Unipedicled TRAM Breast Reconstruction Questions & Answers

1. Sachs D, Winters R. Unipedicled Tram Breast Reconstruction. StatPearls. 2021 Jan. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

2. Spear SL, Ducic I, Low M, Cuoco F. The effect of radiation on pedicled TRAM flap breast reconstruction: outcomes and implications. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005 Jan. 115(1):84-95. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

3. Ascherman JA, Seruya M, Bartsich SA. Abdominal wall morbidity following unilateral and bilateral breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flaps: an outcomes analysis of 117 consecutive patients. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 Jan. 121(1):1-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

4. Jensen JA. TRAM flap delay: new data addressing old questions. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009 Jun. 123(6):1883-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

5. Erdmann D, Sundin BM, Moquin KJ, et al. Delay in unipedicled TRAM flap reconstruction of the breast: a review of 76 consecutive cases. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Sep 1. 110(3):762-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

6. Hudson DA. The surgically delayed unipedicled TRAM flap for breast reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg. 1996 Mar. 36(3):238-42; discussion 242-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

7. O'Shaughnessy KD, Mustoe TA. The surgical TRAM flap delay: reliability of zone III using a simplified technique under local anesthesia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 Dec. 122(6):1627-30. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

8. Zenn MR, Garofalo JA. Unilateral nipple reconstruction with nipple sharing: time for a second look. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009 Jun. 123(6):1648-53. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

9. Shaw WW, Orringer JS, Ko CY, et al. The spontaneous return of sensibility in breasts reconstructed with autologous tissues. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1997 Feb. 99(2):394-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

10. Schwitzer JA, Miller HC, Pusic AL, et al. Satisfaction following Unilateral Breast Reconstruction: A Comparison of Pedicled TRAM and Free Abdominal Flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2015 Aug. 3 (8):e482. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

11. Momoh AO, Colakoglu S, Westvik TS, Curtis MS, Yueh JH, de Blacam C, et al. Analysis of Complications and Patient Satisfaction in Pedicled Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous and Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg. 2011 Jun 8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

12. Chun YS, Sinha I, Turko A, Lipsitz S, Pribaz JJ. Outcomes and patient satisfaction following breast reconstruction with bilateral pedicled TRAM flaps in 105 consecutive patients. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Jan. 125(1):1-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Nahabedian MY, Momen B, Galdino G, Manson PN. Breast Reconstruction with the free TRAM or DIEP flap: patient selection, choice of flap, and outcome. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Aug. 110(2):466-75; discussion 476-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

14. Slavin SA, Goldwyn RM. The midabdominal rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap: review of 236 flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1988 Feb. 81(2):189-99. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Zienowicz RJ, May JW Jr. Hernia prevention and aesthetic contouring of the abdomen following TRAM flap breast reconstruction by the use of polypropylene mesh. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1995 Nov. 96(6):1346-50. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

16. Rossetto LA, Abla LE, Vidal R, Garcia EB, Gonzalez RJ, Gebrim LH, et al. Factors associated with hernia and bulge formation at the donor site of the pedicled TRAM flap. Eur J Plast Surg. 2010 Aug. 33(4):203-208. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

17. Shubinets V, Fox JP, Sarik JR, Kovach SJ, Fischer JP. Surgically Treated Hernia following Abdominally Based Autologous Breast Reconstruction: Prevalence, Outcomes, and Expenditures. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Mar. 137 (3):749-57. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

18. Leyngold MM. Is Unipedicled Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap Obsolete Owing to Superiority of DIEP Flap?. Ann Plast Surg. 2018 Jun. 80 (6S Suppl 6):S418-20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

19. He WY, El Eter L, Yesantharao P, et al. Complications and Patient-reported Outcomes after TRAM and DIEP Flaps: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020 Oct. 8 (10):e3120. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

20. Kwok AC, Simpson AM, Ye X, Tatro E, Agarwal JP. Immediate Unilateral Breast Reconstruction using Abdominally Based Flaps: Analysis of 3,310 Cases. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2019 Jan. 35 (1):74-82. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

21. Yoon JS, Oh J, Chung MS, Ahn HC. The island-type pedicled TRAM flap: Improvement of the aesthetic outcomes of breast reconstruction. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2020 Jun. 73 (6):1060-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

22. Tsoi B, Ziolkowski NI, Thoma A, Campbell K, O'Reilly D, Goeree R. Safety of Tissue Expander/Implant versus Autologous Abdominal Tissue Breast Reconstruction in Postmastectomy Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 Feb. 133(2):234-49. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Michael R Zenn, MD, MBA, FACS Plastic Surgeon, Zenn Plastic Surgery

Michael R Zenn, MD, MBA, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, North Carolina Medical Society, Plastic Surgery Research Council, World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for: Novadaq Corporation; QMP.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

James Neal Long, MD, FACS Founder of Magnolia Plastic Surgery; Former Associate Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Children's Hospital and Kirklin Clinics, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine; Section Chief of Plastic, Reconstructive, Hand, and Microsurgery, Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center

James Neal Long, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic Surgery Research Council, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society, Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Southeastern Surgical Congress

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pankaj Tiwari, MD Assistant Professor, Division of Plastic Surgery, Ohio State University College of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous editor Saleh Shenaq, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

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