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J Reconstr Microsurg 1998; 14(2): 127-129
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1000155
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1998 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Flap Salvage in a “Flow‐Through” Flap by Manual Thrombectomy Plus Thrombolytic Therapy

Gottfried Wechselberger, Thomas Schoeller, Kurt Öhler, Hans Anderl, Milomir Ninković
  • University Hospital of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, Austria
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Publication History

Accepted for publication 1997

Publication Date:
08 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

A delay in identifying incipient flap failure may inevitably lead to complete pedicle thrombosis and the no-reflow phenomenon. The authors report a clinical case of a lateral arm free flap that suffered complete pedicle thrombosis. They successfully salvaged this flap, a type C fasciocutaneous “flow-through” flap, by manually moving the thrombus from proximal to distal in the main flap artery. This freed the septofasciocutaneous upward-perforating branches, by smoothing and applying firm pressure to the vessel, combined with thrombolytic therapy. Their technique is offered as an alternative procedure for salvaging a failing flow-through flap.