Raising perforator flaps for breast reconstruction: The intramuscular anatomy of the deep inferior epigastric artery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The deep inferior epigastric artery (DIEA) perforator flap is used increasingly for breast reconstruction, preferred as a muscle-sparing operation over traditional transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flaps. Complications related to the inclusion of rectus abdominis include abdominal wall weakness and a predisposition to ventral abdominal wall hernias. DIEA perforator flaps still present this complication, with clinical experience demonstrating frequent transection of rectus fibers during dissection of perforators. Despite this, published descriptions of the DIEA in the literature describe a "direct" course through rectus abdominis. This study interprets these clin..