Deep superior epigastric artery perforator ‘propeller’ flap for abdominal wall reconstruction: A case report

• Published in: Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery Vol. 63; no. 7; pp. 1223 - 1226
• Main Authors: Woo, Kyong-Je, Pyon, Jai-Kyong, Lim, So-Young, Mun, Goo-Hyun, Bang, Sa-Ik, Oh, Kap-Sung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abdominal Wall - surgery; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatofibrosarcoma - surgery; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Perforator pedicled propeller flap; Plastic Surgery; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Skin Neoplasms - surgery; Superior epigastric; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical Flaps - blood supply; Upper abdomen; Perforator pedicled propeller flap; Upper abdomen; Superior epigastric; Human; Anatomical reconstruction; Artery; Abdomen; Case study; Pedicle flap; Treatment; Surgery; Free flap; Abdominal wall; Rectus abdominis muscle
• ISSN: 1748-6815; 1878-0539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2009.12.004

Summary As the concept of ‘free style perforator’ flap and the ‘propeller’ flap is widely accepted, any region of the body can be used as a possible donor site for a perforator flap. A ‘propeller’ flap is a local flap that is rotated to different extents (up to 180°) about a reliable perforator to cover adjacent defects. Rectus abdominis perforators (epigastric artery perforators) are the main perforators in the abdominal region from the deep inferior epigastric artery or the deep superior epigastric artery. Traditionally, deep inferior epigastric artery perforators have been often used in the abdominal region because they provide a dominant blood supply to abdominal skin. In the described case, a large abdominal wall defect (20.5 × 19 cm) caused by tumour resection was covered successfully using a superior epigastric artery perforator ‘propeller’ flap.