Emergency arterio‐venous loop for free‐flap defect reconstruction of the lower thigh with a post‐irradiated and heavily infected wound |
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| Authors: | Christian D Taeger Andreas Arkudas Justus P Beier Raymund E Horch |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich‐Alexander University Erlangen‐Nuernberg, Erlangen, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Although being a safe and standardised procedure, free‐flap reconstruction can be harmful if unpredictable situations occur intraoperatively. The case presented reveals a situation in which an unscheduled interdisciplinary approach allowed to complete our reconstructive aim. An extensive defect at the thigh was planned for reconstruction by means of a free rectus abdominis flap. As the distant part of the flap showed a compromised perfusion during operation and had to be partially discarded, our colleagues from the vascular surgery department created an arterio‐venous loop for anastomosis. This allowed a more distant positioning of the flap and ensured a complete defect reconstruction. |
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| Keywords: | Arterio‐venous loop Chronic wound Free‐flap Radiation injury Thigh |
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