HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wijnberg, D. S. Articles by Robinson, P. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wijnberg, D. S. Articles by Robinson, P. H.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 58, 1131-1134, Copyright © 1994 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Innervated rectus abdominis myofascial flap for dynamic cardiomyoplasty

DS Wijnberg, T Ebels and PH Robinson
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.

This study examined the rectus abdominis myofascial flap as an innervated flap for dynamic cardiomyoplastic purposes. It is common to use the latissimus dorsi to wrap or patch around or in the heart, but there is a need for more innervated skeletal muscle for a variety of reasons. The rectus abdominis musculature often is used for reconstructions and its vascular reliability is well known. The segmental build-up of the rectus abdominis myofascial flap, its direct proximity to the heart, and the superb quality of the anterior fascia allow for more extensive cardiomyoplastic use than with the latissimus dorsi alone. This article describes an anthropometric cadaver study in which the methods of mobilizing the rectus abdominis myofascial flap for cardiac purposes are shown.