SURGICAL FLAPS IN THE CHEST - ANATOMIC CONSIDERATIONS, APPLICATIONS, AND RADIOLOGIC APPEARANCE

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of use of surgical flaps-tissue th at is transposed from its normal location to promote healing and preve nt complications-in noncardiac thoracic surgery and to demonstrate the typical radiologic appearances of such flaps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The surgical records of 200 patients who underwent thoracotomy br medi an sternotomy for noncardiac thoracic surgery were reviewed. Postopera tive radiologic studies of randomly selected cases were also reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 213 surgical flaps were used in these patients, i ncluding 80 pericardial fat pad flaps, (37.6%), 78 greater omental fla ps (36.6%), 21 intercostal muscle flaps (9.9%), 16 anterior serratus m uscle flaps (7.5%), and 18 greater pectoral muscle, latissimus dorsi m uscle, pleural, thymic, or mediastinal fat flaps (8.5%). The flaps pro duced unusual opacity or attenuation and/or contour of the mediastinum , hilum, or chest wall. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of common thoracic surgi cal flaps is helpful in interpretation of postoperative radiologic stu dies.