ENDOSCOPE-ASSISTED RECTUS-ABDOMINIS MUSCLE FLAP HARVEST FOR CHEST-WALL RECONSTRUCTION - EARLY EXPERIENCE

We performed endoscope-assisted rectus abdominis muscle flap harvests on 2 patients with anterior chest wall defects. For the procedure, a s pindle-shaped anterior fascia and the upper two-thirds of the rectus a bdominis muscle were elevated endoscopically from an incision at the u mblicus and transferred to the chest wall defect through a subcutaneou s tunnel. Endoscopic harvest of the rectus abdominis muscle flap minim izes postoperative scarring caused by cutting off the flap, affording expectations of good cosmetic results. Furthermore, this surgical proc edure is less invasive, relieves postoperative pain, and enables reduc tion of donor site morbidity.