The Free Lateral Thoracic Flap

Preoperative color Doppler ultrasound assessment of the lateral thoracic artery perforator flap and its branching pattern

“…The diameter and course of the LTA perforators vary from person to person. 11,12 The preoperative CDU examination is a useful means of overcoming these problems when using this flap in reconstruction surgery. However, there have been no reports describing the application of CDU for the preoperative examination prior to LTA perforator flap elevation.…”

Anomalous branching order of the superior and lateral thoracic arteries

“…The second is in reconstructive surgery, where the LTA may carry substantial importance. For reconstruction of some soft tissue defects, the LTA flap, which was described by Harii et al (1978), may be used. The described variation must be considered Fig.…”

“…while harvesting this flap (Harii et al, 1978;Cormack and Lamberty, 1994). Moloy and Gonzales (1986) showed that the LTA can independently supply a pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps.…”

Therapy resistant traumatic fungal infection necessitating arm amputation after free flap coverage

“…This was a thoracodorsal artery flap with a segment of latissimus dorsi muscle to cover such a large defect. Unfortunately, there was no satisfactory perforator found during the dissection and the flap was harvested on the lateralis thoracic artery and its comitant veins [8] (Fig. 3).…”