• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2004

Flaps are necessary, when important structures such as bone, tendon, nerve and vessel are exposed. Arterialized venous free flap is suited to the coverage of finger and hand because the thickness of venous flap is thin. Authors performed 65 cases arterialized venous free flap for the soft tissue reconstruction of the hand and finger. The size of donor defect were from $1{\times}1cm\;to\;7{\times}12cm$. The mean flap area was $9.1cm^2$. The recipient sites were finger tip in 34 cases, finger shaft in 29 cases and hand in 2 cases. The donor sites were volar aspect of distal forearm in 40 cases, thenar area in 17 cases and foot dorsum in 6 cases. The types of arterialized venous free flap were A-A type in 4 cases and A-V type in 61 cases. The length of afferent vein was from 0.5 cm to 3 cm (mean 1.7 cm) and efferent vein was from 1 cm to 10 cm (mean 2.2 cm). 58 flaps(89.2%) survived eventually. 42 flaps(64.6%) survived totally without any complication. 8 flaps(12.3%) showed the partial necrosis but they were healed without any additional operations. 8 flaps (12.3%) showed the partial necrosis requiring the additional skin graft. We had a satisfactory result by using arterialized venous free flap for the soft tissue reconstruction of finger and hand. We believe that volar aspect of distal forearm, thenar area, foot dorsum are suited as a donor site and the short length of the flap pedicle, the strong arterail inflow affect the survival rate of arterialized venous free flaps.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 1999

Since Nakayama's first report about venous flap, many experimental and clinical studies were done about this new type of flap. And due to its various benefits, its applications as arterialized venous free flap type have increased recently. In this study we have attempted to reconstruct composite of defects of the hand with new modification of arterialized venous free flap and simultaneous reconstruction of skin, nerve, tendon were performed successfully. From 1994 to 1999, the defects of the hands in 35 patients were reconstructed with various modifications of arterialized venous free flaps. The range of age was from 19 to 55 years and size of flap ranged from $1{\times}2cm\;to\;14{\times}9cm$. Among them, 12 cases of flap over 20cm in size were included. Indications of flaps were as follows: resurfacing of the defects of the skin (9 cases), simultaneous reconstruction of extensor, skin and digital nerve(2 cases), reconstruction of the skin with extensor(5 cases), as a flap-through type vascular reconstruction(6 cases), for digital nerve reconstruction(2 cases), contracture release(3 cases), and finger tip reconstruction(9 cases). All of the cases except one survived with marginal skin necrosis less than 10%. And relatively large flaps over 20cm in size successfully survived without any delay procedures. Composite reconstructions including tendon and nerve were successful with new modifications of this flap. Arterialized venous free flap is one of the useful procedure in reconstruction of the hand because it has many advantages such as non-bulky and good quality of flap, variable length of pedicle, preservation of major vascular pedicle, less operation time, single operative field and in addition possibility of various modifications.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.60-63
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• 2007

Purpose: Free transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous(TRAM) flap is one of the most popular methods of breast reconstruction. But if fat necrosis and fatty induration occur at the reconstructed breast, they can make the breast harder and make it difficult to differentiate a tumor recurrence from them. To expect and prevent these complications, we measured the pressure change of the superficial venous system whose congestion can be the cause of them. Methods: An intraoperative clinical study was done to compare venous pressure of superficial inferior epigastric vein(SIEV) before and after the elevation of free TRAM flap. Fourteen TRAM flaps were included and the pressures of SIEV were measured two times at the beginning of the elevation and just before the division of the inferior pedicle. Results: The venous pressure in free TRAM flap was significantly higher after the flap elevation at both contralateral side and ipsilateral(p=0.005 and p=0.026 respectively). The four cases with vertical scar shower significantly greater increase at contralateral side than ipsilateral side(p=0.020). Conclusion: Intraoperative venous pressure recording can be an objective data for evaluating the congestion of TRAM flap and can help to prevent the complications of fat necrosis and fatty induration with venous superdrainage.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

Purpose: The main cause of flap loss in microsurgical tissue transfer is venous insufficiency. Whether or not multiple venous anastomoses prevents vascular thrombosis and reduces the risk of flap failure remains controversial. Some researchers are in favor of performing dual venous anastomoses, but the counterargument holds that performing a single venous anastomosis does provide advantages. Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of 15 cases of anterolateral thigh free flap for extremity reconstruction performed between January 2011 and December 2013. The patients were categorized into two groups: group A that received a single venous anastomosis and group B that received dual venous anastomoses. The time of the anastomosis, size of the flap, complications of the flap, and survival rate of each group were analyzed. Results: The total microsurgical time in the single venous anastomosis group ranged from 28 to 43 minutes (mean 35.9 minutes). The total time in the dual anastomoses group ranged from 50 to 64 minutes (mean 55.7 minutes). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups with regards to postoperative complications and flap failure. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the use of a single venous anastomosis in the venous drainage of anterolateral thigh free flaps is a safe and feasible option for extremity reconstruction and provides shorter operative time and easy flap dissection.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2012

Purpose: Arterialized venous flap is useful for reconstruction of the traumatic soft tissue defect in fingers, but insufficient circulation of the traumatic fingers makes surgeons annoying to use the flap. We have grafted flaps in 7 fingers with insufficient vascular bed hoping to expanded the category of the flap. Materials and Methods: Arterialized venous flap have transplanted in 7 fingers from March 2008 through February 2010 and followed up for 4 to 16 months(average 7.2 months). They were all male with a mean age at the time of surgery was 33. The main injury was crushing in 4 degloving, contact burn and saw injury was I respectively. Time interval from injury to flap transplantation was average 3.1. weeks(3 days to 6 weeks). Designed flap size ranges from $8cm{\times}3.5cm$to $4cm{\times}3cm$. Vessel type of flap was one artery with two veins were 5 cases and one artey with one vein 2. Flap type was cutaneous in 3, tendocutaneous 2, neurotendocutaneous 1 and neurocutaneous 1. The circulation state of recipient site was avascular in 2 cases, insufficiency 3 and tip avascular 2. Results: Arterialized venous flap was complete survived in 2 cases, partial necrosis(less than 10%) 3 and failed in 2. Conclusion: An arterialized venous free flap could be a useful procedure for reconstruction in soft tissue or combined defect of the finger despite an avascular or insufficient vascular beds if the recipient beds were free from infection.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.52-59
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• 2007

Purpose: The venous flap is used as an alternative method to the standard free flap for the management of small and thin soft tissue defects. Especially, the venous flap has advantages of being thin, easy harvest and various donor sites, as well as it having lower morbidity. Yet their clinical applications have been limited by their unstable postoperative course and also by their complications such as partial necrosis. The aim of this study is to extend the clinical indications of venous flaps with using various methods. Methods: From May 2005 to March 2006, total of 19 patients(21 cases) underwent various venous flaps for soft tissue defects as a result of trauma(15 cases), facial skin cancer(3 cases), chronic ulcer(1 case) and surgical wound for congenital anomaly(2 cases). The arterialized venous free flap were applied in 18 cases, the pure venous free flap was applied in 1 case and the pure venous pedicled flap were applied in 2 cases. Among them, two flow-through arterialized venous free flaps were applied that used the great saphenous vein to reconstructed major arteries as well as the injured skin and soft tissues in the arm. All the flap were harvested from the volar wrist(11 cases), dorsum of foot(5 cases), thenar(2 cases), and medial thigh(3 cases). Results: The sizes of the flap ranged from $0.75cm^2$ to $264cm^2$(mean size: $40.06cm^2$). The follow-up period ranged from two to twelve months. In the majority of cases, we obtained satisfying results, which was the excellent reconstruction of skin and soft tissue defects and especially in the case of limb salvage, replantation and cancer reconstruction. However, there were 5 cases of partial necrosis and 2 cases of complete failure. The donor sites were closed primarily in 7 cases and wound closure with skin graft were in 14 cases. Conclusion: We conclude that the venous flap will not only be useful for reconstruction of small defect in the hand and foot, but also be useful for various other clinical indications.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.568-572
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• 2023

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) overlying an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is rare and presents unique challenges. This case report describes a method of fistula preservation after CSCC excision using a flow-through venous free flap. The saphenous vein of the venous flap was used as flow-through segment for AVF preservation. The flap was inserted along the dorsal aspect of the forearm wound and microvascular anastomosis of the arterial inflow was completed using a vein just proximal to the radiocephalic fistula anastomosis. Venous outflow was established by creating an end-to-end vascular anastomosis between the cephalic vein and the greater saphenous vein. A separate subcutaneous vein was used to provide a low-pressure outflow for the flap to avoid congestion. This case demonstrates an option for AVF preservation that has not been previously described. It also highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for the safe treatment of CSCCs overlying AVFs.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.303-313
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• 1994

Since introduction of venous flap in 1980, many experimental studies and clinical applications of various kinds of venous flaps were reported. Venous flap has the following advantages: (1) nonbulky and goo-quality of flap (2) long & large vascular pedicle (3) easy & rapid elevation of flap (4) no sacrifice of major arteries (5) a single operarive field. But, we also have some disadvantages of difficult handling of the pliable veins and the uncertainty of flap survival. For the better result we had to design the size of the flap larger than that of defect and increase the number of draining vein to reduce the postoperative edema of the flap. We have treated the defects of soft tissue of the hand using free arterialized venous flap from the flexor aspect of the forearm & had an excellent results.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.143-146
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• 2015

In this report, we present a scalp defect reconstruction with lateral arm free flap. We highlight the difficulty in obtaining a recipient vein and the venous drainage managed through an open end of the donor vein. A 52-year-old woman presented with a pressure sore on the left scalp. A lateral arm free flap was transferred to cover this $8{\times}6cm$ defect. The arterial anastomosis was successful, but no recipient vein could be identified within the wound bed. Instead, we used a donor venous end for the direct open venous drainage. In order to keep this exposed venous end patent, we applied heparin-soaked gauze dressing to the wound. Also, the vein end was mechanically dilated and irrigated with heparin solution at two hour intervals. Along with fluid management and blood transfusion, this management was continued for the five days after the operation. The flap survived well without any complication. Through this case, we were able to demonstrate that venous congestion can be avoided by drainage of the venous blood through an open vessel without the use of leeches.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.84-87
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• 2019

With the recent development in microsurgery, the use of a perforator flap has been widely implemented. If the length of the ALT flap pedicle is insufficient despite adequate preoperative planning, pedicle length extension is necessary. We planned for a reverse ALT free flap using the distal vessel of the descending branch for pedicle length extension in the case of ALT perforator branch originating from the proximal portion of the descending branch. For the management of venous congestion, the distal venae comitantes were anastomosed to the proximal venous stump in an antegrade manner, successfully resolving the venous congestion. Modified reverse-flow ALT free flap, wherein the venae comitantes are anastomosed to the proximal vein stump, is a good option that allows for relatively simple pedicle extension within the same operative field when securing an adequate pedicle length is difficult because of the origin of the perforator from the proximal descending branch, unlike the initial surgical plan.