A clinical anatomic study of internal mammary perforators as recipient vessels for breast reconstruction
- Authors
- Baek, In-Soo; You, Jae-Pil; Rhee, Sung Mi; Son, Gil Soo; Kim, Deok Woo; Dhong, Eun Sang; Park, Seung Ha; Yoon, Eul Sik
- Issue Date
- Nov-2013
- Publisher
- 대한성형외과학회
- Keywords
- Breast neoplasms; Free tissue flaps; Mammary arteries; Mastectomy
- Citation
- Archives of Plastic Surgery, v.40, no.6, pp 761 - 765
- Pages
- 5
- Indexed
- SCOPUS
KCI
- Journal Title
- Archives of Plastic Surgery
- Volume
- 40
- Number
- 6
- Start Page
- 761
- End Page
- 765
- URI
- https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2020.sw.kumedicine/11294
- DOI
- 10.5999/aps.2013.40.6.761
- ISSN
- 2234-6163
2234-6171
- Abstract
- Background
Partially resecting ribs of the recipient site to facilitate easy anastomosis of the internal mammary vessels to free flaps during breast reconstruction can cause chest wall pain or deformities. To avoid this, the intercostal perforating branches of the internal mammary vessels can be used for anastomosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the location and size of the internal mammary perforator vessels based on clinical intraoperative findings and to determine their reliability as recipient vessels for breast reconstruction with microsurgical free tissue transfer.
Methods
Twelve patients were preoperatively screened for the presence of internal mammary perforators using Doppler tracing. After modified radical mastectomy was performed by a general surgeon, the location and size of the internal mammary perforator vessels were microscopically investigated. The external diameter was examined using a vessel-measuring gauge from a mechanical coupling device, and the distance from the mid-sternal line to the perforator was also measured.
Results
The largest arterial perforator averaged 1.5 mm, and the largest venous perforator averaged 2.2 mm. Perforators emerging from the second intercostal space had the largest average external diameter; the second intercostal space also had the largest number of perforators arising from it. The average distance from the mid-sternal line to the perforator was 20.2 mm.
Conclusions
Internal mammary perforators presented consistent and reliable anatomy in this study. Based on these results, the internal mammary perforators appear to have a suitable diameter for microvascular anastomosis and should be considered as an alternative recipient vessel to the internal mammary vessel.
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- Appears in
Collections - 2. Clinical Science > Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery > 1. Journal Articles
- 2. Clinical Science > Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery > 1. Journal Articles
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