TECHNIQUES OF POSTOPERATIVE BLOOD-FLOW MONITORING AFTER FREE TISSUE TRANSFER - AN OVERVIEW

Ever since free tissue transfer has been established in microsurgery, success rates have greatly improved over the years, partly due to impr oved technical performance of microvascular anastomoses with better op tical and instrumental aids. However, flap failure still occurs in 5-1 0%, mainly due to blood vessel thrombosis within the first 24 postoper ative hours. Salvation rates of failing free tissue transfers can be o ptimized by in-time diagnosis of irreversibly compromised tissue blood flow and immediate operative reexploration. Therefore, there is a spe cial demand for adequate and reliable postoperative monitoring techniq ues. This article gives an overview of all monitoring techniques, whic h have been performed both in the experimental and clinical setting th us far. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.