The Kite Latissimus Dorsi Flap for Breast Reconstruction: An Attempt to Reduce Lateral Chest Wall Deformity and Axillary Bulking

• Autor(a) principal: Correia Anacleto, J
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Outros Autores: Mavioso, C, Gouveia, PF, Magalhães, A, Bastos Martins, J, Moura, A, Pinto, D, Cardoso, MJ
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.17/2700
• topic: HSJ CPR; Breast Neoplasms/pathology; Breast Neoplasms/surgery; Esthetics; Graft Survival; Mammaplasty/methods; Mastectomy/methods; Superficial Back Muscles/surgery; Superficial Back Muscles/transplantation; Surgical Flaps/blood supply; Surgical Flaps/transplantation; Tissue and Organ Harvesting; Treatment Outcome

The latissimus dorsi flap is a commonly used tissue transfer for volume replacement in partial or total breast reconstruction. In this era of cosmetic awareness and oncoplastic breast surgery, two main defects are related to the conventional technique: the back scar and the bulkiness on the lateral chest wall, under the axilla. Axillary bulking, a disturbing defect for the majority of patients, is a persistent consequence, independent of the technique used, even when the proximal tendon is cut. We describe a new approach, the kite latissimus dorsi flap, consisting of harvesting the flap, partially or totally, with pedicle dissection from the muscle, extending dissection, perforator style if needed, until the external border of the breast (anterior axillary line) is reached. The muscle is then cut at that level, leaving no unnecessary volume under the axilla, which would cause bulkiness and chest wall deformity.