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Complications and Salvage Procedures

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Abstract

Recent advances in microsurgical techniques have made it possible to transfer various kinds of autogenous composite tissues. As a result, preservation of extremities is now possible in cases of severely mutilated limbs when amputation used to be necessary, and restoration of function is also possible when previously it was impossible. However, because these grafts are nourished by delicate small vessels, an entire flap can become necrotic if the circulation of these vessels is disturbed. For this reason, the success of microsurgery remains unpredictable. A variety of techniques have been developed to improve the outcome of microsurgical procedures. One is the development of new flaps with a large-caliber vascular pedicle. Another is the improvement of suture materials, methods, and instruments. In addition, new procedures of postoperative monitoring and salvage techniques have been developed [1]. In this chapter, the postoperative monitoring of vascularized composite tissue transfers, the vascular complications, and their salvage techniques are described.

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© 2003 Springer Japan

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Yajima, H. (2003). Complications and Salvage Procedures. In: Tamai, S., Usui, M., Yoshizu, T. (eds) Experimental and Clinical Reconstructive Microsurgery. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-67865-6_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-67865-6_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-67998-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-67865-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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