Free Flap Reconstruction of Abdominal Wall Defects: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis.

[BACKGROUND] Reconstruction of extensive abdominal wall defects poses significant challenges, often requiring free tissue transfer when traditional methods are inadequate. This review examines the past decade's literature on free flaps for abdominal wall reconstruction to guide decision-making.

[METHODS] A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted on July 17, 2024, using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus. Studies from 2013 to 2023 involving free flap reconstruction with at least 3 months follow-up were included. Surgical complications and outcomes were analyzed.

[RESULTS] Of 2269 articles, 32 met inclusion criteria, involving 104 free flaps. There were no reports of flap loss. The average defect size was 330.0 ± 200.8 cm. Oncologic resection was the leading indication (57%), with the latissimus dorsi flap used most frequently (36%). The most common recipient vessels were the deep inferior epigastric vessels (66.7%). The most common recipient vessels were the deep inferior epigastric vessels (66.7%). Mesh was used in 53% of cases, predominantly in a sublay position. The majority of reconstructions were immediate (52.9%), followed by delayed (31.8%) and staged (15.3%). Complications included partial flap necrosis (5.8%), surgical site infection (5.8%), and hernia development (4.8%). There were no significant differences in outcomes when stratified by reconstruction timing, flap choice, recipient vessels, or mesh characteristics. Infection as the defect etiology independently predicted surgical site infection (p = 0.03), whereas mesh usage (p = 0.07) and diabetes (p = 0.09) trended toward increased infection risk. Donor site complications were minimal.

[CONCLUSION] Free flap reconstruction is safe and effective for large abdominal wall defects, with similar outcomes across flap types. Infection as the initial etiology was the strongest predictor of postoperative infection. Further studies are needed to establish guidelines for patient and flap selection.