Repair of the abdominal donor-site fascial defect with small intestinal submucosa (Surgisis) after TRAM flap breast reconstruction.

Abstract

We report the successful use of Surgisis in the repair of the abdominal donor site fascial defect following a free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction. No abdominal wall weakness in the flap donor site was evidenced by a series of clinical examinations to at least 14 months after Surgisis placement. A well-formed and thickened fascial layer at the abdominal donor fascial repair site was revealed by computed tomography scan. This objective finding, along with our clinical observation, supports the use of Surgisis for repair of the abdominal donor site fascial defect following a TRAM flap harvesting.