TY - JOUR
T1 - An anatomic study of the internal mammary veins
T2 - Clinical implications for free-tissue-transfer breast reconstruction
AU - Clark, Clifford P.
AU - Rohrich, Rod J.
AU - Copit, Steven
AU - Pittman, C. Edwin
AU - Robinson, Jack
PY - 1997/2/1
Y1 - 1997/2/1
N2 - The anatomy of the internal mammary vessels is poorly understood and thought to be unreliable clinically for use as a recipient vein in free- tissue-transfer breast reconstruction. This study of 10 fresh cadaver thoracic cavities demonstrated by anatomic and dye resection studies that the internal mammary veins become smaller (≤2 mm) distally (fourth rib) and bifurcate [left (90 percent) > right (40 percent)], becoming unsuitable for consistent venous anastomoses at or below the fourth interspace. Furthermore, this study suggests that the most consistent interval is the third rib, which offers an appropriate recipient vein (40 percent ≤ 3 mm on the left and 70 percent ≤ 3 mm on the right). However, at the fourth interspace, 20 percent of the cadaver specimens had a vein on one side that was 1 mm or less and therefore unsuitable as a recipient. This enhanced understanding of the anatomy (size, location, and consistency) of the internal mammary recipient veins offers our patients another recipient option to enhance the safety and technical case of microvascular breast reconstruction.
AB - The anatomy of the internal mammary vessels is poorly understood and thought to be unreliable clinically for use as a recipient vein in free- tissue-transfer breast reconstruction. This study of 10 fresh cadaver thoracic cavities demonstrated by anatomic and dye resection studies that the internal mammary veins become smaller (≤2 mm) distally (fourth rib) and bifurcate [left (90 percent) > right (40 percent)], becoming unsuitable for consistent venous anastomoses at or below the fourth interspace. Furthermore, this study suggests that the most consistent interval is the third rib, which offers an appropriate recipient vein (40 percent ≤ 3 mm on the left and 70 percent ≤ 3 mm on the right). However, at the fourth interspace, 20 percent of the cadaver specimens had a vein on one side that was 1 mm or less and therefore unsuitable as a recipient. This enhanced understanding of the anatomy (size, location, and consistency) of the internal mammary recipient veins offers our patients another recipient option to enhance the safety and technical case of microvascular breast reconstruction.
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U2 - 10.1097/00006534-199702000-00014
DO - 10.1097/00006534-199702000-00014
M3 - Article
C2 - 9030147
AN - SCOPUS:0031013684
SN - 0032-1052
VL - 99
SP - 400
EP - 407
JO - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
JF - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
IS - 2
ER -