Raising Perforator Flaps for Breast Reconstruction: The Intramuscular Anatomy of the Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery

Abstract

A significant transverse distance was shown to be traversed by perforators, confirming the need for division of rectus abdominis fibers during operation. This information may help explain the clinical findings of abdominal wall morbidity following perforator flaps, and may pave the way for improved preoperative selection of patients for DIEA perforator flaps.