Preoperative and postoperative evaluation of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap vascularization by color flow duplex scanning.

At the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department of the University of Perugia, 104 patients have been examined by color flow duplex scanning in order to study latissimus dorsi vascular supply before and after surgical procedures. This noninvasive ultrasound technique provides a precise and accurate measurement of blood flow velocity (15 cm/s) and volume (27 ml/min) within the thoracodorsal artery, which represents the vascular pedicle of the flap, and it allows us to detect the exact location of the perforating branches with their cutaneous distribution. This preoperative evaluation, pointing out vascular pathologies that contraindicate use of the latissimus dorsi flap, can be considered a great help for the reconstructive surgeon in the choice of the most suitable operation, and it can surely lead to a significant decrease in postoperative graft failure rates.