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Venous drainage system of the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap

The transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap has been widely used for reconstruction of the breast. Partial loss of the flap is still a problem, however, and venous congestion may cause partial necrosis of the flap. There are few studies of the venous anatomy of the TRAM flap that compares with that of the arterial system, so the aim of this study was to investigate the venous anatomy of the TRAM flap and assess its drainage pathway using venography. A mixture of barium and gelatin were injected through the cutaneous veins such as the superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV), the superficial circumflex iliac vein (SCIV), or the perforating branch of the deep inferior epigastric vein (DIEV) in 11 hemiTRAM flaps. Venograms of TRAM flaps were taken, and the venous anatomy evaluated. The study showed that it consisted of the dominant superficial venous system, the SIEV and SCIV, and the secondary deep venous system, and the perforating vein of DIEV (DIEV perforator). In addition, we saw the large communicating veins between the SIEV and DIEV perforator near the umbilicus. We think that these communicating veins, which are considered as the DIEV perforators between the superficial and deep venous system, are an important venous drainage pathway after the TRAM flap has been raised.