Post TRAM flap changes to abdominal wall musculature

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Previous TRAM flap reconstruction of the right breast following cancer surgery. Now has abdominal pain, suspected complication

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Female

Deficient muscle in the lower right anterior abdominal wall associated with surgical clips.  Minor bulging of small bowel at the point of deficiency.

Case Discussion

TRAM stands for transverse rectus abdominis muscle. It is a graft of fat, skin, and muscle that can be used to reconstruct the breast. It can be either free (i.e. no connection to the donour site) or pedicled, with the flap attached to its original blood vessels, tunneled under the skin to the chest wall.

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