What is rectus abdominis free flap?
The rectus abdominis free flap is one of the most versatile soft-tissue flaps. The deep inferior epigastric artery and vein are long, large-diameter vessels that are ideal for microvascular anastomoses. The area of skin that can be transferred is probably the largest of all flaps presently in use.
What is a free flap graft?
A flap is any piece of tissue that is moved to cover a wound. A free flap is a piece of tissue that is disconnected from its’ original blood supply, and is moved a significant distance to be reconnected to a new blood supply.
How long does a free flap take to heal?
The donor area of partial thickness skin grafts usually takes about 2 weeks to heal. For full thickness skin grafts, the donor area only takes about 5 to 10 days to heal, because it’s usually quite small and closed with stitches.
What is a muscle flap procedure?
Flap reconstruction (also called tissue-based reconstruction) is a procedure that involves moving healthy, live tissue from one location on your body to another. Usually this live tissue is moved to areas that have lost skin, fat, muscle movement, and/or skeletal support.
What is a pedicle flap graft?
Listen to pronunciation. (PEH-dih-kul …) A type of surgery used to rebuild the shape of the breast after a mastectomy. Tissue, including skin, fat, and muscle, is moved from one area of the body, such as the back or abdomen, to the chest to form a new breast mound.
What is vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap?
The extended vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (eVRAM) flap is useful to obtain additional skin and fat with the distal (superior) flap for pelvic or perineal reconstruction. The eVRAM flap requires sufficient laxity of the abdominal wall for donor site closure.
What is the purpose of the rectus abdominis?
The main function of the rectus abdominis is to move the body between the ribcage and the pelvis. external oblique muscles – these are on each side of the rectus abdominis. The external oblique muscles allow the trunk to twist, but to the opposite side of whichever external oblique is contracting.
What is arcuate line?
The arcuate line, also known as the semicircular line of Douglas, is a curved line found posterior to the rectus abdominis muscle bilaterally, at about one-third of the distance between the umbilicus and the pubic symphysis. This anatomical finding may not always be present, and its position may vary.
What is the difference between skin graft and skin flap?
A “skin graft” is the transfer of a portion of the skin (without its blood supply) to a wound. A “flap” consists of one or more tissue components including skin, deeper tissues, muscle and bone.
What is the difference between free flap and pedicle flap?
TRAM (Abdomen) When the TRAM flap is a pedicle flap, it remains attached to its blood supply, with the tissue surgically tunneled underneath the skin to the breast region. When the TRAM flap is a free flap, the tissue is detached and cut away from its blood supply before being transferred.