[The thoracodorsal artery perforator flap].

This report presents our experience with the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap. Its use and pitfalls are critically highlighted, especially the application of this flap as an island flap. Only few publications on this recently described flap are available, possibly because of the high level of skill needed in its preparation. In our hospital, this flap was twice used as an island flap, both of which failed, and ten times as a free flap one of which was a failure. Harvesting of this flap is a delicate procedure involving transmuscular vessel preparation, additionally transposition as an island flap is limited in range. Based on our limited experience, we can recommend use of this flap only in carefully selected cases. This procedure has to be performed by experienced microsurgeons, after training on cadavers, and after preoperative color Doppler imaging for determining the precise location of the main perforators. Only in cases, where a long vascular pedicle for an appropriate free tissue transfer is necessary, and where aesthetic appearance as well as minimizing donor-site morbidity are more important than a potentially higher failure rate, utilizing this perforator flap is justified.