The contralateral pectoralis muscle flap: a valuable alternative to cover chest wall tissue defects

The blood supply of the pectoralis major muscle is provided by the thoracoacromial artery and by segmental branches of the lateral thoracic artery and the internal thoracic artery. To close defects in the area of head, neck or chest, pectoralis flaps are commonly used pedicled on their major vessel. As the segmental medial vessels are capable of supplying the entire muscle, the pectoralis flap can be detached from its clavicular and acromial origin. Its main vessel is ligated and the flap can be transposed to the opposite side of the thorax to close tissue defects due to breast cancer, radiodermatitis and infectious or traumatic loss of tissue.