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Trickle Charging Flaps: Maintaining Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Perfusion After Pedicle Division
Eric Bao1, Isabelle T Smith1, Hannah B Hoffman1
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Northwell Health, Great Neck, New York.
Eplasty
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Trickle charging safely maintains flap perfusion during breast reconstruction by allowing temporary blood supply via a separate perforator. This technique proved effective in both conventional open and robotic bilateral deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap procedures, preventing flap loss.
Area of Science:
- Microsurgery
- Plastic Surgery
- Breast Reconstruction
Background:
- Trickle charging provides temporary flap perfusion using an external power source.
- This technique is applicable to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps in breast reconstruction.
- It allows for discontinuous perfusion, enabling main pedicle ligation.
