Journal article
Ultrasound localization of a tunneled leech beneath a microvascular scalp reconstruction: A case report
Microsurgery, Vol.33(7), pp.572-574
10/2013
DOI: 10.1002/micr.22163
PMID: 23996135
Abstract
Medicinal leech therapy is a common adjuvant modality used to treat venous congestion following threatened microvascular anastomosis. Migration and tunneling of a leech beneath a surgical reconstruction is a rare event that is seldom mentioned in the literature and worthy of further discussion. We present a rectus abdominus myocutaneous free tissue transfer that was used to cover a large alloplastic cranioplasty following resection of a previously radiated skull base malignant meningioma. The flap became congested postoperatively and required leech therapy after surgical salvage. Three days after flap salvage, the subject was once again brought back to the operating room for surgical exploration when a leech was witnessed to migrate beneath the threatened free flap. Duplex ultrasound was used intra-operatively to localize the leech 12 cm from its bite and assist with its successful removal. Tunneling of the leech beneath the flap is a rare complication, and localization underneath a myofascial or myocutaneous flap may be difficult. Duplex ultrasound is a simple and reliable method to localize the leech and allow for its removal through a minimal access incision.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Ultrasound localization of a tunneled leech beneath a microvascular scalp reconstruction: A case report
- Creators
- Garry Martin II - Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USAJoshua D Linnell - Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KSSusan S Yang - Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KSJames Lin - Department of Otolarynoglogy-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KSPaul J Camarata - Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KSBrian T Andrews - Department of Otolarynoglogy-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Microsurgery, Vol.33(7), pp.572-574
- DOI
- 10.1002/micr.22163
- PMID
- 23996135
- NLM abbreviation
- Microsurgery
- ISSN
- 0738-1085
- eISSN
- 1098-2752
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/2013
- Academic Unit
- Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology
- Record Identifier
- 9984107393002771
Metrics
22 Record Views