OBJECTIVE:To develop and evaluate surgical approaches to the arteries and veins of the fore- and hindlimbs for use as potential recipient vessels for free tissue transfer.STUDY DESIGN:Experimental anatomic study.SAMPLE POPULATION:Canine cadavers (11): 2 preserved and 9 fresh cadavers.METHODS:Fore- and hindlimbs from 1 preserved cadaver injected with a pigmented silicone/barium mixture, through the common carotid artery and external jugular vein, were cut in 1 cm cross-sections. Tissue sections were used to identify the location of vessels >1 mm that could be used as recipient vessels for free tissue transfer. The other preserved cadaver was used to develop surgical approaches to these vessels. Three surgeons evaluated the written descriptions and illustrations for these approaches using fresh cadavers. Modifications to the surgical approaches were made based on recommendations from these surgeons.RESULTS:Six approaches were developed to isolate forelimb recipient vessels: palmar access, distal medial antebrachial, mid-antebrachial, proximal antebrachial, distal humeral, and mid-humeral vascular access. Twelve approaches were developed to isolate recipient vessels of the hindlimb: plantar access, dorsal tarsal, cranial distal tibial, craniomedial distal tibial, lateral distal tibial, medial distal tibial, medial femorotibial, lateral distal femoral, medial femoral, proximal medial femoral, groin, and proximal lateral femoral vascular access.CONCLUSIONS:Six forelimb and 12 hindlimb sites were identified for surgical access to recipient vessels (>1 mm diameter) suitable for use in free tissue transfer for wound reconstruction.CLINICAL RELEVANCE:For reconstruction of complex wounds of the extremities of dogs, surgeons should consider use of readily accessible recipient vessels that would allow for free tissue transfer to the fore- and hindlimbs.

OBJECTIVE:To develop and evaluate surgical approaches to the arteries and veins of the head and neck for use as potential recipient vessels for free tissue transfer. STUDY DESIGN:Experimental anatomic study. SAMPLE POPULATION:Eleven canine cadavers; 2 preserved cadavers and 9 fresh cadavers. METHODS:The head and neck of one preserved cadaver injected with pigmented silicone/barium, through the common carotid artery and external jugular vein, was cut in 1 cm sagittal sections and cross-sections. These tissue sections were used to identify the location of recipient vessels >1 mm that could be used as recipient vessels for free tissue transfer. The other preserved cadaver was used to develop surgical approaches to these vessels. Three board certified surgeons evaluated the written descriptions and illustrations of the approaches using fresh cadavers. Modifications to the surgical approaches were made based on recommendations from these surgeons. RESULTS:Seven approaches were developed to isolate recipient vessels of the head and neck region. The infraorbital, temporal, and sublingual approaches were easily performed and provided excellent access to the vessels in the region. The approach to the caudal auricular vessels was found to be more difficult but modification of the approach resolved this problem. Access to the facial artery was difficult; it was consistently <1 mm in diameter and thus its use could not be recommended. The approach to the vessels in the cervical region was easily performed. Because of the large size of the external jugular vein and the common carotid artery, end-to-side anastomosis of the donor to recipient vessels is necessary. The large superficial cervical vessels were easily accessed by a lateral shoulder approach. CONCLUSIONS:Surgical approaches to potential recipient vessels of the head and neck were consistently achieved and provided relatively easy access to the vessels. Clinical Relevance- The surgical approaches described in this report can be used to isolate arteries and veins of the head and neck that are >1 mm in diameter. These vessels are suitable for use as recipient vessels for free tissue transfer for reconstruction of complex wounds of the head and neck.

The purpose of this study was to identify the angiosome of the medial saphenous artery and vein and to evaluate the use of this cutaneous angiosome as a free skin flap in the dog. In phase 1 of this study, selective angiography of the medial saphenous artery performed in six canine cadavers showed that the skin covering the entire medial femorotibial area, the distal half of the caudal head of the sartorius muscle, and the gracilis muscle were perfused by the medial saphenous artery. In phase 2, a medial saphenous fasciocutaneous island flap was raised and sutured back to the skin edges of the donor wound in three dogs. One hundred percent survival of all of the flaps occurred. In phase 3, a medial saphenous fasciocutaneous microvascular free flap was transferred to a wound that was created over the dorsal metacarpal (n = 3) or metatarsal region (n = 3). The mean length +/- SD of the medial saphenous vascular pedicle was 80 +/- 13 mm (n = 5); the mean diameter +/- SD of the medial saphenous artery was 2.8 +/- 0.2 mm (n = 5) and the mean diameter +/- SD of the medial saphenous vein was 4.2 +/- 0.2 mm (n = 5). One hundred percent of all flaps survived (n = 6). Selective angiography or the distal cranial tibial artery (metatarsal wounds, n = 3) and the median artery (metacarpal wound, n = 3) was performed 3 weeks after surgery. All of the vascular anastomoses were patent and neovascularization of the wound beds was present. This free flap was found to be acceptable for cosmetic reconstruction of wounds located on the distal extremity.

This study evaluates the cranial rectus abdominus muscle pedicle flap as the sole blood supply for the caudal superficial epigastric skin flap. This flap was composed of a cranially based rectus abdominus muscle pedicle flap that was attached to the caudal superficial epigastric island skin flap (including mammary glands 2 to 5) via the pudendoepigastric trunk. Selective angiography of the cranial epigastric artery in eight cadaver dogs proved that the arterial vasculature in the cranial rectus abdominus was contiguous with that in the caudal superficial epigastric skin flap. In the live dog study, three of six of the flaps failed because of venous insufficiency. Necrosis of mammary gland 2 occurred in two of six flaps. One of six flaps survived with the exception of the cranial most aspect of mammary gland 2. Angiography of the cranial epigastric artery proved that arterial blood supply to these flaps was intact. Histological evaluation of the failed flaps showed full-thickness necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, the presence of severe congestion, and venous thrombosis. Retrograde venous blood flow through the flap was inconsistent, and hence resulted in failure of this myocutaneous flap. Use of this flap for clinical wound reconstruction cannot be recommended.