Laparoscopically Harvested Omental Free Flap to Cover a Large Soft Tissue Defect

The laparoscopically harvested omental flap for deep sternal wound infection

“…Saltz et al [14] take the credit for the first description of harvesting the omentum (as a free flap) endoscopically. In their cases, and other that followed [9], the right gastroepiploic vessels were then used as vascular pedicle for the anastomosis, the right gastro-epiploic vessels usually being larger than the left [15].…”

Laparoscopically harvested omental flap: results for 96 patients

“…The omental flap's greatest disadvantage is laparotomy-associated morbidity [15], which can be greatly decreased by improvements in laparoscopic surgery [5]. All the procedures for harvesting a pedicled flap can be conducted using only a Harmonic Scalpel without ligation or clipping.…”

“…Recent advances in endoscopic surgery have allowed laparoscopic harvesting of the omental flap with less donor-site deformity and morbidity [5], making the omental flap more attractive. Many reports have described laparoscopic harvesting of the omental flap, but most are case reports or small series [6][7][8].…”

Novel Strategy for Soft Tissue Augmentation Based on Transplantation of Fragmented Omentum and Preadipocytes

“…However, advances in laparoscopic surgery have enabled the harvesting of ometum with minimal invasion. 30,38 It is envisaged that opti-MASUDA ET AL. mization of the amount of fragmented omentum tissue and preadipocytes for transplantation and minimally invasive endoscopic harvesting of omentum tissues 38,39 may enable the realization of soft tissue augmentation in clinical settings; however, further longer term study, focusing on how to maintain the volumetric mass of fragmented omentum tissue-preadipocyte mixtures, must be done before clinical application.…”