Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2025
Engineered Vascularized Muscle Flap
Published on: January 11, 2016
Reverse flow anterolateral thigh free flap in a case with significant atherosclerosis: A viable alternative for
Jonathan C Garneau1, Rod Rezaee2
1Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
Background:
The concept of reserve flow perfusion for free flap reconstruction has been demonstrated in various applications in the literature. As it relates to the anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap, the reserve flow principle has been primarily described to either augment or "supercharge" a large ALT to optimize skin perforator supply or lengthen the vascular pedicle.
Methods:
We report a case of a 77-year old male with chronic renal failure who had extensive atherosclerosis of the proximal descending lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA) where arterial anastomosis was unable to be performed.
Results:
We were able to circumvent this limitation by establishing reserve flow perfusion solely through the distal end of the descending LCFA. We describe our technique within the context of current literature on the topic of reverse flow perfusion in free flap reconstruction.
Conclusion:
This report uniquely describes applying the distally based, reverse arterial flow principle in an ALT flap to circumvent an atherosclerotic proximal pedicle.
