Abstract

Despite the options currently available for chest wall reconstruction, patients with complex composite defects may still pose a significant challenge for the reconstructive surgeon when only using conventional methods. In particular, prior radiotherapy and/or large en bloc resection may leave inadequate regional flaps and recipient vessels for free tissue transfer. Here, we describe a case in which we reconstruct a 14 cm × 18 cm complex chest wall defect, secondary to tumor resection and infected sternum debridement, with a pedicled flow-through omental flap to a 14 cm × 22 cm free anterolateral thigh flap using the omental gastroepiploic vessels as recipient vessels. Reconstruction was successful with excellent flap viability, and no complications at recipient or donor sites. We review the literature on complex chest wall reconstruction and introduce this valuable option of utilizing a pedicled omental flap as a flow-through flap to a free flap for patients without viable recipient vessels or local flaps.

View details for DOI 10.1002/micr.22444

View details for PubMedID 26140609