Arteriovenous Loops for Free Flaps to the Abdomen and Pelvis: Case Reports and Pearls.

ABSTRACT: Arteriovenous (AV) loops formed from the greater saphenous vein and femoral artery can facilitate free tissue transfer to the abdomen or pelvis when adequate recipient vessels are not available. Here, we present the application of this technique in 3 cases where patients had significant abdominal or pelvic defects due to oncological resection or trauma. AV loops were successfully created using a saphenous vein turned up into the femoral artery at the level of the groin. These loops were then tunneled through the groin and cut back to form recipient vessels for anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps in a single-stage procedure. In all 3 cases, AV loops constructed with this technique served as reliable conduits for free ALT flaps. Only 1 complication occurred. Following a drop in tissue oximetry,

SUBMITTER: Jagasia P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11805559 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature