Abdominal wall and chest wall reconstruction

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Define the goals of abdominal wall and chest wall reconstruction. 2. Discuss the general principles of and the different surgical techniques for abdominal wall and chest wall reconstruction. 3. List the major advantages and disadvantages of synthetic and bioprosthetic mesh in abdominal and chest wall reconstruction. 4. Define the indications for and major factors to consider in chest wall skeletal stability reconstruction. 5. List the flaps commonly used for chest wall and abdominal wall reconstruction. SUMMARY: Plastic surgeons commonly face reconstructive challenges in repairing the abdominal and chest walls. Reconstructive options in these two areas are rapidly expanding with the availability of new techniques and new products. The purpose of this article is to provide an updated summary of reconstruction of the abdominal and chest walls, focusing on commonly encountered problems.