Colour flow duplex scanning : an accurate, non-invasive technique for preoperative evaluation of the vascular supply of the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap

Forty patients were examined with colour Doppler to study the vascularization of rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps before operations. The accuracy of this non-invasive ultrasound technique allowed us to describe the characteristics of the blood flow, including volume and velocity, diameter of vessels and their transverse section area within the epigastric arteries which supply the superior and inferior vascular pedicles of the flap. Vessels are drawn on the skin surface so that the flap can be more precisely and rapidly dissected. We are now using colour Doppler to assess variations in the diameter of vessels and in other variables of blood flow within the vascular pedicle of the transferred flap. These evaluations before and after operation are a great help to the reconstructive surgeon in the choice of operation and will lead to an appreciable reduction in postoperative morbidity.