The Various Flap Monitoring after Free Flap Transfer

Abstract

The development of microvascular surgery has been contributed the patients' quality of life after the expanded resection of malignant tumor or large tissue defect caused by trauma. On the other hand, vascular complication, such as thrombosis, relates to the flap necrosis and strict monitoring of flap condition is necessitated. We basically monitor the flap every 4 hours for 5 days by inspection or palpation. In addition, we have been introduced blood glucose measurement, regional oxygen saturation index ( rSO₂ ), pulse oximeter ( SpO₂ ) and indocyanine green fluorescent ( ICG ) imaging for flap auxiliary monitoring. Because each of those methods has advantage and disadvantage, understanding of characteristics of each methods may helps us the earlier detection of vascular trouble, which directly relate to the flap salvage rate.