The Venous Anatomy of the Anterior Abdominal Wall: An Anatomical and Clinical Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite improving outcomes, venous problems in the harvest of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flaps remain the more common vascular complications. However, it is apparent that the venous anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall has not been described to the same extent as the arterial anatomy. Previous anatomical studies have focused on cadaveric anatomy or excisional specimens. The current study uses in vivo computed tomographic angiography to evaluate this anatomy, in combination with a cadaveric radiographic study. METHODS: Both cadaveric and in vivo studies were undertaken using eight whole fresh cadaveric specimens (16 sides) and 100 patients undergoing DIEP ..