A transparent dressing in free-flap surgery

The authors have developed a technique for postoperative monitoring of transferred free flaps, making the removal of gauze dressings unnecessary. Their technique involves the transparent, hydrogel wound dressing, Clear Site. A Doppler probe can also be directly applied over this material, to examine the patency of the vascular pedicle. An adhesive border on the sheeted material keeps the flap aseptic, thus providing fewer opportunities for wound infection. A wider use of this transparent dressing technique in free-flap surgery is expected.