Perfusion in pedicled skin flaps

• Verfasst von: Fiedler, Lukas Sebastian [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Lippert, Burkard M. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Adrian, Lukas [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Meyer, Tobias [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Perfusion in pedicled skin flaps
• Titelzusatz: initial insights from smartphone-based thermal imaging protocol
• Verf.angabe: Lukas S. Fiedler, Burkard M. Lippert, Lukas Adrian and Tobias Meyer
• E-Jahr: 2024
• Jahr: 5 July 2024
• Umfang: 10 S.
• Illustrationen: Illustrationen
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 07.01.2024
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Journal of Personalized Medicine
• Ort Quelle: Basel : MDPI, 2011
• Jahr Quelle: 2024
• Band/Heft Quelle: 14(2024), 7, Artikel-ID 730, Seite 1-10
• ISSN Quelle: 2075-4426
• DOI: doi:10.3390/jpm14070730
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: pedicled flaps
• Sach-SW: perfusion
• Sach-SW: skin flaps
• Sach-SW: smartphone diagnostics
• Sach-SW: thermal imaging
• K10plus-PPN: 1913726320

Abstract

Objective: Successful outcomes in head and neck surgery rely on maintaining perfusion in pedicled skin flaps. Thermal imaging offers a noninvasive means to assess tissue perfusion, potentially aiding in predicting flap viability. This pilot study explores the utility of SBTI (smartphone-based thermal imaging) for predicting flap vitality and monitoring during surgery. Methods: Thermal imaging was employed using the FLIR One System. An imaging protocol was established, defining points of interest (T1-T4) on pedicled skin flaps. Conducted over four months, the study integrated SBTI into reconstructive surgery for the face, head and neck defects post-tumor resections. SBTI’s effectiveness was assessed with n = 11 pedicled flaps, capturing images at key stages and correlating them with clinical flap assessment. Thermal images were retrospectively graded by two surgeons, evaluating flap perfusion on a scale from 1 to 5, based on temperature differences (1 = ΔT < 2 °C, 2 = ΔT ≥ 2 °C, 3 = ΔT ≥ 4 °C, 4 = ΔT ≥ 6 °C, and 5 = ΔT ≥ 8 °C), with assessments averaged for consensus and compared with the clinical assessment control group. Results: The study encountered challenges during implementation, leading to the exclusion of six patients. Patient data included 11 cases with n = 44 SBTI images. Intraoperative assessments consistently showed good perfusion. One postoperative dehiscence was noted, which retrospectively coincided with intraoperative SBTI grading, but not with clinical assessment. Statistical analysis indicated consistent outcomes following clinical and SBTI assessments. Thermal imaging accurately predicted flap viability, although it had limitations with small flaps. Conclusion: SBTI proved effective, inexpensive, and noninvasive for assessing tissue perfusion, showing promise for predicting flap viability and intraoperative monitoring in head and neck surgery.