Supercharging and augmenting venous drainage of an anterolateral thigh free flap: options and indications

This study introduces the options for supercharging and augmenting venous drainage of an anterolateral thigh free flap. Clinical indications and options for additional microvascular anastomoses are reviewed in 5 consecutive patients. The indications were simultaneous mucosal and cutaneous defects, divergent mucosal defects, and extensively wide and long cutaneous defects. Three additional vascular pedicles were anastomosed: the transverse branch of the lateral circumflex (n = 3), a perforator coming directly off the superficial femoral artery (n = 1), and a posterior perforator from the profundus femoral artery (n = 1). The anastomosis of a separate pedicle from the superior, medial, and/or posterior-lateral thigh may be a useful technique when confronted with an extensive defect that may not reliably be reconstructed with a routine anterolateral thigh flap based on a single perforator.