Salvage of an ischemic "kite" flap by arteriovenous supercharging

The neurovascular "kite" flap is a well-established procedure for single-stage reconstruction of soft-tissue defects in the thumb. Post-surgical ischemia of the flap due to poor inflow is a rare, but potential, complication. The authors describe a technique of arteriovenous supercharging that was successfully used to salvage such an ischemic flap.