Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2019 Feb;33(1):13-16.
doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1677880. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Postoperative Free-Flap Monitoring Techniques

Scott Kohlert  1 , Alexandra E Quimby  2 , Masoud Saman  3 , Yadranko Ducic  4
Affiliations
Review

Postoperative Free-Flap Monitoring Techniques

Scott Kohlert et al. Semin Plast Surg. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Free tissue transfer is commonly employed in the reconstruction of large or complicated defects. Postoperative flap failure from microvascular compromise is an uncommon but major potential complication of this procedure. As such, many postoperative monitoring techniques devices have been developed. This paper provides an overview of the wide variety of options available for surgeons today.

Keywords: free flap; microvascular reconstruction; postoperative monitoring.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None declared.

References

    1. Millican P G, Poole M D. Peripheral neovascularisation of muscle and musculocutaneous flaps. Br J Plast Surg. 1985;38(03):369–374. - PubMed
    1. Khoo C T, Bailey B N. The behaviour of free muscle and musculocutaneous flaps after early loss of axial blood supply. Br J Plast Surg. 1982;35(01):43–46. - PubMed
    1. Kumar K, Jaffe W, London N J, Varma S K. Free flap neovascularization: myth or reality? J Reconstr Microsurg. 2004;20(01):31–34. - PubMed
    1. Qian Y, Li G, Zang H et al.A systematic review and meta-analysis of free-style flaps: risk analysis of complications. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2018;6(02):e1651. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hyodo I, Nakayama B, Kato H et al.Analysis of salvage operation in head and neck microsurgical reconstruction. Laryngoscope. 2007;117(02):357–360. - PubMed