Maximizing the use of the handheld Doppler in autologous breast reconstruction.

The handheld acoustic Doppler is commonly used in the setting of autologous reconstruction. Like the color duplex Doppler, it can be used preoperatively but has the advantage of being used intraoperatively and postoperatively. It can be used as a sole modality or it can be used in conjunction with or to confirm the findings of CTA or MRA. This article focuses on the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative use of the handheld Doppler for free tissue transfer with an emphasis on perforator flap breast reconstruction.