[Colour duplex sonography and "Power-Duplex" in Perforator Surgery - Improvement of patients safety by efficient planning].

INTRODUCTION: There are many techniques to identify vessels in perforator surgery, each with specific disadvantages. Handheld Dopplers are easy to use, but inaccurate with respect to the exact localisation of the perforator. Angio-CT is invasive, time consuming, and expensive. In contrast, duplex sonography is a reliable, easy-to-use and availabe alternative for pre-, intra-, and postoperative visualisation of vessels. Power Doppler further increases sensitivity and allows visualisation of vessels smaller than 0.5 mm in diameter.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The use of duplex sonography and power Doppler in preoperative planning is illustrated in photographs that show how to identify the course of the septal vessel in free ALT flaps, to ensure that there are competent recipient vessels and to plan pedicled perforator flaps. In all 33 free flaps (21 ALT, 5 DIEAP, 4 FCI, 2 MSAP, 1 tib. post. perf. flap) for lower leg and breast reconstruction and 19 pedicled perforator flaps at the trunk and the extremities were harvested with this technique and used to cover post traumatic and tumour defects.

RESULTS: The detection accuracy of duplex sonography was 100 % with reference to the perforator being found within 0.5 cm of the duplexed point and the correct detection of the vessel course (septal vs. intramuscular). No flap loss was observed in this series. This is a non-invasive, reliable, and inexpensive, but time consuming and investigator-dependent technique.

DISCUSSION: By direct visualisation of the arteries and veins, the exact localisation of fascia penetration can be detected and flaps can then be better designed. Perforators can be centred in the flaps. The course of perforators can be visualised - especially in ALT flaps - and time consuming dissections through muscle can be avoided.