PURPOSE To investigate the blood vessels' concentration in TRAM flap's rat model, in the presence of pentoxifylline. METHODS 32 male, Wistar-EPM rats were divided into two groups. Control group (C): 0.5 ml of saline, intraperitoneally, once a day, for seven days before flap elevation; PTX group (P): pentoxifylline (20mg/kg/day), intraperitoneally, for seven days before flap elevation. After t...

Breast reconstruction has evolved significantly during its short, 40-year history. What began as limited reconstruction through the use of local skin flaps has now become an entire array of procedures including novel autologous flaps and new techniques in implant/expander use. Throughout this evolution, the primary goal of reconstruction has always remained the same: to recreate the most natura...

Although experimental evidence suggests that the preliminary surgical delay procedure physiologically improves the circulation of the TRAM flap, there are no published controlled studies evaluating the clinical outcomes associated with this procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the surgical flap delay versus no delay in consecutive patients having pedicle TRAM bre...

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether contour abnormalities of the abdomen after breast reconstruction with abdominal flaps are related to the harvest of the rectus abdominis muscle. Abdominal contour was analyzed in 155 women who had breast reconstruction with abdominal flaps; 108 women had free transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flaps, 37 had pedicled TRAM flaps, an...

PURPOSE To perform a retrospective cohort study to determine the rates of recall and cancer detection and then to develop a decision analytic model to evaluate the effectiveness of routine screening of transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstructions. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was approved by the institutional review board, and the methods comply with HIPAA regulati...

BACKGROUND No consensus has been reached regarding the outcome of management of local recurrence after transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction. This study demonstrated the presentation, management, and outcomes of local recurrence after immediate TRAM breast reconstruction. METHODS A comparison was conducted among 1,000 consecutive patients who underwent imm...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES We report our results of a selective approach to primary direct appositional vaginal repair versus transverse rectus abdominis flap repair (TRAM) in patients with extensive rectal/anal cancer or in cases with primary cancer of cervix, vagina or vulva involving the anal canal and anal sphincters. METHODS Eighteen female patients (mean age: 62.9 years; range: 44-81 yea...

BACKGROUND This study reports on the longitudinal experience and outcomes of one surgeon performing free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flaps on 500 consecutive patients between 1992 and 2003. METHODS A retrospective review of hospital and outpatient records was performed. Specific risk factors for successful reconstruction were reviewed, including American Society of Ane...

Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in the female population. Significant psychological, social, and sexual morbidity can follow mastectomy for treatment of breast cancer owing to the realization of the life-threatening disease as well as impaired body image [1]. Breast reconstruction improves the patient’s self-confidence after the loss of a breast from cancer or trauma [2]. Of ...

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of obesity on flap and donor-site complications in patients undergoing free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction. All patients undergoing breast reconstruction with free TRAM flaps at our institution from February 1, 1989, through May 31, 1998, were reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups based on...