Title: Reconstruction of the chest wall, shoulder and axilla defects with pedicled flaps based on the thoracodorsal system

Biography:

Dr. Eric Drazan is a Male Plastic Surgeon with over 23 years experience in Qatar. Available at Al Emadi Hospital (Al Hilal) & Al Emadi Hospital Clinic.

Abstract

Background: The latissimus dorsi flap was first described by Tansini and the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap was first described by Angrigiani in the reconstruction of the chest wall defects.The versatility of pedicled flaps based on thoracodorsal system have several advantages that make them a workhorse flaps for most reconstructions requiring soft tissue cover.

Aim: We will show our experience with pedicled flaps based on the thoracodorsal system in the reconstruction of defects of the chest wall, shoulder and axilla.

Methods: We have performed a total of 38 flaps over a period from March 2014 to February 2020 at Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Foca, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Department od Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Al Emadi Hospital, Doha, Qatar. The patients had defects of the chest wall, axilla and shoulder after tumor excisions, infection and trauma. The defects were closed with latissimus dorsi flap in 21 patients while in 17 patients we used thoracodorsal artery perforator flap.

Results: We had neither any failures nor any re-explorations. We had seroma of the donor area in 6 patients. The donor area was closed directly in all patients.  

Conclusion:The pedicled flaps based on thoracodorsal system are reliable for the reconstruction of chest wall, axilla and shoulder defects. The adventages of these flaps are easy dissection, wide arch rotation and minimal donor side morbidity.