Lymphaticovenous anastomosis: Treatment of a persistent breast seroma.

Lymphaticovenous anastomoses are mainly used in secondary limbs lymphedema. They also can be used to treat iatrogenic seroma. This technique was used to treat a patient with a painful breast seroma that appeared after a mastectomy with axillary dissection, resistant to multiple ponctions and persistent 8 months after. Pre operative both lymphoscintigraphy and lympho-MRI have been performed and we identified lymphatic ducts responsible for the seroma. The one involved in the seroma was also the preferential drainage network of the arm. Innoperative, we performed an indocyanine green angiography to map those lymphatic ducts. A total capsulectomy of the breast seroma has been performed. An incision was made in front of lymphatics selected for lymphaticovenous anastomoses on the anterior axilla face. We performed two microscopic lymphaticovenous anastomoses. The patient was followed up at one, three, six months and one year post operative. No recurrence occurred during the follow-up. At six month the arm perimeter reduced of two centimeters. Lymphoscintigraphy and lympho-MRI were performed at six month showing a disappearance of the drainage asymmetry and collateralities of the upper limb; and no measurable volume in projection of the right breast area. Lymphaticovenous anastomoses may be an effective therapeutic solution for resistant seroma after node dissection. Lymphoscintigraphy and lympho IRM are very useful in those cases.

[The sural medial perforator flap: Anatomical bases, surgical technique and indications in head and neck reconstruction]. / Le lambeau médial sural perforant : bases anatomiques, technique chirurgicale et indications en reconstruction cervicofaciale.

INTRODUCTION: The medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flap is defined as a thin cutaneo-adipose perforator flap harvested on the medial aspect of the leg. The aims of this study were to describe the anatomical basis as well as the surgical technique and discuss the indications in head and neck reconstructive surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We harvested 10 MSAP flap on 5 fresh cadavers. For each case, the number and the location of the perforators were recorded. For each flap, the length of pedicle, the diameter of source vessels and the thickness of the flap were studied. Finally, we performed a clinical application of a MSAP flap. RESULTS: A total of 23 perforators with a diameter superior than 1mm were dissected on 10 legs. The medial sural artery provided between 1 and 4 musculocutaneous perforators. Perforators were located in average at 10.3cm±2cm from the popliteal fossa and at 3.6cm±1cm from the median line of the calf. The mean pedicle length was 12.1cm±2.5cm. At its origin, the source artery diameter was 1.8mm±0.25mm and source veins diameters were 2.45mm±0.9mm in average. There was no complication in our clinical application. DISCUSSION: This study confirms the reliability of previous anatomical descriptions of the medial sural artery perforator flap. This flap was reported as thin and particularly adapted for oral cavity reconstruction and for facial or limb resurfacing. Sequelae might be reduced as compared to those of the radial forearm flap with comparable results.

Full-thickness skin grafts for lower leg defects coverage: Interest of postoperative immobilization.

INTRODUCTION: Full-thickness skin graft is an effective reconstruction method after excision of skin lesions on the lower limb that are not amenable to primary closure. The randomness of graft take is the major drawback of this procedure. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the outcome of full-thickness skin grafts (FTSG), used to repair lower leg defects after excision of skin lesions, after a 5-day immobilization period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent FTSG to cover defects below the knee between November 2011 and January 2016 were retrospective reviewed. Graft take was assessed and defined as good (>90% graft take), moderate (between 50% and 90% graft take), or poor (<50% graft take). RESULTS: Seventy patients were included. Median age was 70 years (range, 18-92 years). The median area of the defect was 12cm2. Graft take was good in 64 patients (91.4%), moderate in 3 patients (4.3%), and poor in 3 patients (4.3%) at Day 5. Complications included hematoma (11%), infection (14%) and venous thrombosis (3%). CONCLUSION: Full-thickness skin graft is a reliable method to repair defects on the lower leg after removal of skin lesions. A 5-day immobilization period can improve the graft take. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.

[Use of indocyanine green angiography in oncological and reconstructive breast surgery]. / Utilisation du vert d'indocyanine en chirurgie sénologique et reconstruction mammaire.

The Indocyanine green (ICG) is a soluble dye that is eliminated by the liver and excreted in bile. When illuminated by an near-infrared light, the ICG emits fluorescence in the near-infrared spectrum, which can be captured by a near-infrared camera-handled device. In case of intravenous injection, ICG may be used as a marker of skin perfusion. In case of interstitial injection, it may be useful for lymphatic network mapping. In oncological and reconstructive breast surgery, ICG is used for sentinel lymph node identification, to predict mastectomy skin flap necrosis, to assess the perfusion of free flaps in autologous reconstruction and for diagnosis and treatment of upper limb secondary lymphedema. Intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence might also be used to guide the excision of nonpalpable breast cancer.

[Decision algorithm in immediate breast reconstruction]. / Algorithmes décisionnels en reconstruction mammaire immédiate.

Immediate breast reconstruction showed many advantages in terms of aesthetic and functional results and improvement of quality of life when compared to delayed breast reconstruction. Previous radiotherapy or the use of adjuvant treatments such as radiation therapy, or chemotherapy are no longer a contraindication for immediate breast reconstruction. However, it is important to respect certain rules in order to decrease the risk of complications: the choice of reconstruction technique, the management of the skin envelope according to the breast shape you want to create, the time delay between the first and the second stage of reconstruction depending on a possible adjuvant treatment.

The ongoing emergence of robotics in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Robot-assisted surgery is more and more widely used in urology, general surgery and gynecological surgery. The interest of robotics in plastic and reconstructive surgery, a discipline that operates primarily on surfaces, has yet to be conclusively proved. However, the initial applications of robotic surgery in plastic and reconstructive surgery have been emerging in a number of fields including transoral reconstruction of posterior oropharyngeal defects, nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction, microsurgery, muscle harvesting for pelvic reconstruction and coverage of the scalp or the extremities.

[Mastectomy and immediate reconstruction: Indications, techniques and decision algorithm]. / Mastectomie avec reconstruction mammaire immédiate : indications et techniques, algorithme de décision d'une reconstruction immédiate.

Immediate breast reconstruction indications extend to infiltrating carcinomas, due to new matrix implant coverage techniques and the development of perforator flaps. These techniques allow adjuvant treatments. However, the decision of immediate reconstruction must be discussed with the oncological multidisciplinary team and the benefits/risks must also be evaluated in relation to the morphology of the patients and their co-morbidities. The chosen type of mastectomy: conventional or skin sparing and/or nipple sparing depends on the shape and volume of the breast, the localization of the tumor in the breast and the distance from the nipple areola complex (NAC). We describe an algorithm to allow, in the case of therapeutic mastectomy with or without adjuvant radiotherapy, an immediate reconstruction with implants or free or pedicled flaps.