Microcirculatory evaluation of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps with laser Doppler perfusion imaging in breast reconstruction

We have made a quantitative analysis of the microcirculation in the classic perfusion zones of the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEAP) flap on 10 consecutive women having breast reconstruction with a unilateral DIEAP. Laser Doppler perfusion imaging was used for operative scans. Data were recorded 10 minutes after successful microanastomosis. The mean (SD) perfusion for each perfusion zone was calculated. Zone I == 44.2 (6.2); zone II == 35.1 (10.3); zone III == 39.9 (9.2); and zone IV == 21.9 (10.0). There were significant differences between zones I, II, and III and zone IV (p < 0.001), and zones I and II (p == 0.02). However, there was no significance between zones I and III (p == 0.9), and zones II and III (p == 0.6). The perfusion of zone IV was significantly lower than those in all other zones, which is in keeping with clinical practice in which zone IV is normally discarded to avoid partial necrosis of the flap in unilateral breast reconstruction. Higher values are expected in zone I than zone III, and in zone II than zone III. However, we could not confirm this. We conclude that there are no differences in skin perfusion between zones I and III, and zones II and III. However, the perfusion of zone IV was significantly less than that in all other zones immediately after revascularisation of the DIEAP flap.