Perforasomes of the upper abdomen: an anatomical study

Pedicled perforator flaps in the trunk such as the DIEAP or the IMAP-flap have increasingly been used for reconstructive purposes. However, perforator flaps of the upper abdominal wall derived from the SEA and DIEA have not been widely reported in literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the vascular basis of perforator flaps of the upper abdominal wall based on the epigastric vascular axis and to describe the location and size of the individual flaps.

The superior and deep inferior epigastric artery perforators (SEAPs and DIEAPs) of the supraumbilical abdominal wall of ten fresh anatomical specimens were selectively injected with Methylene blue solution or India ink. The location and size of the labeled skin area was observed. Finally, the arterial perforators were dissected and the length, diameter and the distance of the perforation point to the midline, xiphoid process and umbilicus were recorded.

The SEAPs and DIEAPs supplied the ventromedial skin of the lower thoracic and supraumbilical abdominal wall in a sequential order. The mean size of all injected skin areas was 65 ± 31.4 cm(2) (10.2 × 8.8 cm). A mean number of 9.7 ± 4.2 perforators per specimen was identified. The mean external diameter of the dissected perforators was 0.82 ± 0.32 mm. The perforator length until arborization averaged 3.44 ± 1.07 cm. Most perforators were located in an area 2-6 cm from the midline and 0-10 cm below the xiphoid process.

Through selective injection of perforators, a reliable anatomy of SEAP- and DIEAP-flaps of the upper abdominal wall could be demonstrated. From a clinical point of view, subcostal SEAP-flaps are of special interest. These flaps may be rotated cranially for lower chest wall or breast reconstruction or deflected caudally for abdominal wall reconstructive purposes. The harvest site can be closed directly or via a reverse abdominoplasty procedure.