ABSTRACT
Microsurgical reconstruction of abdominal- or chest-wall defects requires extreme
precision but may still raise serious problems. In previous publications many methods
have been reported, including free fascia graft, synthetic mesh, pedicled flap, and
free flap with microvascular anastomoses. Free-flap transfer has become a popular
operative procedure for such reconstructions. The recipient vessels utilized have
been mainly the external peritoneal system. In some cases, however, it is very difficult
to find adequate recipient vessels in the external peritoneal region. Intraperitoneal
vessels may be obviously exposed in the surgical field because there has been a full-thickness
defect of the abdominal or chest wall. These vessels are rather easily found and dissected.
Their diameter is about 1 to 2 mm, appropriate for microvascular anastomoses with
flap vessels in the reconstruction. Using intraperitoneal vessels for the recipient
vessels has rarely been reported. The authors report three cases of reconstruction
of full-thickness defects of the abdominal or chest wall, using these vessels as recipients
for free flaps.
