Abstract:

Introduction: Traumatic abdominal injuries, surgical wound dehiscence, oncologic resections, transplant related complications or abdominal sepsis related visceral edema and abdominal compartment syndrome can cause enormous abdominal defects Abdominal defects are treated differently according to etiology and chronicity, size and thickness of the defect. ALT flap can be used pedicled or as a free flap for abdominal defect reconstruction. Material and methods: Medical records of 8 patients who underwent pedicled ALT flap reconstruction of abdominal defects between August 2019 and November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed Demographic data, flap size, perforator number, complications, hospital stay, use of alloplastic mesh for fascia repair were recorded. Results: 50% of patients received only 1 reconstructive operations while other 50% received more than one (min:2, max:4) operations. Total flap loss was seen at 12.5%. 25% of patients were lost due to non-flap related complications. Mean (min/max) hospital stay was 33,1 (12/90) days. Conclusion: The pedicled ALT flap is a reliable and reproducible flap for reconstruction of abdominal defects without need for microsurgical vessel anastomosis. It has low donor and recipient site morbidity and potential complications can be easily managed with minor secondary operations.

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