Immediate and Delayed Use of Arteriovenous Fistulae in Microsurgical Flap Procedures

Authors:
  • SSStephanie A. Stover
    Stephanie A. Stover
  • JGJacob Gerzenstein
    Jacob Gerzenstein
  • MLM P. Lei
    M P. Lei
  • FZFeng Zhang
    Feng Zhang
  • AMAllen Muskett
    Allen Muskett
  • EHEric Hu
    Eric Hu
  • MAMichael F. Angel
    Michael F. Angel
  • WLWilliam C. Lineaweaver
    William C. Lineaweaver
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In microsurgical flap procedures, creation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a technique of vein grafting where the vein graft is connected to recipient vessels as a flow-through loop prior to harvest and inset of the flap. Controversy exists whether this technique can be used as a 2-stage procedure with the loop and flap transfer accomplished in sequential operations or if the loop and flap transfer should be performed in a single operation. We performed 12 consecutive 1-stage AVF-flap procedures, with 1 flap failure. We combined this series with previously published reports to compare outcomes of 1-stage and 2-stage procedures. We found no significant difference in flap outcomes or complication rates between the 2 strategies. We conclude from our experience and this analysis that single-stage AVF-flap procedures are the optimum application of this technique.

This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit: