Open AccessShort-term augmentation of venous drainage with extra-corporeal shunt and simultaneous auto-transfusion, for salvaging a congested free flap
Author(s) -
Rahul K Patil,
Kiran Jayaprasad,
Saurabh Sharma,
Mohit Sharma,
Jimmy Mathew
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
indian journal of plastic surgery/indian journal of plastic surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.299
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1998-376X
pISSN - 0970-0358
DOI - 10.4103/0970-0358.122024
Subject(s) - medicine , shunt (medical) , surgery , drainage , term (time) , ecology , biology , physics , quantum mechanics
Adequate drainage of venous blood is the most critical part of successful free tissue transfer. We report a case of anterolateral thigh flap used for covering open communited tibial fracture. The flap was salvaged with short term augmentation of venous drainage with external shunt. The drainage was continued for six days. It was confirmed that there is no more congestion after blocking the catheter and then the drainage was discontinued on seventh day. The flap was successfully salvaged. This method has potential applications in multiple situations for successful salvage of free tissue transfer.