Accidental latissimus dorsi flap pedicle avulsion during immediate breast reconstruction: Salvage by conversion to free flap

Abstract

Pedicle damage is a rare complication of latissimus dorsi (LD) flap breast reconstruction. We report a case of accidental avulsion of the vascular pedicle of a totally autologous (extended) LD flap during immediate breast reconstruction in a patient who had previously undergone contralateral breast reconstruction with a pedicled TRAM flap based on the opposite superior epigastric vessels. The intra-operative strategy to salvage the avulsed LD flap by conversion to a free flap while not compromising the contralateral breast reconstruction is discussed.