Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography for preoperative imaging of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps: Advantages and disadvantages compared with computed tomography angiography: A United Kingdom perspective

Mark V. Schaverien, Catherine N. Ludman, Jason Neil-Dwyer, Stephen J. McCulley

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall is highly variable and leads to uncertainty when harvesting a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap. Presurgical imaging has been shown to reduce the operating time, as well as reduce the rates of flap and donor site complications. The importance of imaging of the venous system has also been recognized for reducing the risk of venous congestion. The modalities currently available for presurgical imaging include handheld Doppler ultrasound, duplex ultrasound, computed tomographic angiography (CTA), and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA). Of these, the most promising are CTA and CE-MRA, and advantages and disadvantages exist for both modalities. In this article, we review the use of CE-MRA for preoperative flap imaging and report our experience with its use in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap harvest, as well as compare it with CTA. We also explore the future directions for presurgical flap imaging.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)671-674
Number of pages4
JournalAnnals of plastic surgery
Volume67
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • advantages
  • computed tomographic angiography
  • contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography
  • deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap
  • disadvantages

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography for preoperative imaging of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps: Advantages and disadvantages compared with computed tomography angiography: A United Kingdom perspective'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this