SERUM CREATINE-KINASE IN FASCIOCUTANEOUS AND MUSCULOCUTANEOUS FLAP SURGERY

The pre- and postoperative serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) were a nalyzed in 56 patients operated with three different breast reconstruc tive procedures. Thirteen patients were operated with the lateral thor acodorsal flap (LTD), 23 by the latissimus dorsi flap (LD), and 20 by the pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap. Nineteen patients in the LD and TRAM groups had received postmastecto my radiotherapy. The operations caused a significant rise in the serum levels of CK, and the highest levels were found on the first postoper ative day: LTD, 5.4 mu kat per liter; LD, 8.1 mu kat per liter; and TR AM, 7.3 mu kat per liter. There was no significant difference in CK le vels between the groups. The irradiated patients did not show increase d CK levels when compared with nonirradiated patients.