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The "banked" TRAM: a method to insure mastectomy skin-flap survival.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kovach, SJ; Georgiade, GS
Published in: Ann Plast Surg
October 2006

BACKGROUND: Necrosis of the skin flaps after mastectomy can be a devastating complication following immediate breast reconstruction with a TRAM flap. Skin-flap loss compromises the aesthetic result and may necessitate revisional surgery. The authors wish to present a simple and effective method to insure mastectomy skin-flap survival. METHODS: Seven patients over the last 5 years were treated with immediate breast reconstruction with a TRAM flap after skin-sparing mastectomy and had evidence of skin-flap compromise intraoperatively. These patients had their TRAM flaps "banked" under the flaps and returned to the operating room within 72 hours for definitive debridement of the skin flaps, deepithelialization, and insetting of the TRAM. RESULTS: In all cases, there was 100% survival of the skin flaps after delayed insetting. There was no skin-flap loss. No patients required additional surgery for revision. CONCLUSIONS: The banked TRAM is a simple and effective method to insure mastectomy skin flap survival if there is a question of flap viability.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ann Plast Surg

DOI

ISSN

0148-7043

Publication Date

October 2006

Volume

57

Issue

4

Start / End Page

366 / 369

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surgical Flaps
  • Surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Necrosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Mastectomy, Simple
  • Mammaplasty
  • Humans
  • Graft Survival
 

Citation

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Kovach, S. J., & Georgiade, G. S. (2006). The "banked" TRAM: a method to insure mastectomy skin-flap survival. Ann Plast Surg, 57(4), 366–369. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.sap.0000221983.23546.09
Kovach, Stephen J., and Gregory S. Georgiade. “The "banked" TRAM: a method to insure mastectomy skin-flap survival.Ann Plast Surg 57, no. 4 (October 2006): 366–69. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.sap.0000221983.23546.09.
Kovach SJ, Georgiade GS. The "banked" TRAM: a method to insure mastectomy skin-flap survival. Ann Plast Surg. 2006 Oct;57(4):366–9.
Kovach, Stephen J., and Gregory S. Georgiade. “The "banked" TRAM: a method to insure mastectomy skin-flap survival.Ann Plast Surg, vol. 57, no. 4, Oct. 2006, pp. 366–69. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/01.sap.0000221983.23546.09.
Kovach SJ, Georgiade GS. The "banked" TRAM: a method to insure mastectomy skin-flap survival. Ann Plast Surg. 2006 Oct;57(4):366–369.

Published In

Ann Plast Surg

DOI

ISSN

0148-7043

Publication Date

October 2006

Volume

57

Issue

4

Start / End Page

366 / 369

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surgical Flaps
  • Surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Necrosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Mastectomy, Simple
  • Mammaplasty
  • Humans
  • Graft Survival