ABSTRACT
The latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is a large and reliable myocutaneous flap with a consistently
long vascular pedicle. However, the limitation of the thoracodorsal pedicle is that
it has only one draining vein for anastomosis. We describe a simple technique of recruiting
the tributary vein to the serratus anterior and using it as a second draining vein
to alleviate congestion in lower limb reconstruction. The serratus anterior venous
tributary segment is cut back to an avalvular segment which averages 5 mm in length.
Provision of an additional venous outflow to the flap enabled a second venous anastomosis
to the short saphenous vein (n = 1), the long saphenous vein (n = 2), a deep vein (n = 1), and to a deep vein via a vein graft (n = 1), respectively. Five patients with degloving injury of the lower extremity of
sizes 150 cm2 (10 × 15 cm) to 260 cm2 (10 × 26 cm) underwent successful reconstruction using the LD muscle flap with the
serratus anterior tributary vein as a second outflow vein. This serratus anterior
venous tributary serves as a useful second outflow channel for alleviating venous
congestion during lower limb reconstructive surgery and should be routinely preserved
as a lifeboat.
KEYWORDS
Latissimus dorsi - serratus anterior vein - venous congestion
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Bien-Keem TanM.B. B.S. F.R.C.S F.A.M.S.
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital
Outram Road, Singapore 169608
Email: bienkeem@singnet.com.sg