Inadvertent free intercostal artery perforator flaps.

Abstract

Two cases of free lateral intercostal artery perforator flaps are presented in this article. Both flaps were raised instead of thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps, which had been the initial operative plan. The free intercostal artery perforator flap can be technically difficult, the pedicle is relatively short and the vessel diameters can be small. The pedicle may need to be dissected along the intercostal groove to obtain sufficient vessel length and diameter. Despite all these issues, we describe a relatively straightforward salvage operation if a perforator flap raised on a presumed thoracodorsal artery axis is found to be an intercostal artery perforator flap.