Iatrogenic thrombosis of the deep inferior epigastric artery during diagnostic angiography—a rare complicating factor during rectus free flap harvest

Publication/Presentation Date

12-2022

Abstract

We describe a 28-year-old man who sustained an open IIIB left ankle fracture dislocation with heel pad avulsion. The patient underwent formal angiography of the left lower extremity, followed by free tissue transfer of a rectus abdominis flap several days later. Intraoperatively, a thrombus was identified in the deep inferior epigastric artery above the femoral artery access site requiring thrombectomy. Histologic analysis estimated the thrombus age at 12 to 72 hours, raising concern that the thrombus was induced during angiogram instrumentation. Donor and recipient site-specific risks of arterial instrumentation (including invasive diagnostics) should be considered when planning free tissue transfer.

Volume

8

Issue

4

First Page

580

Last Page

582

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

36248388

Department(s)

Department of Surgery

Document Type

Article

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