are a valuable alternative to the traditional muscle or myocutaneous free flap. Because of the added advantage of reducing donor-site morbidity, perforator flaps have become the authors' preferred option in reconstructive cases in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Efficacy of the handheld Doppler in preoperative identification of the cutaneous perforators in the anterolateral thigh flap.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative localization of the cutaneous perforators is an important step in designing anterolateral thigh flaps. The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of two commonly used Doppler devices in locating these perforators. METHODS: This study was conducted in 100 free anterolateral thigh flaps during a 2-year period. Cutaneous perforators of the anterolateral thigh flaps were localized in the clinic using the Huntleigh Mini Dopplex D-900 unit with an 8-MHz probe (Huntleigh Diagnostics Ltd., Cardiff, United Kingdom) and in the operating room just before surgery using the Koven ES-100X Mini Doppler unit with a 10-MHz sterile probe (Koven Technology, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.). The locations of Doppler signals and of the actual cutaneous perforators at surgery were plotted and compared. RESULTS: One to three cutaneous perforators of the anterolateral thigh flap were consistently found at specific locations; they were named perforators A, B, and C from proximal to distal. Perforators A, B, and C were present in 51, 89, and 62 cases, respectively, at surgery and were approximately 5 cm apart. The sensitivities and specificities in detecting perforator B were 100 percent and 0 percent, respectively, for the Huntleigh Doppler unit, and 91 percent and 55 percent for the Koven unit. The Doppler signal was within 1 cm of the actual perforator B location in 74 percent and 70 percent of the flaps with the Huntleigh and Koven units, respectively. The accuracy of Doppler examination decreased as body mass index increased. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative handheld Doppler examination is not always accurate and should be used with caution in flap design.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Perforator-plus flaps: a new concept in traditional flap design.

BACKGROUND: Conventional fasciocutaneous flaps in reconstructive surgery, especially in the lower extremities, have limited utility. Traditional flaps are essentially random pattern, often require delays, and are limited in mobility and reach. Islanded fasciocutaneous flaps pedicled on perforators can be raised anywhere on the body and have a reliable blood supply and greater freedom of movement. However, venous compromise is a common problem. METHODS: A new approach to raising conventional fasciocutaneous flaps while including and retaining perforators in their substance was used to offset these disadvantages. This concept offers a dual blood supply to the flap from the dissected perforator plus the flap base. The approach was attempted in 12 cases and used successfully in 10. In two cases, the flaps were converted to pure islanded perforator flaps because of limited movement. Fasciocutaneous perforator-plus flaps were used in six patients with lower limb trauma and one patient with postburn elbow contracture. Peninsular flaps were planned to include known or identified perforators, which were dissected to allow mobility. RESULTS: All flaps survived completely and none exhibited venous compromise. In three patients, perforator-plus flaps were used to the medial hemisoleus muscle while providing coverage to exposed tibial fractures. The muscle flap was based either proximally or distally, and a segmental perforator was dissected and retained. There were no complications relating to flap congestion or necrosis except wound infection in two patients, one each in the fasciocutaneous and muscle flap groups. Both responded to conservative treatment. No case required reoperation. CONCLUSION: The perforator-plus flap appears to be a versatile and reliable option in lower limb injuries and other diverse indications, in both the emergency and the elective settings.

Adolescent↗