ACUTE SWELLING OF STRIAE-DISTENSAE FOLLOWING TRAM OPERATION

A case of acute swelling and enlargement of striae distensae shortly a fter immediate breast reconstruction with TRAM flap is described. Alth ough this condition may be an alarming sign of compromised blood suppl y to the flap, the flap's other features were normal. The edema subsid ed spontaneously within a week, and the flap demonstrated full surviva l. Possible mechanisms of this phenomenon an discussed.