Thoracoacromial artery and vein as main recipient vessels in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap transfer for breast reconstruction.

[BACKGROUND] The internal mammary artery/vein (IMA/V) are commonly used recipients for free flap breast reconstruction, but requires costal cartilage resection and limits future use of the IMA. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of the thoracoacromial artery/vein (TAA/V) as recipients for deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction compared with using the IMA/V.

[METHODS] Medical charts of patients who underwent free DIEP flap breast reconstruction using the TAA/V or the IMA/V as recipient vessels were reviewed. Patient and vessel characteristics, time for vessel preparation and anastomosis, and postoperative pain were compared between TAA/V and IMA/V groups.

[RESULTS] Thirty-four patients were included; 12 in TAA/V group, and 22 in IMA/V group. There was no flap failure in both groups. There were statistically significant differences between TAA/V and IMA/V groups in vessel preparation time (10.9 ± 3.7 min vs. 24.1 ± 6.0 min, p < .001), anastomosis time (31.2 ± 12.1 min vs. 42.1 ± 11.2 min, p = .017), and total dose of acetaminophen (4566.7 ± 1015.6 mg vs. 5436.4 ± 1323.3 mg, p = .041).

[CONCLUSIONS] The TAA/V could be safely used as recipient vessels for DIEP flap breast reconstruction with shorter time and less postoperative pain.