J Reconstr Microsurg 2010; 26(3): 185-188
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1243301
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Specific Volume of Female Subcutaneous Abdominal Tissue as a Reference in Autologous Breast Reconstruction

Wouter J. van der Pot1 , Mick Kreulen1 , 2 , Paris Melis1 , J. Joris Hage3
  • 1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Hand Surgery, Rode Kruis Hospital, Beverwijk
  • 2Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 3Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
10 December 2009 (online)

ABSTRACT

Use of the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap is gaining popularity as the method of choice for breast reconstruction and replacement of prosthetic breast implants. Ideally, the volume of the prosthesis is replaced by the same volume of autologous tissue to restore shape and symmetry. Still, intraoperative tissue volumetry is not practical under sterile circumstances. The first step toward a clinical intraoperative measure for volume matching would be to acquire knowledge of the specific density of female subcutaneous abdominal fat tissue. The weight and volume of abdominoplasty specimens from 32 women were measured. From these data, the specific volume of DIEP flap tissue was calculated. The mean specific density was 1.12 mL/g (range, 1.02 to 1.32 mL/g; standard deviation 0.04). An approximate volume-to-weight conversion multiplier of 1.1 may serve as an intraoperative tool to estimate the volume of a DIEP flap from its weight.

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Dr. Mick Kreulen

Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Red Cross Hospital

Vondellaan 13, 1942 LE Beverwijk, The Netherlands

Email: mkreulen@xs4all.nl