The Internal Mammary Artery and Vein as a Recipient Site for Free-Flap Breast Reconstruction: A Report of 110 Consecutive Cases

Abstract

The most common recipient site for free-flap breast reconstruction is the subscapular system. Because of a number of problems we encountered using this recipient site, we became interested in revisiting the internal mammary vessels. This paper reports the use of the internal mammary artery and vein as a recipient site in 110 consecutive cases of breast reconstruction in 87 patients. We also report the technical details of recipient-vessel dissection and vessel size in our series. Complications encountered in the series are discussed, and the advantages of using the internal mammary vessels are enumerated. Our experience of a 99 percent successful flap transfer rate supports the reliability of these recipient vessels in breast reconstructions.