Internal Mammary Perforator Recipient Vessels for Breast Reconstruction Using Free TRAM, DIEP, and SIEA Flaps

Abstract

To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest published series of internal mammary perforator vessels used as free flap recipient vessels. In selected cases, internal mammary perforator vessels can be used without increasing the risk of flap loss, fat necrosis, or mastectomy skin flap necrosis, and are equally reliable and require less invasive surgical dissection than internal mammary vessels. The use of internal mammary perforator vessels may safely minimize recipient-site morbidity.