CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg 2013; 46(03): 572-576
DOI: 10.4103/0970-0358.122024
Ideas and Innovations
Association of Plastic Surgeons of India

Short-term augmentation of venous drainage with extra-corporeal shunt and simultaneous auto-transfusion, for salvaging a congested free flap

Rahul K. Patil
Department of Plastic Surgery, Sparsh Hospital, Bangalore, India
,
Kiran Jayaprasad
Department of Plastic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, Kerala, India
,
Saurabh Sharma
Department of Plastic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, Kerala, India
,
Mohit Sharma
Department of Plastic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, Kerala, India
,
Jimmy Mathew
Department of Plastic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, Kerala, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
07 October 2019 (online)

ABSTRACT

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.

 
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