Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer: Results in 57 Consecutive Cases

Objective —To evaluate the outcomes and complications in a consecutive series of animals undergoing microvascular reconstructive procedures at two veterinary institutions. Study Design—Retrospective study. Animals or Sample Population—A total of 44 client-owned dogs and one red-necked wallaby. Methods —The medical records of all animals undergoing reconstructive microsurgical procedures at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Michigan State University were reviewed. Microvascular flap survival and related complications were described. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the significance of relationships between operative factors and outcome. Results —A total of 57 microvascular procedures were performed on 55 animals. Reconstruction was required after trauma in 42 animals, after ablative cancer surgery in 11 animals and for correction of congenital tissue aplasia in 1 animal. Donor tissues included the superficial cervical cutaneous, medial saphenous fasciocutaneous or musculofasciocutaneous, caudal superficial epigastric cutaneous, trapezius muscle or musculocutaneous, caudal sartorius muscle, latissimus dorsi muscle or musculocutaneous, cranial abdominal myoperitoneal, carpal footpad, digital footpad, and vascularized ulnar bone flaps. A total of 53 of 57 flaps (93%) survived. There was a significant relationship between flap failure and level of assistant surgeon experience (P < .05). Latissimus dorsi flaps were significantly more likely to fail when compared with pooled data from all other flap types (P < .01). Conclusions —The success of microvascular tissue transfer in this case series compares favorably with those reported in human reconstructive microsurgery. Both the primary and assistant surgeon should be practiced in microsurgical technique. Failure of latissimus dorsi flaps was not likely caused by an inherently deficient flap design, but was more likely attributed to the location and severity of trauma at the recipient site, the difficulty in isolating suitable recipient vessels for anastomosis or the absence of a trained assistant surgeon during these procedures. Clinical Relevance —This retrospective study documents the successful application of microvascular technique in a series of clinical cases requiring tissue reconstruction.