A new contralateral split-breast flap for breast reconstruction and its salvage after complication: An alternative for select patients

Different approaches to breast reconstruction have been described and nowad ays nearly optimized. One major aim in further developments is to reduce do nor site morbidity as low as possible. Theoretically, the lowest donor site morbidity could be achieved by using tissue that would be normally discard ed during an operation necessary for a different reason. The authors presen t a new method of breast reconstruction in a mastectomy patient who needed a reduction mammaplasty on the remaining side in addition to the reconstruc tion. A single-stage split-breast nap from the reduced contralateral side p edicled on its internal mammary perforators was used, thus lowering donor s ite morbidity by using otherwise discarded tissue. The technical details, p atient selection, advantages, possible pitfalls, management of complication s, and the risk factors for contralateral! malignancy are discussed.